Dust on the Horizon (54 page)

“I believe my money is as good as anyone else's.” He offered Millie his arm which she took. “Good day to you, Mr Wiltshire.”

Millie bit back the giggle at the astounded look on Henry's face.

“You young—”

“And merry Christmas.” William cut off Wiltshire and escorted Millie outside.

The door shut firmly behind them and Millie could hold in her mirth no longer. “Oh, William.” She giggled. “Mr Wiltshire turned as red as the bows on his Christmas tree.”

“Silly man.” William laughed too as they walked back towards Eliza and the wagon. “I see why Father doesn't like him.”

“They're probably as stubborn as each other if the truth be known.”

“You found him.” Eliza looked from one to the other as they approached.

“Just as you said, Eliza.” Millie put a hand on William's shoulder. “He was shopping.”

William tucked his parcels under the canvas then helped Eliza and Millie up onto the seat of the wagon before he clambered up next to them. It was a tight squeeze as he set the horses for home. Later they would have to take turns at finding a place in the back but for now Millie was happy to be bunched up between Eliza and William.

She felt light-headed with relief and joy and perhaps it also had something to do with the new life she knew was growing inside her. She hadn't told anyone about that yet. It would be her Christmas surprise when Joseph was home and they were all together. For now Millie was content to keep the news to herself. There was a lot to be done between now and Christmas.

Forty-six

Jack approached the homestead at Wildu Creek with caution. He'd tethered his horse back in the last bit of bush before the bigger trees that marked the edge of the house area. There was a half moon, enough to guide his way up the hill to the rough wooden hut where he knew Millie slept. He'd been watching the place since late afternoon. There was no sign of the couple that worked for Baker, nor of William, only old man Baker, Millie and the three young children.

Jack paused by a large gum and slipped his flask from his pocket. He took a swig of the whiskey he'd been continuing to drink daily since his return from Hawker. He'd felt angry and frustrated at letting Catherine slip from his grasp. He'd ridden home and drunk so much he'd hardly left the house for days. Finally he'd decided to come for Millie. He'd be happy to take her willingly but if she wasn't going to accept his advances he was past caring. Tonight he would bed her, one way or another.

He stuffed the flask back in his pocket and scratched at his chin. He'd washed before he left Smith's Ridge but he'd been a day in the saddle. Still, Baker was never much for appearances, so maybe Millie liked her men rough and rugged.

He looked at the houses. There was no sign of light or life from either of them. He assumed the overseer and his wife were away and that Thomas Baker had retired for the night. Millie and the children slept up in the crude hut. He wondered about that. Now that Mrs Baker senior had died the main house was all but empty. Still it was better for his purpose if Millie slept in the hut away from the other houses. He had easier access there since her bedroom opened onto the verandah.

A glimmer of light shone from the gap around her door and that of the youngest boy's room. Jack took another swig from his flask. He was getting tired of waiting and he was desperate for a woman. Millie Baker was going to fix that need.

Millie sat up and listened. She'd heard Robert's bedroom door open a little while ago. She'd thought perhaps he'd gone to relieve himself but he'd been gone a long time. Robert wasn't a good sleeper since his father had been away. Sometimes he wandered. It bothered her. Not that she thought he'd come to much harm but he was young and if he strayed too far from the house yards he could get lost in the dark.

She slipped from her bed and took up the lantern she'd placed on the cupboard. The days were hot but the hills often cooled in the late evening. She only wore a cotton nightdress so she pulled a woollen shawl around her bare shoulders and let herself out the door.

She stood on the verandah, the lamp at her feet, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Then she saw it, a glow of light from a window gap in the side wall of the new house. The partly completed cellar was one of Robert's favourite places. Millie left her own lantern on the verandah and picked her way down the slope. Her feet were used to shoes now and in her bare feet she hobbled over the occasional rock, slowing her down.

When she reached the gap in the walls that was to be the front door she stopped. The night was very quiet, almost too quiet. She shivered and drew her shawl tightly around her. Robert's lamp was on the ground in the middle of the house. She peered in each room as she went but she couldn't see him.

“Robert,” she called softly. “Where are you?”

“Millie?” His gruff young voice answered from further in. No doubt he was in the cellar. She was about to step in that direction when she thought she heard something. She turned and stared into the darkness beyond the lamp but she could see nothing. Once more she shivered.

“I can see you.” Robert's whisper drew her back to him. She went to the mouth of the cellar and peered in. Once her eyes adjusted she could see his silhouette, a darker shape a few feet in, waving to her.

She went and sat beside him. “What are you doing here in the dark?”

“I like it here.”

Millie gazed out of the cellar opening. Something moved beyond the lamp in what was to be the great hall. She put a hand to her mouth. There was someone out there and from the stance it looked a lot like Jack Aldridge.

“What's wrong, Millie?” Robert was still whispering.

She put a finger to her lips and glanced around. She knew Jack wouldn't be able to see her. When she'd been on the other side of the lantern its light had stopped her seeing into the darkness beyond. He must have seen her come into the house though. Why was he here? She imagined his searching eyes and a shiver ran through her. She was barely dressed and all alone except for Robert.

She bent down and whispered in Robert's ear. “I need you to show me how quiet you can be. I want you to wake Grandfather and tell him Jack is here.”

“Why is Jack here?”

“I'll tell you later but you need to go now, very quietly in the dark. Do you think you can do that for me?”

Robert's head nodded up and down.

“Good boy.”

They got to their knees and shuffled to the cellar entrance. Once more Millie put a finger to her lips and then pointed to the side passage of the house that would lead to the kitchen one day. If Robert could get out that way, Jack wouldn't see him. The young boy had barely left when Jack stepped into the ring of light around the lantern.

“Hello, Millie.” His voice was low.

Millie knew he wouldn't be able to see her. Perhaps she could hide in the cellar long enough for Robert to get Thomas.

There was a thud and a clunk in the direction Robert had gone. Millie bit her lip. Had she heard a whimper? Jack picked up the lantern and started in that direction. Millie had to distract him and give Robert time to get help.

“I'm here.” She spoke softly and shuffled back into the cellar. She sat back and curled her shoulders over her knees, trying to cover as much of the pale nightdress with the dark shawl as she could.

She heard his footfall, it was a soft sound in the dirt but he was coming closer.

“This is a good game, Millie.” His voice was teasing. “Makes me desire you even more.”

Millie bit down on her lip and clasped her hand over her mouth to stop herself from crying out. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Please hurry, Thomas.

Thomas paused. He had taken to walking some nights when sleep eluded him. He fell asleep easily enough but sometimes he'd wake only a short time later and his grief for Lizzie threatened to overwhelm him. Walking helped him clear his head and tire his body. The creek was his favourite spot and he'd been following it for some distance when he thought he heard the nicker of a horse. He was too far from the horse yards for it to be his horses and he wasn't expecting anyone to be riding around out here at this time of night.

The snort of a horse carried down the slope. Thomas left the creek and made his way towards a thick clump of bush and trees. There was plenty of moonlight and his eyes had long since adjusted to it. He made out the shape of a horse. Perhaps someone lost had camped for the night. There were people about, drifting and looking for work, but it was rare to get them out here. Thomas moved carefully closer. The horse was tethered and there was no sign of its rider.

It pulled its head back at his approach, snorting and pawing the ground.

“Easy.” Thomas extended a hand to its neck and gave it a firm pat at the same time gripping the reins just in case it broke free.

The horse settled at his touch. It was a tall animal, all black. Thomas pondered it a moment. He'd seen a similar horse. Then he remembered Jack Aldridge. He'd been a regular visitor until Lizzie's death. He'd been at her funeral and then Thomas couldn't remember seeing him since. Thomas hadn't given it any thought until now but he was relieved. On Jack's last few visits the man had paid a lot of attention to Millie who did nothing to warrant it but be her usual cheerful self.

Thomas looked around. Why would Jack leave his horse here? Something niggled in Thomas's chest, a different feeling to the pain of his grief which was a permanent ache. This was more like unease. There was a firearm in a holder attached to the saddle. Thomas slipped it out and took it with him.

He made his way carefully towards his house. On the way he passed the original little cottage that Timothy and his family lived in. There was no-one home. They'd gone to help Binda with the last remaining sheep. William was camped out overnight as well, checking fences.

Thomas let himself back in his front door. The gun he only ever used to shoot animals stood behind the bedroom door against the wardrobe. He hoped he was jumping at shadows and would have no need for it but it made him feel better to have it just in case. He replaced Jack's gun with his own and crossed the passage to the spare bedroom. Inside he could see the forms of Violet and Esther sleeping peacefully. He closed the door on them. Funny little things, some nights they slept in his house and some nights up at the quarters. He was glad to know they were safe as he made his way to his back door.

He looked out towards the quarters. A lamp glowed from the front verandah. That was odd. He made his way along the path to the back gate and set off across the yard. The jagged outline of the partly completed new house rose into the air, a dark shadow against the pale night sky. The sound of a voice made him stop and turn in that direction. It was male, speaking low. Thomas raised the gun and took careful steps forward. A woman's voice said something. Was it Millie he could hear? Then a low laugh. It was definitely Jack.

“Get out!” Millie's voice was raised this time.

“Who's going to make me?” Jack's voice was taunting. “All you have to protect you are children and an old man.”

Thomas stepped past the last wall and into the space in the middle of the house. Jack had his back to him and beyond him Thomas could see a movement of fabric, he assumed Millie. He lifted the barrel.

“An old man with a gun.”

Jack turned slowly. Thomas could see his shirt was untucked and he bore red streaks down his cheek. Dear God, if he had hurt Millie Thomas wouldn't be able to bear it.

“Millie?” he called.

“I'm all right, Thomas.”

Jack snorted and put a hand to his cheek. “That she is.”

Millie skirted around Jack beyond his reach. Thomas caught a glimpse of a torn nightgown and bare feet. What had he interrupted? He hoped he'd come in time. Millie came to stand beside Thomas. He felt her clutch at his jacket.

“Get off my land.” Thomas tweaked his finger a little tighter on the trigger.

Jack held up two hands, the palms to Thomas, and shook his head. “I'm done here.”

“You certainly are.”

Thomas and Millie backed up as Jack walked towards them and out of the house.

Jack stopped and turned to face them, then looked beyond Thomas, put his finger to his lips and winked.

Millie let out a gasp. Thomas watched until Jack disappeared into the darkness. He felt Millie shivering beside him. He leaned the gun against the wall, took off his jacket and slid it around her shoulders. Then he picked up his gun, gave another glance around and put his arm around her.

“Let's go inside. I'll make you a cup of tea.”

Thomas sat Millie on a kitchen chair, replaced the jacket with a blanket and stirred the fire to life. He lit a lantern for more light. Millie sat shuddering on the chair, her hands on her stomach, her eyes brimming with tears she was trying hard not to shed.

Thomas didn't know what to say. How did he ask her if Jack had …? He glanced up. How he wished his Lizzie was here right now.

Millie looked around. “Where's Robert?”

“Sleeping I assume.”

Millie frowned. “Here?”

Thomas paused part-way through putting the kettle on the fire. “He's in the quarters isn't he?”

“No.” Millie jumped up. The rug began to slip and Thomas noticed a graze on her neck.

“Do you think Jack …?”

“No.” Millie shook her head. “He didn't see Robert. He was with me all the time.”

Once more Thomas noticed the shudder that ran through her body.

“I sent Robert to find you.”

“I wasn't in the house.”

Millie wrapped herself in the rug and looked around wildly. “He must be here.”

They went from room to room. He was nowhere in the house.

Millie stopped by the back door, her hand on the handle. “How did you know to come and find me?”