"I said are you going to stand in the water all day or are you going to come in for a swim? The water is lovely and cool, just what you need."
Catriona lowered her eyes. Being caught didn't embarrass her, and neither did the feeling created in her body as a result of her staring. What mortified her was her own inadequacy. "I can't swim."
Adele folded her arms across her chest. "I see. That's not a problem. The water we're standing in is only waist deep. Let me teach you."
Catriona bit her lip.
"What's the matter?" Adele gently asked. "Don't you trust me? I won't hurt you, I promise."
Catriona avoided Adele's stare. "It's not that. You don't want to have to fuss over me. It'll spoil your afternoon."
"You're wrong, Catriona, it doesn't bother me to fuss over you. And besides, my afternoon would certainly be spoiled if I had to think of you sitting on the bank."
Catriona was heartened by Adele's words and couldn't help but think no one ever worried over her. As a girl she was left very much to her own devices. Adele was right. The water was refreshingly cool. Head bowed, she nodded.
"That's better. I promise I won't let you drown. Now the way I'll teach you is I'll support you in the water by placing my arms under your waist. I then want you to concentrate on two things. First I want you to stroke the water like this." Adele showed her the move. "Then I want you to kick at the water with your legs like so." She demonstrated yet again. Adele looked deeply into Catriona's eyes. "You must trust me, I won't let you drown."
At that moment Catriona felt she could trust Adele with her life. In the beginning the lesson went well. She felt Adele's strong arms supporting her in the water. The stroking with her arms was progressing and her efforts, coupled with Adele's reassuring words, made her confidence grow. When Catriona decided to incorporate the kicking part of the lesson, things rapidly spiraled out of control. Her body rocked from side to side, yet if she could only kick harder maybe this would stop.
Catriona kicked so violently she rolled away from Adele's arms. Sensing she was sinking, she panicked and wildly thrashed about. Adele's other arm encircled her waist in a vice-like grip and pulled her upright. Leaning into Adele's shoulder Catriona began to cry.
Despite her tears, Catriona felt secure in Adele's arms. Although she clung to her, for fear of falling back into the water, what was more compelling was she couldn't think of anywhere else she'd rather be. Calming down, she felt emotions surging through her she'd never felt before. Tingling sensations coursed through her body.
Catriona felt soft kisses being placed on the top of her head, and she broke the embrace and looked into Adele's eyes.
Adele reached up and wiped the moisture from Catriona's tear-stained face. "I should have never made you come into the water. You should have stayed on the bank where it was safe."
"I couldn't think of a more secure place than being here with you. The fault was mine. I shouldn't have been so eager to learn."
For a moment the surroundings faded into the background, and all that mattered was Adele. She brought her face down and ever so slightly brushed Catriona's lips with her own, igniting a fire inside of Catriona.
The feelings coursing through her body were unlike anything she'd ever experienced. Wrapping her arms tightly around Adele, she moulded her own body into Adele's. The sensation of Adele's hand playing up and down her spine created another delightful shock through Catriona's body. Unsure of what she should do, Catriona stroked Adele in the same way.
Adele let out a deep moan and Catriona quickly drew out of the embrace.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know I was hurting you." Catriona's words tumbled from her mouth, and she shyly lifted her eyes to Adele's, smiling face.
"You didn't hurt me. On the contrary, your touch pleased me." Adele's face sobered, replaced by a seriousness Catriona seldom saw. "I know this is new to you, but you must realise I'd never do anything to hurt you." Adele paused, as if searching for words, while not breaking her eyes from Catriona's. "That's why I must ask you something. You must know by now how I feel for you. But do you want this? Think carefully Catriona. What we've done so far is regarded by many as unspeakable, and would cause great pain to both your family and to us if we were found out. Do you understand what I'm asking you?"
"I don't understand. I've never kissed anyone like I've just kissed you and it felt wonderful. What's so unspeakable about what I feel for you?"
"It's wrong in the eyes of society. The way I feel for you, Catriona, is the way a man does about a woman. Love of the same sex is an abomination in the eyes of the church and society. I want to share my love with you, but not unless you want the same. The decision is yours."
Catriona stood at a gateway in her life. To step through would mean a different path. Adele was right. What they had done wasn't socially acceptable, but neither was Catriona with her tomboy ways. It may be wrong, but she'd never felt at such peace with herself and this was something she liked. She took Adele's hand. "I want you to love me, and I want you to teach me how to love you in return."
Adele's face lit up. She took Catriona's hand and placed a kiss in her palm. She guided her out of the water to where the blanket had earlier been spread and sat, pulling Catriona down beside her. She leant over and loosened the ties on Catriona's chemise.
With tentative hands, Catriona followed Adele's lead.
Adele slid her hands under Catriona's chemise. Her hands cupped Catriona's breasts. "Your skin is so soft," she whispered. Petite and firm, her breasts responded well to Adele's touch. Adele peeled the wet chemise from Catriona's shoulders.
Catriona felt Adele's eyes on her. Suddenly afraid, she panicked and fumbled with Adele's chemise.
Adele gently halted Catriona's hand. "Let me love you first." Leaning over, she placed a tender kiss on Catriona's mouth. She lowered Catriona to the blanket, softly leaving a trail of kisses from Catriona's eyes to her throat.
Catriona had never experienced such sensations. Her breathing was ragged, and she heard the staccato beat of her heart. Yet soon all she could concentrate on were the light kisses Adele tenderly applied to her body.
With Adele's hands cupping her breasts, Catriona feared her heart would burst. Adele's thumbs lightly traced Catriona's nipple as her kisses followed a path down Catriona's throat and across her shoulder. She gasped when Adele lowered her teasing lips to where her hand had been only moments ago. No longer able to contain herself, she grasped the thick tresses of Adele's hair. Adele's tongue played with Catriona's nipple until it blossomed in her mouth.
Adele broke her connection and placed her cheek against Catriona's other breast. "You don't know how long I've waited for this to happen. I've watched you for so long, my love, fearful of what might occur, if you ever discovered my feelings for you."
Catriona stroked Adele's hair. "I never knew, although you made me feel so strange sometimes, when you looked at me like you did. But this, between us now--I can't believe anything which feels so right could be judged so wrong."
"It isn't, if there's love involved."
Adele's tongue flicked Catriona's nipple and Catriona arched against Adele. "Oh Adele," she whispered.
Adele kissed the hollow between Catriona's breasts, unhurriedly moving down till she reached the top of Catriona's bloomers. She slowly peeled the bloomers down and kissed the crown of dark hair.
Catriona shuddered. "Oh God, how do you do that? How do you manage to make me feel this way?"
Adele lightly laughed. "It's love, remember. There's so much more I want to share with you." Reaching down, she placed her hand on top of one of Catriona's legs and, ever so gently, her fingers traced a path to Catriona's inner thigh. She exerted a gentle pressure pulling her leg toward her, in turn revealing Catriona. Bending down, she kissed the soft flesh between Catriona's thighs.
Catriona felt like she was about to explode. It felt like the lower half of her body had physically disassociated from the rest of itself. Adele softly nipped the insid
e of her legs. Catriona clenched the blanket to stop herself from screaming out Adele's name. Adele's tongue played on a fold of skin no one, except for herself, had ever touched. Adele parted the folds with her tongue, as if she were searching for something special. Catriona moaned. Adele had found the centre of her being.
Letting go of the blanket, Catriona placed her hands on Adele's head and arched her hips toward her mouth. A bright light pierced the inside of her eyelids and time stood still. Then, in an eruption of pleasure, she thrust her hips until she could raise them no more.
Adele moved back up, placing her body next to Catriona's. Leaning across, Adele kissed her on the lips and Catriona tasted what could only be herself. Catriona wrapped her arms and legs around Adele. "I love you. I've never felt like this, and I love you for making me feel this way." Catriona held Adele tightly in her arms. "Please don't ever leave me. I don't know if I could ever love or feel the same way again."
THE ROMANTIC INTERLUDE between the two proved to be memorable yet brief. For six months, both managed to lead the dual lives of governess and student and lovers. Unfortunately, during a period when her father and Alexander were away on business and her mother was supposed to be at afternoon tea, Elizabeth Pelham discovered them. Despite her pleas of love for Adele, her mother gave Adele her notice without reference. Her mother refused to speak to Catriona, instead sending her to her room. On top of Adele's abrupt departure and her exile, her mother had forced Catriona to sit through hour after hour of discussion with Father Cleary. All Catriona knew was that because of the bigotry of her mother, she'd lost the one person she loved. After politely thanking Father Cleary for his words regarding the sanctity of marriage, she told him the same thing she had told her mother. She would never marry merely to satisfy the social requirements of a female living in the Australian countryside.
CATRIONA HAD NEVER again met another lover. Yet she remained resolute. She knew what she wanted. Unfortunately, in a town the size of hers, celibacy wasn't so much a choice as a way of life. Yet, surprisingly, after such a long period of time she'd again found someone. Ironically though, she couldn't have directed her feelings toward a more non-receptive person--a nun.
She thought maybe the best option was to introduce Katherine to one of the town's matriarchs, and see her nicely settled in a well-to-do family.
Catriona shuddered at such an option. She believed Katherine had so much to offer. And her ability to speak her mind--living with those old prunes would see that taken from her. She silently snorted. She'd be nothing more that a confidant to the daughters of landowners and wealthy families. Yet despite Catriona's justification regarding why Katherine should remain at the homestead, the main one was still left unspoken. Catriona had again found someone she liked too much.
Chapter Four
KATHERINE WATCHED THE parties of three and four men move among the rubble where homes and stores once stood. Workmen, already dusty from the day's exertions, divided items into a heap of what could be used again, and put in the back of a cart an ever-increasing pile of what was no longer useful.
"At least the town looks a bit better than what it did yesterday," Katherine said to Catriona.
"It does, but there's so much still to do." Catriona waved to the men who called to her. "I expect it will be a while until some of these people are back on their feet, if at all."
What a strange way for men to greet a woman, Katherine thought. They didn't tip their hats or the use of the word "Miss." Instead, their acknowledgments were like those given to a work partner or an equal.
"It sounds like you're well-known."
Catriona nodded. "Some of the men are part of the farming cooperative. We often share news and crop-raising ideas between us."
"It must be nice to be able to talk with them about things that matter, rather than be constrained by only female social chit chat."
Catriona raised her brows. "I thought you would've preferred such talk."
"I much prefer to talk about substantive issues, rather than vacuous ones."
"Excuse me for a moment."Catriona halted the wagon, to answer a question from one of the workers.
While she spoke with the man, Katherine politely listened, noting that she spoke to the men like no other lady Katherine had ever known. She surreptitiously scanned the woman beside her. Catriona was again dressed in a similar fashion to what she wore yesterday--dusty work boots and long white pants, complemented by a maroon shirt and a broad-brimmed hat.
Catriona and her brother obviously possessed a degree of financial independence, not as great as what Katherine experienced in Ireland, but comfortable just the same. She thought how fortunate for Catriona to be in a position where she didn't have to marry due to fiscal pressures, or to satisfy family. If Katherine had been given the same opportunities, without the pressure of her family, she wondered if she would have joined the convent.
After an abridged trip through town, Catriona again stopped the wagon in front of a store. She hopped off, came around to Katherine's side and stood, poised. With an impertinent grin, she held out her hand. "I know you can get off by yourself. Based on your success last night though, I think it would be better, in the light of day, if I helped you, just in case."
Deciding discretion was the better part of valour, Katherine took the proffered hand. Steadied by Catriona when she alighted, Katherine was surprised at her strength, thinking it must serve her well on the farm.
Catriona reached into the back of the wagon and picked up a mechanical implement. She walked up the stairs of one of the few stores left standing. Reaching the top, she shifted the apparatus to one hip and turned. "I'll be a few minutes. Is there anything you need while we're here?"
Katherine couldn't think of anything. Besides, she didn't have a substantial sum of money. The convent had supplied her with only enough to see her to her destination, assuring her the local parish would then support her. Yet, from what she had seen so far and, with the exception of Catriona's home, it was unlikely the town would be able to provide much support.
Katherine didn't know what she was going to do about that. "N-no, thank you, I have all I need. I'll come in to have a look around if I may."
"Feel free, there's no need to ask. I'm sure the proprietor will be more than happy to see a new face in town."
The shop's interior was markedly darker than outside, and Katherine took a moment to adjust. She cast her eyes around a store that held a bit of everything. There were picks, shovels, and all sorts of weaponry, bolts of cloth, and provisions, to name a few. The store was nothing like the ones she'd frequented back home. She could do a month's shopping in here, without visiting anywhere else. She concluded that the man who owned it must be quite the entrepreneur.
Turning to the counter, Katherine attempted to identify the proprietor and did a double take. Standing among piles of stores and equipment was a short woman with Germanic features. Her blond hair had been pulled into a functional bun, capably suiting Katherine's impression of what a storekeeper should look like. Her dress was a practical one of light blue cotton, covered with a freshly starched apron for the day's duties. Her round, wire-rimmed glasses served to add to her air as a proprietor. Yet, she had a serene face, which put Katherine at ease.
Catriona placed the metal tool on the counter. "Good Morning, Susan. I'm very relieved to see you fared better than some, with yesterday's storm."
The shopkeeper pointed to the implement occupying the bench top. "Get that off my clean counter missy. I've got to lay cloth on this top, and the last thing I want are grease stains caused by the bits and pieces you regularly place on my workspace. The last time you did that it cost me two yards of fine lace. Now put it down on the floor where it belongs."
"Yes, Mrs. Crosier." Catriona touched her hand to her hat, as if mocking Mrs. Crosier. She placed the implement on the floor.
"I'm glad this old shop is made of stone rather than wood," Mrs. Crosier replied as she swept her hand across the counter. "It may be cos
tly to maintain, but it paid for itself yesterday. Unfortunately, my laundry hasn't fared so well. Although, in all honesty, it was only a wood outhouse." She nodded to Katherine. "This must be the new sister. As Catriona's manners have temporarily abandoned her, as they so often do, let me introduce myself." She walked around the counter to Katherine, hand extended. "I'm Susan Crosier. Welcome to Australia."
Katherine shook Susan's firm yet petite hand. "Thank you Mrs. Crosier, I'm Sister Katherine Flynn. Please call me Katherine whenever you deem it appropriate."
"Thank you, and please call me Susan."
Katherine gazed around the store. "Please excuse me for staring, but I'm amazed at the abundance of goods you have in such a confined place."
"There's quite a selection. I expect purchasing goods out here is somewhat different from what you're most likely used to. My store is patronised by people as far as two hundred miles away. They don't always get the opportunity to come in on a weekly basis."
"From that far away--that's almost the size of Ireland, where I've come from."
"That's why some of the families we serve only get into town every six months or so. So it's important they can purchase all their items at once and in the one place." Susan proudly looked at the varied items, uniformly arranged around the walls. "Is there anything you see you'd like to purchase?"
Looking around, Katherine realised how difficult her stay in this country was going to be. There were so many things she needed after her journey. But she absolutely couldn't afford them. Masking the shame of not being able to buy even the most rudimentary item, she walked toward the far corner of the store. "No, thank you. I've more than I require. I'm quite happy to browse if you don't mind." Katherine picked up a hand mirror from one of the shelves. Looking in the glass, she caught the glance exchanged between Catriona and Susan, and the slight nod of Catriona's head.
"If you're going to stay with me," Catriona said, "I don't intend to be responsible for your dying of heat stroke. By now you must realise, from yesterday's near disaster at the train station, it's extremely important to keep your head covered when you're out in the sun. If you've no objections, I'm going to buy you a hat--as a welcome present." Catriona walked to the hat stand at the corner of the store. "What size are you?"
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