by Anna Jacobs
Reggie jerked to his feet. ‘Hey! You’ll damage things.’
‘And get them dirty,’ Lil added shrilly.
‘They’re filthy already, like everything else you own,’ Norah snapped. She turned to Janie and the boys, who had crept forward to watch. ‘Stay back, you three.’
They nodded and took a couple of steps backwards. For once there was no trouble with Janie doing as she was told.
When the men had searched every inch of the bare earth floor to make sure nothing had been buried, they came outside again.
‘He’s hidden it somewhere else,’ Gil said. ‘So we’ll wait until it’s light and search everywhere nearby.’
Lil smirked and pulled her little daughter close, in an unusual show of affection.
Norah looked at her, surprised by this, because she’d never seen Lil cuddling the child, never seen her doing anything but complaining about the trouble children were. Suddenly she remembered how confidently Lil had said, ‘They won’t find anything.’
‘I think I should search Lil,’ she said suddenly, and caught a sudden look of fear on the other woman’s face.
‘Not on your own, you won’t,’ Gil said at once. ‘We’ll send for another woman to be a witness.’ He turned to one of the men. ‘Fetch the nearest woman.’
The man nodded. ‘That’d be Irene Dawson.’ He strode off into the darkness.
A few minutes later, Lil said suddenly, ‘I have to go to the lav.’
Gil laughed in her face. ‘Go here then, behind the hut. But Norah will be keeping an eye on you the whole time.’
Lil shot a pleading look at Reggie, who was sitting huddled up on a log. He didn’t respond in any way. She stayed where she was.
It was starting to get light by the time Irene arrived and the chill greyness of pre-dawn made the whole scene look like a scene from a film, black and white and every shade of grey, no real colours around. Little Dinny was asleep now, wrapped in a dirty blanket Gil had found among the Cheevers’ possessions. Gil had beckoned to Norah to search the child before he carried her across to the hay and told Janie to keep an eye on her.
Lil was sitting on a log now, her shoulders slumped dejectedly, all the defiance gone out of her.
Norah stood up and said to Irene, ‘Let’s get it over with. Come inside, Lil.’
‘No. I’m not going anywhere with you. You’re going to pretend you found the money on me.’
‘Search her here, then,’ Andrew said.
‘Reggie, do something!’ Lil yelled.
He stood up. ‘I protest. I’m going to complain to the police about this.’
Gil repeated Andrew’s words, ‘Search her here, where there are enough witnesses.’
As soon as Norah touched her, Lil began fighting, clawing at the other woman’s face and biting Irene’s hand when she intervened.
Furious, Norah held the woman’s hands and when Lil kicked out at her, Gil stepped forward and knocked Lil’s feet from under her.
Norah knelt to hold Lil and Irene felt her body through her layers of clothing, her nose wrinkled in disgust at the smell of the unwashed body. Her hands lingered at the waist. ‘There’s something here, I think.’
Lil screamed and redoubled her attempts to escape.
Reggie suddenly ran for it, but two men chased him and it didn’t take long to catch him.
As they dragged him back, Irene hesitated, then lifted Lil’s petticoats and there, fastened to her body by a strip of cloth, was a small bundle.
‘Don’t touch it, Norah,’ Gil said. ‘Let Irene unwrap it.’
Inside was a pouch containing a roll of banknotes and some coins.
‘That’s mine,’ Andrew said. ‘You’ll find my initials embossed in the leather of the pouch.’
Gil studied the pouch, keeping it in full view of the group. ‘Yes. Here they are.’ He showed it to the two men standing near him, and they both nodded. He passed it to Andrew. ‘Is this yours?’
‘Yes.’
Norah heard how husky Andrew’s voice was as he said this and knew how relieved he was, how shaken he’d been to think of losing all his savings. She felt like weeping in relief herself. To face life without anything behind you was hard indeed, especially in a strange country.
‘You rotten thief!’ Reggie shouted at his wife. ‘How could you shame me like that, Lil?’
She gaped at him. ‘You stole the money and gave it to me to hide.’
‘Never.’ He took a step away from her and folded his arms.
She jumped up so quickly the two women couldn’t stop her and threw herself at her husband, pummelling and scratching him, weeping as she did so, cursing like a fishwife.
And though her husband was bigger than she was, he had trouble defending himself.
No one tried to intervene until Reggie punched her on the jaw and knocked her to the ground. As she lay there, he kicked her and drew back his foot to do it again. Gil dragged him off her then and she rolled away, groaning.
No one went to help her.
‘You’re the worst sort of scum,’ the foreman told Reggie, his voice burred with loathing. ‘The very worst. I’m taking you into Pemberton. The police can deal with you.’ He looked down at the woman, moaning and weeping on the ground. ‘Get up, you. You’ll need to start packing.’
She fell silent and pushed herself slowly into a sitting position, wincing as she did so. ‘What shall I do if he’s locked away?’
‘You should have thought of that when you started stealing from your neighbours.’
‘I didn’t even know he’d done it till he made me hide the purse. I didn’t!’
‘But you did hide the money for him.’
‘He’d have thumped me if I’d refused.’
Norah stepped forward. ‘Can’t we leave her out of this? I believe her. I’ve seen and heard him thump her.’
Gil shrugged. ‘We’ll see what the police say.’ By that time it was light, so he added, ‘You lot can start work at midday today. I’ll count your helping me catch this scum as part of your day’s work. Take him into the camp and tie him up. I’ll catch up with you in a minute or two. Keep an eye on Cheever. If he escapes I’ll have your guts for garters.’
The men smiled at this phrase which everyone who’d served in the war had had thrown at them.
As the others walked off, Gil turned to Norah and Andrew. ‘I’m sorry about this. They should have vetted applicants for the scheme more carefully.’
‘Do you have the authority to chuck the Cheevers out of our group?’ she asked.
He grinned. ‘I don’t know. But by the time anyone asks, I’ll have done it and he’ll be in jail.’ He turned back to Lil. ‘Get your things packed. I’ll come back for you in an hour in the cart. Will you stay and keep an eye on her, Norah and Irene?’
‘Yes.’
When Gil had taken both the Cheevers away, Andrew looked at the children. ‘Go and get some sleep now, you lot.’ When they’d gone into the humpy, he pulled Norah into his arms, holding her tightly against him, shuddering. ‘I thought we’d lost everything.’
‘Not quite everything. I’ve got some money and I keep it on my person. I hope you don’t mind me keeping it back. It makes me feel – safer.’
He looked at her with a faint smile. ‘I didn’t marry you to take your money away from you, my lass.’
‘It’s only just over ten pounds that I’ve got, but it’s there if you ever need it.’
‘Thanks, love. And I’ll make a better place to hide the family money than the trunk, buy a better padlock, too.’
‘I doubt we’ll need to do that now, or lock our door. Most of the groupies seem really decent sorts.’
‘Yes, they do.’ His voice came out muffled by her hair as he pulled her close again. ‘Are you sorry you came?’
‘No. I like it here.’
‘You’re a wonderful woman. I just wish—’
‘What?’
‘That we weren’t living in such cramped conditions.’
No mistaking his meaning there. She smiled at him as warmly as he was smiling at her, then stood on tiptoe and kissed him, a gentle kiss, no more than a brief meeting of lips. But it seemed to link them more closely afterwards. She looked him directly in the eyes as she added, ‘I wish so too.’
Janie appeared suddenly in the doorway. ‘Mummy, Jack kicked me.’
A voice from inside the other room yelled, ‘I didn’t!’
‘You did so.’ She turned back to her mother. ‘I don’t want to sleep near him!’
Without turning, Norah said loudly, ‘Get to bed this minute!’
‘But Mummy, Jack—’
‘Did you hear me?’
Janie began to cry loudly.
‘That’s enough.’ Norah marched across, took her daughter by the arm, and frog-marched her to bed. ‘One more word from you, miss, and you’ll feel my hand on your backside.’ She didn’t like hitting the child, but she was at her wits’ end as to how to deal with her daughter, who seemed to get naughtier by the day. Janie hadn’t shamed them in public again, but she was contrary and unco-operative in private.
Norah was fairly certain Jack hadn’t laid a finger on Janie. It seemed as if that child sensed each time her mother and stepfather were getting close and did anything she could to stop it. She went back to stand next to Andrew in the doorway, but the spell was broken and after a minute or two, he yawned and said, ‘We might as well get a bit of sleep.’
Norah looked up at the first sunbeams breaking through the nearby trees. ‘I’d better go and see to the cow. People will be coming to collect their milk.
He turned back as if to help her.
‘You snatch some sleep. I can manage on my own. I’ll have a nap this afternoon.’
‘You’re sure?’
She nodded.
He reached out to grasp her hand for a minute, then went inside.
She could feel the warmth of his touch for a long time afterwards, kept looking at her hand and smiling wryly.
It seemed as if fate was always stepping in to prevent them consummating their marriage.
Gil and Pete got ready to drive into Northcliffe with a sullen Reggie, who had his hands bound behind his back. A snivelling Lil had Dinny clinging to her skirts, but was ignoring her daughter.
Pam came across and looked at the child, then at Gil. ‘Let me take her and feed her properly.’
‘She’s wet herself.’ He could smell it from here.
‘So would you if you were as scared as she is,’ Pam said. She looked at Lil. ‘Is it all right if I clean her up and give her some food?’
Lil shrugged.
Pam held out her hand to Dinny. ‘Would you like a jam butty, dear?’
The child looked at her solemnly for a moment, then nodded.
Pam took her away, talking gently, and came back fifteen minutes later. ‘Let me look after her till we know what’s going to happen to those two.’
Gil frowned. ‘They might not be coming back.’
Lil looked from one to the other, seemed to see something in Pam’s face, and said suddenly, ‘Take her.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘I’m a lousy mother. Keep her.’
‘I will, then.’
Gil took Pam aside. ‘She means to leave the child with you permanently.’
‘I know. And I think it’d be the best thing that could happen to the poor little thing. We’ve all seen how neglected Dinny is.’
‘But – don’t you mind taking on another? You’ve got four of your own already.’
Pam shook her head, smiling but with a deep sadness in her eyes. ‘And didn’t give birth to any of them. I love children, Gil, but I can’t seem to make any of my own, so I’ve gathered up the ones other people haven’t wanted. No one’s complained about it so far and I don’t think the authorities will here – especially if we don’t tell them.’
He turned to Lil. ‘You’re sure you want Pam to look after Dinny?’
She looked at him in irritation. ‘I said so, didn’t I?’
‘What about you?’ Gil asked Reggie.
‘I don’t care what happens to the damned brat. I’m not even sure if she’s mine.’
Pam shook her head and walked back to take Dinny’s hand.
Gil felt disgusted with the Cheevers and wondered what’d happen to the baby Lil was carrying. Well, that was none of his business.
When he got to Northcliffe, he had only to explain what had happened to be offered the loan of one of the builders’ trucks to get him to and from Pemberton quickly.
Reggie said nothing as they drove along. Gil had tied him securely to the truck frame. Lil curled up on the floor in the back and went to sleep.
Gil felt bitterness etch his stomach with acid at the way they’d handed their child to Pam without a backward glance. He’d have given all he owned for a child of his own, or even an unwanted child to raise.
Perhaps later, he might find a young lad in an orphanage and take him in. Such places were always glad to get rid of their inmates.
He blinked in surprise at his own thoughts. Was he going mad? Or was he coming to his senses?
A few days later they heard that Reggie Cheever had escaped from custody on the way to Perth, jumping from the moving train while using the lavatories. He’d vanished, so he must have survived the jump.
Lil was now locked away, awaiting the birth of her child and her trial. It wasn’t clear which would happen first.
No one came to make enquiries about little Dinny.
‘That Cheever fellow probably got on a ship to the eastern states,’ Gil said after the policeman had left. ‘And good riddance to him.’
‘What about poor Lil?’ Irene asked. ‘I never did believe she took the money.’
‘She’ll be taken care of by the authorities.’ He grinned. ‘They’ll make her work for her keep, though.’
‘I’m glad Dinny’s stayed with Pam,’ Irene said. ‘Children should be loved.’ She was hoping that she too was going to become a mother and unconsciously laid one hand on her own stomach. She caught Norah’s eye and blushed but didn’t say anything. She was waiting for the right time to tell Freddie and it was proving more difficult than she’d expected. He’d changed so much since coming here that she wasn’t as sure of him as she had been. Not even sure that he still loved her in the same way.
Surely he’d gradually come to terms with their new life and she’d get the old Freddie back?
13
At the end of the week, during which it rained twice, two trucks arrived with a pile of corrugated iron and timber. They bumped slowly along the muddy track but luckily didn’t get bogged down, which Gil said often happened in winter on such tracks.
Each vehicle carried two men, who consulted the foreman and then set to work to build humpies on every single block, helped by the groupies he sent with them.
Andrew was among the latter because he seemed to have a feel for working with wood. Structures he built, like his cowshed, were square and strong, while anything Freddie Dawson helped build seemed to sag and look weary even before it was finished. As did Freddie.
Andrew came home triumphantly when the first humpy was finished. This time they’d been more fortunate, or perhaps Gil had favoured them, because there hadn’t been a draw. This new humpy had been built on the block owned by the young couple who’d moved in to share with the Boyds after the Cheevers left.
‘We’ll go tonight,’ the young man said and his wife blushed. ‘Can we borrow your cart to carry our stuff, Gil?’
‘If you can get packed quickly. Daisy’s wanting her food and a rest after a hard day’s work.’ Gil found he was talking to thin air as they’d both rushed into the humpy to pack, so he smiled and turned to Norah. ‘Any chance of a cup of tea? It’s thirsty work moving folk.’
‘Of course.’
The young couple had their things packed and had left within the half-hour. They’d brought so little with them and were so cheerful about having n
o money that you could only marvel at their bravery and optimism.
‘Thank goodness for that,’ Norah said to Andrew as they stood waving goodbye. Although their new neighbours had been pleasant enough, she desperately wanted a house of their own again, even if it only had two rooms, a rough lean-to kitchen and a bare earth floor. Most of all, she wanted the privacy of her own bedroom, where she and Andrew could live as man and wife. She was surprised how much she wanted that, had never felt as strongly about sharing her first husband’s bed.
‘The children can sleep in the other half tonight.’ Andrew lowered his voice. ‘A married couple should have their own bedroom, don’t you think?’
She looked at him and her breath caught in her throat because there was a message in his eyes, a very welcome message, and with it a question that needed answering. ‘Yes, I agree.’
His smile was brilliant. She felt its warmth for a long time afterwards.
That night they sent the children to bed early, and as the boys were tired, there was very little grumbling from them.
Janie, however, was upset about the move and scowled at the bedroom she’d be sharing with the boys again. ‘I don’t like it here. I want to sleep near you, Mum.’
‘Don’t be such a baby,’ Norah said crisply. ‘Here, let me tuck you in.’
Andrew winked at her as they closed the door of their half of the humpy. He picked up a piece of canvas tarpaulin and gestured towards the floor, waiting for her nod of agreement before spreading it out carefully. A thrill ran through her as he picked up one bluey from his stretcher bed and spread that equally carefully on top of the canvas.
She took a bluey off her own narrow bed and laid it on top of his for a covering.
He stood up and smiled, then took a step backwards. ‘I think I’ll just get a breath of fresh air before I turn in.’
‘Ten minutes?’ she whispered.
He nodded and strolled outside. She caught a glimpse of the star-studded sky through the open door, then it closed. Normally she enjoyed watching the stars twinkle down on them. Tonight she cared only about loving Andrew.
She was grateful for his tact, because she’d never seen her first husband fully naked or he her. It was something decent women simply didn’t do – in fact, her mother always said, ‘I’d as soon walk around the house naked’ when expressing the strongest possible disgust for the idea of doing something.