Ricky

by Sheila Hunter

  "I've never seen one, Mrs Forrest. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I did see one," he replied.

  "Well, I daresay you should go down and look at it for you never know when you will come across one." Mrs Forrest rather shoo-ed him off, and he walked down to meet the group.

  He was surprised to find that Mr Forrest was carrying the snake up to him looped over a stick. "I brought the snake up William because Ricky tells me he has never seen one and thought you hadn't either." He lay it on the ground. "This is my brave heroine who very neatly killed it in the correct place." He smiled at Jenny.

  "I've never killed one on my own before, Mr English. I did do it once before but Uncle Ned was with me and told me what to do," she said.

  "Well, I think you're brave, too," said Ricky. "I wouldn't have known what to do." He looked with great admiration at the girl. She had made light of it, but looking down at the snake which was still writhing now that it was on the grass. "What a wicked looking thing it is. Do you get many, Mr Forrest?"

  "Yes, we do. That is why I taught Miss Elston what to do, Ricky. You never know when you will come across one here, and they are all bad ones. To my mind there is no good snake and I kill them all. This is a brown and quite lethal. Look I'll show you what to do if you were to meet one. Children, it is good for you to have another lesson with it, too."

  They all watched while he lay it down in some longer grass and Ricky and Will were amazed that a thing five feet long could look so inconspicuous. He showed them how to keep watching it while searching around for a stick, then using the one he had he thrashed it with, showed them just where to aim.

  "It is still moving, Mr Forrest. Is it really dead?" asked Will.

  "Yes, son, it is. But still dangerous so ..." turning to the children he asked, "What do we do?"

  "We keep our distance," they chorused.

  "Yes, we do. Lesson over. Let's go and get some tea." As he turned he gave Jenny a squeeze on her shoulder and said, "You're getting to be a good Australian, my girl."

  The children raced up to their mother telling all about the snake. She sent them on towards the house and with Jenny on one side and Will on the other walked off down the hill.

  Ricky walked with Edward Forrest, saying, "That was a brave thing to do, Mr Forrest."

  "Yes, she is a plucky lass is our Jenny," he said.

  "I take it she is a relative, sir."

  "Not a close one Richard. Her mother was Mrs Forrest's cousin. Her parents died about four years ago and after her brother married she was made to feel rather de trop, I think. My sister-in -law thought she was unhappy and told us about it and we invited her to come here. She courageously jumped at the opportunity and came out by herself. Or rather she came with another family who have daughters, the Bradleys. Do you know them?"

  "Yes, I have met them. Miss Elston is going to stay out here in the colony then, Mr Forrest?"

  "Oh yes. We are very fond of her and would only let her go with a fight," he said with a laugh.

  They walked along silently for a moment. Then Ricky said, "Mr Forrest, there is one thing I would very much like to ask you."

  Forrest looked up sharply and stopped. Ricky was rather startled at the look on the man's face as though he expected Ricky to say something outrageous. Ricky stopped, too, and stared in wonder at the man. "What have I said, sir?"

  "Go on," his host replied, "say it. What do you want?"

  "Well, sir, I was wondering whether you might advise me as to how I should purchase a property near here."

  "Oh," said the man relaxing a little. "What do you want a property for?"

  "Well, knowing that my father was buying one and as I have the money he was going to use to do that, I thought I would go ahead and buy one and use it to train some of my boys."

  "Your what?" he demanded, "Explain yourself."

  Ricky was rather taken aback at the change in the man's attitude. "I am rather keen about training boys to be well equipped to hold down good jobs , and I have a scheme in operation in Sydney which enables young fellows, perhaps unfortunate ones like we three were, to be trained."

  By this time his host was smiling and at the last of Ricky's words, burst in to laughter. This non-plussed Ricky even more. He asked, "Whatever have I said to upset you, Mr Forrest?"

  "I am sorry, lad. I was imagining all sorts of things. I really am sorry I jumped ahead of you. Please pardon me?"

  "Of course sir, but won't you tell me why I upset you?" Ricky asked anxiously.

  "One day I will, lad, one day I will. When I know you better."

  Ricky expostulated to no avail, his host could not be drawn.

  "Give it up lad, I won't tell you how I jumped the gun. But now you must tell me more of this training program of yours. Tell me all about it."

  Ricky was still explaining when they reached the house. He found his host much interested in his ideas and gave some very constructive ones in return. However he was still baffled by Forrest's unexplained behaviour. "Maybe he is unreliable or something," he thought, "but he doesn't seem to be. Or perhaps thinks I am."

  Forrest led him to the dining room from where they could hear voices. "Come along, there will will be tea ready and you must replenish your inner man before taking to the Parramatta Road again." As they entered the room where the family sat eating, he said, "Nell, Nell, Ricky tells me he wants to be a neighbour of ours. He wants to buy a farm."

  "Mr English, that would be nice. But I thought you were a town business man," she said.

  "Yes, I am, Mrs Forrest. I would not try to run it myself." When he sat down he told them about his training plans for farm workers, explaining about his father's money. They were all very interested in what was planned and made many suggestions.

  "I think you must come back, Ricky, with time to look around. I will make some investigations about farms and write to let you know. But I have just the right man for the job of training the boys, here on the farm."

  "Who, dear?" his wife asked.

  "Rob Martin, of course, Nell." He turned to Ricky. "Martin and his wife had a farm near here. They lost their only child, a son. Then Mrs Martin became ill some time ago and needed hospital care. So he sold up and went to live in Sydney near the hospital to be near his wife. She died, poor soul and he has come back here. He hasn't enough money to buy again and not long ago asked me for a job. I only had a dairy hand job vacant but as he was desperate I put him on. He is a good man and I am sure he would jump at the chance. You couldn't do better."

  "Of course, dear. I should have thought of him. He is a good man, Mr English. Very honest, and kind. They were quite distraught when their son died. They planned so much for that boy. When he died, I think that is when Mrs Martin gave up trying to live. He would be good with boys, Mr English. I am sure."

  "It looks as though I have come to the right people to advise me then, Mrs Forrest. I thank you for thinking about my ideas."

  "You must do as my husband suggests and come and stay when you want to look around. There is always room for visitors in this rambling place."

  "Thank you, I will accept your kind offer. There is one other thing, though, Mr Forrest, before we really must start on our way back."

  "You are full of surprises, young man, what is it this time?" asked Forrest, with a mock scowl, but with a laugh.

  "Have you seen anything of the aborigines who helped my father, sir?"

  "Well, that's quite another question. You see we don't seek them or encourage them, but, yes, I do see them when I go up river. The place where your father was found is quite a well known camp for them. Next time you come we'll go along and see if we can make contact."

  "Thank you, sir. Are they safe to visit?" Ricky asked anxiously.

  "Yes, quite safe. There hasn't been trouble here for years. Only we don't encourage them because they are rather apt to hang around. But if they do come over this side of the river we give them tucker,[4] when we think they need it, and indeed they usually only come when th
ey do need something."

  "I would like to meet that man who was looking after my father and so will take you up on your offer, sir."

  "Hinds told me that it was a man called Durren. I have heard of him through others, too. He seems to be a good type and has worked on the farms at times. But you know, they are not given to working on farms much and the famers don't encourage them, but when we are short of labour we have tried to utilize them, without a great deal of success. It's just not their way of life." Mr Forrest added, "I will try to find Durren in any case Ricky, before you come again if possible."

  "Thank you, sir, I would appreciate it and look forward to meeting you again soon."

  The Forrests led the young men out to their conveyance and said their goodbyes, assuring them of a welcome when they cared to return.

  Ricky sat in a brown study not realizing that Will was as silent as he. He lay back on the squabs thinking of Miss Jenny Elston. Thinking of her and thinking of the effect she had had on him. "Is this love?" he wondered. "I am sure I do not feel like Tad does, or I don't think I have shown it if I do. There was no mistaking it when Tad fell head over heels in love with Amabel Landon. Tad showed it with exuberance. But I don't feel exuberant, I just was to hold the thought of her as one would a precious jewel, in my hands. Precious, yes, that's the word to describe what I feel. She is so precious that I don't want to share it with anyone. I just want to think of her. I wonder if she is thinking of me."

  Ricky came to earth to hearing William say, "so perfect in form. So lovely it took my breath away."

  Ricky's heart turned over. "Not Will, too. No I couldn't bear it if she had that effect on Will too. She's mine," he thought. He sat up and asked, "What did you say, Will?"

  "Weren't you listening, Rick? I was telling you about the form and how I wanted to draw it. You know I think I could have been wrong about the country, there are a lot of things I could paint, I see that now." He looked at Ricky, startled. "What's up Rick? You all right?"

  'What are you talking about Will? Explain yourself." Ricky asked anxiously.

  "I'm talking about that tree, Rick. Didn't you see it. It was on the slope where the girl killed the snake. It was a gum tree. Did you see it? It was standing by itself and was all gnarled and twisted with a big top and filmy leaves against the blue of the sky and the mountains. It was really lovely. What are you laughing at? I know I said I didn't want to paint out here, but that tree was special." Will added indignantly.

  Ricky had burst into gales of laughter in sheer relief. "Sorry, Will. I wasn't laughing at you, but myself. I was half asleep and you got all mixed up in a sort of dream."

  "Well, you looked really odd, Ricky as though you were scared or something."

  "Don't worry old man. I wasn't thinking properly.

  After a while Will asked again, "Hey, Rick, did you mean it when you asked Mr Forrest about buying a property out here?"

  "Yes, I did, Will. You know I have been thinking about it, because I want Father's money to be spent on the land. He had no use for town life and I want it to do something useful. I am sure he would like that. What do you think?"

  "Well, if it is the success the other training houses are I would think it would be most successful. The Forrests seem to want to help, too."

  "Yes, they are nice people aren't they? Miss Elston seem to be all right, too, wasn't she, Will?"

  "Yes, she was all right. Easy to talk to. Is she the governess or something?"

  "No. Not really, but then I suppose she really is."

  "Whatever do you mean?" Then Ricky spent the rest of the journey relating all that Forrest had told him of the girl. He felt it was safe to do so, but as he did he felt a lovely warm glow as he spoke of her.

  CHAPTER 13 Ricky, Mr Forrest and Jenny

  It was late in the evening when Ricky and Will reached home. Mrs Keen was waiting to serve supper and Tad was pacing the passage aglow with excitement.

  "I've got to tell you, Ricky. I've had the most marvellous day." Tad burst out as soon and Ricky walked in the door.

  Ricky mildly said, "Have you, Tad? I'll want to hear about it but wait 'til I've washed up and sit down to supper."

  "I want to tell you now, Rick. Mr Landon ..." said the impatient Tad.

  "Wait a while, Tad," said Ricky eyeing Mrs Keen and trying to hush Tad.

  "All right," said Tad, "but hurry won't you," he called as Ricky disappeared up the stairs.

  Tad had to curb his impatience while dinner was served and it was not until the meal was over that the three were alone and able to talk.

  "Now, Tad, tell us all," said Ricky, "what was it that Mr Landon said?"

  "Ricky, Mr Landon will allow me to pay my addresses to Miss Landon. Isn't that great?"

  "Well, yes, it is Tad. But I thought you were doing that all this time. I imagine that if Mr Landon didn't want you, he would have rid the family of you a long time ago."

  "That's what I've been hoping, Rick, but I didn't really know. Just hoping."

  "Well, go on tell us what happened, Tad," said Will.

  "Mrs Landon and the girls were going out and so I thought this would be a good time to speak to Mr Landon. I asked him if I may and he took me in to his study. Gosh, I was nervous." Tad hesitated.

  "Well?" said Ricky.

  "Yes, well. I told him what I wanted and he asked me to sit. Then he asked my what my prospects were and how I would be able to support a wife and everything. Mind you I assured him that I didn't want to marry for a while. Just to have an engagement. He questioned me and questioned me. He wanted to know how much I earned, and what other money I had. I was able to tell him what I do with the money I do earn and how I buy shares in the newspaper with it. I told him, too, about the shares you gave Will and me. He seemed to be a bit surprised that I do save."

  "Was he happy about that, Tad?" asked Ricky.

  "He ought to be," put in Will. "You never seem to think of anything else but newspapers and how you can make enough money to be able to marry Amabel. I want to do more with my life than marry someone. Seems to me that once a man is married he never has time for anything else. Look at us. Ricky and I are free to go where we want and do as we please."

  Will missed seeing Ricky colour at these words. He tried to cover his mild confusion by asking more about the interview and then they fell to discussing what Tad's future plans should be. Ricky offered him the top floor of the house for when they married and they discussed how that could be modified to suit their needs.

  At the back of Ricky's mind he wondered how all their lives could alter in the next few years. Will seemed to be content to be just Will, painting when he felt like it and enjoying the life he led. He was selling quite a few paintings nowadays so he was not as dependent on Ricky as Ricky had thought he would be. In a way Tad and Ricky took a small part in Will's life but they were always there when he wanted or needed them. He had a careless regard for anything serious in life and was content to just let it all slide. Ricky wondered how he would get on if his interests took him out to the Hawkesbury often, perhaps even settling out there at some time, with or without someone like Miss Elston. He was afraid that Will would miss his brothers and Ricky made a pact with himself to see that Will was not left bereft.

  Mr Forrest wrote telling Ricky of two properties that may suit and so he went to stay at "Claremont", the Forrest property, and enjoyed himself immensely. He was very careful to watch Miss Elston from afar, not wishing to hasten things along too quickly, but was very pleased when opportunities cropped up which allowed him to have some conversation with her. By the end of that first weekend he knew that his heart was telling him aright that he was in love. Not just with a sweet girl who had nothing much to commend her but her looks. No, he felt that his Miss Elston was a young lady of character and good sense. Not that she was not attractive, indeed she was, but her beauty was more of a wholesome type rather than the extreme prettiness of some of the town girls he had met. He hoped that he would be able to make many a
visit and get to know her very well. He was delighted when Mr Forrest, casting a wary eye on the young man, suggested that Miss Elston accompany them on their inspection of a dairy farm nearby.

  "Not that I wish for her expert opinion," said Mr Forrest, with a laugh, and looking down at the young lass, "but Jenny wishes to visit Mrs Ormsby who is looking after her father."

  As they drove off down the avenue of trees, Mr Forrest told Ricky about the man they were to visit. "John Raynes is an old man now," Mr Forrest said. "He had a stroke not long ago and so is now unable to get around. He has been a wonderful dairy farmer all these years that he has been in the colony. About thirty, I think. I would say it is about the best dairy I have seen out here. He has a large herd of Guernseys and has specialized in producing butter and cheese. Unfortunately he has no sons to follow him but has six industrious daughters who are also married to farmers. His wife died some years ago, and my goodness, she was a worker. His daughter, Mrs Ormsby, lives quite near and has come to be with her father until he sells up. Then she will take him to her home."

  "I look forward to meeting him, sir. If I cannot manage to buy his farm, then, perhaps he can advise me about some other," said Ricky.

  "He could at that," said his host. "He is well thought of around here."

  Jenny Elston sat in the phaeton looking around her and waving to this one and that. Mr Forrest sat beside her and pointed out the various farms and other interesting features of the countryside. He was quite a knowledgable man and was apparently keenly interested in the doings of his district. He was on the roads board and noted any part of the road that they were travelling on that was less than par. He showed Ricky where the road changed considerably and said that Mr Raynes had taken it upon himself to keep his section of road in good order at all times.