‘Secure her feet,’ Reg spat, untying one of the packs.
Chalker shook his head and gathered sticks. ‘There’s no point, we’re miles from anywhere and if she escaped she’d be permanently lost.’ He glanced at Pippa. ‘She’s no fool. She knows the bush can be a deathtrap.’
Reg laughed, the sound loud in the quiet of the bush. ‘Aye, she’s a woman. They’re all dumb as shit.’
Pippa sat listening, watching everything they said and did. Her stomach rumbled and she became desperate for a drink, but she remained quiet, uncomplaining. They thought her so stupid it made her want to laugh. Didn’t Chalker understand that she’d learnt a lot while living in her valley? Gil and Robson had taught her many things. She knew how to safely climb a tree and use it as a lookout, knew that trees grew denser closer to water. When lost, she could always find water and follow its flow, as it would eventually lead her to people.
‘Here.’ Chalker thrust a chunk of hard-crusted bread at her and then squatted to release the gag. ‘Eat. You need to keep up your strength.’
She took the bread in her fingertips and dropped it in her lap, all the while stretching her jaw and wincing at its stiffness. ‘May I have a drink?’
He nodded and handed her his canteen.
‘Why are we lighting a fire?’ Reg asked, chewing his own ration of bread.
‘I think we’re far enough away to make camp for the night. They won’t know she’s missing yet.’ Chalker turned away as he and Reg discussed their options. Pippa drank deeply, awkwardly holding the canteen in her tied hands.
‘We’ve many days’ travel ahead and I don’t want to lame the horses by pushing them too fast. We’ll camp here a few hours, but I want to be gone before sun up.’ Chalker picked up a stick and snapped it over his knee. He looked towards Pippa. ‘Are you cold?’
‘No.’
He continued his task of feeding the flames, and once a cheery blaze lit the darkness, he placed a tin of water on it to boil.
‘Can you not untie my hands? I’ll be able to help you.’ She stared at him, issuing the dare to give her some freedom.
Chalker grinned. ‘I think not.’
Seething, she uttered vile curses in his direction.
In a swift movement, she pushed the bread into her pocket. It would be better saved, for she wasn’t going to let the cowards truss her up like a chicken and transport her anywhere they wished to. She had to plan.
While Chalker made the billy tea, Reg unpacked the horses and hobbled them. She was given a blanket, which she draped over her lap, and underneath the blanket she worked on freeing her hands. The constant wriggling and pulling of her wrists soon chafed the skin raw. Pain made her eyes water, but it also filled her with a desperate rage. She waited until Reg had gone into the darkness on the edge of the camp and, with a sudden jerk, she snapped the twine and her hands were free.
‘Are you hungry?’ Chalker came closer, dusting his hands of flour. ‘I’ve made damper.’
She stared at him in amazement. He was behaving as though they were on some summer picnic. Hatred blinded her reason. ‘I’d rather eat dirt.’
‘No, you wouldn’t.’ He gave her a stern look, his face shadowed. ‘Pippa, you might as well accept this. I won’t let you go. You’re mine now.’
‘You are deluded.’
‘We’re going deep into the bush and you’ll be my woman. It will be years before you see people again.’
She gaped at him. ‘You’re mad.’
‘Possibly. But I want you as my wife, and since marrying you legally will be difficult, you’ll be my mistress.’ He poured boiling water into tin cups. ‘Don’t worry. You’ll be treated well, I promise. I’ll build you a good hut and hunt for food. When we find gold, I will buy you comforts.’ He was talking as though they discussed a normal situation. ‘There will be an outcry about you being missing, but eventually they’ll think you’re dead.’ His tender look shocked her. ‘I’m hoping we may have children one day.’
Pippa leaned forward, fighting the urge to tear his eyes out. ‘I’d rather be dead than have you touch me!’
‘Now listen—’
With a roar, Pippa pushed up from the ground and sprang at his throat; her motion toppled them both backwards. She landed on him, knocking the wind from his chest. Before he had time to move, she scrambled over to the fire and grabbed a small branch poking from it.
‘What the hell?’ Reg emerged out of the darkness, adjusting his trousers.
Pippa spun, waving the blazing branch at him. ‘Don’t take another step!’
‘Put that down.’ Reg laughed. ‘You’ll take someone’s eye out.’
She backed away, keeping both men in her sight. ‘I’ll be taking my leave, thank you, gentlemen.’
Chalker, on his feet now, stepped closer. ‘Don’t be a fool. It’s night and we’re in the middle of nowhere. You’ll be lost before you’re twenty feet.’
‘I’ll take my chances.’
‘No.’ He took another step and she backed away two steps. ‘Pippa, I promise you, we’ll not mistreat you.’
‘Oh?’ She chuckled, amazed at his stupidity. ‘Kidnap is not mistreating?’
Reg, his face menacing in the fire light, walked to her left. ‘When I get my hands on you, you’ll think kidnapping is a Sunday school outing.’
Pippa turned right as Chalker came at her from one side and Reg on the other. She kept stepping backwards, but the stream was close behind. Her slight hesitation was enough for Reg to jump her. Pippa screamed as they fell to the ground. The burning stick flew from her hand and she twisted onto her stomach to grab it.
Reg clutched at her waist, climbing over her, impeding her reach. His fist smashed into her head, making her dizzy for terrifying moments. He whipped her around onto her back, tearing at her bodice. He leaned down to spit into her face. ‘I’ll kill you, bitch, before I’m done.’
‘No!’ Chalker lunged for him. The force pushed Reg off her.
While the men fought, Pippa scrambled and grasped the stick. The heat had lessened, but it still held enough to do harm. Without thinking, she turned, and as Chalker rolled Reg under him, Pippa thrust the stick into Reg’s face.
His animal howl of pain barely registered in her brain. Chalker leapt from his injured partner and stared at Pippa as though he couldn’t believe his eyes. He advanced on her and, beyond all reason, she brandished the stick wildly.
‘Stay away!’ She glared at him, dimly aware of Reg squirming in the dirt, crying for help. ‘Come after me and I’ll do the same to you, Chalker.’
She threw the stick towards him and, as he jumped out of the way, she dashed into the blackness of the bush. She lifted her skirts high and headed the way they’d come. Behind her Chalker crashed through the bush, but she kept going, even when the air in her lungs burned like fire.
She groaned with defeat when she was grabbed and thrown onto the ground behind a tree. A black ghost held her down, pushing her face into the ground. A pebble stuck her cheek and grit crammed her mouth. Vaguely she was aware of running, thundering feet. How long she was held, she didn’t know, but breathing became difficult. Grass covered her nose. She squirmed, frantic for air.
The pressure on her back and head relaxed. Slowly, she raised her face and gulped air.
‘No talkie.’ A phantom voice whispered in her ear.
Pippa trembled. Turning, she stared at the Aboriginal man beside her. The whites of his eyes glowed eerily in the darkness. He held a finger to his lips. She nodded. No talkie.
Abruptly, he became rigid and cocked his head to one side, listening. He placed his palm flat on the ground. They heard Chalker calling her name, promising she wouldn’t be hurt. She shivered and stifled a moan.
After a few seconds, the Aboriginal nodded and pointed behind her. She hesitated until he pushed her and then, stumbling, she scrambled up and into the darkness once more.
The Aboriginal, clad only in cut off trousers, took the lead. Treading lightly as a bird, he weaved throug
h the trees, each foot placed carefully. Pippa watched his movements and copied, bunching her skirts so they wouldn’t snag.
Soon they were near a shallow creek, but the native didn’t stop until Pippa splashed her way across the pebbly bottom. They climbed a small cliff on the other side of the creek and kept walking. Dawn broke and the night lifted to a pearly grey.
As Pippa followed her silent companion, her mind went blank of all thought. Tiredness weighed her down, replacing all feeling and emotion. She longed to curl up and go to sleep. Fleetingly, she wondered why she wasn’t frightened. Why wasn’t she screaming in fear? Was the threat from an Aboriginal man any different from that of Chalker and Reg? She’d read reports of blacks killing white settlers. Was he going to slit her throat?
She tripped over a tree root and landed on her knees with a jolt. The fight went out of her. She stayed in that position, looking at the native. ‘Kill me if you must. I no longer care.’
He gazed at her without blinking and then turned and disappeared into the grey bush.
His abandonment was the final test to her endurance. She plopped onto her bottom and cried. Great racking sobs broke from her, shaking her shoulders, drowning her in misery. She wanted her mother. She wanted Gil to rescue her.
‘Philippa.’
Caring little for what happened next, she raised her head, waiting for the next blow. Marshall stood a few feet away. She wiped her wet eyes to make certain she wasn’t seeing an illusion. ‘You found me.’
‘Of course.’
‘How?’
‘Wong Ling.’ He frowned. ‘He watched you leave the shop and saw the men take you. He came to find me.’
She took a deep breath and hiccupped. The little Chinaman had saved her from a fate worse than death.
‘I went to the police. They employ an Aboriginal tracker,’ Marshall said, and held out her scrunched up handkerchief, ‘but you made his job easy.’
Swallowing fresh tears, an overwhelming need to see her family swamped her. She needed to hear Millie’s voice and feel Davy’s soft arms cuddle her. She wanted her valley. She wanted Gil.
‘Come, sweetheart.’ He bent and lifted her up into his arms.
Pippa nestled against his chest and closed her eyes. She was safe.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Pippa gazed at the flock of white cockatoos screeching high above the treetops. The morning sunshine warmed her back as the cart jostled over the track through the scrub. Beside her, Marshall twitched the reins, whistling softly. He was taking her to Melbourne. She was going home.
She glanced at the letter in her hand, steeling herself against a wave of homesickness as she read her mother’s words. Thankfully, in a week, she’d be in Sydney and would be able to see Hilary.
… Of course, I do not need to tell you that Hilary’s and Toby’s visit was wonderful. We had a marvellous time, but we missed you. The house is quiet without you and I only have Millie to talk to during the day, but she tires easily with the child she carries.
Pippa glanced up into the trees. Millie and Robson were to have a baby. Happiness filled her at the thought. She kept reading.
However, Tabitha Ashford called just this morning with Augusta. They stayed only a short while, due to their leaving tomorrow for Sydney for a few weeks.
Apparently, Gil has become quite taken with a young lady recently arrived from France, would you believe it? I imagine she would find it very different here after the delights of Paris. I guess we shall have to call on her, should she marry Gil. I imagine she’d be very fashionable and make us all feel rather uncivilised. It is such a shame he has turned his affections her way, for I’d always believed you and he would make the perfect match. Sadly, it wasn’t to be …
Gil.
Pippa’s heart seemed to shrivel and die as easily as a flower in the desert. She carefully folded the letter and put it in her pocket. She had nothing of Gil now. All thoughts of repairing their friendship fled. What he’d offered her that night behind the inn was given to another. Once more she tasted the bitter flavour of disappointment. It was her own fault, of course. Her silly ideas of independence and the urge to do everything her own way had cost her a good man; more than that, it had cost her a treasured friendship.
How would she live without him in her life?
The wheels lurched into a hole and she gripped the small railing at the end of the seat to steady herself. The letter in her skirt, her link to home, crinkled against her leg.
Marshall wiped the sweat from under his hat. ‘This last week we’ve worked non-stop. At least now though the shop is finished and ready to make us more money.’
He shifted his weight on the seat when she didn’t answer. ‘You’ve stayed away longer than you ever expected, didn’t you? I guess the money makes up for it in the end. Actually, the last bank deposit I made gives me enough to buy another parcel of land. That’s why I wanted to go with you to Melbourne, to inspect some blocks near the city. Have you thought what you’ll do with your money?’
She looked away. She’d already sent her money to her agent in Sydney and through him, she’d made an offer to purchase shares in a new coal mine founded by Grant Lindfield. Yet the whole process didn’t give her the satisfaction it should have. The kidnapping had changed her. It had awoken her to what was important in life. Ruining Grant Lindfield, taking away his enterprises bit by bit, no longer appealed. The lump of hatred she’d fed on since that night at Hil’s engagement party had dissolved into nothingness.
She simply didn’t care any more.
There would be no more buying of shares in his companies. No more dreams of owning his manor in Yorkshire. At long last, she had eradicated Grant from her heart and mind. Life was too short to spend it on revenge – on things that gave you no comfort, no joy.
‘Well, at least you could hold a conversation with me, since you’re leaving me.’ Marshall smiled and flicked the reins over the horses’ rumps.
She managed a weak smile. ‘Sorry. I’m still not myself.’
‘Of course not. No one would expect you to be after what you went through.’ He swore softly under his breath. ‘Those two bastards will be caught and punished, and if I happen to find them before the police, they’ll hang from the nearest tree.’
Pippa shivered as his quiet words lingered in the cool air between them. She had no doubt he would carry out his threat. Chalker and Reg, to her knowledge, had escaped into the bush and not been seen since. The local constable and his overworked small team had given up looking for them, but they had posted notices for their arrest. It didn’t matter to her that they hadn’t been caught. She wanted to forget them, forget that night and never think of it again.
In the two weeks since her kidnap and rescue, she had pushed herself to work eighteen-hour days. The new shop, now completed, had her undivided attention as they stocked it for its re-opening. Working so hard kept her in a constant state of tiredness, so that when she fell into bed at night she slept soundly and the nightmares that had plagued her for the first two nights after Marshall found her were kept at bay.
‘Did the letter hold bad news?’
She gripped the seat tighter. ‘Not exactly. Mother wants me home.’
He gave her a sideways look. ‘Understandable. More so if she knew what happened.’
‘She won’t. It stays between you and me.’
He nodded. ‘Did she mention the Darlingtons?’
‘Yes, they’ve settled in, as I knew they would.’
They trundled over a rise and into a shallow, flat plain filled with white tents and swarming with men working at diggings all along the length of a creek. To the right, two men argued viciously, and Pippa glanced away, her emotions still raw since the kidnap. Violence of any kind made her ill.
Marshall flashed her a wry smile. ‘I’m glad you’re going home, it’s where you belong.’
She plucked at her skirts. ‘I do belong there and I’m eager to return, but I feel I have unfinished business here sti
ll.’
‘Meaning the shop?’ Marshall rubbed his bad leg. ‘Don’t worry about that. We’re partners and will continue to be long after you’ve left here. You trust me to take care of the business, don’t you?’
‘Absolutely.’ She smiled sadly.
‘Well then, we’ll keep in contact and everything will go on as before. You’ve made an enormous amount of money. You’re richer than a vast majority of the men who have found gold panning in those creeks.’
‘I’ve come to realise that money is not everything.’
‘No, but it helps.’
Pippa looked over the fields of waist-high dry grass. ‘Once all I wanted was money. Money meant security.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with that.’
‘No, but I let it rule my existence.’ She frowned at her own folly. ‘There were two reasons why I stayed here. One was to make enough wealth so I could ruin another man’s life.’
Marshall jerked, looking at her as though she was the devil incarnate. ‘Ruin a man? Who? Me?’
‘No, not you, never you. Sorry. I shouldn’t have blurted it out like that.’ She glanced away again, hating the person she’d become. ‘He was a man I once loved, a man I would have easily died for. He … he rejected me and I thought nothing could be worse. Then, not long ago, I found out that he’d never respected my family. Our friendship was a lie. From that moment on, I swore to ruin him. I thought if I made enough money, I could buy into his businesses until I was the major shareholder. I wanted to cut him off from all income. More than that, I wanted to buy his home in England, make him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Make him feel what it was like to be displaced … I wished for him to suffer as I had.’
‘And have you? Have you ruined him?’
She blinked away sudden tears. ‘No. I could continue on this mad quest, but I find I no longer want it. I don’t care any more.’ Tears trickled over her lashes and she wiped them away. ‘I want to put it all behind me.’
‘Revenge is ugly. What does it matter if this man hurt you so long ago? Do you need him in your life now? Will ruining him make you feel better?’
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