When the Storm Breaks

by Bonnie Leon

  “No. I’m not leaving. You need me.” Rebecca climbed from beneath the blankets and moved to Daniel. Pressing herself against his back, she draped her arms around him and rested her cheek against his skin. “I can’t leave you, not with things the way they are.”

  “What about the children?”

  Rebecca felt fear grab hold of her. “I am frightened for them, but I’m staying.” She moved around to face him. With a smile she looked up at him, admiring his handsome, boyish looks. “But I do like the idea of a holiday. Perhaps we could go together.”

  Daniel pulled her close. “Where?”

  Rebecca shrugged. “I loved Brisbane.”

  Daniel was quiet for a moment. “A friend of mine, Jack Patterson, owns a cottage just north of there. It’s on a small bay. He and his family lived there when he was a boy. When they moved to the flats, they kept it so they’d have a place to go on holiday.”

  “Can we go?”

  “I’ll work out the details.” Daniel rested the bottom of his chin on Rebecca’s head. “While we’re there I could speak to Marshal. Perhaps I’ll be able to reason with him.”

  A knock sounded at the door, and Daniel pushed against the mattress and rolled onto his side. “Who is it?”

  “Just Callie. I brought ya some tea.”

  “Come in.” Daniel pulled the covers up over him.

  Callie stepped into the room, carrying a tray with tea. “Yer wife thought ya might like something ta start yer day with.” She glanced at Daniel but seemed afraid to look at him squarely.

  “Right. Just set it on the desk there.” Daniel nodded at the desk near the window. With a groan, he pushed up on one elbow.

  “Ya hurtin’, sir?”

  “No. Just a bit stiff. Could be I’m getting old, eh?” He grinned.

  “Not you, sir,” Callie said with a teasing lilt to her voice.

  “Sometimes I wonder.” Daniel sat up, folding his legs in front of him.

  Callie moved toward the door. “Breakfast will be ready soon. Lily made scones.”

  “Good.”

  She grabbed the doorknob when Daniel said, “Callie, I want to speak to you. Could you meet me in the study in half an hour?”

  “Roight,” Callie said, uncertainty showing in her eyes.

  Daniel knew Rebecca wouldn’t want him to bring up the previous evening’s outing, but it needed to be addressed. “I’ll be there shortly.”

  With a bob of her head, Callie stepped out of the room.

  Callie stood outside the study door when Daniel arrived. He opened the door and waited for her to enter. “Please, have a seat,” he said, moving around his desk and dropping onto a chair.

  Callie moved to a straight-backed chair and sat.

  Daniel rested his hands on the desktop. “It’s about last night. I’m sure you meant well, but I don’t think it was wise to take Rebecca to a corroboree. You placed her and yourself in danger.”

  Callie’s eyes held a question, but she remained silent.

  “You can do whatever you like with your ceremonies, but they’re not meant for whites. And with all that’s happened, it’s not safe to wander about, especially at night. We can’t forget what happened to Dusty.” Releasing a loud breath, he closed his eyes for a moment. “Poor Dusty. I don’t want to be responsible for another death.”

  Callie’s dark complexion faded slightly. “Yer roight. I didn’t think ’bout that.”

  “And you may be right fine with aboriginal rituals, but Rebecca’s not accustomed to them.”

  “Did it upset her?”

  Daniel wasn’t sure how to answer. “Not extremely, but she did say some of it was a bit shocking.”

  “I just wanted her ta see—”

  “Right. I know. She told me, but from now on it would be better if you kept such things to yourself.”

  Callie looked like she’d clamped her jaws tight. “Roight,” she said and stood. “Is that all?”

  “Yes.”

  Callie hurried to the door, and before Daniel could say anything more, she disappeared into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind her.

  Daniel stared at the door, his mind still with Dusty. He couldn’t rid himself of the vision of his hanging. And although Nan had taken her children and gone to work for another man, he thought of her every day.

  Daniel leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He was tired. Last night’s discussion with Rebecca, thoughts of Dusty, and the threat of what Marshal might do next plagued him. He’d muffed everything. How could he get out from under Marshal’s thumb? What could he say or do that would end the fear and the endless watching and waiting? What would it take to save Douloo?

  Daniel thought about the holiday he and Rebecca were planning at the coast. Being in Brisbane presented a perfect opportunity to speak with Marshal, as distasteful as the prospect was. He took a sip of cooled tea and then set the cup back on the tray. Could he convince Marshal to accept smaller payments until the station was on its feet again? Daniel doubted it. He stared out the window, looking eastward. His mind searched for a means of convincing the corrupt businessman to ease his conditions. No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t lay hold of a reasonable argument, not one Marshal would accept, anyway. Daniel felt as if he were watching the demise of a loved one—the ruin of Douloo.

  He picked up his Bible and riffled through the pages until they fell open to Psalm 1. He looked down at verse 1. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” He stopped. I did that. I went to a wicked man for help, and I allowed him to have charge over my life.

  Daniel shook his head in disbelief. He’d been a fool. Closing his eyes, he prayed, Lord, help me to straighten this out. I know what I did was wrong, but now what do I do? Show me how to set it right.

  Daniel remained there a long while, praying and seeking God’s strength and peace. Finally the grumbling in his stomach reminded him of breakfast. And there was work to be done. He couldn’t sit all day and worry.

  Closing the Bible and pushing to his feet, he meandered toward the kitchen, where he refilled his empty cup and sat at the breakfast table. He drank his tea quietly, watching Lily prepare breakfast.

  “Ya look a bit down in the mouth t’day,” she said.

  “I do?” He took another drink. “I’m fine. No worries.”

  “Good.” She cracked an egg into a frying pan. “Figure everybody gets mad sometimes, eh?”

  “Right. Do I look mad?”

  “Yais, I’d say.”

  “I’m not,” Daniel said, but he was. He was mad at Marshal and his thugs, and he was mad at himself. “I’ve made a mess of things,” he confessed.

  “Nothin’ that can’t be put roight though, eh?”

  “I pray so.”

  She flipped an egg, and it sizzled in bacon grease. “Ya’ll figure it out. I’m sure of it.”

  Daniel wished he were so certain. “I fear you’ve too much faith in me, Lily.”

  “I been ’round ’ere a long while. I know ya. And ya’ve done roight well since yer father passed on. Ya’ve grown up.” She turned the eggs onto a plate and set a scone beside them. “Some things can’t be changed. Ya ’ave ta do the hard thing by facing troubles.” She set the plate in front of Daniel.

  “You’ve heard the talk.” Daniel rested his arms on either side of the plate.

  “I ’ave.” Lily faced him squarely. “Yer up ta the test.”

  Carrying Audry against her shoulder, Rebecca walked into the kitchen. “Good morning.” She smiled at Daniel. “You slept late. Are you all right?”

  “Sleepless night is all.”

  Joseph followed his mother into the room, hopping instead of walking. “G’day,” he said climbing onto his chair. “I’m hungry.” He smiled, and his pink cheeks plumped.

  “Good, then. I made ya a fine breakfast.” Lily set a plate with a scone and an egg in front of the youngster. Joseph to
ok a bite of his scone and then climbed down and galloped around the kitchen.

  “Joseph, sit down and eat your breakfast,” Rebecca said, sitting at the table. She looked at Audry, who contentedly sucked on her fist.

  Joseph stopped for a moment and then galloped back around the table and clambered onto his chair. He took another bite of scone.

  “I’m absolutely famished,” Rebecca said.

  Willa walked into the kitchen. “Good morning. It’s lovely, isn’t it? Cool and sunny. My favorite sort of day.”

  Daniel nodded and took a bite of egg. “Cool for October, I’d say.”

  “Ya like some breakfast, mum?” Lily asked Willa.

  “Just a scone, please. No eggs.” Willa took a sip of tea. “Did I hear you say you didn’t sleep well, Daniel?”

  “Couldn’t turn off my thoughts.” He sampled his scone.

  “I must say, the house felt a bit unsettled last night.”

  Rebecca’s and Daniel’s eyes met. Her look told him not to say anything about her evening’s experience.

  “I could hear the didgeridoo in the distance late. Must have been some sort of special night for the blacks.”

  “Right. I heard it too. That might explain the sense of activity.” Daniel ate the last of his eggs and took another bite of his scone, then pushed his plate away. “I’ve got work to do.” He stood and leaned toward Rebecca, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “Have a good day, luv.”

  “Should I look into the possibility of taking a holiday?” she asked.

  “No. I can do that. I’ll be in town.”

  “You going on holiday?” Willa asked.

  “Right. We thought it a fine idea,” Daniel said. “And the perfect spot would be the Pattersons’ cottage north of Brisbane.”

  “Oh yes. It’s a lovely place. It’s been so long since we’ve been there. The last time was before Bertram . . .” She hesitated. “Before Bertram left us. Actually, it was before Rebecca came to Douloo.” She smiled gently. “You’ll like it, dear.”

  “I’m sure I will.” Rebecca looked at Daniel. “Can we go soon?”

  “If you think the baby is up to it.”

  “She seems sturdy,” Rebecca said, glancing at the infant. “I could take Callie with me. She’d be a help.”

  “That’s a fine idea.” Daniel moved toward the back door, his mind on Marshal. The idea of disrupting his holiday to meet with the man made Daniel almost wish he weren’t going. But there was no way to avoid it. It had to be done.

  After an exciting two-day stay in Brisbane, Daniel, Rebecca, Callie, and the baby prepared to travel north to the cottage on the coast. There’d been no mention of Marshal. Daniel and Rebecca both knew it would be necessary to meet with him, but neither was willing to allow the obligation to ruin their holiday.

  Daniel handed Callie and then Rebecca up into a surrey. Rebecca held Audry against her chest. Daniel took the front seat. “I’ve had a grand time of it. Now we’re off to the coast.”

  “It’s been lovely,” Rebecca said, moving Audry to her shoulder. “Brisbane is a charming city. And last night’s concert was as good as any I’ve attended, even those in Boston.”

  “We’ll come back, eh?”

  “Yes. Soon.” Rebecca was silent a moment, then she asked, “Do you intend to see Mr. Marshal?”

  “Yes. But not until after we’ve had a few days at the beach.” Daniel lifted the reins and whisked them across the horses’ backsides. The animals set off at a brisk pace, and Brisbane soon fell away.

  “It’s beautiful here,” Rebecca said, her eyes wandering over the lush forest pressing in around them. “But I can’t help but think we ought to speak with Mr. Marshal as soon as possible and not wait.”

  “I want a couple of days to give what I’m going to say some thought. To clear my mind a bit.”

  “I suppose that’s wise,” Rebecca said, then turned quiet.

  Several silent minutes passed, and then Callie said, “It’s roight nice, ’ere, but I like ta see all ’round. Can’t see for nothin’.”

  “I rather fancy the coast,” Daniel said, the tranquillity of his surroundings soothing his worries.

  Broad-leafed plants hugged the trunks of cedar and eucalyptus trees, whose limbs served as perches for countless birds. The variety of colors and voices offered an untamed symphony to passersby. The foliage parted, and an aqua sea with white sand beaches spread out below. Sunlight glinted off a quiet bay.

  Rebecca sucked in a breath. “Oh, it’s beautiful! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so picturesque. Even my favorite spot overlooking the Massachusetts Bay wasn’t this lovely.” She leaned forward and rested her hand on Daniel’s arm. “Thank you for bringing me.”

  “Wait until you see the cottage and the shoreline where we’ll be staying. It’s grand.”

  The cottage huddled among trees at the edge of the sand. Windows across the front provided a spectacular view of a quiet bay. It was ideal. There were no other homes nearby, so they would have absolute privacy.

  “It’s charming,” Rebecca said, inspecting the cottage and then stepping out onto a small veranda, where she gazed at the sea. “I’ve never spent time in a place quite like this.”

  Callie gazed out for a moment. “Roight pretty.” She turned to Rebecca. “Would ya like me ta see ta the bybie?”

  “Yes. She was fed just before we left Brisbane. She ought to sleep for a bit.”

  Taking the infant, Callie said, “I’ll see that she has a nap.”

  “Thank you.” Rebecca watched Callie disappear into the back of the cottage.

  Daniel stood behind Rebecca and circled his arms about her. “So you like it?”

  “I love it.” Rebecca leaned against him.

  “Nothing is too good for you, luv.” He kissed the top of her head.

  Rebecca turned and faced him, studying his features.

  Daniel couldn’t remember Rebecca ever looking more beautiful. Dark tendrils of hair had come loose of their pins and framed her suntanned skin. Her dark eyes sought his. Passion swept through Daniel. He gently pressed his lips to Rebecca’s, then kissed her ardently. For that moment the world with its troubles ceased. Daniel pulled her closer.

  “I love you,” Rebecca whispered. She rested her cheek against his shirt and burrowed in close.

  Daniel gazed over her at the azure sea. “I thank God for you.” He kissed her again. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  They stood like that for several moments, and then a large, brightly colored bird flew onto the veranda and lighted on the railing. Rustling its deep blue feathers, the bird gazed at them, seemingly unafraid.

  “Oh my. I’ve never . . . ,” Rebecca said.

  Startled at Rebecca’s voice, the visitor took to the air and swept back up into the woodland.

  Keeping hold of Daniel’s hands, Rebecca asked, “Shall we go for a swim?”

  Daniel studied Rebecca’s face, then pressed his lips to hers and murmured, “Not just yet, luv.”

  Time had passed too quickly. Rebecca didn’t want to leave the cottage. It meant facing the world and Marshal. If only she could remain in this place, where she felt embraced by the wilds and her husband’s love.

  The time here had been like a dream. She’d not allowed the brutality of the world to spoil the delicate bubble of delight that had surrounded her and Daniel. They’d roamed the beaches, played in the surf, picnicked, and made love. However, in the background trouble had huddled. And now it was time to face that trouble and Marshal. Rebecca had decided she’d speak to him. Daniel had tried to reason with him, but to no avail. Perhaps a woman’s touch could make the difference.

  She considered what she ought to tell Daniel. He’d be against her becoming involved. She poured his tea, then filled her own cup and sat across the table from him.

  Daniel captured her hand. “What did you have in mind for the rest of the day?”

  “I thought a picnic might be nice.” Rebecca glanced at the whi
te beach framed by heavy greenery on one side and the sea on the other. Waves curled toward shore, breaking and then washing onto the sand. “Perhaps we could collect shells.”

  “Sounds fine. Joseph will like them.”

  Rebecca felt a pang of sadness. It would most likely be a long while before she and Daniel spent another beautiful week like the one they’d just enjoyed. “I hope we don’t wait too long before returning.”

  “I’ve decided we ought to come back before the year is out.” He kissed her hand. “We’ll bring Joseph next time.”

  “He’d have a grand time.” Rebecca took an apple from a bowl of fruit sitting on the table and turned it over and over in her hands, studying its sheen. She needed to talk to Daniel about Marshal, but she didn’t want to break the spell.

  “Let’s go for a walk,” Daniel said. “Audry’s sleeping, and last time I checked, Callie was reading a book.”

  “That sounds grand.” Rebecca returned the apple to the bowl and grabbed Daniel’s hand. “Callie, we’re going to the beach,” she called. “Be back soon.”

  She led Daniel toward the shoreline. Then, still holding hands, they ran, tough grasses whipping their legs and the sand giving way beneath their feet. Out of breath, Rebecca stopped, and clasping both of Daniel’s hands, she leaned away from him and walked in a broad circle. Water swirled about her feet and ankles. Tilting her head back, she said, “I love it here.”

  Daniel laughed and swung her around. Together they tripped and fell into the shallow surf. Daniel reached down and swept up a handful of water, spraying Rebecca.

  “Oh! You!” she cried, scooping up handfuls of saltwater and splashing him.

  Daniel grabbed her and pulled her close. “We’ll come back soon, eh?”

  “Yes,” Rebecca said, leaning against him. The sound of breaking waves and the aroma of sea and forest applied a tranquil balm. The birds quieted, and the breeze turned soft.

  Rebecca felt quiet inside as she watched the waves wash into the small bay. A curl of water swirled up around her feet and then withdrew, the receding water sucking the sand out from beneath her feet. Her thoughts turned dark. Rebecca considered Marshal’s men and how they were like the waves, pulling the life of Douloo out from under the Thorntons.