by Bonnie Leon
“Seems ya ’ave a good group this morning,” Callie said.
“Yes, ten in all. We’ve two new students. I think there are still some hanging back because their parents don’t want them here. Perhaps you could speak to the parents.”
Callie didn’t say anything right off. She didn’t feel comfortable trying to convince anyone that their children ought to attend school. She wasn’t even certain how she felt about it herself. It could raise false hopes. Finally she said, “I’ll try, mum.”
“Thank you. I’m sure if we persevere, more parents will be supportive of an education for their children.”
Rebecca sucked in a breath. “However, I must say, this is a challenge, having children dribbling in. Every time there’s a new student, I’m forced to take time to teach him the basics. Most have no concept of the written word, or even how to use a slate. The training slows down the rest of the class.”
Rebecca glanced at the students. They were already working on their slates, practicing the letters they’d learned the previous week. “I guess time isn’t of any real concern. For the most part, the children seem happy enough to linger, and they truly enjoy helping one another.”
“It’s roight fun,” Callie said, picking up one of the small wood-framed boards and a piece of chalk and writing out her name. She admired the word, then said, “I quite like writing.”
“Do you think you can help the children with their letters and their sounds?”
“Yais,” Callie said, battling against uncertainty about her skills. “It’ll be fine if ya don’t expect too much. I still ’ave a lot ta learn meself.”
“I understand. But we can learn together and from each other.”
Callie was a bit taken aback. “How can ya learn from me?”
“I’ve already learned so much. Don’t you know?” Rebecca smiled. “When I first arrived in Queensland, I didn’t know a thing about this world.”
Someone cleared his throat, drawing Rebecca’s and Callie’s attention. Koora stood just inside the door. Callie’s heart picked up its pace, and she felt flushed.
“Good morning, Koora,” Rebecca said. “Welcome.”
“G’day mum. I’m done with me work for now and was wonderin’ if I could come ta yer school?”
“Of course. Please sit.”
Koora glanced at Callie and nodded. Callie refused to acknowledge him. She wasn’t about to give him the wrong idea. Wearing a knowing smile, he took a seat on the bench in the back of the classroom.
What is he smilin’ ’bout? What does he think he knows? Callie felt furious and embarrassed.
“You’ll need one of these,” Rebecca said, handing Koora a slate and a piece of chalk. “You can write on it,” she said and demonstrated.
Koora smiled broadly. “This is fine. I like it.” He settled serious eyes on Rebecca. “I figure if I learn ta write and ta read, I can do more than be a roustabout. Maybe ’ave me own place one day, eh?”
“Big dream for a black man,” Callie challenged. “Ya’d be wise ta think more reasonable.” She’d known others who had dreams, but no matter how much they believed or worked, their hopes came to nothing.
“Won’t get nowhere bein’ reasonable,” Koora said.
“Humph,” was Callie’s only response. She walked out of the tent.
“Callie! Wait!” Rebecca went after her, stopping at the doorway just long enough to tell the children she’d return shortly.
Callie picked up her pace and didn’t look back. She didn’t want to talk with Rebecca. She didn’t want to speak to anyone.
Rebecca caught up to her. “I thought you were going to help me. Where are you going?”
“I remembered I ’ave some wash ta do.” Callie kept walking.
“Please wait,” Rebecca said, her tone sharp.
Callie stopped and faced Rebecca. “I said I’d help, but not ’im.”
“Why not? He has a right to learn just like everyone else.”
“No. It’s not good.”
“Why?”
Callie hesitated, then said softly, “He’s one of those who makes us believe we can ’ave more. And it can’t be. We just end up feelin’ like fools.”
“You can’t know it will be like that. Things can change.”
“They’re not goin’ ta change, mum.”
Rebecca’s demeanor softened. “I kind of like him. Daniel said he’s a good worker, and he’s obviously ambitious. I thought you might want to get to know him better.”
’Ere it comes, Callie thought. Well, why not. Her mind returned to a time she’d tried to forget. “I knew a man better once. He was s’posed ta come for me. But he never came. And now no man’s goin’ ta fancy me. I’m near thirty.” She glanced back at the tent. “But I figure I’ll be roight fine on me own. Don’t need no one.”
“Callie, there’s nothing wrong with a man and a woman loving each other. And I thought you wanted babies. You told me you did.”
An ache rose up inside. Callie had wanted babies. “No. There’ll be no bybies for me,” she said and walked toward the house.
Koora and a young boy each carried an armload of firewood and dumped it into a wood bin alongside a small firebox.
“Thank you,” Rebecca said, tucking her shawl snugly between her arms and her body. “It’s rather chilly today.”
The wood-burning stove held off the cold but made for a crowded schoolroom. Rebecca opened the stove door and picked up a piece of wood.
“I’ll do that, mum,” Koora said, taking the chunk of acacia from her and shoving it into the fire. He added two more pieces and then closed the door and latched it.
“That should help,” Rebecca said, enjoying the odor of burning wood and smoke. The combination of that and the sound of light rainfall on the canvas roof reminded her of Boston.
Koora took his place on a back bench beside Callie. The boy squeezed between two other lads in the second row.
Rebecca studied the children. The girls were dressed in light cotton shifts, and the boys wore pants and cotton shirts. None of them had a coat. Although the children didn’t complain Rebecca thought they must be cold. I wish there was something I could do for them, she thought.
“Are any of you cold?” she asked.
The children stared at her. A little girl sitting in the front row said, “No, mum. Are ya?”
“Why, yes I am, a bit.”
“Me mum says whites got thin skin. That’s why ya get cold.”
Rebecca smiled. “Hmm. I hadn’t thought of that.” She glanced at Callie, who offered her a knowing look.
She walked to the front of the classroom and picked up a piece of chalk from the lip of the blackboard. With arithmetic completed, it was time to move on to the writing lesson. Careful to use perfect script, Rebecca wrote out the alphabet, using upper- and lowercase letters.
After writing the letter T, she turned and said, “We’re going to learn a new letter and a new sound today. But first let’s read the preceding letters.”
Pointing at each, she and the students recited one at a time.
“Very good. You’re making great progress.”
She underlined the letter T. “Does anyone know what this letter is?”
Silently the students stared at the board.
Finally Koora said, “Is it a T ?”
Rebecca smiled. “Correct.”
Koora grinned. “I been studyin’.” He held up his slate to show off the letters of the alphabet he’d written.
“Very good, Koora.”
“Yer a fine teacher.” He stood. “Wish I could stay, but I got work ta do.” He moved toward the classroom door and then stopped. He lingered there a moment, then said, “Mum, I was wondering if I could do some extra work for school, after my chores are done.”
“Of course. But you’ll need instruction.”
Koora looked at Callie. “Maybe Callie could help, eh?”
Callie looked surprised but said nothing.
“Would that be
all right with you, Callie?” Rebecca asked.
Callie didn’t answer right away, then said, “I could do it.”
“Fine, then. Perhaps you two can put together some kind of schedule.”
“That would be roight fine with me.” Koora placed his hat on his head. “Maybe tonight, eh?”
“Fine.” Callie barely glanced at Koora, then looked back at the blackboard.
Koora stepped through the door and disappeared outside. Callie returned to writing on her slate.
“All right, then,” Rebecca continued. “Can anyone tell me what sound the letter T makes?”
Silence.
With emphasis Rebecca made a T sound. The class imitated.
“Can anyone think of a word that starts with T ?”
A small boy with wild, curly hair raised his hand. “Tr . . . ee, mum.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
Another hand went up, and Rebecca nodded to the girl.
“What about tooth, eh?” She pointed at her large front teeth.
“Right. Excellent.” Rebecca smiled inside.
It had been two months since the students had started their schooling, and already they knew most of the alphabet and its sounds. Plus, they were having great success at writing out the letters. Soon they’d be reading.
This is what had been missing in Rebecca’s life. Each morning when she woke, her first thoughts were of the students and the lesson plans for the day. It all seemed so perfect. School took up only a few hours each day, leaving her with plenty of time for her family and for rest. Now all she needed was a proper building.
“Can anyone else think of a word that begins with T?” she asked.
Skinny arms shot up.
“How about teacher?” a voice boomed. One of the men who’d accosted Daniel stepped into the classroom. Detached brown eyes settled on Rebecca. “Teacher starts with T, roight, mum?” he taunted.
Alarm surged through Rebecca. She managed to nod.
Two other men moved into the room. They looked arrogant and cruel.
The first to step in said, “Let me ’ave another go at it, eh? How ’bout I use it in a sentence?” He looked up at the ceiling in an exaggerated way and drawled, “Wal now, let me see . . . I ’ave it. The teacher won’t be teachin’ no more if ’er husband don’t do as he’s told.” He sneered. “What ya think ’bout that, eh?”
Rebecca’s stomach churned, and her nerves jumped. She was angry and scared. Unconsciously she rested a hand on her stomach as if protecting her unborn child. Managing what she hoped was a look of nonchalance, she met the man’s eyes. “Who are you, and what do you want?”
“Name’s Jack. This is Luke. Ya don’t want ta mess with ’im.” He nodded at the other man. “And this ’ere is Wade.” Jack grinned. “Wade’s a friendly type. When he wants ta be, anyway.”
Jack folded his arms over his chest and scrutinized the room, his eyes stopping at each child. Every youngster met his glare and bore the scrutiny without flinching.
“Roight nice ta ’ave a school for the unfortunate.”
“What do you want?” Rebecca repeated.
“Our boss, Mr. Marshal, sent us ta give yer husband a message.”
“My husband’s not here.” Rebecca’s skin tingled with apprehension.
“We figured ya could give ’im the message for us.” Jack paused, then in a menacing tone continued, “Yer husband knows what’s expected. If he doesn’t want ta see the people he loves get hurt, he better do as he’s told.”
Luke moved to Rebecca and laid a hand on her arm. His face looked sculpted and too perfect. His nostrils flared slightly as his fingers lightly touched her skin and his hand trailed up to her neck. “You have a right lovely look to you.”
Rebecca swiped his hand away. Her heart hammering, she looked at Jack. “There’s nothing I can do for you.”
“Not true.” Jack walked to the front of the room. He stopped at Rebecca’s desk and picked up a book, then rested his hand on a globe before fixing his eyes on the children. “Ya wouldn’t want yer teacher hurt, eh?”
Wide-eyed, the children stared at the intruder without responding.
“Figure the youngsters have homes ta go to. Figure there’s work ta be done. Perhaps they ought ta get ta it?”
The students turned confused expressions on Rebecca.
“Children, practice your letters. Mr. . . . Jack will be leaving momentarily.”
“I’ll be staying as long as I see fit.” His grin tipping sideways, he took a heavy step toward the children and brought his hands together in a pronounced clap. “Go on now! Get!”
The youngsters flinched. They looked as if they might flee, but they remained seated and looked at their teacher for direction.
Struggling to remain calm, Rebecca said, “Go along. We’ll carry on with our lessons tomorrow.”
The children hurried out of the room.
Callie moved closer to Rebecca. Rebecca could feel her fury, and she could taste her own.
She remained silent until the last child stepped out of the door, then lashed out at the intruders. “How dare you come into my classroom and behave in such a manner! You have no right to give orders to me or to my students!”
An expression of disbelief touched Luke’s chiseled features. “You still don’t understand. I, we, can do whatever we want.”
Rebecca lifted her chin slightly. “Get off my land.”
“Your land, is it?” Luke chuckled and looked at the other men. “She says it’s her land.” He laughed outright. His smile disappeared, and he turned venomous eyes on Rebecca. “You might want to talk to Mr. Marshal about that.”
Fear spiked through Rebecca, but she refused to show it. “If my husband were here . . .”
“If he were here, he’d shut you up.”
“I order you to leave! Now! Get off this station!”
“No sheila orders me to do anything.” Luke stepped back a pace, lifted his rifle, settled it on his shoulder, and pointed it at Callie. “Be real easy to pick her off. Won’t be missed. No better than a dingo anyway.”
Rebecca stepped in front of Callie.
Luke left the rifle in place and stared down the barrel at Rebecca. “You’re so pally with your black friend there—would you take a bullet for her?” He squeezed the trigger slightly.
Inwardly Rebecca shuddered and tried to convince herself he wouldn’t actually shoot her. She stared into his merciless blue eyes and knew he would. He was enjoying this.
She straightened her spine and threw back her shoulders. “I’ll give my husband your message.”
Ignoring Rebecca, Luke stepped to the left, giving him a clearer shot of Callie. “I seen what happens when blacks get cocky. Think they can do what they want. You’re a fool if you think she’s loyal to you. She’d never protect you.” He settled a hateful gaze on Callie. “Figure she’d kill you if she got a chance.”
Rebecca glanced at Callie and a message of allegiance was conveyed between the two. “Go. Please.”
“Seems I heard you’re a Yank. You know nothing about things here. You’re a fool. It’d suit Mr. Marshal fine if you disappeared. We could make that happen.” He glanced at Jack and Wade. “Right?”
The two didn’t reply, but their posture seemed to affirm the statement.
“Makes me sick at my stomach to think of them mongrels getting high and mighty ideas just because they can read and write,” Luke continued. “Course, I figure most of them can’t learn anyway.” Luke lifted his rifle for emphasis. “Waste of good time.”
“Put the gun down. Now!” Willa said, stepping into the classroom. A rifle rested on her shoulder and was pointed at Luke.
With a look of surprise, he glanced at Willa. “You won’t shoot me.”
“No? I suppose you can keep that rifle right where it is and find out, then.” Her expression was unyielding. “Put down your firearm.” When Luke didn’t move, she added. “Put it down. I’ll not have you or anyone else threatening my
family.”
Luke didn’t move.
“We got our message across. Time ta push on,” Jack said.
“No! We’re staying!” Luke barked. He turned to Willa. “You go back inside that fancy house of yours and have a cuppa. This doesn’t concern you.”
Willa kept her rifle as it was. “Anything that has to do with my family is my business. I’m telling you as nicely as I know how that you’d be wise to go on your way.”
Rebecca felt a swell of pride for Willa.
“I don’t take orders from sheilas.” Luke stared at Willa, challenging her.
Willa took a step forward. “You go, or you’ll taste gunpowder.”
“We can come back later,” Wade said. “We done what we were asked.”
“Put the gun down,” Jack told Luke, then settled a brutal look on Rebecca. “Ya tell yer husband he better do as he’s told or we’ll be back. Next time someone will get hurt. Might even be that precious little boy of yers.”
Rebecca felt a surge of rage and horror. “You touch my son, and I’ll—”
“Ya’ll what?”
“Come on, let’s go,” Wade said. He took a step toward the door.
“You’d be wise to listen to your friend,” Willa said. “I’m a good shot.”
Luke’s lips lifted into a sneer. “Right. I’m real scared.”
Willa quickly pointed the rifle at his feet and squeezed the trigger. The room exploded with a deafening boom, and the ground just in front of his boots splintered and spit dirt pebbles. She quickly leveled the rifle at the young man’s chest, smiling slightly.
Rebecca had never seen Willa like this. She’d always seemed serene and sweet, never tough. Admiration for her mother-in-law grew.
“I’ll shoot you if I have to.” Willa’s tone was implacable.
Jack moved toward the door. “We’ll go,” he told Rebecca. “But ya tell yer husband what we said.”
Reluctantly Luke lowered his rifle. “Do as you’re told, or there’ll be consequences.”