by Anne Hampson
‘I’ll be there in a few minutes, when I’ve changed.’ Loren was puzzled by the summons, as she and the old lady had not had very much to do with one another; this was mainly due to Loren’s deliberate avoidance of Gran Amelia, as she felt timid and inadequate when in the company of a woman possessing such formidable strength of character.
‘The missus is not in a very good mood.’ Prim, small and stout and very black, rolled her eyes and gestured with her hands. ‘I should go now, Miss Loren, because she sent for you over an hour ago.’
With a little shrug Loren turned and went along the hall towards the old lady’s sitting-room.
‘So you come at last! Sit down! ’
Loren remained by the door, blinking and wondering what this was all about. A sharp and gruff order was again snapped out and this time Loren obeyed it, taking possession of a chair opposite to Gran Amelia, the chair at which a long bony finger was still pointing. As she sat down Loren recalled some of the tales she had heard about this tough old pioneer. Prof had told Loren all about the time when, on several Abos returning after having gone walkabout for over three months, she had stormed at them and bullied them and then offered to take them back only on reduced wages, which the poor men accepted, working harder than ever as the old lady had impressed upon them that as she had managed without them for three months she could continue to do so indefinitely.
‘She quite literally had them as slaves after that,’ Prof had said with a shake of his head. ‘She was as hard as nails. The Boss, now, he’s very understanding if an Abo should go walkabout; he understands that this yearning for the natural life is in an Abo’s blood and that there comes a time when he’s unable to resist it. The Boss always takes an Abo back, and never so much as reprimands him - nor is anyone else allowed to do so. Not that our Abos go walkabout very often,’ Prof had added, repeating what Dena had already told Loren. ‘They are too well looked after on Moonrock - no humpies disfiguring our landscape. The Abos and their gins are given the same accommodation as the white stockmen. They also receive free supplies like meat and bread and kerosene, so there isn’t much temptation to go off tramping the wilderness, existing on berries and grubs and the like.’
Loren’s reflections were cut short as she became aware of Gran Amelia’s fixed and piercing regard. It was highly disconcerting and Loren moved uneasily in her chair. At the action the old eyes hardened and the hint of a sneer caught the bloodless lips. Loren averted her head and clasped her hands tightly in her lap, wondering what Gran Amelia’s husband had been like and deciding he must have had every vestige of strength crushed out of him by the weight of his wife’s formidable personality.
‘As my grandson’s so stubbornly reticent perhaps you’ll enlighten me as to what went on last evening when he so rudely left his guests and took you off somewhere.’
Loren gave a start of surprise at the question, recalling Gran Amelia’s initial air of suspicion regarding the reason for Thane’s decision to bring her, Loren, out here rather than make provision for her at home. She also remembered the old woman’s cryptic warning that she think well before falling in with Thane’s ‘plan’ - whatever that might be. Later, words spoken by Prof had left a deep impression on Loren because they were so closely related to those of Gran Amelia, and Loren had for a while begun to think there was some mystery about her arrival in Australia, but this had swiftly faded as she became better acquainted with her guardian. He had accepted responsibility for her and such was his character that he would consider it his duty to keep her under his wing until she was out of his care.
‘Speak, girl!’ Loren jumped and opened her mouth, but no words came. ‘Did he make love to you?’
‘Make l-love?’ stammered Loren, staring at Gran Amelia in disbelief, and wondering just how much, or how little, was contained in a question such as that. ‘Of c-course not.’ A hint of colour rose, nevertheless, and on noting the sudden curve of the thin hard mouth Loren braced herself for some acid rejoinder from her companion.
‘He kissed you - at least,’ observed Gran Amelia, settling herself back on the couch while keeping her eyes fixed on Loren. The ‘at least’ naturally had its effect and Loren’s colour spread like a deluge, over her face and her neck so that all she desired was to escape from this disconcerting old woman who was nodding perceptively and who went on to say, in her gruff masculine voice, ‘He’s your guardian and he’d remember that, so all he did was kiss you. What did you talk about?’ she added unexpectedly, and despite her nervousness and disconcertment Loren decided it was high time she displayed a little spirit. Her small chin went up and the quick sparkle appearing in her eyes gave evidence that she was not quite so meek and docile as she appeared to be.
‘What we talked about is our own affair, Gran Amelia. I don’t want to be disrespectful, but I do not intend to repeat our conversation. In any case, it can’t be of any real interest to you.’
At the swift flare of the thin nostrils Loren was reminded that Gran Amelia had a violent temper and she steeled herself for the onslaught. Curiously enough, it did not come. On the contrary, Gran Amelia actually breathed a small sigh of relief, and for some inexplicable reason Loren felt sure that her own words had brought this relief to the old woman. Yet all Loren had said was that she had no intention of repeating her conversation with Thane, adding that it could be of no interest to Gran Amelia. No interest. ... Had Gran Amelia believed that something had been discussed which would in fact have been of interest to her? It would certainly appear so, from Gran Amelia’s next question.
‘Thane obviously didn’t say anything - significant, then?’ No answer from Loren simply because the words disguised something she was quite unable to interpret. ‘Well,’ continued Gran Amelia in an abstracted sort of way, ‘it would seem that I might be barking up the wrong tree.’ The gruff voice began to fade as Gran Amelia fell into a mood of abstraction again. ‘But when he didn’t announce his engagement to—’ She stopped and her heavy lids drooped, obscuring her expression before she rambled on, mumbling to herself inarticulately and Loren sat there, trying to be patient because she remembered that the doctor had asserted that Gran Amelia was entering her second childhood.
It was some minutes before the old lady looked up; her expression was blank and her mouth moved spasmodically as if she still spoke, but to herself.
‘Go now, Loren,’ she said with a quality of gentleness that was stunning in its unexpectedness. ‘Tell Dena I want a
drink of milk, and some biscuits.’
After giving Dena the message Loren went upstairs and changed into a pair of shorts and a sleeveless blouse. She swung along towards the small paddock where Thane was sitting on the fence watching Shem break a horse. Shem had the brumby tied by a long rope to a stake in the ground and was tapping it lightly with a stick. Loren stopped, unnoticed by either man. Thane was giving advice - or instructions -and she listened with a strange sort of pleasure to this slow-spoken, sun-tanned man whom she had come to love. His wide-brimmed hat was pushed to the back of his head; one hand rested on the rail, the other was raised in a gesture which Shem obviously interpreted because he nodded and touched the brumby’s flank with the end of the stick.
Thane was totally absorbed; his silence became crisp and deep as if he expected Shem to make a mistake yet sincerely hoped he would not. The young man had not long been with Thane and he had never broken a horse before. The sun shone brilliantly down on the little scene and the very air seemed to vibrate with the shimmering heat which scorched Loren’s bare arms and legs. Thane turned his head at last, sensing her presence, and a smile broke over his taut features. Loren’s heart lurched as she began walking towards him, shy yet eager, longing to run yet forcing herself into a sedate pace. Thane reached out an arm as she came to him and with an easy swing he had her on the rail beside him, his arm still around her waist.
‘Come and be entertained; Shem’s a good man with horses.’ Shem did not hear, of course, but he smiled at Loren, lifted a hand
in salute, then went on with his work. Loren thought of the beautiful wild horse which Dena had declared she would have and Loren wondered if it too would soon be caught and tamed.
After a while Thane told Shem to release the brumby and leave him in the paddock. Thane jumped down and, holding out his arms, he lifted Loren from the fence and put her on the ground.
‘No more work today,’ he smiled, turning in the direction of the homestead. ‘After all, it’s Sunday and we usually have a rest, and some recreation. I shall swim with you before lunch and, later, we’ll go walking.’ He was looking down into her face as they strolled towards the house to change into swimming things, and he suddenly noticed her expression. ‘Is something wrong?’
She had been thinking of Gran Amelia and a shadow had crossed her face as she recalled how the old lady had lapsed into unintelligible mutterings.
‘Not really.’ Loren had no intention of mentioning her conversation with the old lady, but she did tell Thane that she had been talking to her and that she had ended up by mumbling to herself. Thane was shaking his head sadly as Loren spoke.
‘The doctor was right when he said her head would go before her heart.’ He lapsed into a reminiscent silence and, glancing up, Loren caught her breath at the compassion in his eyes, and the softness of his mouth. ‘She’s caused me some inconveniences since Father died,’ Thane went on ruefully after a while. ‘But grim as have been our tussles I’d much rather fight with our old-timer than nurse her.’ The softness about his face became more pronounced; he plainly meant what he said. Loren put her hand in his; it was an unconscious gesture and, faintly startled, he looked down into her eyes. His smile broke, a smile for her alone. But the softness of his expression was for his grandmother and it revealed so much. The old woman had caused him a great deal of trouble, had angered him, thwarted him, and even caused him a certain amount of humiliation - as on the occasion of the little scene with Cooper, out there, when the man had defied Thane before the other stockmen. Gran Amelia had been indirectly responsible for that, since, on an earlier occasion when Cooper had caused trouble, Thane had given way to his grandmother and allowed the man to remain in his employ. Yes, Gran Amelia had been a great inconvenience to her grandson, but as she continued to look up into his face, preoccupied now and darkly brooding, Loren knew that Thane had a deep affection and respect for the valiant woman who had worked so hard to make Moonrock what it was today, one of the largest and most flourishing
cattle stations in the Outback.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Loren received another letter from Janet. It came on the mail plane a week after the shed dance and Loren immediately sought Thane out and told him of its contents.
‘Her marriage has broken up? Well, you expected it, so why the troubled look?’ Thane was by the overlanding car; the bonnet was open and he was doing something to the engine. ‘As for her wanting to come here - you can ask her if you wish, Loren. I don’t mind, you know that.’
She smiled swiftly and a ‘thank you’ lay in her glance.
‘I’ll write at once. She must be feeling awful.’ Loren fell silent a moment. ‘I wonder what happened? They were so devoted. ’
‘Couldn’t have been. Devotion - real devotion,’ he stressed, looking deeply into her eyes, ‘doesn’t die so easily as this appears to have done. It’s as hardy as our succulents, which often seem to succumb to things like drought and heat and even man’s destructive forces, but up they come after the first rains, fresh and new and very much alive.’ He bent over the engine again. ‘No, don’t go troubling your head too much about their lost devotion. If they’d wanted it to survive then it would have done so. You must be prepared to fight for what you hold most dear, Loren. ’
She stood a moment, assimilating this. Yet she still felt sorry for Janet, who had been so in love with Robert that she had left all her friends in England and gone to a new country, confident and trusting.
Loren wrote her letter that night, telling Janet that she would be most welcome at Moonrock and that she could stay as long as she liked, for Thane had said this when, on walking with Loren after dinner, she had ventured a question on the matter.
Dena was rather blunt about Janet’s request to come to Moonrock.
‘She wasn’t so quick to accede to your request,’ she reminded Loren, adding, ‘You said she was once in love with Thane?’
‘That’s right.’
‘You aren’t very clever, are you? - bringing in competition? Last thing I’d do myself, but I expect you’re feeling pretty sure of the Boss by now?’
Everyone had been talking about the change in the Boss of Moonrock. Never before had he been known to give so much attention to anyone as he had to Loren. Loren still received amused glances, from the employees now, just as she had from the guests on the night of the shed dance. But she was not concerned; Thane loved her, she had no doubts about this, and she knew he intended marrying her, because a couple of days ago when Loren had mentioned one or two of her school friends in England he had said,
‘You’d like to see them? I’ll take you, dear, perhaps not in the very near future, but in a year or two, maybe.’
‘I don’t expect Janet will be concerning herself with another man,’ Loren said with confidence as she realized Dena was still awaiting an answer to her question. ‘And - and I’m not sure of Thane, Dena, but I know he likes me.’
Dena grinned, watching Loren’s fluctuating colour for a few brief moments.
‘It’s easy to see he’s fallen at last. I congratulate you, Loren. You seem to have worked a miracle.’
‘I’m glad you don’t mind, Dena. I shouldn’t have been half so happy had you still been in love with Thane — in fact,’ she added with a sudden frown, ‘I’d have been utterly miserable.’
‘I believe you would.’ A small pause and then, ‘Ian proposed last night and I accepted him. ’
‘He did?’ Loren’s eyes lit up. ‘I’m glad, Dena; I think he’s awfully nice.’
‘So do I, as a matter of fact.’ Dena gave a little grimace. ‘I’m letting myself in for a devil of a lot of hard work. Thane’ll do his block when he knows I’m going to marry Ian and live on Melville Downs.’
‘It certainly will be hard work.’ Shadows now in Loren’s eyes, replacing their excited expression of only seconds ago. ‘Suppose there isn’t the water which Ian’s so sure about?’
‘Then we’ll go broke - like all the others who’ve tried their luck on that place.’
‘When is Colin leaving?’ Loren inquired, changing the subject because she could not bear to think of Dena and Ian failing, and having to leave Melville Downs and go and live in a town, a long, long way off.
‘Today, as a matter of fact. Didn’t take him long, did it? It appears he had no intention of going into partnership with Ian at all, although Ian believed he had. All he wanted was to get Ian interested in the place and then try to sell it to him. ’
‘Ian would rather have it to himself, though?’
Dena nodded.
‘Indeed, yes. Colin would have been a passenger and one can’t afford to carry passengers out here. Besides, I wouldn’t have married Ian and lived there if Colin were also there. I’d be forever doing my block when I saw Ian doing all the work. ’
‘ So it’s all worked out for the best. ’
‘If we find that water,’ returned Dena, and although she produced her customary cheerful grin there was a shade of anxiety in her voice for all that.
Thane did not lose his temper on hearing Dena’s news, as she had predicted he would, but he did frown heavily and shake his head.
‘I’ve nothing against Ian,’ he said, “but that place is definitely hostile to its owners. Your cattle will die like flies in the Dry.’
‘I’ve told you, Thane, about Ian’s optimism regarding the water. He says the bores have never gone sufficiently deep.’
‘ Men have gone to the extent that their pockets would allow. Has Ian the money for expensive bores?’
‘He’s quite willing to gamble what he does have. I’ve quite a bit; can’t spend it here, as you know, so I’ve saved a fair amount of money since I came to you. ’
Thane’s frown deepened; he wanted to know when the tests were going to be made and Dena told him they were being made already.
‘Already?’ Thane’s face cleared a little. Obviously he liked a man who made quick decisions.
‘I was over there yesterday and the trucks and gear were arriving.’
‘Well, I sincerely hope Ian isn’t going to lose his money.’ A pause as Thane regarded his cousin for a while in thoughtful silence. ‘You’ve fully made up your mind?’
She nodded her head.
‘Yes. Whatever the outcome of the bores I’m going to marry him. If we don’t find water then we shall just have to go back to Perth and live a humdrum existence in a flat-’
‘Oh, no!’ protested Loren, who could not now imagine living in a town with all the hustle and bustle, the crowds and the smoke and fumes and noise. ‘It won’t come to that! ’
‘We’re fully prepared for it,’ returned Dena. ‘We have to remember that others have failed on Melville Downs — that it’s always been a white elephant. Everyone will say we haven’t a Buckley’s.’ She glanced a little deprecatingly at Thane, whose eyes had softened with a hint of affection.
‘I admire your spirit, Dena, and Ian’s optimism. We must see what happens,’ he added on a curiously cryptic note before he strode away, to where his horse was tethered to a post. The two girls watched him spring into the saddle and ride away, on a loose rein as he almost always did. He was making for the cattle-run, riding under a fierce sun, over the plains, a man of the open spaces, proud and rather arrogant-looking as if he were exceedingly conscious of the fact that he was lord of all he surveyed - and much more besides.
Two days later Thane spoke of the projected visit to Alice Springs. He asked Dena if she wanted to accompany Loren and himself, but Dena shook her head. Gran Amelia was becoming a problem, being forever hungry, Dena said, and the old lady wouldn’t now have anyone but Dena to wait on her.