Without You I Have Nothing (48 page)

_{Peter’s comment,
“There’s enough old machinery lying about to start a museum,” brought laughter
from Andrew.}

_{“Got some of my own,”
was Eric’s contribution to the conversation.}

_{Question after question
tumbled from Peter’s lips. “Would you, Elizabeth, be interested in helping
Jennifer furnish this house until it’s as beautiful as yours?}

_{“What machinery would
be required to run this place?}

_{“Why are there so
many windmills in many of the paddocks?}

_{“Would this property,
combined with yours, become viable as a moneymaking venture or be too large to
manage successfully?}

<sub>“How many stockmen or
farm hands would we need?  The workers’ accommodation needs lots of rebuilding
- what would be the cost?</sub>

_{“What about house
servants?}

_{“As primary
producers, what government grants could we expect?”}

_{The family did their
best to supply accurate answers.}

_{Peter was pleased to
note they were all prepared to say, “We don’t know but we’ll find out,” when
they couldn’t supply any information.}

_{As the grand tour
ended and Eric and Elizabeth were answering the final questions, Peter still
hadn’t forgotten his childish little game with Andrew.}

_{Once again, on their
bikes, the family’s return trip to their home was an opportunity to pay Andrew
some of his own. Peter dropped back a little until Andrew was half way across
the deepest creek, then on one wheel, Peter bulleted through the water almost
drowning Andrew and his bike.}

_{“Just getting even
for Jennifer and I’m not the apprentice,” he called back as he raced up the
creek bank.}

_{Back in the family
kitchen for a very late lunch, Peter made a request.}

_{“As soon as lunch is
over, Eric, would you be happy to ride with Andrew and me into town, where I
guess I might find the agent for the property?}

_{Turning away from
Eric, he took Jennifer’s hand.}

_{“Jennifer, would you
like a special wedding present that you and I are giving each other?  I won’t
try to surprise you. I would like to purchase the property for us.”}

_{Peter almost fell off
his chair as Jennifer leapt into his arms.}

_{“I must be the
luckiest girl alive to have you as my soon-to-be-husband. Together we’ll work
to make Rocky Springs a home as happy as this one has been all my life.”}

_{Regretfully, Peter
slowly disentangled himself from her arms.}

_{“We men have some
business to attend to and then we’re going for a few celebratory drinks. When
we return Jennifer will know where and when we’ll be setting up our house.”}

_{The meal passed
noisily, with the women talking wedding dresses, engagement rings and Christmas
while the men argued about buildings, fences and stock.}

_{Immediately after
lunch, Jennifer gave Peter a nod and he led the men out to their bikes. The
women were about to organize Andrew’s Christmas surprise.}

_{The stock and station
agent was delighted to get the property sold even though Peter drove a hard
bargain. As Andrew and Eric Blake accompanied this stranger, the deal was soon
clinched and the amazing offer of instant payment by credit card was beyond the
agent’s experience.}

_{In the grand old
hotel, Peter was surprised to see a huge circle chalked out on the floor with
all the drinkers gathered around. The publican poured a bucket of yabbies –
freshwater crayfish – into the center and the yabby race had started. Amused by
the antics and surprised to see bets being taken Peter sidled up to Andrew and
asked, “What’s happening?”}

_{“Oh they’re holding
yabby races and the bookmaker gives 50% of all bets to the District Hospital. The
winning yabbies are set free to breed bigger and better yabbies and the slow
ones are eaten.”}

_{Eric, Andrew and
Peter watched, fascinated by the gamblers and the glee they showed when their
yabby won.}

_{When the cooked
losers arrived, everyone gathered around to join in the feast.}

_{Peter told the
publican that all drinks, while he was there, were free. He was prepared to
shout everyone at the bar. Surprised that this city slicker was so generous,
the locals were nevertheless amused that he only drank fresh lime and soda. Yet
his bearing told them he could be a formidable opponent.}

_{When Eric announced
that Peter was about to become his son-in-law, the locals crowded around to
slap Peter’s back and congratulate him.}

_{“You’re a lucky man –
she was my first girlfriend in kindergarten,” said a walking mountain of a man
whose nickname was Tiny.}

_{Blue, a redheaded
local, added his bit. “Remember when she used to race us on our motor bikes and
we couldn’t catch her. We were stupid enough at the age of 10 to tell her we’d
kiss her if we caught her. Never did – pity!”}

_{The bar was a noisy,
friendly hum of humanity as Eric, Andrew and Peter left but not before the
agent had arrived to hand the deeds of the property to Peter. Bearing in mind
Peter’s way of doing business, he’d hurried the transaction through the usually
slow, lengthy processes, using one of his lawyer associates.}

_{He remembered Peter’s
earlier words. “I don’t think I need a lawyer for the transaction as I’m
marrying one. Besides you wouldn’t be foolish enough to risk losing Blake
Pastoral Company as a client.”  The Agent was surprised at the outset but when
Peter had continued, “No-one could be so foolish as to try cheating me,” his
blood ran cold.}

_{Something about this
man signaled danger.}

_{Back home, Peter
walked up behind Jennifer who was engrossed in dress patterns and fingering
samples of wedding materials. Leaning over and kissing her on the neck, he
broke the news that they were now property owners.}

_{Champagne flowed and
everyone was delighted that plans for their future were in place.}

_{The days seemed to
fly and Peter was surprised when Jennifer announced, “Christmas Eve is tomorrow.
We’re all off to town tomorrow, or else Santa will have no presents to deliver.
Early to bed tonight so we can keep ahead of Santa.”}

_{Of course, Peter knew
of Christmas but it was just a word to him. He had not celebrated it since he
was a little boy before leaving Australia for Penang. His thoughts whirled
through his emotions of living in strange cultures but this Christmas event was
suddenly so full of love, commitment and warmth that he was determined to
follow the family’s lead.}

_{The whole idea of
Christmas was so foreign to him that he felt he was on another planet.}

_{In Melbourne the next
day, Peter caught Jennifer repeatedly fingering her engagement ring and
studying it with a warm smile wreathing her face in sunshine.}

_{It seemed as though
everyone knew these two young people were recently engaged.}

_{Very quickly, Peter
lost track of all the purchases and was glad that Andrew had parked in a
central location. This made the trips short and it was easy to load the boot
with the packages.}

_{Neither Jennifer nor
Peter was tired when late on Christmas Eve they arrived back, laden with
presents. While unloading the car he believed they’d purchased gifts for
everyone in the State.}

_{At last, Peter began to
appreciate the meaning of Christmas and Santa. Of course, he was really only
interested in two small purchases, which he had hidden deep in his pocket.}

_{It was not until the
family had finished dinner and trooped into the lounge room that any mention
was made of the day in town. The focal point of the room was a huge Christmas
Tree festooned with decorations glittering and reflecting the light of a few
candles.}

_{There followed a
Christmas Eve family party of singing and dancing that flowed into the night until
Elizabeth reminded them that it was almost Christmas Day.}

_{“All of you go off to
bed.”  No one moved, so she pushed and shoved each one out. “If you’re not in
bed soon and asleep, Santa won’t leave you any presents. Besides we have church
tomorrow.”}

_{As she spoke, she
hung clearly labeled pillowslips under the tree, but she ignored Andrew’s
advice.}

_{“Put two out for me. I’ve
ordered a couple of blondes.”}

_{With her arm around
Peter, Jennifer walked to his room where they unpacked their purchases on
Peter’s bed before carefully wrapping them in pretty Christmas Paper. Peter was
sure they had bought presents for an army. There were so many presents and he
recognized only a few names.}

_{When they had
finished, Jennifer led the way, creeping back to the Christmas Tree where they
placed parcels in all the pillowslips but theirs. Where the pillowslips were
full, she piled the remaining presents under the tree.}

_{Their job completed,
they tiptoed back to Peter’s room where they lay on the bed cuddling and
talking into the early morning when they fell asleep in each other’s arms.}

_{It was daylight
before they stirred and Jennifer immediately sprang up. She bent over to kiss
Peter before quickly dancing out of his reach.}

_{“Hurry!  Get dressed
for church because you won’t have time to come back here. Meet me at the
Christmas Tree because Andrew won’t wait for anyone. If you are late he’ll open
your presents too.”}

_{She paused at the
door to add, “Merry Christmas, darling.” before rushing off.}

_{The urgency of her
voice made Peter rush.}

_{He felt foolish
standing alone in front of the tree but at least he was able to slip two small
packages into Jennifer’s pillowslip.}

_{“I saw that!”  Peter
jumped at Andrew’s warm chuckle. “Feeling for what surprises Santa left you,
eh?  As far as I could see, you got your present last night. I saw the both of
you together, asleep like babes this morning. Absolutely sickening it was.”}

_{Slapping Peter on the
back, he laughed. “I can’t understand what you see in Sis,” then quickly added,
“Don’t worry I won’t tell Mum.”}

_{“Won’t tell Mum,
what?”  A beautiful vision in a jade green, flared skirt with a matching blouse
that dipped low enough to reveal the swell of her breasts appeared. Jennifer
had arrived.}

_{“Close your mouth
Peter, don’t look so surprised.”  She whirled around and around until her skirt
rose. “Like what you see eh?”}

_{Further discussion
was impossible as Elizabeth and Eric swept into the room, “Won’t tell Mum,
what?”}

_{They all joined in
what was obviously the commencement of a family ritual of opening parcels. Each
family member had to open a present in turn and wait for the next to open a
present.}

_{Santa had been very
generous even to Peter.}

_{Amongst the parcels
was something very special. Obviously, Jennifer had done some extraordinary
shopping for him. An expensive gold watch had a little card attached. ‘You’ve
no excuse to be late for our special date’.}

_{Jennifer had been
very careful when taking her presents from the slip and Peter wondered what had
happened to the two special parcels he had slid into her pillowslip, as they
hadn’t appeared. All the slips were empty and they were sitting in a sea of
wrapping paper when Jennifer moved to sit in Peter’s lap, clutching the two
small packages.}

_{“I wonder what’s in
these. I must have behaved very well this year. Santa’s left me something
special - besides Peter.”}

_{Her family excitedly
watched her.}

_{Carefully, she
un-wrapped the first layer of paper and the card, ‘My Love’. She removed even
more tissue paper until she opened the box that had lain hidden in all the
Christmas wrapping. Unbelieving, she stared at the single emerald pendant
hanging from its white gold chain, then held it out for everyone to see.}

_{Elizabeth gasped. “That
matches your engagement ring. Isn’t it beautiful?”}

_{Peter barely heard
her as Jennifer was kissing him and his hands wanted to wander.}

_{The kiss didn’t last
long as she couldn’t wait to unwrap the other present. This time the card read,
‘These are but poor additions to your beauty. My heart is with you always.’}

_{Underneath Peter had
drawn a crude Santa head. Holding the earrings to her ears, Jennifer could only
shake her head and look at Peter}

_{“My God,” Andrew
whistled, “Jennifer isn’t only marrying into money but this mad Irishman has
taste. Well done, Sis.”}