“Yeah. Not pleasant, I know.”
“Has it happened to you?”
“No, never. Though I’ve seen plenty of people who have. Copperheads, Tigers, and Death Adders are the most common, and it has to be said, more often than not it’s women who fall foul of them. I suppose because we men wear such sturdy boots we’re better protected. In the future you must be aware, stay well away from anything that could be construed as a resting place for snakes. They hate being disturbed.”
“I will. What time is it?”
“Almost four.”
“What! Oh, I’ve slept all that time…and you, the ranch…”
“The ranch is fine. Jack’s been to tell Jonnie and he just cracks on with things. But I’m off now. I’ve asked Coralee to stay here tonight, and of course she’s more than willing.”
“Oh, but really, I feel fine.”
“No buts! The wound could become infected, you could start with a fever. I’d want to know about it, and be sure you’re not alone.” He smiled and walked to the door.
“Lucas?”
He turned, his hand on the door handle.
“I can never thank you enough. I couldn’t,” she added, “ask for a better friend or neighbor.”
He nodded slightly before closing the door quietly behind him.
Ella did not have a fever, nor did she have any complications from the cut to her skin. Nevertheless, Coralee insisted on staying overnight and sleeping in the lounge.
“Just in case,” she said with a grin. “Besides, I daren’t go against Lucas’ wishes!”
Ella felt the color rush to her face. “He is very…dependable,” she said shyly.
Coralee smiled. “I can think of better ways to describe him, but I’ll save it for another time. For now, and because you’re looking so much better, I shall make us something to eat.”
»»•««
Lucas and Jonnie were sharing a meal. Jonnie had cooked a rabbit with grilled onions and corn.
“Ella had a lucky escape if it was a Tiger,” Lucas said, chewing thoughtfully. “Thanks for shifting that rubbish, Jonnie. See any signs of the critter?”
Jonnie shook his head. “Nope. Ella though could have died.” He shook his head. “It’s that English thing isn’t it?”
“What English thing?” Lucas laughed.
“You know, people come out here, see the green countryside and think how like the old country it is, so they wander around without fear.” He shook his head. “People need to learn about this stuff.”
“True. And I’m sure Ella learned a lesson today.” Lucas pushed his empty plate away. “That was damn good.” He yawned. Jonnie stood and collected their plates and cutlery.
“Stay and have a beer, Jonnie?”
“Naw Boss. I’m tired. I’ll stack these in the sink and say goodnight.”
After Jonnie had gone, Lucas stayed on the porch. He wanted to go over the day, recall the emotions he’d experienced when Jack had burst into the yard, shouting that Ella had taken a snake bite.
He pulled his lower lip between his finger and thumb. Jeez, he’d never been so scared in his life. The sight of her, white, frightened, those huge amber eyes fixed on his as though he could make everything better, had cut deep into his soul. He’d realized then that if anything happened to her, he would not be able to bear it.
For the first time in his life he’d felt panic. Not even his arrest and deportation had frightened him like yesterday had. Sure it had been a Tiger snake, and knowing full well the damage they could inflict, he’d done the only thing a man could do. The rest he’d left to Mother Nature and what he hoped was Ella’s fighting spirit.
He wanted to go over and check on her,, but content in the knowledge she had Coralee with her, stayed where he was.
What he was finding hard to come to terms with were her parting words: ‘Good friend, good neighbor.’
And that had stung, for Lucas wanted more than that. He wanted to be her lover, yearned to hold and caress her, protect her for the rest of his days. He stared into the gloom. Ella Bickerstaff. She’d come into his life and taken it over.
Chapter Thirteen
Apart from a slight throbbing in her leg, Ella slept reasonably well, and awoke to the smell of frying bacon. She threw the covers back, undid the bandage on her shin, and was pleased to see there no redness or signs of pus. Standing wasn’t painful, and she quickly pulled on her dungarees and blouse and made her way to the kitchen.
“Good morning!” Coralee rushed to kiss her. “You look so much better. Oh, Ella, you gave us all such a fright.”
Ella nodded. “I shall be more careful in the future.” She sat at the table. “That smells so good, Coralee. Ah, here’s Jack. Good morning,” she called. “Come and say hello.”
“Mornin’ Miz Bickerstaff. Mum sent you these. Said you must be careful of the critters in the future. I was scared yesterday.”
“Me too, Jack!” Ella opened the bag. “Ooh, peaches, tell your mum, thank you. Is there enough bacon to make Jack a sandwich, Coralee?”
“Aw.” Jack shuffled his feet. “I’ve had porridge, but I think I can make room for a sandwich.”
Ella and Coralee laughed. Jack took his sandwich and went to start work.
“I’ll just make you comfortable,” Coralee said, “then I’ll go start the pressing.”
She poured a cup of tea and placed a bacon sandwich on a plate.
“Well, that’s very good of you, but I intend working today.”
Coralee shook her head. “Lucas said not to let you. Just rest up today, he said.”
Settled on the sofa, Ella ate breakfast and barely had time to put her plate down before falling asleep. When she awoke, Coralee was bending over her, a glass of water in her hand.
“My, you slept well. You’ve had a visitor.”
Ella’s heart leapt. She sat up and took the offered glass. Her disappointment on missing him felt like a lump of lead in her stomach. “When did Lucas come?”
Coralee turned away. “It was Jonnie. Lucas sent him to see how you were. He brought these flowers. I put them in water.”
Ella gulped on the unexpected lump in her throat. “Oh, well, thank you, Coralee.”
“I expect he’s busy with being away from the ranch so long yesterday,” Coralee said kindly.
“Of course.”
The following morning, up early, Ella changed the bandage on her leg. The wound was healing well, kept clean and free from infection with a light application of honey. She washed her hair and body with lavender-scented soap and then donned a pair of cotton check dungarees and a blouse. Brushing her damp hair back into a knot at the nape of her neck with trembling hands, she anticipated the arrival of Lucas. Hearing the gate clang she rushed to the door. Coralee and Jack were walking up the driveway. There was no sign of Lucas.
“Morning,” Coralee called. “You look ready for work.”
“Sure am.” Swallowing her frustration, Ella walked with them to the barn.
“Lucas stopped us on the lane,” Coralee said while tying her apron on. “Wanted to know how you were again. I told him you were doin’ just fine.”
Ella nodded. So, she thought, I don’t know what I’ve said or done, but he’s definitely staying out of my way.
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s start work.”
Two more days passed and each morning Coralee said she and Jack were stopped by Lucas as he enquired after Ella’s health.
Ella longed to say something along the lines…“Tell him to come and ask himself!” But pride wouldn’t let her. She could see Coralee was just as puzzled by his behavior, but neither woman further broached the subject. At first Ella had been dreadfully upset, but as the days passed with still no sign of him she began to get angry. Molly Rusting called to ask after her, Dorothy came, even young Phillip from town dropped in one afternoon with a card from the Birks, but no Lucas.
What is wrong with him?
»»•««
By the e
nd of the week Coralee had stopped mentioning Lucas and Ella would have died rather than ask if she’d seen him. On Friday Coralee and Jack finished work by ten thirty and loaded the cart before going home. Ella made the invoices out and at eleven o’clock drove the large order into town, stocking up Martin’s Tearoom and the new store on Fitzgerald Street, which had recently started taking her cordials.
“Phew!” Ella wiped perspiration from her forehead. It had just passed noon and the sun scorched. Tired and hot, she turned along the lane leading to Glen Ayre and Woomba, longing for a cool drink and a wash down. Suddenly a thought struck—why have I never been swimming in my lake?
How ridiculous, she chided. That expanse of lovely, clear, cool water and she hadn’t used it! She recalled, as a child, being taught to swim by her father in the slow flowing, deep river which ran through the farm in Hampshire. She’d been good at it too, regularly beating him in a dash across its width.
Her spirits lifted, imagining the feel of the cool water on her hot skin as she dove deep into the pristine clearness of the lake. About to turn in Woomba’s lane, she remembered her reply to Lucas’ letter was still beneath the cushion of her seat, though it seemed pointless now delivering it.
Forget him.
Her main concern was to get out of her damp clothing and cool down. Closing the gate behind her, Ella drove down to the horse shelter. Undoing the trap, she removed Star’s harness, brushed him down, and after adding fresh water to the trough, laid out oats. Marmaduke ambled over. “There’s plenty for you, old boy,” she said fondly. Collecting her bag, she walked toward the lake, unpinning her hair.
“Ah,” Ella sighed, “the peace of Woomba!” The water shimmered under a darkening sky which held the promise of rain later. She glanced at the thick clouds billowing over the distant hill. The day was extremely hot, the humidity high, and far away, as if in protest, thunder rumbled.
Her clothes clung to her uncomfortably. Dropping her bag on the bank she unbuttoned her dress and stepped out of it, removed her chemise and drawers, kicked off her loose shoes, and without any hesitation, dove into the cool water. Surfacing, gasping at the shock of the cold, she began swimming back and forth, muscles that hadn’t been used for a long time stretching with ease, her body soon adjusting to the temperature. It felt wonderful after the heat.
On her back, floating lazily with her hair fanned out, she spread her arms wide, bobbing gently, thinking of all the days when, after finishing work and making for the relative coolness of the house, she could have been enjoying this instead.
Feeling the sudden loss of sun, Ella opened her eyes. The clouds had gathered, thickened, whirling darkly, and she knew a downpour wasn’t far away. Reluctantly flipping over to swim back, she almost choked on a mouthful of water as a flash of color in the copse caught her eye. She blinked, looked again, and it had gone. She shivered, for it hadn’t been a figment of her imagination. What she’d seen was a blue shirt. She trod water, struggling to collect her thoughts
Lucas? No! It can’t be.
But with no other neighbors for miles, certainly none with access to the woodland, it had to be him. And didn’t he always wear a blue working shirt? Hauling herself from the water, not bothering to put her underclothes on, Ella dragged the wet dress over her equally wet body, donned her shoes, and strode to the gate.
Chapter Fourteen
The day was hot, sticky and heavy, just gone noon, and Lucas, working in the bottom pasture scouring out the water trough, turned upon hearing Jonnie call him. Shading his eyes, he looked up.
“Someone to see you, Boss,” Jonnie said. “He walked through the gate without asking, was on his way to the house when I spotted him.” Jonnie, caution in his voice, eyed the bulky stranger who walked alongside him.
“Lucas! You old son of a gun. How you doin’?”
Lucas stared in disbelief at the man walking toward him, hand outstretched. His gut wrenched with remembered loathing and horror. Pocketing the scraper, he tucked the fingers of his free hand in his belt. “What the hell are you doing here, Slugger?” he growled.
“Well now, that’s not a very warm welcome for an old buddy. I thought as I was passing through, I’d call on me old mate, Lucas. Nice spread you’ve got here. Very tasteful.”
Lucas saw the beady foxy eyes missing nothing and caught the whiff of sweat from the man’s blue stained shirt and dirty trousers.
He turned to Jonnie. “Can you give us a few moments, mate?”
“Sure. I’ll not be far away if you need me.”
Lucas jerked his head and turned toward the house, striding out of earshot of Jonnie, before rounding furiously on Slugger. “How the hell did you know where to find me?”
“Now, now, matey. No need to take that attitude. No need at all. All I wanted was a bite, a wet, and a bed for the night before I move on. I heard from Buster Bill in Perth that you’d headed this way. It was easy to find you once I started asking in town. Done all right for a felon, ain’t yer?”
He’d barely finished before Lucas grabbed his shirt at the throat, running him backward to slam him against the veranda railings. “I am not,” he hissed close to the man’s face, “a felon. I was reprieved and have my ticket to prove it. And I am definitely not your mate. Get it? We may have traveled on the same ship but that’s as far as my dealings with you will ever go. Am I making myself clear?” He stepped back. “Now go.”
Slugger sneered as he straightened his shirt, his eyes never leaving Lucas’. “I don’t take kindly to being treated that way. I served six years in jail and didn’t get man-handled in there like you’ve just done, as though I’m a worthless piece of…”
“Just get off my land, Slugger! I don’t want to see you again. The best thing you can do is move on as soon as possible.” From the corner of his eye Lucas saw Jonnie hurrying over.
“Is that right? Huh! Well let me tell you something, Mister Big Shot Helm, this ’ere is a free country and I’m a free man so I’ll stay where I damn well please. Especially now I’ve seen your beaut neighbor bathing in the lake—luscious as a ripe peach and ready for biting into. I fancy trying some of that!” He turned away, walking insolently toward the gate. Lucas, pulling the heavy scraper free, ran up behind him and swung him around, holding the scraper menacingly.
“You’ve been spying on a woman? You despicable creep!” He raised his hand.
“Boss, no!” Jonnie yelled. “He’s not worth it.”
Slugger shrugged Lucas’ restraining hand off. “I’ll sort you out,” he said. “No one treats me like that.”
Gritting his teeth, Lucas watched him walk along the driveway and out of Glen Ayre’s gate, his heart thudding uncomfortably as the years peeled away. How easy it is, he thought, for one little instance to bring it all rushing back—that hated time on the ship when the raging Southern Ocean had tossed the big vessel remorselessly. Lucas had lain in a hammock not six inches away from the odious man who called himself Slugger, on account of his prowess at knocking men out. He hadn’t scared Lucas, and neither had Buster Bill on the other side of him, another bare-knuckle fighter, for he knew he was quite capable of taking good care of himself. The two of them would lie awake as the ship heaved and rolled, discussing what they aimed to do in Australia. Get the prison sentence served and start making money. It was there for the taking, so they’d both heard. They’d heard about the women too, easy and willing, they’d do anything for a man. “A buxom wench for me,” Slugger had said, licking his lips. “Who’ll do as I bid. What say you, Lucas?”
Lucas had feigned sleep. Buster Bill wanted a young ‘un with lots of soft flesh. Lucas willed his ears not to hear.
And now, here was Slugger, clearly not having done well at all if his appearance was anything to go by, his eyes almost popping out of his head on seeing what Lucas had.
Whilst Lucas knew he had nothing to fear physically from a weasel like Slugger, nevertheless, he would feel much more comfortable if he wasn’t around. Men like him, consumed by
jealousy of another’s possessions and fueled by a wish to have some of it for themselves, could be unpredictable, and for Lucas, that was a worry.
“I didn’t like him,” Jonnie said on joining Lucas, “not one little bit. I may not be a man of the world, but I sure as heck know trouble when I see it—that joker gave it out in waves. And what did he mean about Ella? He needs a bar of soap shoved into his big mouth.”
Lucas nodded. “He’s bad news, Jonnie—no friend of mine I can assure you. I met him briefly many years back. I’m just sorry he found me. Will you finish cleaning the troughs?” He handed over the scraper. “I’d feel better if I warned Ella about him.” He looked down at himself. “Though I can’t go calling like this. I’ll wash and change.”
»»•««
Ella ran, fueled by fury. That Lucas could be so despicable as to spy on her was sickening, but worse than that, it saddened her. Not having seen him since the snake incident had left her feeling grumpy and confused. Why, being the constant question in her head. That he’d asked after her health through Coralee was no consolation at all. She could not understand why he appeared to have no desire to see her.
And now this.
Panting heavily, turning into the road to Glen Ayre, she stopped, seeing the back of a short stocky-built black-haired man walking toward the main road. He kicked at stones and lashed out at the bushes with a stick as he passed them before disappearing around the corner.
He was wearing a blue check shirt.
Gasping for breath, Ela clutched at her throat.
Thank the Lord!
She almost burst into tears with the relief that it hadn’t been Lucas after all.
Oh, what are you doing to me, Lucas? She really didn’t know whether she was on her head or her heels!
Ella hurried home, secured the gate, and ran into the house, leaning against the closed door until her breathing returned to normal. She felt certain he was the one who’d been spying on her, but who was he—and coming from Glen Ayre? Did Lucas know him? Was he a friend?
From the little Ella had seen of the man she didn’t think so. And if Lucas didn’t know him, then he was a stranger in the area.
Australian Odyssey Page 12