by Tony Parsons
On any other occasion, Bill Stratton’s information about a neighbour’s stock would have been received by Dan with a lot of interest. As it was, he didn’t even hear Bill’s opinion of the sheep because he was so stunned by the news. Dan held his temper for as long as Bill was present, but it was boiling over by the time he drove away. He charged down to the ram shed, where Jim was topping up feed troughs.
‘Do you know who really bought Glengarry, Jim?’ Dan exploded. ‘It was Rod Cameron. Can you believe it?’ He then jumped on Jim’s motorbike and raced it back to the homestead.
Dorothy looked up from the batch of scones she was making when her husband burst into the kitchen. He hadn’t stopped to take off his boots, a sure sign that something was amiss. It was obvious to both her and to Beth, who was also in the kitchen, that he was very agitated. It seemed that the moment of truth had finally arrived.
‘Beth,’ he roared. ‘Did you know it was Rod Cameron who bought Glengarry?’
Beth looked closely at her father’s angry face. She had never told a lie and didn’t propose to begin now. ‘Yes. I found out by chance the other day when we went to Dubbo. I saw Rod’s picture on the back of his novel.’
‘You knew and you didn’t say a word about it? That was damned sneaky of you, Beth. And you, too, Dottie. You both kept it from me. I’m now told by Bill Stratton, an outsider, that it was Cameron. I can’t believe how a man like that got the money for it. A bloody writer, and a dirty book, too. And, if that’s not bad enough, Cameron never let on that he was interested in the place. Not once. He did it behind our backs!’ Dan’s face was red with anger.
Beth wasn’t going to add fuel to the fire by admitting that she’d read Rod’s novel. She knew it wouldn’t help the situation right now. Instead, her mother appealed to Dan.
‘Does it really matter, dear?’ she asked.
‘Does it matter?’ Dan burst out indignantly. ‘We had Cameron here for meals. He took Beth out. Goddamn it, we trusted him. Hector would turn in his grave if he knew.’
‘Hector used to read plenty of novels and some of them were fairly risqué, I’m sure. He used to discuss books and writers with me and I found him to be very open-minded, actually,’ Dorothy said firmly. ‘And besides, Hector never condemned anyone. I think he’d be amused to know how Rod came into his money.’
‘It was the only way Rod could get hold of a property,’ Beth added. ‘That’s all he’s ever wanted and he’s worked towards it ever since he walked away from big-time sport. Rod didn’t want anyone to know he was in the market for Glengarry. He had his reasons.’
‘Glengarry should have gone to a genuine woolgrower. Cameron’s not that,’ Dan growled.
‘What’s that got to do with anything?’ Beth protested. ‘Rod wanted a property as much as your ancestors did, and he worked hard to get it. Rod loves fine wool more than anyone I’ve met and he knows it backwards, too. You know that. He’ll go a long way further than a lot of the people who’ve been here for ages.’
‘Cameron’s done his dash with me and you’re not to go near him, Beth. I don’t want it known that my daughter is keen on a fellow who writes sexy books. Do you hear me?’ Dan demanded.
‘Dan,’ Dorothy interposed. ‘You surely don’t mean that?’
‘I mean it all right. There must be something not right about Cameron if he’s got all that stuff in his head,’ Dan said.
‘What stuff? You haven’t even read the book. If I make up my mind that I want to see Rod, I’ll see him. Rod’s the only man I’ve met who I really like. I’m not going to be stood over and told who I can or can’t see. You’re not going to push me towards anyone I don’t like. No Wally Osbornes for me,’ Beth said vehemently.
‘You’ve got a thing about Wally. He’s a solid fellow, a good provider,’ Dan said truculently.
‘Wally? Solid? The only place Wally is solid is between the ears.’ Beth’s words poured out in an angry torrent, and she barely paused for breath. ‘The only reason Wally has a property is because his father left him the one in Tasmania. So much for your choice of a husband! Rod has more strength of character in one of his little fingers than Wally has in his whole body. Look at the work Rod put in to get you those wool prices. You were pleased enough with him then!’
‘You’re not to go about saying bad things about Wally. Rod isn’t right for Glengarry. And I don’t have much time for people who do things secretly like he did,’ Dan yelled.
‘What utter nonsense,’ Beth exclaimed. ‘There are people in this valley who wouldn’t let their left hand know what their right hand was doing. Look at Charlie Dillon and how secretive he is about buying and selling sheep. Charlie’s a good old fellow but he and some of the others around here are cross-eyed from looking cunning. Rod is a fine man. He had his reasons for being secretive and I can see now that he was right to act as he did.’
‘I think he was wrong. And for all you know, he could be in the process of putting together another book with us in it. You said he used to have the light in the cottage on for hours, Dorothy,’ Dan said.
Beth saw her mother smile behind her husband’s back. ‘It would be so boring it wouldn’t sell a dozen copies,’ Dorothy said.
‘Rod wouldn’t do that,’ Beth said flatly.
‘If I’d known he was after Glengarry, I’d have tried to put a syndicate together to buy it, even if it put us back in hock to the bank again,’ Dan continued.
‘There!’ Beth said triumphantly. ‘You’ve just shown exactly why Rod didn’t trumpet his intentions. He thought you might go off your brain about him. If I know Rod, and I have some idea what he’s like, he’ll make Glengarry even better than Hector managed to. He’s started already.’
‘Cameron will never be the man Hector was,’ Dan insisted. ‘And you’re not to see him while you’re living in this house.’
‘You’re wrong about Rod, Dad. You’re too one-eyed to admit it. Rod will make you eat your words.’ Beth was shaking with emotion but she’d had her say and felt better for it.
‘Dan, dear, I’m sorry but I must say I agree with Beth. I think you’re being very unreasonable and old-fashioned about Rod,’ Dorothy said, placing a soothing hand on her husband’s knee. ‘I, for one, am very pleased that he’s going to be our new neighbour. He’s never been anything but a gentleman – to all of us.’
‘I’m glad he’s moved here too,’ Jim said as he entered the kitchen.
Dan looked from his wife to his son as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. ‘I can believe your mother and sister would be fooled by Cameron, but I thought you’d have more sense, Jim.’
This remark got right up Dorothy’s nose. She resented being taken for a fool. ‘You’re living in the past, Dan, and you’ve got blinkers on. You’ve never even read a novel in your life, so what would you know?’
Dan looked at her as if she’d grown horns. He couldn’t believe his entire family had ganged up against him. He was so steamed up that he forgot it was smoko time, which they generally had in the kitchen, and stormed out of the house and back to the ram shed.
The rest of the family sat in stunned silence for a few minutes until Dorothy spoke. ‘Don’t worry about him. He’s not comfortable with artistic people. He only likes what he knows, and what he knows is right here on Mattai.’
‘I’ve never heard you speak like this about Dad before,’ Beth said. It was a new side to her mother.
‘I’ve never needed to. Now, let’s get down to tin tacks.’ She buttered the scones and put the plate in front of Jim. ‘If, Beth, you decide you want to go on seeing Rod, you’ll have a problem because your father obviously won’t agree. He might insist that you leave.’
‘I’m not going to do anything rash, Mum. I’m going to have a good think about everything. The trouble is that it’s hard to concentrate on anything while I’m thinking about Rod continually. He’s up there in that big homestead and I’m here only a few miles away, yet we’re not even supposed to meet,’ Beth said glumly.
‘I hope he stays on his own,’ Dorothy said and laughed. ‘Rod’s too good a man for some woman not to pursue him. I don’t know how he’s stayed a bachelor for so long.’
‘Do I detect a note of admiration in your voice?’ Beth asked.
‘You do, dear. I admire Rod for what he’s achieved. I wouldn’t mind being your age again–’
‘Mum!’
‘There, I’ve admitted what I think about your fellow. And I’ll bet Bella wishes Rod had been around before she met Wally. Wally wouldn’t have got a look in.’
Beth sighed. ‘Oh, dear. I’ll be driving past Rod’s gate and riding his boundary and I’m not supposed to see him. What a hopeless situation!’
After lunch, Beth drove down to Glen Avon to see Bella. She knew that Wally had taken a truckload of old ewes to a sheep sale so he wouldn’t be around. She had Rod’s book in her bag – she’d asked him to autograph it for Bella when she’d met up with him at the restaurant – and she hoped Bella would be able to read it without Wally knowing about it.
Bella was delighted to see her. ‘You’ve made my day, Beth. I’m so glad to see you!’
They were soon talking flat chat, mostly of Rod’s book and about him acquiring Glengarry. Bella was very forthright.
‘So Rod knows a lot about women. Well, good for him because none of the men around here would qualify on that score. They know more about sheep and how they behave than they do about women. If it was me, knowing what I know now, I’d be up there with Rod every chance I could get, despite what Dad says,’ Bella said vehemently. ‘If you don’t, someone else will get under your guard. Why wouldn’t they? Rod’s a celebrity now, he’s got a top property with a great house on it and he’s a complete hunk into the bargain. Don’t worry about Dad. He’s got all he wants. Why shouldn’t you have what you want?’
‘We’re really just friends. We’ve only kissed a few times,’ Beth said. ‘But I knew almost straight away that Rod was the man for me. He hasn’t told me he loves me, though I think he’s definitely interested – or, at least he was. He’s playing things very cool now. It seems that he doesn’t want to get Dad more offside than he already is.’
‘Dad and his old-fashioned ways and pigheadedness. How did Mum ever fall for him?’ Bella mused. ‘Well, you’re old enough to decide and it really should be up to you, Beth.’
‘I know. I haven’t thought of much else. If I’m to see Rod, I can’t stay living under Dad’s roof. I’d have to board in town and get a job, and I’m not trained for anything I could do there.’
‘That’s Dad’s fault, too. It’s a wonder he agreed to you doing woolclassing. If you ever get to class a clip, you’ll be surrounded by blokes – just what he doesn’t want! I was lucky that Mum stood up for me when I said I wanted to learn more about dressmaking and fashion. Dad probably reckoned I’d be safe enough doing that because there’d be no blokes interested in that sort of thing,’ Bella said with a laugh.
‘I know. But Dad still used to keep tabs on how long it took you to arrive home after your classes finished.’
‘I hope you don’t lose Rod. I’d grab him like a shot if I was single and you weren’t interested.’
‘You and Mum seem to be on the same wavelength. She implied she’d have grabbed him, too,’ Beth said, half-smiling.
‘Good for Mum. I don’t know how she’s put up with Dad and his ram clients all these years. She’s a very intelligent woman and Dad’s range of interests isn’t exactly large. Crikey, how many men like Rod are there? I’ve never met one like him in these parts. I’ve a good mind to go up there and see how he’s getting on. I could take him some biscuits and check on him for you. Dad can’t stop me from going to see him,’ Bella said heatedly.
‘Bella, you wouldn’t. You couldn’t. What would Wally say? More to the point, what would he do? You know he hates Rod.’
‘He’d probably go berserk – if he found out. As if I’d tell him. Wally doesn’t love me a scrap. Don’t be a fool, Beth. You write Rod a note and I’ll deliver it,’ Bella said.
‘That’s way over the top. I shouldn’t let you. And what do you mean he doesn’t love you?’ Beth said.
‘I don’t want to discuss that right now,’ Bella said tightly. ‘Don’t worry about me – I’d like an excuse to visit Glengarry. I’ll find a time when Wally’s not here. The only problem would be if someone calls in on Rod while I’m there. I’d have to keep out of the way. A Saturday would be best because Alec and Jenny go to town for their shopping. I’ll ring Rod beforehand and make sure it’s convenient for me to visit.’
Beth could hardly believe what she was hearing. ‘Are things between you and Wally so bad that you’d take such a risk, Bee?’
‘Yes, I think they are,’ Bella said grimly.
‘So what are you going to do about it?’
‘Well, I’ve decided I’m not going to stay in a loveless marriage. But how to get out of it is another matter.’
‘Why couldn’t you just come back home?’ Beth suggested.
‘Do you really think Dad would agree to that? He wouldn’t understand. If I leave Wally, I’d have to clear right out. Go to Sydney and get a job down there.’ But Bella appreciated this would be an extreme measure. She hoped to come up with a better answer to her dilemma.
Beth drove away from Glen Avon with real concern for her sister. Until she met Wally, Bella had been full of fun and mischief. Even Dan had not been able to tone down her naturally high spirits. Wally had managed it quite quickly, though, and Beth worried about just how he had been able to achieve this. Her sister obviously felt trapped and was perhaps planning to visit Rod as a last-ditch, desperate bid to push Wally’s buttons so that his reaction would give her the perfect reason to leave him. Beth just wished Bella would come back to Mattai now, and worry about the consequences later, rather than living with Wally for a moment longer.
What Bella craved was a confidant, someone she could pour out her heart to and who would give her some advice. She couldn’t do that with Beth because her sister had no experience with men. Jim would be likely to side with Wally. Her father would be hopeless and she didn’t for one moment consider approaching him. Her mother was the only one of her family who might be able to understand her plight, yet fresh in Bella’s mind was the question Dorothy had asked her just before her wedding: ‘Are you sure you’re doing the right thing in marrying Wally?’ Her mother knew that things weren’t working out, but to have to admit that she’d made a colossal mistake was not something Bella wanted to do. She was too proud.
It wasn’t until several days after Beth’s visit that she plucked up the courage to phone Rod. She had managed to read his book surreptitiously in that time. She sensed from his writing that Rod would be sympathetic to her situation and might even be able to help her out of it. She badly needed a friend and Rod might just be it. She waited for her opportunity to call and when Wally went to Dunedoo to play cricket, she rang Rod about lunchtime and caught him at home. Yes, he assured her, he’d be about and very pleased to see her.
Some of Bella’s anxiety slipped away as she drove up the gentle slope towards the Glengarry homestead. It was a place full of memories, as she’d come here so often with her parents. From her earliest days, she could remember the sound of the currawongs calling in the red berry trees that surrounded the main house.
Before getting out of the car, Bella took a quick peek at herself in the mirror. She was a bit more dressed up than usual, wearing a natural-coloured linen skirt and autumn-tone floral blouse with some smart sandals. Satisfied with what she saw, she stepped from the vehicle and looked about her. There had been a lot of changes since her last visit. There were many small paddocks where once there had been larger ones, and there were more sheds now. She pushed open the back gate and walked up the familiar path to the back door. (The Staffords had always entered the homestead via the back entrance rather than by the much grander front drive.) Rod had heard her arrive and was waiting at the door.
> ‘Welcome to Glengarry, Bella,’ he said with a broad smile, and bent and kissed her cheek.
‘And how is the new squire?’ she asked with a flashing smile, feeling more at ease after Rod’s encouraging welcome.
‘Well enough and very busy. Wow. I forgot how alike you and Beth are,’ Rod exclaimed.
‘Bella put her hand in her skirt pocket and withdrew Beth’s letter in its small pink envelope. ‘Here’s a note from Beth. I told her I’d deliver it. I can take a reply back to her if you like.’
He took the envelope and smiled at her forthrightness. Beth had told him that Bella could be very bold. But that had been before she married Wally Osborne, apparently.
‘Thank you. I’ll read it later. Tell Beth to hang in there. I’ll be in touch. Now, are you going to risk eternal damnation and come in? You’ve probably heard what Dan thinks about me, so I guess you’re aware of the risk you’re taking. I also assume that Wally doesn’t know you’re here,’ Rod said.
‘Frankly, I don’t give a damn what Dad said or what he thinks. His attitude is just archaic. And no, Wally doesn’t know about me coming here either. Anyway, I didn’t come here to discuss Dad or Wally. I told Beth I would come and see how you were getting on because Dad has told her she isn’t to go near you. I’ve brought some scones and bikkies, too.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I’m on Beth’s side. So is Mum. It’s a damned shame Dad is so pigheaded. He’s a real tyrant in some respects,’ Bella said.
‘I thought you weren’t going to discuss your father,’ Rod teased.
‘I’m not. Not any more,’ she said.
‘To be fair, I believe that Dan has Beth’s interests at heart. He thinks I’m morally reprehensible and not to be trusted. Definitely not a fit and proper person for his youngest daughter,’ Rod said, smiling ruefully.
‘How much do you like Beth? Are you serious about her?’ Bella asked.
‘Well, no point in beating around the bush, I guess! Look, I like your sister a lot. She’s a great girl. But things are a bit messy right now, aren’t they? Better to let the pot simmer for a while – see if Dan comes around. Meanwhile, I have a lot on my plate with the improvements I’m putting in here. I’m also working on another book – I’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot. I might be too busy with the sheep later on,’ he said.