by Jane Corrie
Watching her take the tray back to the rear quarters, Holly felt a spurt of compassion. It had been as she had thought, only for different reasons. Her Ted sounded remarkably like Hayes and she could understand the old woman's reasoning behind her cryptic advice given earlier. Her lips twisted. Only it wasn't like that between her and Hayes. Ma Bartar couldn't know Hayes saw her as a spoilt child. She sighed. In trying to be fair to him she had only given half the story, and could have talked herself out of what might have been an opportunity. 'You did say you were thinking of getting help, didn't you?' she asked anxiously as the older woman returned, wanting to show she was quite set on obtaining work of some sort.
Ma Barter lowered herself gently into her chair and fixed her buttonlike eyes on Holly. 'Was thinking of getting someone,' she said slowly. 'Mind you, no good coming if you aim on getting hitched in the near future—or come to that, any future.' She frowned. 'I've got ter get someone I can depend on, see? Got a good business going here, but it ain't so easy keeping a weather eye out for the thieving skunks who try and sneak in at night. Only happened once. Lost half my stock.' Her lips set. 'You don't catch Ma Bartar twice like that. Guess they thought I was fair game—on me own, like. There's sure plenty walking around with the scars of buckshot in their hindquarters, that kinda have a different point of view,' she added, a note of satisfaction in her voice.
Holly tried not to smile but failed. Ma Barter's face creased, and Holly knew she was smiling too. 'Not going to be easy,' she went on. 'Finding someone, I mean,' she explained, and Holly's heart sank. Apparently she was not prepared to consider her.
'I don't mind what I do,' Holly said desperately. 'And it's not a question of money either. I only want something to do. And you did say you needed help,' she went on, pushing her point home. 'Surely you can't go on watching for prowlers at night and carry on during the day?'
Ma Barter's face creased again. 'Oh, I manage,' she said. 'When you gets to my age catnaps are all you need.' She fixed a bright look on Holly. 'Course,' she said, 'nothing to stop you coming if you really means it. And I ain't asking fer cheap labour either, so don't you go thinking I am. I pays my way. Ain't short of a few bob, as they say. Only thing I'm saying is, it ain't what I had in mind. Girl like you is likely to get hitched.'
Holly was about to repudiate this hotly when Ma Bartar held up her hand. 'Look, girl, I was a sight plainer than you, and I got more than one chance. Don't tell me there's no one hanging up his hat in your direction.'
Holly flushed. There was Pete, of course.
'Well, as I was saying,' went on Ma Barter, 'what happens then, eh? I get used to being coddled and find myself out on a limb again. Course, I could sell up and take it soft like, but I wouldn't last six months and wouldn't want to. Them birds are my life. I ain't got much further to go anyway and I plan to die in harness.'
Holly was silent for a second or so. A wild idea was floating in her mind. Would Hayes advance her enough to go into partnership with Ma Bartar? It was a flourishing business and she could pay him back in time—and, she thought happily, be out of his hair for good! She didn't know much about turkeys, but she could learn. 'Would you,' she said quickly, 'consider a partnership?'
Ma Bartar's eyes widened in surprise. 'With you?' she asked bluntly.
Holly wasn't quite sure how to take this. Did she think she didn't have the money? 'Yes,' she replied, lifting her chin a fraction higher. 'I have some money, and I'm sure I could raise whatever sum you wanted. It was a partnership you had in mind, wasn't it? With someone older, I think.'
Ma Barter nodded slowly. 'Guess that's what it would come to in the end. Couldn't very well ask someone to take on the donkey work and the responsibility without coming to some arrangement. Now don't get me wrong, girl. I ain't querying your financial state, what I'm saying is, no good your getting involved with this sort of caper at your age and with your prospects. Oh, I know how it is. Said you were like me, didn't I? I just wants you to think it over like. No harm in you coming and trying it out for size like. If it don't pan out, no bones broken. You just comes when you've a mind to. Be glad of the company, see?'
It was left at that, and Holly knew it was no use labouring the point. As much as she was taken with the idea of not only carving out a bright new future for herself but being of genuine help to a lonely and very game old lady, she knew she would have to mark time. Holly's thoughts on the way home were on the whole rather optimistic. She just had to prove herself to her, and she smiled as she thought of Ma Bartar's reaction to her appearing first thing the following morning reporting for duty!
It was a very happy Holly who went in search of Milly on her return to Green Paddocks. Without much ado she told her where she had spent the morning, and almost laughed out loud at the expression of something akin to horror on Milly's face. 'Honestly, Milly, she's not half as prickly as people think. She knows what they say about her and she doesn't care. And she wasn't crossed in love,' she added for good measure, 'in fact, she could have married, but she had this thing about men because of her father. I gathered he was rather beastly.'
'She tell you all this?' demanded Milly incredulously.
Holly nodded. 'She does all the work on that farm, Milly,' she said earnestly. 'And she's old now; she needs help, you know.' She met Milly's sceptical eyes squarely. 'And I'm going to give her help—what's more,' she said a trifle defiantly, 'I've decided to go into partnership with her. I shall ask Hayes to loan me the money,' adding anxiously, 'do you think he might, Milly?'
It took Milly a little while to take this in and when she recovered she snorted, 'What you know 'bout turkeys, eh? Have you gone plumb crazy, child? Can't see Hayes putting up money for no turkey scheme, an' you ought to know better than to go around making promises to folk like Ma Bartar.' She shook her head bewilderedly. 'Never thought to see the day you shacked up with Ma Bartar. After all Milly tell you—and don't you go feeling sorry for her cause she's lonely—she's lonely 'cos she's hornery, I tell you what it was like often enough.'
'It's not like that,' broke in Holly defensively. 'She had to be like that to survive. They try to take advantage of her because she's on her own. Do you know she has to keep watch at night because of thieves?'
Milly snorted. 'All comes down to the same thing,' she said. 'Folk would have helped her out if she'd let them. No, you let be, Holly girl. No good you buying yourself into trouble, and no use counting on Hayes—that fella got all his marbles.'
CHAPTER TEN
WITH her elbows on her knees and her chin sunk in her hands, Holly gazed listlessly over the empty paddocks. Milly was right. Hayes would no more loan her money for the scheme than he would offer her work on the ranch. As Milly had said, she must have gone plumb crazy to even imagine he would. She could of course still go, but she would hate to let Ma Bartar down. She felt pretty certain Milly would mention it to Hayes the first chance she got. In her eyes she would be protecting Holly from taking a foolish step.
Despondency crept over her. She could almost see the result, Hayes coldly informing Ma Bartar that Miss Drew would not be taking out a partnership with her, and shuddered as she thought of the reaction such a communication would bring. Holly would never get past that entrance gate. Ma Bartar had her pride, and Holly blamed herself for not fully explaining how things were.
When she heard the softly drawled, 'Hi, princess,' she thought she had imagined it. When it was repeated she swung round from the fence, and her sombre expression broke into a radiant smile of disbelief, eyes that had held sadness opened wide and sparkled like gems. 'Hal!' she exclaimed, and with a quick lithe movement she was off the fence and running towards him. As she neared him his arms opened and she flung herself into them. At first she knew unrestrained joy, then found herself sobbing into his broad shoulder. 'I'm sorry,' she hiccoughed, 'stupid, isn't it, but I'm so pleased to see you.'
A voice spoke behind Hal and Holly stiffened. So he had come, too ! 'We'll see about those schedules after dinner.' It was drawle
d out and Holly sensed Hayes' disapproval of her emotional reaction to Hal's return. She knew she ought to at least say hello, but could not bring herself to look at him, not in tears like this. Hal, sensing her reluctance, eased her gently round away from the homestead and Hayes' probing eyes. Holly felt him nod to Hayes as he laid an arm around her shoulders and led her away. 'Come on now, girl,' he said gently as Holly tried to stop the tears, without much success. Hal thrust his large kerchief at her. 'Long time since I did that,' he commented with a grin.
Holly sniffed and mopped her face.
'It's not been easy, has it?' he said quietly.
Holly shook her head dumbly. 'It would have been better if I'd married Pete,' she said miserably.
Hal's arm tightened across her shoulders. 'Now you don't mean that. Takes a bit of getting used to, I expect. You'll soon find your feet.'
'Will I?' she answered bitterly. 'Trouble is I don't have any place to put them, except the homestead.'
She felt Hal glance at her swiftly. 'You don't help around any more?' he asked.
Holly gave another shake of the head. 'I'm confined to barracks,' she said dully. 'The boys' quarters are also out of bounds.' She looked at Hal, the sparkle of tears still in her eyes. 'I've no one to talk to any more, Hal, except Milly. Nothing to do either. You know how Milly is—won't let me do a hand's turn in the house.'
Hal's eyes narrowed. 'As bad as that, eh?' he said quietly. 'Guess Hayes didn't quite get the picture. I'll have a word with him.'
Holly's small hands clenched. 'It won't do any good, Hal. He put up with me for the first few days of mustering, then because I tried to save old Pegleg from the round-up, he had me out in double quick time. He only wanted an excuse, and that was it.' She gulped. 'He did free Pegleg afterwards, but it didn't make any difference where I was concerned. I was out.'
'He's not a man to be crossed, Holly girl,' Hal commented. 'As for that old rogue of a bull, there's nothing special about him, except that you singled him out for attention,' he scolded mildly.
'You never did believe me, did you, Hal?' she said sadly. 'You would have rounded him up, too, wouldn't you?'
'It's not a question of what I believe, girl,' he countered gently. 'He's had a good run for his money as it is. If Hayes wanted those strays out, then out they come—he means what he says.'
They reached a log bleached almost white by the sun and Holly wearily sat on it. Hal perched beside her, and she watched the familiar action of his rolling and lighting a cigarette. 'Will you be here long, Hal?' she asked hopefully.
He looked back at her and gave a wry smile, then shook his head. 'A couple of days, I guess,' he answered.
Holly's eyes fell from his quickly and she studied a piece of bark her nervous fingers had pulled away from the soft wood of the log.
'I asked to come,' he said, watching the smoke spiralling up from his cigarette. 'I wanted to make sure you were okay,' he went on slowly, 'but you're not, are you?' The question was abruptly put and made Holly glance at him quickly, then down to the piece of bark again.
She shrugged despondently. 'As you said,' she murmured, 'it takes time. Guess I'll get by,' she sighed.
'Mooning around the homestead all day?' he asked dryly. 'Thought I was doing the right thing for you, girl. Now I'm not so sure.'
Holly's eyes were gentle as she looked at him. 'It's my problem, Hal, and you did the only thing you could have done. I wouldn't have been able to manage Fete. I thought I could, but it wouldn't have worked.' She made a desperate effort to sound airy about it. 'I ought to be ashamed of myself; I still have my home and Milly, no worries either.' No anything, her heart whispered, but she smiled brightly at him.
'Been offered the northern run; means promotion to manager,' Hal commented idly, too idly.
Holly forced herself to sound happy for him. She was really, he deserved the best. It was just that she would not be likely to see much of him in future— and Hayes Chester had accused her of bribing him, she thought indignantly. He was making sure Hal didn't change his mind about working out his contract. Had he offered it to him after he'd requested to come down to Green Paddocks with him? 'That's wonderful, Hal,' she said. 'When will you go?'
'Depends,' he said slowly. 'Haven't decided to accept as yet.'
Holly stared at him and found a waiting expression in his eyes. For a moment she was puzzled, then she said quickly, 'Hal? Are you refusing the job because of me?'
'I'm not taking work that far up north and leaving you eating your heart out down here, that's for sure,' he said firmly.
Holly sighed and shook her head crossly. 'I wish I hadn't come to find you,' she said. 'It's so unfair to burden you with my worries, and they're not really worries. Trouble is,' she added despondently, 'Hayes Chester was right. I've been spoilt—I want things to stay as they were for ever, but they never do, do they?' She caught his hand impulsively. 'Promise me you'll accept the job,' she urged him.
Hal's fingers closed around hers, and he looked steadily at her. 'I'll accept,' he said quietly, 'on one condition. You come with me, as my wife.'
Holly's eyes clouded over. She was very near to tears again. Here he was, sacrificing himself again for her sake. If only she had been prepared for his coming she would not have broken down like that and made him feel obliged to do something about it.
'That's blackmail, Hal,' she said, smiling through misty eyes. 'And I couldn't let you do it, so stop making yourself the burnt offering.'
His hand tightened over her small one. 'I mean it, Holly,' he said quietly. 'And you've not got it right, you know. You're the one who'll be making the sacrifice. I've not much to offer you. Not as much as you were brought up to expect, and what your father would have wanted for you, but I'd make darn certain you were happy.' He looked down at her hand and turned the palm towards him. 'I said you weren't the noticing kind, didn't I?' he murmured gently.
Holly started and her wondering eyes met his. He loved her I There was no mistaking that look— why hadn't she seen it before? Always taking his firm but gentle guidance for granted. 'Hal?' she said hesitantly, as if not quite sure.
He pulled her closer to him and cradled her head against his chest. 'For as long as I can remember, princess,' he said softly. 'Guess I'll have to let you think about it. I know I'm too old for you and if there was a better man I'd let you go. I've steeled myself against that happening for years, so it would be no hardship. Whoever it was, he'd have me to reckon with if he didn't come up to scratch.'
Holly's head turned into his shoulder and this time the tears so near the surface broke through. She could not speak. Hal's hand caressed her hair.
'If the answer's, yes,' he told her, 'there's a homestead with the job. It needs a bit of licking into shape, but it's large enough for us to have Milly, too. Guess you wouldn't want to leave her.'
Holly swallowed and began mopping operations again, then pulled herself away from his protective hold. 'You're still using blackmail,' she accused him with a catch in her voice.
He grinned and ruffled her hair. 'Well?' he asked gently.
Holly's troubled eyes travelled over the familiar lines of his face, to the firm moulded mouth and the strong jaw. Yes, Hal would look after her. It was what she wanted, wasn't it? He'd always be there. She recalled the young waitress's words. 'I'd settle for the blond if I were you.'
She knew a sharp sense of sadness; if only she loved him as he deserved to be loved ! But perhaps she did—hadn't she missed him terribly? Wasn't he a part of her life? The trouble was that she had never been in love, and the only crush she had ever had on a man had been for Hal. She would marry him, it was just that the idea was new to her. She looked back at him. 'Yes, Hal,' she said slowly.
A small light appeared behind his blue eyes and he placed his hand gently under her chin and lifted her face to his. Very gently he kissed her; a kiss of thistledown. 'That's my girl,' he whispered. 'You'll never regret it. I won't rush you, we've all the time in the world.'
Holly understood—they would marry, and Hal would give her all the time she needed to adjust herself to the married state. She vaguely wished he wouldn't; it would be so much better if he rushed her off her feet. Take the kiss he had just given her; it was as if he was afraid to touch her. Holly felt she couldn't bear it if he always treated her like that, as if she were delicate china. She wanted to be swept off her feet—to be crushed in his arms and shown that he loved her.
With Hal's arm around her they wandered back to the homestead. Holly could feel his quiet happiness at her acceptance as he spoke of the future and how he would get the wheels in motion as soon as he had spoken to Hayes. At the mention of Hayes, Holly felt a cold feeling playing down her spine, and her lips set. He would no doubt be delighted she was finally out of his hair. She also thought of Green Paddocks and a sadness enveloped her, it would never be her home again. She forced herself to listen to Hal's plans for the future.
Milly was the first to be told and her reaction surprised them; she burst into tears and bustled out of the kitchen, leaving Holly and Hal staring at each other. Then Hal grinned. 'Thinks you're leaving her,' he said dryly. 'Better go and have a word with her,' he advised.
Holly went in search of Milly, leaving Hal to seek Hayes out and tell him of their plans.
Milly was making out she was busy folding sheets from the linen cupboard only they had already been folded once. Holly made her leave them alone and attend to her. 'Really,' she gently scolded, 'what was all that in aid of? Poor Hal! I thought you'd be pleased. I've a good mind to leave you here and not ask you to come with us.'
Milly sniffed loudly and started refolding the sheets again. It was plain she was not happy. 'What you want to marry that fella for?' she said plaintively. 'Hal's okay, but he's not your fella.'
Holly stared at her. So she had been right ! Milly had been nursing hopes about her and Hayes. 'Hal's the nicest man I know,' she said quietly. 'And I'm honoured he's asked me to marry him.'