by Walker, Lucy
‘Goody! But don’t call Jane an “oldie”, Bart. She’s nervous and a little bit old-fashioned, but she hasn’t a grey hair in her head yet.’
`Neither she has. My, oh my! We’ll have to get Neil a bottle of dye, won’t we? He’ll have to keep with-it. He’s positively grey at the temples.’
`What has that to do with Jane?’ Jeckie began. Her eyes had wandered to the ladies seated along the walls and had suddenly caught sight of Aunt Isobel. ‘Why look at Aunt Isobel!’ she exclaimed. ‘Doesn’t she look beautiful in that lovely, ruffly, blue dress? And look at her face! She’s really smiling too. In a big way. She’s watching Jane. She’s glad Jane is dancing
She happens to be very fond of Jane,’ Barton said
gruffly. His whole manner had suddenly changed. ‘And aren’t we all? She’s one of us. Mallibee family. Hurt Jane and you hurt the lot of us.’
‘But, Bart, I didn’t mean anything hurtful.’ Jeckie said, bewildered. ‘I’m just glad. Glad glad, I mean. Oh dear! I’ve been weeks at Mallibee now and I’m still puzzled by you all. You are such a mystifying lot.’
‘For goodness’ sake, Bart! I’ve just seen something over your shoulder and it’s about the most mystifying of all.’
‘I’m not looking. So you tell me.’
‘Get ready to hear then! Andrew is talking to Jason! Actually talking to him!’
“Scuse me while I turn round. I’d need to see that for myself — ‘
‘To believe? Well, I’m glad they’re talking to one another. Perhaps they’ve made it up. The family quarrel I mean.’
‘You never can tell, can you?’ Barton remarked, almost too carelessly. might have depended on you, sweet Jeckie, to keep a weather eye on your favourite, Jason. And know what he’s doing at any given time too ‘
‘Why shouldn’t I take an interest in Jason? Everyone talks to him. Somebody is asking for him, or talking to him, all the time. Why not me, too?’
‘Vote-catching. That’s his line. Talk to everyone, smile at everyone. Give the young matrons the glad eye, and kiss every baby in sight — which could mean you too, honey. He’s great on catching votes — is our cousin the Shire President.’ Barton sounded very succinct as he swirled Jeckie round and round. ‘Come outside under the gum trees,’ he commanded. ‘Talking of kissing, it’s about kissing time, honey. If we don’t hurry we’ll find the gum trees bagged by all the other love-makers.’
T come outside because I want some cool air. I’ll allow one kiss provided it is purely cousinly.’
‘Good.’ He led her off the floor. ‘We’ll see just what sort of a kiss that is when we try it, hey?’
I wonder what a cousinly kiss from Jason would be
like? Jeckie thought. Or … a kiss from Andrew …?
Well — with Andrew she did not want a cousinly kiss. It
would be formal. Very dignified. Would it be better than no kiss at all?
The night wore on and Jeckie began to find herself in great demand as a partner. Sheila, however, outshone all the girls. She was not only pretty, and light on her feet, but she was so very bright. The air all round her as she danced or stood talking in a group between dances — was full of laughter. While she danced she threw her head back and her hair floated away in a glorious stream. Everyone, including the young, the ‘middles’ and the `silver heads’, watched her. They smiled and nodded and did a little whispering behind hands.
All except Barton. For some strange reason he glowered. How mystifying they all really were!
Sheila was indeed, Jeckie thought, the star of the ball. Bart ought to be proud of her. Sheila was a dazzling feather in the Ashenden cap, surely!
If Jeckie had a twinge in her heart it was when she saw Andrew dancing with Sheila. The gaiety was still there in Sheila’s face, but her manner was more restrained. She was listening to him intently — almost as if they both had forgotten they were dancing at all.
A little later Jason danced with Jeckie, and while this enchanting state of affairs was going on, she could not help peeking over his shoulder to see how the rest of the Ashendens were taking it. They weren’t smiling, but they were all watching and — except Barton — wore very polite expressions on their faces. Barton was looking superior now, but only to tease her, she thought. She caught sight of Andrew once, and he was looking at her. Then he turned on his heel and went out through the main door.
So now I know, Jeckie thought sadly. In spite of his being on talking terms with Jason, Andrew really minds! He thinks I’m letting them down.
But what of the others? Are they merely hiding their Ashenden wounds from the public gaze?
Privately she prayed that they didn’t really mind. Then she could ask Aunt Isobel if she could go sky-flying with Jason. How to go about it? She was having such a heavenly time — except for Andrew’s disapproval — she couldn’t bear
to think of it being spoilt by any aftermath.
Andrew danced with Jane and later with his hostess from Morilla homestead. Then he went outside with Sheila to eat sun-dew melon and ice-cream along with Frank Carson and another girl. Once, just once, Jeckie thought he was coming across the floor to ask her to dance, but the stranger—Neil Cameron—came up to speak to him. Meantime the overseer from Mallibee asked her to dance. So that, she thought regretfully, was that!
And so the day and night came to an end.
‘Did you enjoy it, Jeckie, my dear?’ Aunt Isobel asked as they said good night on the homestead veranda.
‘Oh yes, Aunt Isobel. Thank you so much for letting me come to Mallibee. And for bringing me over here for the week-end. I’ve had the loveliest time ever.’
‘Ever?’ Aunt Isobel looked faintly surprised. Privately she was concluding from Jeckie’s happy manner that her great-niece must indeed have got over the affair with that unsuitable young man in the Navy. For that she was greatly relieved. Meantime, where had Barton taken himself off? He should be here saying ‘good night’ to Jeckie. She would mention it to Jane later. Jane could discreetly speak to Barton about it in the morning. Barton had rather overplayed all that nonsense with Sheila later in the evening! It was ungallant to try to make Jeckie jealous. Bad manners too, of course. Barton never really did have a proper sense of occasion. Such a pity!
Meantime — where was Jane?
‘Everybody seems to be behaving in a very unusual way tonight,’ she said aloud, turning to go to her room.
‘But it’s an unusual night, isn’t it?’ Jeckie said. ‘I mean, you only have a community barbecue once a year, don’t you?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘And didn’t Jane look lovely? Quite pretty.’
‘Jane, my dear, was a very pretty girl in her time,’ Aunt Isobel said primly. ‘I’m surprised you have not noticed that possibility before, Juliet.’ She turned and looked at the girl thoughtfully. ‘Sometimes I do wish you would use your proper name. Juliet is so much more dignified —’
‘Than Jeckie? I’m sorry, Aunt Isobel. Juliet is a nice name, I know. But I’ve always been teased about it. All those jokes about Romeo! Ever since I was a mere child and didn’t know who Romeo was. Then my mother only calls me “Juliet” when she is cross with me. It has subtle undertones - if you know what I mean. You aren’t cross with me, are you, Aunt Isobel?’
The older lady had turned to her door again, but now looked back at Jeckie. ‘Why on earth should I be cross with you, my child?’
‘Well, I sort-of … well … danced with Jason Bassett. I know he’s very unpopular with you and I thought you might mind.’
Aunt Isobel considered Jeckie through the half light from the hall. ‘I think the time has come,’ she said slowly, ‘when we should forget all animosities. I’m getting far too old to be troubled with quarrels. Jeckie, if you see Jane as you go out, will you tell her I would like to speak to her. Not after my bedroom light is off, of course.’
‘Yes, I’ll tell her,’ Jeckie said quickly, anxious to make her peace. ‘And thank you, Aunt Isobel,
for not being bothered about quarrels. I’m specially glad about that. I’ll tell you why in the morning.’
She reached up and kissed her aunt’s cheek, then ran out to the veranda again.
‘Something has happened to that child’s spirits tonight,’ Aunt Isobel reflected as she turned the handle of her door. ‘I sincerely hope it is not a ripening affair with that Jason Bassett. Most unsuitable. Worse than the Navy man. Politics and parties! What a life! I will have to speak to Andrew about it. Of course Barton was paying too much attention to Sheila late in the evening. It might have upset Jeckie, and she is really only covering up. But then everyone pays attention to Sheila! Barton wasn’t the only one.’
The little bell ringing in Jeckie’s heart was because Jason had danced with her, and that gave her comfort - but Andrew had nearly danced with her. That was something to daydream about.
So, altogether it was a wonderful night!
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Days passed and the Morilla week-end party became for Jeckie no more than an enchanted but lively memory. It was something to be part-forgotten for another year. Could she invite herself to Mallibee again this time next year? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Aunt Isobel did the inviting in advance.
But another year was a long time away. Just now she had to live with the anti-climax.
Suddenly there was no one left in the homestead but Aunt Isobel, Jane, Cassie, one of the girls, and herself. The two other girls — homestead helpers — had gone home for their half-yearly holiday.
The men had all gone boundary-wise to the cut-out of the clean-skins. Andrew, Barton, Neil Cameron, and most of the stockmen had all gone. They had taken a camp cook, and camping gear. They were — Jeckie guessed a little enviously — having a wonderful time out there. She didn’t know which she missed most in the homestead — Andrew’s quiet tread as he came in at sundown, or the friendly bickering she and Barton kept up, just for the fun of it. She quite looked forward to Sheila coming over from Nana Bindi when the cut-out was finished, but half dreaded it too. Sheila would shine so brightly in the homestead. Jeckie felt that she herself would probably look very dim indeed beside her vivacious cousin.
Even outside the homestead everything seemed so still and quiet. Only the yardman and one of the older stockmen were left at home to keep watch over the stock in the home paddocks.
It was now all but a world of women in the Mallibee homestead.
Ten days later, Sheila Bowen was brought over from Nana Bindi in Frank Carson’s plane. Frank, too, was en route for the cut-out.
Aunt Isobel and Jane, nodding their heads together,
agreed there was now company for Jeckie. They seemed to sit back and watch, Jeckie thought, for Sheila to be animated and entertaining all over again. They weren’t disappointed. The homestead seemed to ring with Sheila’s light-hearted voice.
For the first few days everyone was bright and cheerful. Sheila’s presence certainly gave much pleasure to Aunt Isobel and Jane.
Now that the men had gone the season of ‘spring-cleaning’ was on. It didn’t matter there was no such thing as `spring’ nor even ‘autumn’ north of Twenty-six. There was only the ‘Wet’ and the ‘Dry’. The grass sprang when the rains came — which was midsummer except for areas near the coast. As often as not, it was the cyclones coming later that gave new life to the dried-out areas. But at Mallibee they still used the term `spring-cleaning’.
Sheila was full of what she would do, if she had a hand in running Mallibee.
`Look, Jeckie,’ she said one day when they were out riding. ‘When I live at Mallibee, I’ll grow a wind-break along the north east boundary of the Number Two paddock. It’s a positively hideous disaster area. Sheer barren acreage.’
Jeckie had not missed that ‘when I live at Mallibee’. Had Andrew already asked the fateful question that really — to Aunt Isobel and Jane — meant wedding another Mallibee share to the Ashenden name again?
`Mm …’ she said thoughtfully. ‘But don’t you think Andrew the First, Second, and Third would have thought all that out — if it was likely to work?’
`Oh, they were — and are — an old-fashioned lot. Except for Bart. He’s really with-it. Look at darling Aunt Isobel! She’s still living in Ashenden folk-lore time. That dress she wore to the barbecue! It was positively Victorian.’
`So it was, but it was lovely — for Aunt Isobel. It’s sort-of part of her personality. I thought she looked marvellous in it. She’s very gracious and dignified. Everyone respects her for it.’
Sheila looked across the short distance between them at Jeckie.
`Well, you ought to know,’ she said with a laugh. `You’re a bit old-fashioned yourself, Jeckie. It’s like calling to like, isn’t it? Those long confabs with Jane! Always
calling her “Jane-dear”. What’s got into you, Jeckie? You used to be really with-it. Not getting Mallibee-itis, by any chance?’
‘Maybe … a bit. I wish I hadn’t been so stubborn about not coming up here years ago. I’d like to come quite often now — if only I’m invited.’
‘Invited? I’d just come. After all we do have some claim. Both of us! Someday we’ll both own one share in this jolly place.’
‘I wish to goodness there was no such thing as that one share,’ Jeckie said abruptly.
They had reined in their horses under the shade of a whitetrunked tree near the creek.
‘You wish what?’ Sheila demanded. ‘You must be insane. Those shares are worth a small fortune. Besides —’
‘Yes? Besides what?’ Jeckie looked at her cousin curiously. Sheila tossed her head. Then steadied her mount.
‘Well … it gives one an extra personal asset, don’t you think? Like permanently shining hair and nice teeth. It’s an added bonus to one’s natural charms. You know jolly well what I mean, Jeckie.’
‘You mean you are of special material value to Mallibee?’
‘Phew! You do put things bluntly, don’t you?’
Jeckie screwed up her eyes and looked out over the paddock.
‘I can’t really see Andrew adding up a person’s assets — be they nice teeth or shares. He’s too honourable and too dignified even to think of such things.’
Sheila threw back her head. ‘So that’s what you think, is it?’ She burst out laughing. ‘Oh Jeckie! You are a nut.’
‘No, I’m not. And since we’re being personal with one another — as cousins will be — I don’t think you are being exactly honest with Andrew, anyway. It’s fun joking and teasing with Barton the way you did at Morilla. But I don’t think it’s exactly sporting to try making a man jealous. That’s what you were doing, wasn’t it? You were really knocking Andrew—’
Sheila stared at Jeckie. ‘My, oh my!’ she said. ‘What strange thoughts you do harbour in that head of yours, Jeckie. And all the time I thought I was the neglected one. The way you look round the table. And sparkle your
eyes. And toss that stupid little lock of hair out of
your eyes. Why don’t you cut the jolly thing off, anyway?’
Jeckie’s eyes opened so wide they all but watered. She hadn’t even heard the bit about the lock of hair.
‘I … me … sparkle my eyes? I wouldn’t even know how!’
`Yes you do, Jeckie darling. Be a wise pet and take a bit of advice from one who knows a lot about this wicked world of love affairs. I’ve had lots, so I know all the answers. I’d settle for Jason and be done with it if were you. He has a softy for you, as most people know and which was very apparent at Morilla.’
‘It was?’ Jeckie was startled. ‘Jason?’
‘Of course it was obvious. Besides — I’m pretty sure he’s been forgiven his sins for selling Mallibee Mountain. I’ve twice overheard Andrew talking to him on the two-way. That was when went out with Andrew in the ute to turn off the outer boundary bores. Do you know when the furthest bores are turned off the sheep feed inwards to the next lot of bores — for water? They’re that much nearer the muster paddocks. Self-
mustering, Andrew calls it. Cunning, don’t you think? Cut off their water and the sheep work homewards to get in somewhere nearer.’
Jeckie said nothing. The wonders of mustering by the simple device of cutting off the outer water bores had already amazed her by the sheer simplicity of the idea. When there was enough underground water brought to the surface the aeroplane mustering could come to an end.
Sheila lifted her reins and slapped them down on her mount’s neck. He started forward : and she was away. She looked very exciting and very lovely, Jeckie thought, as she followed at a canter. It was easier riding this way when one’s thoughts were preoccupied with subjects like ‘water-mustering’ and the puzzles of who loved who on Mallibee, and why. She had had a more and more curious feeling that the sudden change in Jane had something to do with the arrival of that cattleman with the faintly Scottish accent, Neil Cameron. Jane had become more and more interested in the exotic needs and habits of the Santa Gertrudis and Brahmin cattle. She had been reading up all the papers on Andrew’s table about the growing of seed sorghum — the feed those cattle need.
Perhaps Jane had a little investment in that prized cattle herd. Such things did happen on stations, specially the stations where mining claims were being pegged. The applicants for those claims became sort-of syndicates with everyone on the station — employees and employers — all in. The drovers, too, took out a minor investment in the herd they were to drove across hundreds and hundreds of miles of bush. That way they had a vested interest in seeing the herd got to market in the best condition. If the drovers, why not Jane-dear?
Jeckie reflected she’d learned an awful lot about life in the outback since she’d put her first aeroplane-mile over Twenty-six.
Of course! An investment for Jane! It was the sort of thing Andrew and Aunt Isobel would do. Barton too. No wonder they had all welcomed Neil Cameron back. Something for everyone in a new venture!