And Those Who Trespass Against Us

by Helen M MacPherson

  Catriona trimmed the lantern between the two of them, in an attempt to reduce the number of insects drawn to the lantern's flame. "She is. Some days I think it's only been her generosity which has saved a lot of poorer families from going bust."

  Katherine snickered. "With the questions I was asking, I was beginning to sound like one of the members of the ladies' committee."

  "Speaking of which, you're doing a commendable job of steering clear of them." Catriona leant back in her chair and crossed her ankles. "If I recall, last week was only the third time you hadn't managed to wrangle your way out of their clutches."

  "I very much prefer administering to the hardworking families of the district. Between the ladies' committee's incessant questions about you, whether I would prefer to live in town, and my need to maintain polite, flippant, vacuous conversation, well, the visits leave me drained." Katherine sighed. "Although, as a nun, I do understand I still need to be courteous to them. I wish it wasn't so hard." Katherine lightly slapped Catriona.

  "What was that for?"

  "You're not much help. You take a perverse delight in seeing the look on their faces when you drop me off at their homes. I swear, the other day when you accompanied me astride your horse, I thought Mrs. Simpson was going to have a conniption."

  Catriona softly laughed. "It keeps me from falling off my horse."

  "Of course it does," Katherine scoffed. "It has nothing to do with you upsetting them. I just wish they were more sympathetic to those less fortunate."

  For a while they sat in silence, listening to the sound of the wind as it whistled through the trees.

  "Do you ever wonder whether you made the right decision?" Catriona asked.

  Katherine crinkled her brows. "What, visiting the ladies' committee?"

  "No, becoming a nun. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

  Katherine lightly patted Catriona's hand. "Given some of the probing questions I ask you, I think it's only fair I answer yours." She took a breath and slowly exhaled. "When I see families who, despite their struggles, are so happy, I wonder what it would be like to be married, with children and a house to live in."

  "I expect you could have easily had that in Ireland."

  "Yes, I could have." Katherine stopped at the sound of a bird echoing in the trees overhead. "But look what I would have missed. The raucous noise from the white sulphur-crested cockatoos landing in the tree outside my window every morning, turning it from green to snowy white. The shrill laughter of that cheeky kookaburra when I hang out the washing. I swear he's sharing a secret joke with the other kookaburras. And the colours out here, they're so different from Ireland. There are so many shades of green, not to mention the skies at dusk and the stars. This country is full of splendour, yet harsh at the same time."

  Catriona looked up at the night sky. "It's beautiful in its own way."

  Katherine pointed to a constellation. "That's the Southern Cross, isn't it?"

  Catriona followed Katherine's hand. "Yes, it is."

  "It reminds me of a kite, with its tail blowing in the wind. I loved kites when I was a child, but my father was continually frustrated when I would let them go."

  Catriona scratched her head. "I don't think I've ever seen a kite."

  "I'll make you one if you like. Look, two shooting stars parallel to each other." Katherine fell silent.

  Catriona snorted. "I don't believe what I just saw, sister. Correct me if you dare, but I'm sure I saw you close your eyes at the passing of those shooting stars. Perchance you weren't indulging in the pagan act of making a wish, were you?"

  Katherine laughed at Catriona's mock severity. "Indeed I was, Miss Pelham. As one of many of God's spectacles I was thanking Him for the opportunity to view such a rare event." She faced Catriona, trying to mask her embarrassment at being caught. How could she admit that her wish involved the hope that the ladies' committee would soon tire of asking her to move in to town, when she so very much loved where she was, being here with someone she could easily relate to? In an attempt to deflect Catriona's question, Katherine decided the best form of defence was attack.

  "And are you telling me you would let such an opportunity go unnoticed to make a wish?"

  "I never let an opportunity go unnoticed if the time is right," Catriona said quietly.

  For a moment neither spoke as they looked at each other. Catriona ran her hands through her hair and eased herself out of her chair. She threw the remains of her tea into the inky black of the night. "If you'll excuse me, I'm off to bed. I have to check fences in the top paddock tomorrow, as well as go into town."

  "I haven't yet seen all of the property, and I've not got any commitments tomorrow. May I come along? I can help you with whatever it may be, even if it means only holding a hammer. Besides, how can you do all this by yourself?"

  "I'd be happy for your company, but we won't be alone. Mr. Connor and his sons from the adjacent farm will be helping me. The fence stops their cattle from straying onto Gleneagle and ruining my crops. I pay them for the work. I'd be happy if you didn't mention that the job could as easily be done by two than by six, for all the sons will be there with their father tomorrow. I'm sure they're also aware of this, but they're not so foolish as to refuse money they sorely need. It's a private game between us. They'll provide lunch. It's the way their family showcases their skills. Their mother is one of the better pastry cooks in the district." Catriona picked up the lamp.

  Katherine followed her through the door and into a well-lit kitchen. "I remember now. Four sons, two daughters, and another baby on the way. I can't fathom how they manage, but it's understandable when they've a neighbour like you." Katherine was well aware that behind a brash exterior was a woman who had a true affinity with the people out here, with the exception of a minor affluent few. Maybe that's why the men treated her with such respect.

  Catriona's face reddened. "It's something any good neighbour would do for another," she brusquely replied. "And, besides it's a reciprocal arrangement."

  Catriona trimmed the wick on the old, utilitarian lamp they'd used outside and picked up the inside lamp from the kitchen table. "I'll take you to your room and light your lamp for you if want. You best be getting some sleep. It'll be a long day tomorrow." She walked through the house with Katherine in tow.

  Katherine hurriedly dressed into her threadbare shift. She was glad the garment was so light, for at the moment most of the nights were so balmy. As she prepared for bed, she couldn't help but think about Catriona, who tried so hard to hide the good she did for others. That was not the only thing she concealed though. She was also very good at disguising her emotions, which Katherine thought was a defence mechanism she'd used since losing her parents. Katherine drew her curtains. Pulling down the covers, she hoped a time would come when she could repay the kindness she'd been shown. Climbing into bed she quickly fell asleep, her dreams full of shooting stars and town matriarchs hot in the pursuit of a laughing Catriona, who remained tantalisingly out of their gnarled grasps.

  KATHERINE'S DOOR CLOSED and Catriona headed for the sanctuary of her own room. She sat on her bed and undressed. "Damn that was close," She muttered. She knew she needed to be more careful with what she said to Katherine, particularly when she sat so near. Such comments, if interpreted correctly by Katherine, could force her into the town, where those old matriarchs wanted her.

  They'd established such a good friendship which wasn't likely to continue if Catriona scared her away with either words or actions that could never be reciprocated. Catriona shed the remainder of her clothes and got into bed, relieved that Katherine hadn't pushed her about any wishes she would have made on the shooting stars. After all, how could she explain that her wish involved wanting to get closer to her?

  KATHERINE AWOKE THE next day to a knock on her door and the sound of footsteps continuing down the hallway. In the muted grey of dawn she lit her lamp, read her morning passage, then quickly dressed and headed for the kitchen. She looked at
the clock above the stove.

  "I know you said early, but I didn't expect it to be this early."

  "Good morning." Catriona placed a plate of bacon and eggs and a cup of hot tea on the table and motioned Katherine to take a seat. "It's better if we travel now, that way we can make best use of the daylight hours."

  In short time their breakfast was finished and the dishes washed.

  Catriona checked the stove and then straightened. "Do you need anything else from your room?"

  "I don't think so."

  Catriona tossed a water bladder over her shoulder and picked up her hat from the table. "We better get going then." She looked down at a ladies' broad-brimmed hat which sat at the end of the table. "Are you sure you don't need anything else?"

  Katherine rolled her eyes. "I've said it once, but I'll say it again, in case the sun has addled your brain. I'm not wearing a hat over my wimple and veil."

  "Suit yourself, but don't come crying to me when, in a few years time, your beauty is all but gone."

  Without waiting for an answer, Catriona walked out the door.

  Katherine self-consciously brought her hand to her face. Did she say I was beautiful? Her eyes narrowed and she shook a finger at the back door. "You can't fool me. That was no more than another one of your tricks to get me to wear that hat. I won't be fooled that easily." Walking past the headgear, she headed toward the barn.

  KATHERINE ONCE AGAIN shifted in her seat.

  Catriona looked sideways at her. "I told you in the barn that the journey would take two hours."

  "Yes, you did," Katherine grumbled. "And next time I'll accept your offer of a cushion. By the way, when I was in town the other day, I overheard the constable discussing the local bushrangers." Despite the danger, Katherine couldn't control her excitement at the thought of such desperados.

  "They're ranging around the district again. The constable's upset because they're too smart for him to catch them. I've no doubt it's because they're being protected by the poorer families of the district. The bushrangers never rob from these families. They only target the richer graziers. With tactics like that I doubt they'll ever be caught."

  "Have they robbed you?"

  "No, but that doesn't mean they're not dangerous. For the immediate future it might be best, when you have to leave the house, for you to leave me a note, so I know who you're visiting."

  "Of course." As they topped the rise of a hill, Katherine saw, in the very far distance, a group of trees which couldn't readily be called a copse, yet were a strange presence in such a landscape. Katherine pointed. "What's over there? Is it still part of the property?"

  Catriona stared straight ahead. "It's still part of the property, but it's nothing now but a dried, weed-choked spring. I don't think it's properly flowed for years."

  "You're not even looking. How did you know what I'm pointing at?"

  "There's not too much of this property that I don't know like the back of my hand."

  Catriona's clipped tones were lost on Katherine. "How do you know it's dry?" she enthusiastically asked. "If it's not, it might be a wonderful place for a picnic, wouldn't it?"

  "It's not nice and it's most likely overgrown, and full of snakes. Besides, I've hardly the time for picnics. And I don't want you going there by yourself. If you hurt yourself you mightn't be found for days."

  Catriona whipped the horse into a faster pace, making it difficult for Katherine to look behind her at the trees and hold on at the same time. She thought that there was obviously more to the spring than what Catriona was telling her. Rather than commence their day on a sour note, Katherine let the matter rest. There'd be plenty of time to ask again, when her companion wasn't in such a prickly mood. She attempted to steer the conversation onto safer ground, "You mentioned you had cattle on your property?"

  Catriona's features slightly relaxed. "We run a herd of beef cattle in the top paddock. At last count I think it was only fifty head, nothing too substantial. They're currently in the paddock close to a gate connecting this property to the Connor property."

  Katherine frowned. "Why do you need a gate between the two farms?"

  "This enables a business arrangement between us, regarding the free agistment of Connor and Gleneagle cattle. We switch between properties, allowing the herds to graze on the other property when the grass gets too low on one."

  "I didn't think the Connor selection was that big." Suddenly the pieces came together. "You do this for them, don't you?" Catriona shyly smiled and pretended to occupy herself with the handling of the wagon and horse. "Why are you so uncomfortable about people knowing how much you help others?"

  Catriona shifted in her seat. "The less people know about it the better. I trust you not to say anything to them. I'm sure if the arrangement was actually mentioned to Mr. Connor then he would insist on paying me for his agistment on my property. And besides, in times like this when Alexander's away, it does help to have another pair of eyes on the cattle."

  Katherine nudged Catriona. "You can't fool me, you're overly generous." Catriona merely grunted and urged the horse forward.

  SIX PAIRS OF hands made quick work of the fence repairs. Katherine was spellbound by the process used by the team. Some of the group barked the trees, while others split the logs, and Catriona prepared the hole for the posts to go into. When finished, they placed a wood structure on both sides. Roughly hewn, it looked like a stepladder erected on both sides of the fence to stop clothing being torn when climbing through barbed wire.

  Katherine handed a water bag to Catriona. "Why don't you cut the trees down when you arrive, rather than leave them on the ground?"

  Catriona took a swig from the bag. She then soaked her handkerchief and wiped her face. "The trees must cure first." She offered the water bag to Mr. Connor, who gratefully accepted it. "Otherwise we'll be left with warped posts, and a warped fence line."

  "What's that for?" Katherine asked.

  Catriona wiped her hands on the seat of her trousers. "It's a step-over system used around this area. It eliminates the need to travel the extra distance by road."

  "Such a simple invention and yet so versatile," Katherine said.

  The group shared a laugh, most likely at her incessant questions. One of the men slapped Catriona on the back as they gathered the tools together. Katherine was again amazed by how well she worked with the men. Catriona clearly didn't possess their strength but she still managed to hold her own. She laboured with gracefulness and a surety of purpose that Katherine had never seen in other women. She reminisced on the moment, during the morning, when Catriona's axe swing missed its intended target. Catriona casually laughed with the rest of the men, about her poor aim. When she laughed her face altogether changed, and her eyes took on a completely different light. She had such a natural beauty. Katherine felt it such a shame that she chose to live her life without someone close to share it. Bringing herself back into the present Katherine decided to occupy herself in a more practical manner.

  Rather than waste the time of one of the men, she set out the lunch, which was more than an adequate fare for the seven of them. Catriona was right. Mrs. Connor had prepared a number of sweet and savoury pastries which were easy to eat on the run. With the tea Mrs. Connor had also provided, it reminded Katherine of the ploughman's lunches she'd often eaten in Ireland.

  Unlike Ireland in late October, the sun was hot, and her woollen habit wasn't helping matters. She placed the back of her hand to her face and felt even more heat, only imagining what her face would look like by the time she got home. Maybe I should swallow my pride and wear that hat after all, she concluded. When the men and Catriona finished their work, she motioned them over for their meal.

  MR. CONNOR WIPED his hands together. "That was lovely, even if I do say so meself."

  Katherine placed the remainder of the lunch into a wooden box the Connors' had brought it in. "And all thanks to your wife. How is she faring?"

  "After six children she's well and truly got
this child bearing thing down pat. She's fine or at least she looks like she is."

  "If you don't mind I might pay her a visit, to see how things are going," Katherine said.

  Mr. Connor stood, his sons following their father's action. "I don't mind at all Sister Katherine, and I'm sure the missus will be happy for a break from the young-uns." He held his hand out to Catriona and she took it. "Thanks again, Catriona. Let me know when you want a hand moving your cattle. I'll send one of the boys down."

  "Not a problem." Catriona picked up her water bag. "We better get going. I've still got business in town."

  THE RETURN TRIP to the homestead was quiet and especially strained when they once more passed by the trees in the distance. Catriona again concentrated on the task at hand rather than acknowledge the copse. In truth, she was lost in her thoughts of her time with Adele and her newfound friendship with Katherine. Things were so difficult at the moment and she was slowly losing the fight over her feelings for Katherine. She wanted Katherine to stay with her. But seeing her everyday created such a painful wound. For all the pain it caused, she knew she wouldn't have it any other way.

  Katherine held on as Catriona crossed the entrance gate to the property and turned the wagon toward town. "That was a lot of heavy work today. I expect you're grateful for the assistance you received."

  "I appreciate it very much. I know Alexander and I could've managed it between us, although it would've taken much longer. I wonder, sometimes, if it wouldn't be just as easy to employ permanent workers. But in truth I enjoy the solitude being out here provides me."

  Katherine placed her hand on Catriona's arm. "Sometimes there's more than physical assistance you can ask for. If there's ever anything you want to speak about, you can talk to me. What we discuss will remain private."