Wild Lands (15 page)

The men rode straight up to the house at a fast trot. Dirt and grit eddied across the ground as the horses came to an abrupt stop and the men dismounted. They handed their mount's reins to a convict who'd come running, Major Shaw pulling his mare's ears affectionately before stamping his dusty boots free of dirt. Lieutenant Wilson caught Kate's eye. There was a smear of blood on his britches and his ready gaze was marred. The Major glanced at the trunk and bag sitting in the dirt and, without acknowledging her, led the solemn procession inside.

Kate hesitated, and then after a few minutes quietly followed the men indoors. The parlour door was ajar and, within, Mr Kable's profile was intent as he listened to the Major, the Reverend also in attendance. Kate waited in the hallway fearing being accused
an eaves-dropper, but keen to know the fate of the young girl. She took a step closer to the door. The men's voices were barely audible.

‘There was nothing to be done for her,' Major Shaw replied in conclusion, his voice rising as he drew to the end of a succinct explanation.

A decanter was opened, liquid sloshed. Kate looked down the hallway and, hearing nothing, edged a little nearer to the door.

‘A pity,' Mr Kable replied.

‘Indeed. Whether it was her people or another mob of blacks, it is a timely reminder of the pitfalls of befriending the natives.'

Jelly-belly tiptoed along the hallway to stand near Kate. Kate frowned at the girl and the convict scowled back.

‘Many may have become debauched by their addiction to our drink in these parts.' It was the Major who spoke. ‘And there are others who wish us ill. Blacks who choose to assimilate into an enlightened society are clearly in mortal danger from their own kind.'

‘It is a sorry situation,' Mr Kable replied.

‘We have no idea of their ways,' Lieutenant Wilson entered the conversation haltingly. ‘Who is to say that the girl had not done some wrong? Or perhaps she was an innocent victim and those responsible happened upon her by chance?'

‘That we will never know,' the Reverend agreed.

The conversation paused as the squeak of a wagon carried from outside.

Mr Kable turned towards the door. ‘Miss Carter,' he called, ‘I did not see you there.'

Kate reluctantly moved to the doorway as Jelly-belly slunk away to open the front door.

‘It were best if you made your presence known, miss,' the Major accused lightly, ‘this is not for the ears of women.' He drained his glass and sat it on the table before the fire then turned his attention back to his host. ‘We leave in the morning. Mr Southerland is
ready to depart, as you know, and the sooner I reach Maitland with the relieving troopers, the sooner my men and I can return to our duties in Parramatta.'

Kate hovered in the doorway.

Jelly-belly walked back down the passageway. ‘Begging your pardon, Mr Kable, sir, but the dray is waiting for the Reverend and Miss Carter.' She curtsied and left, nodding gravely at Kate as she passed.

‘I gather I need not call on you before daybreak, Miss Carter?' the Major stated.

‘You're leaving, Miss Carter?' Lieutenant Wilson was at Kate's elbow, steering her along the hallway where goodbyes were being made to the Reverend.

Kate admitted that at this stage it seemed likely that she would only travel as far as Parramatta. The young man seemed to be buoyed by this remark for he squeezed her elbow ever so slightly. ‘Where might I find you?' he asked quietly.

‘At the Square and Compass.' The Lieutenant gave a broad smile, giving him the air of a schoolboy. With dismay Kate realised she'd given the young man a sense of hope, which was not what she'd intended. ‘But I have no idea how long I'll be there for.'

‘Leave a forwarding address,' he whispered.

‘Lieutenant,' the Major directed, ‘fetch the horses.' The two younger officers walked outside and headed towards the stables, while Mr Kable offered Kate his best wishes before returning to the parlour.

‘So you're leaving with the Reverend?' Major Shaw accompanied Kate to the verandah as the Reverend's travel bag was dropped onto the rear of a dray. The driver, MacIntosh, was petting his horse between the ears and talking animatedly to the animal. The horse kept its head low and pawed at the dirt. ‘You have made the right decision.'

Kate noted the slight condescension to his words. ‘Really?'

‘Well, no-one should expect the weaker sex to embark on such an expedition. It is bad enough that husbands drag their wives out into the wilds but a defenceless single woman?' He shook his head. ‘You will do better here. In more suitable surrounds and occupations.'

What he spoke of held some truth, and Kate knew by the earnestness of the Major's tone that the words were well-intentioned. Nonetheless, they were also predictable and ultimately spoke of curtailment; the restriction of a woman's life through roles deemed suitable by society. ‘As a wife no doubt, or a housekeeper, or perhaps a teacher?'

The Major frowned. ‘Whatever you wish. I for one am grateful for your choice.'

‘Yes, I am sure my presence would have been an unnecessary burden to you and your men.' Kate tried to keep her tone polite, but there was an unmistakeable curtness to her words. The Major's face remained impassive although the vein in his neck grew blue and thick.

‘Come, Kate.' The Reverend treated her to a rare smile. ‘Get your bonnet and travelling cloak and we'll be homeward bound.' He extended his hand to her. ‘Our good driver informs me that we are to stay at the Square and Compass tonight and that the food is markedly fine.'

Kate's stomach turned. Was she never to be rid of this man? As Major Shaw wished her a safe journey, the convicts deposited her trunk in the rear of the dray.

The Reverend's hand remained outstretched. ‘I have offered Miss Carter the role of housekeeper and teacher, Major. Positions which, although she has to date refused, will undoubtedly be agreed to. Miss Carter doesn't lack for good sense, a quality that she shared with her mother, may the Lord bless her soul. Amen.'

‘A most excellent option,' the Major agreed, ‘and most generous of you, sir.'

‘Yes,' Kate answered tightly, ‘excellent.' It was clear by the Reverend's self-satisfied expression that he was most impressed by his manipulations.

With the dray loaded, the shorter of the two convicts approached Kate. ‘If that be all then, miss?' He nodded to the driver, when she gave a hesitant yes, who in turn glanced skyward at the sun and then at Kate, who was clearly delaying their leaving. The Reverend was rubbing his hands together.

Kate cleared her throat. ‘I will not be travelling with the Reverend.'

The grumbling convicts looked from left to right and then, at Kate's insistence, begrudgingly carried her trunk back to the verandah, the Reverend complaining heartily.

‘Please go ahead,' Kate told the bemused driver, who stood with a foot resting on one of the timber wheel spokes, a stick between his teeth.

The man waited a moment, expecting one or another to change their mind. ‘The lass is still shook up from yesterday's journey,' MacIntosh said to no-one in particular. ‘I don't blame her. Me own bones are fairly jolted out of their sockets every time I get in this contraption.'

‘Go,' she repeated.

The driver shrugged and advised the Reverend to climb up and hang on.

‘Kate, what are you doing?' he complained. ‘Don't be foolish.'

‘They be good nags, but you never know when they'll get spooked and take off across the flat. Best if your Holiness keep a firm grip, least you come to grief 'tween here and Parramatta. There ain't no-one to say Hail Marys out here.'

‘I am not of the Catholic faith,' the Reverend stated bluntly.

‘Well then, you do have it all ahead of you, your Holiness.'

‘You are a most stubborn young woman,' the Reverend told Kate, once he'd assumed position in the seat behind the driver. ‘You will
regret this, Kate. Don't come to me when you are destitute, poorer than poor with not a scrap of food nor a roof above your head to give you comfort. I will not forgive you, nor ask for forgiveness on your behalf. Who would intercede for a woman of your ilk? Who –'

The driver called out giddy-up. There was a screech of leather and timber and the raspy breath of a well-worked horse. The dray jolted forward and the Reverend was flung back and forth. He grasped the timber sides, eyes bulging, his skin turning puce. ‘The Lord will frown upon you.' The dray moved off quickly, following the track that led out of the farm.

The Major turned to her. The dray was gathering pace, it had already passed the orchard, the Reverend's straight back in contrast to the slump-shouldered driver. ‘Miss Carter, are you quite sure you know what you are doing? Perhaps you are overcome by the events of the morning. Would you like to sit?'

‘No, no I don't wish to sit, thank you.' What would her father do? Kate imagined she was high among the branches of the fig tree again. The air was cool and clear and –

‘Miss Carter?'

She was quickly jolted back to the present. ‘I couldn't go with him, Major. The Reverend is not a kind man.'

Major Shaw looked askance. ‘He has harmed you in some way?'

‘N-no,' she stammered.

There were two rattan chairs at the end of the verandah, a matching table between them. The officer took Kate's arm, a gentle but firm escort. He led them towards the end of the porch where, having seated her, he finally replied, ‘Well, then I don't understand.'

How could a man such as this ever comprehend her situation? ‘Can we not talk of it, I beg of you. You would not begin to understand.'

‘I should fetch Mrs Kable.'

Kate waved both hands. ‘No, please don't. That woman will be of no help to me.'

If the officer was shocked by her tone, he did not betray it. Instead, the Major stood somewhat awkwardly a few feet from where Kate sat, a red-coated sentry with the chiselled profile of a Roman bust. A number of times he made the slightest of movements, as if speech were almost possible. She too felt the need to say something, to bridge the uneasiness between them. Once, twice their gaze met and just as swiftly both parties looked away.

‘If I can be of service?' he asked, finally.

‘I am quite alright. Thank you,' Kate mumbled.

And still the man waited as the sun grew warm and insects darted about them. Kate tried not to think of the Major's solid presence. A decision was needed. She did not want to live the rest of her days by the leave of another. Kate needed a roof over her head and a way to make money. It was money that gave people choices, gave them their freedom, allowed the bestowing of equality and respect. If she'd not realised the importance of it before, these new surroundings combined with the difficulties presented had quickly reinforced the benefit of it. Kate thought of the amount of money George Southerland was being paid.

The Major cleared his throat. ‘I must apologise if I have caused offence.'

‘What? Oh, not at all,' Kate replied quickly. She'd been lost in her thoughts, again.

‘I simply … well, your circumstances cause me concern.' He stopped abruptly as if embarrassed by his words. ‘You are, well, that is to say, it does not seem right for a person such as yourself to be placed in such a difficult situation, Miss Carter.'

Kate felt her cheeks redden under his scrutiny. ‘Life throws all manner of difficulties in our path.'

‘Indeed.' Major Shaw cleared his throat again and, clasping his hands behind his back, spent some time studying the orchard.

There was no need for the Major to remain but Kate was comforted by his presence.

‘If I can be of no further assistance, I will leave you then.' He turned on his heel.

Kate took a breath. ‘I will be going up-country, Major.' The abruptness of these words made him stop mid-step. ‘But firstly I have to seek suitable terms of employment.'

The man looked at her as if she'd taken leave of her senses. ‘A woman seeking terms of employment?'

‘I know what is before me. You need not fear on my account, Major. I will not be of trouble to you.' She looked out at the countryside warming beneath a mild afternoon sun. Right or wrong, it was a relief to have made a decision.

‘But you can't be serious?'

‘I am indeed. I don't see why I should be paid any less than the next body who risks their person in the service of another beyond the outer limits. I am sure Mr Kable would agree.'

The officer shook his head as if trying to fathom their conversation. They turned to watch the dray as it slowed in the distance to navigate a slight rise. When the Reverend finally slipped from their view, she felt the Major's gaze upon her. Kate saw it then, the man within the uniform. Beyond the starchy exterior he was undoubtedly trying to comprehend the thoughts of a young woman who would give up a generous and comfortable offer, from a man of the cloth no less, to venture into the unknown.

‘Even after this morning,' the Major confirmed, ‘you are intent on this direction?'

Lieutenant Wilson and Captain Gage reappeared with horses in tow, stopping a short distance from the verandah to check the tightness of girth straps and place firearms in the holsters attached to their saddles. The Lieutenant, interested to see that Kate was still among them, took every opportunity to catch her eye as he readied his mount and then the Major's.

‘I must caution you, Miss Carter, as a single woman you will
find the outer limits most inhospitable. In fact I think it ludicrous that you would even consider such a thing.'

‘Is New South Wales not a new land, a young society filled with possibility?' Kate questioned.

‘Yes, of course.'

What would her father think if he knew his only child had done no better in life than if she'd been born in England? The younger officers were mounted and awaiting their Major. The horses snuffled impatiently.