Liam reached Maisie, and by way of greeting he backhanded her across the mouth, knocking her head to one side. ‘Well, if it isn’t my little cousin Maisie,’ he said, grinning at her. He snatched at her arm. ‘I’ve missed you something awful, girlie. Your old dad’s fretting, too. Time you came home.’
His fingers were digging into her arm like pincers, and she could taste blood in her mouth. He was dragging her towards a tall patch of scrub. She now saw the horse tied to a branch. Maisie pulled back, trying to ignore the pain in her arm, and twisted around to face the little girls. ‘Run,’ she sobbed. ‘Get out of here.’
Liam’s grip tightened. ‘That’s right,’ he called to the screaming girls. ‘You run home and tell your old man that Liam’s taken Maisie home. He knows what to do to get her back. You be sure and tell him that.’
He snatched a length of rope from behind his saddle and tied Maisie’s hands with it, tightening the knot till she felt the rope rasping at her wrists. He flung her face-down across the horse’s back just in front of the saddle, then mounted. When Maisie tried to move, he dug his elbow into her back until she cried out. ‘Just behave yourself, Maisie, and it’ll all be a lot easier. Get out of here, you little brats,’ he called to Rosie and Kate.
By twisting her head, Maisie could just see the pony. Rather than running away, Rosie was kicking vigorously, trying to come nearer. Maisie felt the horse move awkwardly; out of the corner of her eye she saw that Liam had hold of a rough branch. He rode at the little girls, raised the branch, and whacked the pony with it.
Lumpy snorted, reared, and set off for home at a gallop. Maisie saw Kate fall to the ground, and Rosie haul with all her strength on the reins, trying to stop the pony. Liam turned his own horse and kicked it into motion. The sudden lurch knocked the wind out of Maisie, and robbed her of one last chance to call out to Rosie and Kate.
23
Frank returned home to find the house in an uproar. Rosie and Kate, who had subsided into occasional sniffles, broke into loud weeping at the sight of their father.
‘Maisie’s gone,’ they sobbed in unison.
‘Liam Feenan’s taken her,’ Lizzie told Frank. ‘He did it right in front of Rosie and Kate.’
‘He grabbed her, and he hit her,’ wailed Rosie, who had never before seen a girl hit by a man. ‘I tried to chase him, but Lumpy was too slow.’
‘And he hit Lumpy,’ Kate put in. ‘And I fell off.’ She displayed her grazed knees.
‘And then Lumpy tried to jump over the drain, and I fell off,’ said Rosie. ‘Then Lumpy went lame, and we had to walk home, and Kate could only go really slow.’
‘Danny saw them coming up the track,’ Lizzie said. ‘He piggybacked Kate the rest of the way.’
‘Danny and Mickey were meant to come and get us,’ Rosie said, glaring at her brothers. ‘Maisie wasn’t even meant to come.’
One look at the boys’ ashen faces told Frank there was no need for him to admonish them. They were clearly aware of their guilt. ‘How long’s she been gone?’ he asked Lizzie.
‘Nearly two hours now.’ Her face was drawn with worry.
‘You’re going to get her back, aren’t you, Papa?’ Kate asked, her lower lip quivering.
‘That man said to tell you he’s taken her home with him, and you know what to do to get her back,’ said Rosie. ‘You’re going to, aren’t you?’ She gazed trustingly at him.
‘Frank, you’re not to go there on your own,’ Lizzie said in a low voice. ‘We don’t know how many fellows Liam’s got with him.’
‘I’ll go with you,’ Joe put in eagerly.
‘And me,’ said Mickey.
‘Me too,’ Danny added. ‘Please, Pa.’
The younger boys looked at him with pleading in their eyes, but Frank shook his head. ‘No, you two had better stay here. You can look after your ma and the girls. Joe, you can come with me.’ He saw Lizzie’s expression. ‘I’m not going on my own, Lizzie. I’m not that dopey. I’ll go and see Bill and the others, see if they’ll come with me. Dave’ll probably want to, as well. I know Bob Forster’s fed up with Feenans thieving from his place, I might as well ask him, too.’
‘Frank…’ Lizzie said, as if about to protest, then gave a small shake of her head. ‘No, I know you’ve got to go there. Just be careful, all right?’
‘I’ll do my best.’ He kissed her uptilted face, and went outside with Joe.
*
Frank sent Joe on ahead to Arthur’s, while he called in to David’s farm. He was pleased to see Richard’s gig by the garden fence. Richard had called in to check on Daisy’s progress, and Frank found both his sons-in-law in the house.
He quickly explained what was going on, and David announced he would join him before Frank had the chance to ask. ‘I’ll go and tell Uncle John and Uncle Harry, too,’ said David. ‘The more the better, eh?’
Richard had said nothing in front of Beth and Amy, but he followed Frank outside, where they watched David jump over the nearest fence on his way next door. ‘Frank, do you think this is wise?’ Richard asked.
‘Eh?’ Frank said. ‘What do you mean? I’m going to get Maisie back.’
‘And what gives you the right to demand that she’s returned to you? If her father—’
‘Her father?’ Frank broke in. ‘Her father was happy enough to sell her to me for ten pounds. He didn’t care what happened to her then.’
‘He… I beg your pardon?’ Richard frowned. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘Back when we decided to have Maisie live with us instead of going back and forth to the Feenans. Just after you and Maudie got married. I used to pay Maisie for helping Lizzie, and her pa took every penny off her. She was under age then, and I knew he wouldn’t let her come unless I made it worth his while. I think he thought I’d try and beat him down over the price, but I wasn’t going to haggle over Maisie. I just gave him what he asked for. And now he wants more. Or at least that bastard Liam does. And if I was fool enough to pay it, he’d do the same thing again in a month or two.’
‘You bought Maisie?’ Richard said in astonishment. ‘Frank, you can’t trade in human flesh! And I hardly think whatever bargain you struck would stand up in a court of law.’
‘Law’s no help with this,’ Frank said bitterly. ‘I asked Sergeant Riley about it, and he said Maisie’s pa can take her back if he wants. The law might do something about it if I could prove she’s of age, but we haven’t got her birth certificate. So it’s up to me to fetch her back with us, where she belongs.’
‘So you’re going to march up to this Feenan chap with a crowd of men and try to scare him into handing over Maisie?’
‘That’s about it, yes. Are you coming or not?’
Richard was looking at Frank as if he were a stranger. ‘When I told people back in England that I was coming out to the colony, many of them warned me the country was full of savages, white as well as brown. They said this was a lawless place. I laughed it off, and told them New Zealand was as civilised as England. But I’ve never been as close to agreeing with them as I am at this moment. And you of all people! Frank, what makes us better than savages is something called the rule of law. If one abandons that, one abandons—’
‘That’s a lot of fine words,’ Frank interrupted. ‘And if I had some time to waste I’d stand here and listen to a few more speeches from you. But I’d like to get there before they start raping Maisie.’ He saw the shock on Richard’s face. ‘Yes, I said rape. That’s what she was scared of, and that’s what they’re likely to do. Your rule of law business might be interested after Maisie’s family’s finished with her, but I’m not going to wait for that. I’m fetching her home.’ He turned on his heel and walked quickly over to mount his horse.
*
Frank looked around at the dozen men assembled on the beach, close to where a rough track led off to the Feenan farm. Bill had brought Alf and Ernie, John and Harry had come, and Matt Aitken and Bob Forster had both readily agreed to help. Matt and Bob had
each brought their oldest sons; the Leith men had managed to forbid their own much younger sons from joining the party.
‘All right, no sense hanging around here,’ said Frank. ‘Stay in a bunch, we want them to see us all at once. I’ll—’
He stopped speaking when he heard the rattle of wheels. He looked over his shoulder, and was startled to see Richard’s gig approaching.
‘I didn’t expect you to turn up,’ he said when Richard had drawn closer. ‘You coming with us?’
‘If that’s all right with you?’
Frank shrugged. ‘I suppose so. Come on, you fellows, let’s go.’
As the group moved off, Frank dropped back until his horse was beside the gig. ‘What happened to that stuff about the rule of law?’
‘I’m not saying I approve,’ said Richard. ‘But I thought there might be some broken heads that need patching up after you’ve finished here.’
Frank grunted, and guided his horse back to the front of the group.
They dismounted where the track degenerated into a narrow, rutted path edged with gorse bushes, tethered their horses to what passed for a fence, and approached the house on foot.
When they were close to the rough building, they halted, and Frank called out.
‘Liam Feenan? You there?’
It was not Liam who emerged onto the verandah, but his younger brother, Des. He took one look at the assembled men and swore loudly, then called over his shoulder.
‘Liam! There’s half the bloody town out here!’ When there was no response, he disappeared back into the house, calling Liam’s name as he went.
Liam emerged, clutching a bottle. He stared at the assembled men, but his gaze soon settled on Frank.
‘What the hell do you think you’re doing, Kelly? What you got all this lot for? This business is between you and me.’
‘Where’s Maisie?’ said Frank.
‘What’s it worth to you? I hope you brought some dough.’
Frank shook his head. ‘You’re not getting a penny. I want to see her.’
‘Well, you can just come back tomorrow. I might let you see her then, if you ask nicely. And if you make it worth my while. Go on, get out of here. I’ve got plans for tonight.’ He glanced towards the house, smirking.
‘We’re not going until I’ve seen Maisie. I want to see if she’s all right.’
‘Oh, she’s happy as a pig in mud, now she’s back home with us. She gave me a big kiss just now.’
It was all Frank could do to stop himself from leaping onto the verandah and taking Liam by the throat. But that would not help Maisie, still in the house with at least two other men who had probably been drinking all afternoon. ‘I want to see her for myself. Bring her out here.’
Liam took a gulp from the bottle and wiped his hand across his mouth. ‘I’ll see if she’s decent for visitors,’ he said as he went back inside.
Frank heard a door open somewhere within the house. There was a thin, high-pitched wailing that turned his stomach, but the wailing was cut short by the slamming of a door, and a moment later Liam reappeared. With one hand he had hold of Maisie’s wrist, which he had shoved high against her back. His other arm was across her throat as he half-led, half dragged her onto the verandah.
Her eyes widened when she saw Frank and the other men, but she did not make a sound, even when Liam lessened the pressure on her throat. Her dress was smeared with dirt; one of the sleeves had been ripped off, and Frank could see the marks where fingers had dug into her thin arm. There was a cut on her lip, and a bruise was forming on one cheek.
‘All right, you’ve seen her,’ said Liam. ‘Come back tomorrow and you can have her. Just make sure you bring your rent, or I might get a little bit annoyed with Maisie.’
Frank looked into Maisie’s terrified eyes, then turned his gaze on Liam. ‘I’m taking her home with me now. Let her go.’
Liam forced Maisie’s arm higher up her back. Frank saw her face twist in pain, but still she did not utter a word.
Frank stepped forward. ‘I said let her go.’
Liam lowered his arm from Maisie’s throat, and Frank felt the men around him relax slightly. But Liam’s hand snaked down to his belt, and came up with an ugly-looking knife. ‘Don’t take another step, Kelly.’
Frank did not pause for thought. It was crystal clear to him what he must do. He took another step forward, then another.
‘Frank!’ he heard Richard hiss. He was vaguely aware of Bill holding Joe back on one side, and John restraining David on the other. He ignored them all, walked forward, and climbed onto the verandah.
Liam stared wild-eyed at him. He waved the knife in Frank’s direction, then held it to Maisie’s throat. Frank was so close now he could hear the tiny whimper she gave. ‘You want me to kill the little bitch? Eh?’
‘Put it down, Liam,’ Frank said quietly.
Liam waved the knife again. ‘I’ll slice the pair of you, Kelly—you and your little whore both.’
Frank shook his head. ‘No, you won’t do that. There’s a dozen witnesses here. You use that knife and you’ll swing for it. Is it worth getting hung for?’
He held Liam’s gaze for what felt like an age. Something close to madness was there, but with a spark of cunning at its clouded core. Frank concentrated on that spark, willing Liam to see what was to his own best advantage.
Liam’s hand dropped. He bared his teeth like a snarling dog, gave Maisie’s arm one more savage wrench, and shoved her at Frank. ‘Ah, you want the little bitch that much, you might as well have her.’
Frank got an arm around Maisie’s waist just in time to stop her collapsing to the floor. He helped her down the steps and the few paces across to where the other men were converging on them. He kept his arm firmly around her; beneath his hand he felt her quick, light breaths like the fluttering of a tiny bird.
Maisie took a great gulp of air. She seemed about to speak, when once again Frank heard a wailing from the house. Maisie’s eyes followed the sound, then caught Frank’s.
‘That’s Aunt Bridie. She’s really bad.’ She clutched at Frank’s sleeve. ‘Can you help her?’
Frank looked at the plea in her eyes, and resigned himself to making the attempt. ‘What’s wrong with your ma?’ he called to the figure still standing on the verandah. ‘Does she need the doctor?’
Liam gripped his knife more firmly and spat on the floor. ‘You want my old mam as well? You can have her, then. She’s no bloody use here.’
He went inside, and returned carrying what looked like a bundle of dirty rags. ‘Go on, then,’ Liam snarled. ‘Help yourself.’ He dropped his burden onto the verandah, went back into the house and slammed the door behind him.
Frank was still supporting Maisie, but some of the other men quickly gathered up the bundle that he now saw held a feebly moving body. Bridie was gently lowered to the ground, and Richard crouched beside her.
‘I can’t do anything for her here,’ Richard said after a quick examination. ‘I need to get her into town. Would one of you mind fetching my bag? I’ll have to anæsthetize before I try moving her.’
Bobby Forster went running towards the gig. While he waited for his bag, Richard came up to Frank. ‘Maisie,’ he said quietly, ‘I need you to tell me if there’s anything I should do for you right now. No broken bones?’ He ran his hands quickly down her arms; she flinched at the touch, but Richard seemed satisfied. ‘What about wounds? Is there any bleeding? Anything that needs to be bandaged straight away?’
Maisie shook her head. Richard held her gaze for a moment, then turned to Frank. ‘All right. It’ll be easier on Maisie if Lizzie sees to whatever else needs doing. I’ll come out and see her tomorrow. Now, get her home, Frank. That’s what she needs most.’
When they got to where the horses were tethered, Frank hoisted Maisie in front of the saddle. ‘It won’t be too comfortable, sorry. We won’t go faster than a walk, though—I don’t want to shake you around any more than I have to.’ It would have been
easier to have Maisie ride behind the saddle, but he wanted to be sure of holding on to her if she should faint.
The other men had mounted, ready to set off. Frank heard Bill sending Alf and Ernie on ahead, and he roused himself to speak to Joe. ‘Don’t wait for me. You get home and tell your ma we’re on our way—she’ll be worried sick. You too, Dave—no need to have Beth worrying. Thanks, you fellows,’ he called to the others. Most of his companions headed off at a trot, and were soon out of sight.
Bill remained at his side. He said nothing, but Frank was aware of his presence and grateful for it. The horse plodded along patiently, needing no guidance. For the first minute or two Maisie gripped the mane where Frank had placed her hands, but she soon slumped against him. Her arms slid around his waist under his open jacket, and she leaned her head on his chest. It was an awkward pose, with the pommel of the saddle between them, but Maisie seemed content with it.
Anxious that she should stay conscious, he spoke quietly to her as they made their slow way along the beach. She roused herself to ask if Rosie and Kate were safe; once reassured, she listened to him in silence. Frank talked on and on, aware that much of it was nonsense. He pointed out the waves breaking on the shore, and the stars gradually appearing in the darkening sky. All the while Maisie clung to him, sometimes looking around as he pointed out some object, but much of the time staring up into his face.
The journey was becoming dreamlike. Beneath the drone of his own voice, Frank could hear the soft thud of the horse’s hooves on the sand, replaced by a harder sound when they left the beach and started up the valley road.
They reached the track to Frank’s farm. Bill said goodnight and went on his way. For the few minutes it took to approach the house, they rode in silence.
As they drew close, the whole family ran out to meet them. Frank disengaged Maisie’s arms from around his waist so that he could dismount, then caught her as she slid to the ground. He gathered her up in his arms and carried her inside, leaving the boys to take care of his horse.
A Second Chance Page 38