by Jasmine Hill
Chapter Seven
William listened to George Dawson as he watched John Steele twirl Lillian elegantly onto the dance floor and hold her too closely for William’s liking. He excused himself politely from Dawson’s presence and cursed under his breath at the unfamiliar stirrings of jealousy.
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration and strode to the bar, trying unsuccessfully to divert his attention away from Lillian and Steele. He couldn’t have chosen a worse dance partner for her if he’d tried. He had history with Steele but he couldn’t cause a scene by yanking Lillian from the man’s embrace.
He had to get a hold of himself and his emotions. Lillian had been gone for ten years and his feelings toward her should have diminished to fond sentiment. Instead, he was being reduced to acting like a jealous, overbearing paramour.
How had he expected that the sight of Lillian in another man’s arms would not disturb him, particularly a thug like Steele? The vision of her being whirled around in his tight embrace had him practically wanting to beat the other man to a pulp.
His restless pacing brought him into the path of Miss Dawson, who curtsied prettily to him. This was what he needed—a distraction only a pretty woman could provide. He bowed briefly and offered her his hand to dance. Two could play at this game, he thought grimly, as he placed his palm in the small of Miss Dawson’s back and pulled her to his chest.
He looked down into her upturned face and didn’t miss the flirtatious fluttering of her eyelashes as she gazed up at him. She was very attractive and he’d thought so for quite some time. She had that rounded plumpness that was appealing to hold, and her face, while not beautiful, was charmingly pretty.
Perhaps Miss Dawson was the diversion he wanted. He pulled her body tighter against his. He knew her father would be more than pleased if he and Margaret formed a connection and William had been visiting the Dawson property with that thought in the back of his mind. But Lillian’s reappearance had altered things considerably and while he was attracted to Margaret, he didn’t feel anything like the passion and lust he felt when he looked at Lillian. Those feelings, however, had given him nothing but heartache in the past so it was best to harden himself against them.
Perhaps if he tried harder with Margaret, he would, over time, develop similar feelings for her. He gritted his teeth as another bout of anger swept through him at Lillian’s untimely and irritating return to his life.
He smiled down at the young woman in his arms and tried to work up some enthusiasm for the dance, but perhaps some quiet time was what they really required, time away from the crowd of people where they could talk.
When the band ended the music with a flourish and the couples started clapping politely, he grasped Margaret by the hand and pulled her in the direction of the door.
Lillian watched William lead Margaret Dawson outside and away from the party revelers. She wanted to follow them and, taking her hand from Mr. Steele’s, she asked if they could get some fresh air. The young man was obviously delighted with the prospect of being alone with her and complied with alacrity, unwittingly following William and his lady friend, as he steered Lillian outside.
The evening had grown quite chilly and the young man wrapped an arm about Lillian’s shoulders as they strolled. She knew she should shrug off his attentions but she was cold and wanted the comfort of his proximity. They walked and chatted about the dance. She was trying to calculate the direction that William would have taken when she heard a woman’s giggle and a man’s deep voice. Her chaperone, also having heard the couple, drew up short of a building and pulled Lillian close as they peered around the corner.
There, bathed in the moonlight, stood William and Miss Dawson. She was leaning back against a wooden fence, gazing up into William’s face and laughing at something he’d said. Lillian’s breath caught and her heart rate thumped a tattoo in her chest. It was clear that Miss Dawson obviously felt some attraction to William, but William’s feelings toward the woman were less obvious. She couldn’t bear to watch anymore, in case she was to witness William kiss her. She couldn’t believe he would so brazenly seek out this young lady after what he’d done with her only two evenings before. She felt terribly betrayed by him yet again. He was obviously nothing but an exploitative cad.
Lillian whirled around and started back toward the wool shed. She’d forget about William Cartwright and any feelings she had once had for him. As she reached the door, Mr. Steele caught up with her and, grasping her around the waist, he turned her to face him.
“Where are you going?” he breathed in her ear.
“I’m sorry but I’d like to return inside,” Lillian muttered, pushing against the man’s weight.
“Don’t I get a kiss?” He cupped her chin to hold her head in place. “After all, I thought that was why you wanted to take a stroll outside.”
She could have kicked herself for her stupidity. In her haste to spy on William, she hadn’t thought about the consequences of stepping out of doors at night with a strange gentleman.
She tried once again, unsuccessfully, to struggle out of his grasp and raised her voice, not giving him any room for misinterpretation. “Please, let me go.”
Suddenly William was there and Steele’s body weight lifted off her. William grasped him by the throat, spun him around and pushed him hard up against the wall.
“It’s not polite to force a lady’s hand, Steele,” he snarled. “Leave, now, before I’m forced to do something that you and I may regret!”
Lillian watched in apprehension as Steele flexed his fists by his sides and glowered at William, weighing whether to retaliate.
Anticipating Steele’s actions, William spoke again. “Don’t try anything. You know who the loser will be.”
She watched Steele struggle with his decision then he abruptly pushed William away. He turned toward Lillian, gave her a slight bow and a tight smile, then whirled on his heel and stalked inside.
William turned his murderous gaze on Lillian. “What do you think you were doing out here with a man you’ve just met this evening?”
“I wonder that you think to question me, Mr. Cartwright,” she jeered. “When I noticed you with a young lady of your own.”
“Miss Dawson and I have long been acquainted,” he replied sharply. “And I’m not about to manhandle her as John Steele was about to do to you. I know him, Lillian, and I know that his intentions toward you would be less than honorable.”
“Well, I thank you for your concern but I’m quite able to take care of myself,” she said stiffly then turned to make her way back to the party.
William remained outside, trying to rein in his temper. The sight of that young prick pushing Lillian against the wall had sent him into a murderous rage. Steele was lucky that he’d maintained enough control to keep from punching him in the jaw. It was appalling behavior toward a lady—behavior he wouldn’t tolerate.
He looked at his watch and decided it was time to leave. He’d had enough of watching all the men in the gathering slobbering and simpering over his governess. He would think twice before inviting her to such a function again. If he did, he would personally inspect her intended outfit before he would allow her to step one foot out of doors.
Chapter Eight
Lillian was happy that there were no lessons for the children the day following the dinner dance. They’d played games in the morning and done some painting before they’d stopped for lunch. Now Clara was taking her nap and Lillian had left Edward struggling sleepily with the novel Robinson Crusoe.
She’d decided to do some exploring in the afternoon. It had been too long since she’d investigated the delights of the Australian outback and its many flora and fauna. A long walk would give her some much-needed exercise and clear her head.
She was annoyed with herself for acting so sillily the previous evening when she’d seen William with Margaret Dawson. What had she expected? Of course women would be interested in William—he was not only handsome but also an extremely
prosperous catch. It hurt her to acknowledge it, but she had no right to be jealous or upset by his attentions to other women. She needed to remember that she was just his employee and to act with a cool and professional approach to all things. It was much easier said than done, however.
She changed into an old dress and sensible shoes and tied a sun hat on her head. She wrapped some biscuits in a handkerchief and found a leather canteen in the kitchen pantry that she filled with water. She informed Mrs. Thompson that she was off to do some exploring around the station and set off along one of the many dirt tracks that wound around the extensive property.
She’d been walking for half an hour when she caught sight of a joey. It was a delightful creature and thoroughly enchanted her as it hopped along, nibbling the underbrush. She was overjoyed at once again experiencing the local wildlife and decided to follow the creature in the hopes that it would lead her to the adult female. She didn’t think that a kangaroo that young would stray far from its mother.
She’d been following the little animal for quite a way, relishing its antics and playfulness. It had to be aware that Lillian was nearby but it had displayed no fear or concern at her presence. The joey rounded a tree and a large female came into view. Lillian stopped in her tracks, not wanting to antagonize the mother, and watched as the joey bounded over to nuzzle at its mother’s pouch, requesting access. There were several other large adult kangaroos grazing and lazing in the shade of the trees. Lillian observed them for a moment longer then turned to find her way back to the dirt trail she’d been following, thinking that it was high time she made her way back to the homestead.
She walked a little way before she realized with a sinking dread that in her distraction with the joey she’d lost the track she’d been following. Wandering desperately in search of the trail, she tried to quell her rising panic. If she couldn’t find it, she’d be hopelessly lost. She could kick herself for having been so careless. She remembered that it was too easy to become lost in the outback. There were very few unique landmarks and the vast expanse of space made losing one’s way a very real possibility.
An hour later, she had to concede that it was a hopeless task. By the height of the sun and the diminishing daylight, she judged the time to be at least four p.m. Her only hope was to stay where she was and try to ride out the night. She was concerned about the cool winter evening ahead but with no matches, she had no way to light a fire. She walked to a nearby tree and collected some foliage and underbrush to pile into a makeshift pillow then sat to wait. She didn’t expect anyone to find her quickly and she pushed to the back of her mind the possibility that she might not be found at all. Mrs. Thompson would notice her absence at dinner and raise the alarm. She could only sit, wait and try her best not to panic.
* * * *
William returned from mustering the sheep in time for dinner at six p.m. He cleaned up in the yard under the water pump and entered the kitchen to find a distraught Mrs. Thompson pacing by the slow-combustion stove.
“Mr. Cartwright, thank God you’ve come home this evening,” she cried, wringing her hands in worry.
William’s first thought was of the children but before he could voice his concern, the housekeeper anticipated him.
“The children are fine,” she assured him quickly. “It’s Miss Hamilton!”
William froze in place as a cold fear gripped him. “What’s happened?” he demanded.
“She went for a walk earlier today, just after lunch, and she’s not been seen since!”
The fear that had initially struck him took root and spread throughout his body. All manner of things rushed through his mind, not the least of which was the fact that Lillian was out alone, at night in winter and there were literally thousands of acres in which she could be.
Galvanized into action, William instructed Mrs. Thompson to organize food packages while he rushed to the Jackeroo and station hand quarters to round up the men.
Half an hour later, he sat astride Victory, his stock horse, and addressed the men, explaining the situation as Mrs. Thompson passed around food packages of beef jerky, biscuits and cheese.
He organized the men into two groups to head in different directions. Adoni, his good friend and one of the best Aboriginal trackers he knew, would ride with him.
“If you find anything, organize one of you to locate the others. You all know the direction in which we are each heading and you all know this land like the back of your hand. Remember, Miss Hamilton is on foot, so she can’t have traveled too far.”
The men gave him a salute in acknowledgment of their orders and turned their horses’ heads in the direction of the search.
Fear gnawed at William’s gut. Already the evening temperature had started to drop dramatically from that of the day. He knew that Lillian wouldn’t have any warm clothing, nor would she have matches to light a fire, so it was imperative that they find her quickly. The dark would make it difficult for Adoni, but he was an excellent tracker, and William had faith that the man would soon pick up her trail.
He and Adoni gave the horses their heads and whipped them into a gallop as they sped across the nearest paddock toward the outer, larger enclosures where they would start their search.
* * * *
The evening cold relentlessly seeped into Lillian’s bones. She’d tried to keep active by jumping up and down and maintaining her blood flow but she’d started to tire. It was too dark to keep wandering about. Besides, if there were people searching for her, she didn’t want to run the risk of going in circles and walking back on herself, which would only confuse matters. No, she had to have faith that someone would find her soon. She started to shiver—hard, racking shudders that sent her teeth chattering noisily.
In the distance, she heard an owl hoot, a lonely, haunting sound in the absolute blackness that did nothing to quell her nerves.
She squinted and tried to peer into the inky depths that surrounded her and added shudders of fear to those of cold, as a low howl rent the night. She’d heard stories of dingoes and how they sometimes attacked humans. Her predicament suddenly presented another, more sinister element.
“Oh God, please help me,” she prayed fervently, wrapping her arms about her bended knees and rocking back and forth in an effort to ward off her rising panic.
* * * *
William and Adoni had been riding hard for over an hour. They’d stopped a couple of times for the tracker to search the earth for signs of Lillian. Half an hour earlier, he’d found a footprint and signs of crushed undergrowth. Lillian had obviously been following a trail, but what had possessed her to wander from it, William had no idea. Adoni was walking his horse, stopping frequently to study the ground for clues of Lillian’s movements while William held aloft the hurricane lamp to cast light on his search area. William willed himself to remain patient and allow the tracker to do his thing. He knew that Adoni would not be rushed and William wouldn’t want to risk losing her trail by trying to hurry.
His concern was growing by the minute as the evening temperature dropped to what he reckoned to be forty degrees Fahrenheit. Adoni had picked up the tracks of dingoes not far behind those of Lillian. The wild dogs could be stalking her. They’d been known to do such things and, like any wild predator, they possessed a sixth sense where vulnerable prey was concerned—particularly if they were traveling in a pack.
He waited impatiently for Adoni to indicate the way forward and urged his steed into a canter when the tracker gesticulated urgently. A moment later, a high-pitched scream pierced the night, a sound so full of terror that it raised the hairs on the back of William’s neck.
“Fuck!” he shouted, urging Victory into a gallop and racing toward the sound. He prayed with everything in his being that he wasn’t too late.
* * * *
Lillian prayed for rescue or daylight—whichever came first. The profound darkness and utter isolation was alarming and heightening her panic level to the extreme. She took deep breaths and gave herself a pep
talk, willing herself not to overreact. She strained her ears for any sounds, any noises to indicate that someone might be on their way to her rescue, and that’s when she heard it—the frantic scrabbling in the underbrush nearby. She snapped her head around, searching for the cause, and saw them—four pairs of glowing yellow eyes, creating a menacing spectacle in the blackness.
Her heart stuttered in fear when she realized the eyes belonged to dingoes. Her blood ran cold and she screamed—a long, terrifying sound that sent roosting birds screeching into the night sky. Through her anxiety and dread, she heard the thunder of hoof beats heading in her direction then the loud crack of a rifle shot. She turned desperately in the direction of the horses and caught the unmistakable cry of William’s voice.
“Lillian!”
She managed to stumble into a standing position as William’s horse galloped toward her.
“William!” she screamed.
He reined his horse in hard and vaulted from the saddle. She ran into his embrace, sobbing in relief as she felt him band his strong arms around her protectively. He hugged her to him quickly before gently pushing her back to run his hands up and down her body, checking for injuries.
“My God, you’re frozen,” he said into her hair, encircling her once more in his arms.
The adrenaline left her body and shock started to set in. She slumped against him, her teeth chattering uncontrollably as shivers racked through her.
William spoke to Adoni above Lillian’s head. “I won’t be able to take Miss Hamilton back to the homestead yet. Find the others and tell them that she’s suffering from shock and exposure. I’ll build a fire and we’ll shelter here until she’s well enough to travel.”
Adoni gave a brief nod of acknowledgment and set off at a gallop to meet up with the others.