Frontier Wife

by Margaret Tanner

“Come here.”

  She edged towards him.

  “Closer.”

  She stopped about a foot away from him. He put his hands on her shoulders.

  “Have you changed your mind?” She stared over his shoulder so he wouldn’t read the turmoil in her eyes.

  “No.”

  She sagged with relief.

  “You took longer than I thought to come to heel.”

  “Do you want me to beg? Lick your boots, perhaps? Is that it?”

  “You understand what marriage to me means?”

  She just stared at him.

  “My sole reason in marrying you is to beget an heir. Are you prepared to share my bed, and all that it entails?”

  “Yes.”

  “All right, I'll make the arrangement as soon as I can.”

  “What about David? He needs water and feed for the horses, you promised to help.” Her lips trembled.

  “I'll do what I can.”

  “But you promised.”

  “I'll do what I can.” He ran his hands through his hair in a weary gesture that smote her heart. Rich and powerful, but like everyone else, he couldn’t win the fight against a determined mother nature. “We’re in the middle of the worst drought in living memory. It's a battle trying to keep my own stock alive.”

  “David's getting ready to shoot our horses.”

  “So, to save her brother, the little English rose will sacrifice herself to the big bad frontier man?”

  “Yes, I'll do anything to help David. You know what those horses mean to him. We're almost out of feed and water. Thanks to you no one will give us credit. We can’t even mortgage the farm.” Her eyes filled with impassioned tears. “I won't let him lose everything. They brought him back from Africa to die. He had such high hopes. I'd sell myself in the street before I let him lose everything.”

  His teeth snapped together, his eyes burned with such ferocity she could almost believe he cared. “You're becoming hysterical. We'll be married as soon as I can arrange it, and Tommy,” his voice dropped to a low menacing growl, “I won't take another man's leavings.”

  She lashed out at his face with her hand. “You—you—”

  He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “Don't get angry, little English rose. I was testing you out, and you reacted just as I hoped.” She tried to pull away from him. “You're mine, what I have I keep. Remember this. I'll kill you and any man who touches you.” He let her go so suddenly she almost fell.

  He dragged his fingers through his hair as if trying to gain control of himself once more. “Sorry about that, I’ve got a lot on my mind. Would you like a drink?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  She sat down again, watching as he pulled a cord to summon Mrs. Rogers. She appeared within a short time carrying two glasses of orange juice.

  “Put the tray there.” He indicated a small table. “That will be all, thank you.” He handed Tommy a glass before picking up his own.

  She sipped hers, watching as he swallowed his own in a couple of gulps.

  “We should be drinking champagne.” He dropped into a chair, crossing his long legs at the ankles. “I don't drink alcohol during the day if I'm working.”

  “I don't drink it at all.”

  “Yes, I remember. We might need to change that.”

  He sat for a time without speaking, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Tell your brother I'll have water and feed brought to him every second day for the stallion. The mares will have to take their chances with the rest of my stock, that's the best I can do.”

  “What about Jamie?”

  “What I said about him still stands. He's to live here until he's old enough to be sent to Melbourne Grammar to be educated. Another thing, I'll be responsible for his discipline too.”

  She jumped out of the chair. “Exactly what do you mean by discipline?”

  “I won't beat him, if that's what you're thinking. I had too much of that as a child. I won't allow you to turn him into a sissy, either, always clinging to a woman's skirt.”

  “He's not a sissy, he's only a baby.”

  “He's not a baby any longer; he's a normal, intelligent little boy who needs a man's discipline. Your brother fell down in his duty leaving him to your tender administrations. I won't make the same mistake. Both your horses have been watered. If you want to be home before dark you better leave now. We’ll collect Jamie on our way.”

  She put her glass down and stood up, before picking up her hat from where it lay on the table.

  “Did you trim this?”

  “Yes.”

  “Clever, clever, Tommy.”

  She would have loved to be able to smack the sarcastic, taunting smirk off his handsome face.

  They went outside and the heat seemed to have intensified.

  “I've never known it to be so hot, and I’ve lived all my life here.” He helped her mount, swung himself into the saddle of his own horse and picked up the reins of Jamie's pony.

  They rode out of the front yard, across dusty paddocks shimmering in the hazy heat. In the stockyards bellowing cattle jostled with each other. She could only see three stockmen working.

  “You stay here.” He handed her the pony's reins. “I'll get the boy. No point you choking in all this dust.”

  She watched him gallop off on the large powerful gray that he always rode. By the way the beast kept tossing its head she knew it would take a lot of strength to keep him under control.

  At the stockyards Adam spoke to one of the men who handed Jamie up to him. With Jamie sitting in front of him, he cantered back to where she waited.

  “Tommy, Tommy.” Jamie waved excitedly. “Are we really going to live here?”

  She threw Adam an angry look. He told the child on purpose, making it impossible for her to change her mind.

  “Is it true, Tommy. Really?”

  “Yes, it's true. Will you like that?”

  “Yes. Adam said now I'm going to live with him, I can be his off, off. What did you say?”

  Adam gave a low chuckle, which did funny things to her insides. “Offsider.”

  “I'm going to have a room of my own, too.” He looked at Adam with such adoration she felt a lump in her throat. David should have been his hero, not this darkly handsome, ruthless man who would soon be her husband.

  To be honest, David hadn't bothered much about Jamie, just treated him with a kind indifference.

  “I wish we could stay with you now,” Jamie said.

  “You can't live here until I marry Tommy, then this will be your home.”

  “For always?”

  “Yes.”

  “We had another house once.” Jamie’s brow puckered. “We had to sell it. You won't lose all your money like we did, will you?”

  “No, I won't lose my money; with you to help me we'll become even richer.”

  Although she hated him for forcing her into a loveless marriage, Tommy couldn’t help being moved by the way Adam handled Jamie. He treated him as an equal, never talking down to him as most grownups did.

  Adam rode with them to the edge of his property. “I'll be in touch when all the arrangements are finalized.” He lifted his hand before riding off, a tall man, hard and ruthless as the frontier land that spawned him.

  ****

  After the Lindsays left, Adam set off to see Sophia, a confrontation he didn’t look forward to. The Bothroyd station was as well set up as his own—pity he had to forgo it by marrying Tommy. By the time he stepped onto the flagged verandah, he started regretting his decision. Still time to back out if he wanted to. Damn it, he didn’t want to subject his sons to the harsh, loneliness that tainted his own childhood. More importantly he wanted Tommy with such a burning hunger it scared him. It was only lust, but he wanted her and he resented the fact that he did. If she ever found out the hold she had over him… But she wouldn’t if he kept his head.

  A maid ushered him into Sophia’s private sitting room. He went over to a huge bay window an
d stared out over the extensive gardens. Being close to the mountains and cooler, the property was no where near as parched as his.

  “Adam, what a pleasant surprise.”

  He swung around when Sophia spoke. Wearing a deep green gown, with her dark hair pulled back from her face and caught up in a ribbon, she presented an attractive picture. Only the petulant drooping of her lips marred her beauty.

  “Sophia, I won’t procrastinate. I’ve called over to tell you Tommy Lindsay has agreed to marry me.”

  “What!”

  “I’m sorry if you had any expectations.”

  “Expectations,” she shrieked. “I thought we were betrothed.” Her pretty face turned red and ugly.

  “There was never anything official.”

  “There didn’t need to be. Everyone thought we would marry. I’ll be humiliated, a laughing stock.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll let it be known you decided I wasn’t good enough for you.”

  She minced up and hit him in the face. The stinging slap forced his head back.

  “We have nothing more to say to each other.” He strode from the room.

  Sophia followed him out on to the verandah. “So, the great Adam Munro has fallen in love with some insipid, little English Miss,” she jeered. “You’re welcome to her.”

  Loving Tommy had nothing to do with it. He mounted his horse and galloped away. Vicious damn women; if they weren’t needed to procreate, the world would be better off without them.

  ****

  “Touser’s lost.” Jamie dashed over to Tommy as she pegged out the washing.

  “He’s probably having a nap somewhere,” she soothed, wondering how she could remain so calm when in less than a week she would be Adam’s wife.

  “I’ve called him. Why won’t he come?”

  “Perhaps he didn’t hear you.”

  “He’s lost, he’s lost.” Jamie’s voice rose in anguish and his eyes glistened with tears.

  “Oh, darling.” She knelt down and cupped his face between her hands. “Don’t be upset, he won’t have gone far.”

  What if he had ventured over to Adam’s? Even though he admitted a dingo and not Touser slaughtered his sheep, Adam was ruthless enough to shoot the animal on sight if he found him wandering free. How Jamie persuaded him to let the dog accompany them when they went over there to live was a mystery.

  “I’ll just put the washing basket away and get my hat then we’ll search together, all right?”

  “Hurry up.” He tugged at her hand.

  “We can’t go rushing around in this heat, otherwise we’ll get too exhausted,” she cautioned. “We’ll have a cool drink before we go.” She glanced at Jamie’s flushed, perspiring face and her worry intensified. Common sense warned her they should wait until David returned from town. But Jamie, desperate to find Touser, would start searching on his own the moment she turned her back.

  After they finished their drink, she collected her hat and they set off in the direction of the barn. Touser probably sought refuge in there from the searing heat.

  “I searched in there,” Jamie said.

  “We’ll look again in case he hid under some straw.”

  “Touser, Touser,” they called out in unison, but received no answering bark.

  A thorough search yielded nothing. They went to the water hole, checked out all his favorite haunts but could not find him. She felt close to despair, Jamie absolutely distraught.

  “Get Adam,” he sobbed. “He’ll find him.”

  She didn’t want to go anywhere near Adam if she could help it. The next few days would be her last taste of independence. Once she became his wife, and lived under his roof, the freedom to come and go as she wished would be curtailed. Like most men, he would have set ideas on how he expected his wife to behave. David, with his lazy, easy-going nature always gave her a free hand. Adam would not.

  She wrapped her fingers around Jamie’s grubby little paw and squeezed it. “We’ll keep looking for a while longer. David will be home soon so he can help. If we can’t find Touser, then we’ll get Adam.”

  They searched for another hour until the heat drove them back to the homestead for a cool drink.

  “Phew.” She collapsed exhausted on a chair. “It’s so hot, let’s have a little rest and something to eat.”

  “We’ll find him, won’t we?” Jamie’s eyes beseeched her.

  “Of course we will, darling,” she lied. Would someone have taken the dog? He was old. On pain of death she wouldn’t admit this to Jamie, but the animal was so ugly no one would want to bother with him, especially in the middle of a drought.

  After a quick lunch, they commenced searching again. Swirls of red dust whipped up by the wind added to their discomfort. With dogged determination they kept on going. Several black crows circling over the little pine plantation Uncle Henry had planted were a sudden, chilling sign that something dead lay down there.

  “Jamie, run back to the homestead and see if David’s there.”

  “No.” He clutched her hand. “See the crows; Adam says crows come when something dies.”

  “It’s probably a fox or a rabbit.”

  Jamie dropped her hand and dashed away. “Touser, where are you, Touser?” The only answer came from the cawing crows.

  With her skirt and petticoats slowing her down, Jamie streaked ahead. When she arrived at the little pine forest he knelt in the pine needles beside his fallen friend. “Touser, Touser.” His tears fell on to the dog’s lifeless body.

  “It’s no good, darling.” She tried to pick Jamie up. “I’m afraid he’s dead.”

  “He’s just asleep. Wake up.” He shook the dog’s front paw.

  “It’s no use. He’s gone to doggy heaven to be with God.”

  “No, no.” Tears streaming down his cheeks formed muddy rivulets on his dusty face. “Why did he die?”

  “He got old and tired.” She clasped his hand and led him away. “He had a good life, don’t you see.” She cuddled Jamie as sobs racked his body. “He came down here because he knew his time was near. Touser picked this special place out. Every Christmas from now on, when we chose a tree to decorate we’ll be reminded of him. He wouldn’t want you to be sad, but just to remember the fun times you shared. He’s in doggy heaven with God now; he’ll be happy having lots of other dogs to play with. He won’t get crippled or sick like some old dogs do. Don’t you see it’s much better this way?”

  She ran her fingers through the child’s damp hair. “We’ll give him a funeral, and he’ll be able to sleep here for always. David can make a cross so we’ll know which tree he’s buried under, and we’ll never cut it down. It will always be special. Come on, we’ll cover him over with the pine needles for now, it will keep him safe from the crows.”

  He pushed himself away from her and started heaping pine needles on top of the dog’s body. She didn’t know whether this was the right way to handle such a tragedy or not. At least it made him understand his old friend would never be coming back.

  She scooped up handfuls of the tinder-dry pine needles that carpeted the ground around them. Even the trees looked dry and listless, and she doubted whether they would be able to survive the drought if it went on for much longer.

  Once they covered the body, they heaped a few pinecones on top of the mound. Hand in hand, they walked away, leaving this old warrior to sleep where he fell.

  Chapter Eleven

  Tommy’s wedding day dawned, but it gave her no joy. In a short space of time, Adam made the arrangements: marriage in the Presbyterian Church in the morning, and invited guests joining them for a luncheon at the hotel. He provided gowns for her and the bridesmaid, Fiona, and arranged flowers and suits for David and Jamie. He spared no expense, obviously wanting everyone to share his victory, his total domination of the little English rose.

  “This is so exciting.” Fiona skipped around the parlor. “Your wedding gown is beautiful. Adam showed excellent taste.”

  “Yes, he did.” She tr
ied not to snap at Fiona, who assumed this to be a love match, and she dared not tell her otherwise. If David found out about Adam’s true feelings he would put a stop to the wedding, even if it meant they ended up homeless and destitute. If only people knew that he didn’t want a wife, just a brood mare.

  She had only seen Adam once since agreeing to marry him. He dropped in briefly to fill her in on the arrangements he made for their wedding. He also got her measurements, so he could arrange for a bridal gown to be made up at some exclusive dressmaker’s in Melbourne.

  “I’ve waited years to take a bride, so I want to do it in style; the community would expect it from a man in my position.”

  She had pleaded in vain for a small quiet wedding.

  “No, we do things my way or not at all.” He held all the winning cards and they both knew it.

  “You’re an uncouth, ill-bred pig.”

  “Just be at the church on time.” He’d fired one last parting shot. “I don’t like being kept waiting.”

  The cream satin wedding gown had puffed sleeves, and fitted snuggly, emphasizing her tiny waist. The skirt had a long, heavily embroidered train. The bonnet was of cream velvet, trimmed with orange blossom and silver thread embroidery under the brim. A tambour lace veil covered this.

  Fiona wore a long-sleeved gown of pale green satin; the skirt sported an elaborate bustle and tied back train. “Oh, Tommy, you look so beautiful.”

  “Thank you, so do you.” Tommy gave her a hug. “David won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

  “Do you think so?” She gave a girlish giggle. “Could I, what I mean is, one day if I need to, could I borrow your wedding dress? It’s a secret, David hasn’t said anything yet, but he will.”

  “I’d be pleased to welcome you into the family, Fiona. Of course you can borrow it.” Tommy felt like ripping the exquisite gown off right then and there and kicking it across the room. “It wouldn’t need much alteration to fit you.”

  When the bridal coach arrived, its opulence surprised her. A liveried coachman, wearing a white rosette, drove it. Even the whip was decorated with a white bow.

  Inside the coach white satin cushions were provided for them to sit on. “My goodness what grandeur,” David remarked with a grin. A wonder he even noticed; his eyes had barely left Fiona. He was entranced by her, and what man wouldn’t be? She was such a sweet-natured, pretty girl.