Dust on the Horizon (48 page)

“Peterson doesn't drink.” Hegarty took another sip. “Made him silly in his younger days. Doesn't touch a drop now.”

Even though Peterson was barely two feet away from them he ignored Hegarty and kept stirring. He was obviously a quiet one.

“Good at keeping his own counsel too,” Hegarty said. “Which is one of the things I like about him. That and his cooking.”

Hegarty laughed and Joseph found himself joining in.

“So.” Hegarty leaned in closer, his large bulk testing the strength of the plank. “How have you done here, Baker? Not struck it rich yet I'm assuming?”

Joseph looked around for listening ears, which was quite useless. The sun had well and truly left the sky and there was no moon. Apart from the flicker of campfires and lanterns there was nothing to be seen. Closer to his tent he could see the glow of Jones's candle.

He kept his voice low. “I've had slim pickings but enough to keep me interested.” He paused. Drained the last of the whiskey and set the mug firmly on the ground at his feet. “I'd found a small amount but …” He clenched his fists. “I was robbed last night. It's all gone.”

“Full of liquor?”

Joseph could feel Hegarty's gaze on him. He lifted his head to meet the man's look and gave a sharp nod.

Hegarty emptied his mug and put it down like Joseph had. “I stick to my own good stuff and only once a week. The rest of the time is for working. You're not the first man to lose his gold to the drink and you won't be the last.”

Joseph was grateful Hegarty had offered neither sympathy nor a lecture.

“I like your table idea. There's plenty of water with the dam but like you say it's a distance from here.” Hegarty looked away to where the fire threw some light over the cutaway. “These channels are more likely to have gold than anywhere else.”

Joseph nodded. He hoped his friend was right. “It's filthy work but if you're careful it's easy enough to see the gold if it's there.”

Hegarty cracked his knuckles and stared off into the darkness. “It's there.”

Once more Joseph's spirits rose at the confident tone.

Peterson reached over their shoulders handing them each a tin plate covered with a brown stew. Joseph was quick to rest the hot plate on the thick moleskin of his trousers. He could see chunks of carrot, turnip and potato in the gravy as well as hunks of meat. Saliva filled his mouth. It had been days since he'd eaten a decent meal and longer since he'd had something as good as this stew looked.

Peterson joined Hegarty on the bench which sunk lower to the ground.

“Nice bit of beef stew even if I do say so myself,” he said.

“Beef?” Joseph looked from one man to the other.

Hegarty's eyes sparkled in the firelight. “Don't ask any questions.” His hearty laugh made the seat bounce and they all tucked in to the delicious food, Joseph feeling better than he had in weeks.

Forty

1888

Pain shot up Millie's arms as her hoe once more jarred against the hard earth. She had set herself some hard physical work as a distraction. This morning she'd felt melancholy, missing Joseph and thinking about the babies they hadn't had. Joseph's sister Ellen was with child again and Millie was envious. She had not wished for children of her own until Joseph was gone. They had made love so often and yet no child grew within her. She thought there must be something wrong with her but Jundala had reassured her that babies arrive when the time is right. All the same Millie was sad she had not yet given Joseph another child.

At the sound of a horse, Millie looked up from where she was attempting to dig the vegetable garden. Each time she heard hoof beats she hoped it would be Joseph. He'd been gone over a year and all she had was his letters and his assurance of his love. She pursed her lips. The horse was black and although she couldn't see the rider clearly she could tell by his seat it was Jack Aldridge.

She leaned the hoe against the paling fence and brushed her hands down her dress. Only a month ago they'd had a week of unbearable weather that had ended with the worst dust-storm anyone could remember. It was already April and they'd had no rain since last year. The only reason she was bothering to try to prepare a vegetable patch in the baked soil was to keep herself busy and her mind away from thoughts of the husband she missed so badly.

In spite of her loneliness the approaching rider was not a welcome sight. Jack had come to visit several times in Joseph's absence. Lizzie had invited him for Christmas and he'd come by each month since then. At first Millie had enjoyed his company. Jack was charming and funny, equally comfortable playing with the children or chatting with Thomas.

Millie hadn't said anything but last time he'd visited she felt as if he'd been making advances to her. When she looked back on it there was nothing in it and yet she'd felt uncomfortable. They were silly things, only minor, like the brush of his hand over hers as they'd both reached for a dish, squeezing close to her as he left the table, insisting she come and see him off. He was no doubt lonely and just being friendly but she had been glad when he'd left last time. That had been less than three weeks ago and now he was back and she was alone.

Thomas had taken Lizzie and the three younger children to Port Augusta to visit Ellen and her two children. They weren't due back for a few more days. Binda had left this morning to take Mary to Hawker. She was taking on a job there, looking after the growing family of one of the publicans. Timothy, Eliza and their children were taking a turn in the hill country tending the few remaining sheep.

She looked up towards the shearing shed. She knew William was there somewhere working on something, but he was only a boy in spite of the way he tried to take Joseph's place as the head of the family in his absence. Besides, when he got started on one of his projects, hours could go by before she would see him.

She turned back as Jack rode closer. She could see his dark eyes surveying the yard. He rode up to the fence, his lips turned up in a smile. She'd once thought it charming but now it seemed more of a leer.

“Good morning, Millie.” He swept the hat from his head and bowed low on his horse. Millie shuddered internally at the sing-song sound of his voice.

“Mr Aldridge.”

He slid from his saddle, tethered his horse to the fence and rested his forearms on the paling, staring at her with his deep brown eyes. “No need to be formal. We're close neighbours after all.”

“It's still a long ride.” Millie lifted her chin. “Is there something you need?”

His grin widened. “I thought perhaps you might be lonely with the senior Bakers away. I recall they said they'd be gone for a couple of weeks when I was here last.”

“I expect them any day now.”

“Is that so?” He walked around the fence to the gate and let himself in. “I met Binda and his family down at the creek boundary this morning. They were on their way to Hawker. He seemed to think the Bakers would be away for quite a while and he tells me your husband hasn't yet returned from the goldfields.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Although I see your new house continues to grow.”

“William has been working on it in his father's absence.” Millie couldn't help the pride in her voice. William had become a man overnight when his father had left. He was only thirteen but he took his responsibilities to his family seriously.

“He must miss his father.”

Jack crossed the rough ground where she'd been trying to make some impressions with her hoe and stopped just in front of her. She felt trapped by his gaze, unable to speak or move.

“No doubt you are very lonely without your husband.”

He reached for her hand but she snatched it away and side-stepped him back to the path.

Her heart skipped as she saw the brief flicker of anger cross his face. She needed to play for time and think about how she was going to handle this.

“Would you like a seat in the shade in our outdoor room?” Millie gave Jack the slightest of smiles. She didn't want to encourage him but neither did she want to alienate him. “I was thinking it was time for a pot of tea.”

He took two strides and was right beside her, towering over her. Fear flowed through Millie but she stood her ground, trying not to show it.

“I'd prefer to sit inside.” His smile frightened her as much as his anger. “Your house keeps so cool.” He reached a hand towards her face.

They both flinched as a shot rang out. Jack's horse whinnied and pulled at his lead. Jack spun and Millie peered around him. William was walking towards them from the direction of the new house, a rifle slung over the crook of his elbow.

“Hello, Mr Aldridge.” William's usually serious face was split in a grin.

“What are you firing at?” Jack's voice held a note of anger.

William frowned. “I didn't fire in this direction, Mr Aldridge. My father taught me how to use guns safely. We've had a wild dog hanging around our chickens. I thought I saw him that's all.”

Relief flooded through Millie. There'd been no talk of wild dogs close to the house recently. She suspected William had been firing at nothing.

“Did you get him?” Jack folded his arms and glanced in the direction of the chicken house.

Millie took the opportunity to take a step towards the back door.

“No.” William stayed where he was, his feet firmly planted, the gun lowered but still pointing in Jack's direction. “He's wily but if I'm patient I'll get him. We can't afford to lose any more chickens, can we Millie?”

“No.” Millie smiled at the boy who was more like a brother than a son to her. “We've only got six left.”

“Do you have any trouble with the wild dogs, Mr Aldridge?” William asked.

“Some but I've built a yard with wire and rocks. It has deterred predators.”

“Would you tell me how?”

Millie heard a click of Jack's tongue. “I could but—”

“Why don't you two go round to the outdoor room and chat?” Millie cut Jack off and hoped William's presence was enough to deter him from following her. “I will make us a pot of tea.”

She watched Jack's shoulders rise as he took a deep breath.

“Thanks, Mr Aldridge.” William stepped back from the gate as if expecting Jack to follow him.

Jack's hand clenched at his side. He turned back to Millie, his jaw set, his dark eyes narrowed. He studied her a moment then his charming grin returned. He gave Millie a slight nod. “We shall look forward to your company.”

Millie let out the breath she'd been holding and hurried inside. Her hands shook as she moved the kettle over the fire and added more wood. Usually there was someone else nearby. This was the first time she'd felt truly frightened since Joseph had left. How she wished he would give up trying to find gold and come home.

She laid out a tray with three cups and the tea things. There were some pikelets left from the breakfast she'd cooked that morning. She added them to the tray with a small pot of jam and carried it through the house and out across the verandah.

William sat a little way from Jack, the gun propped beside him. Millie's heart went out to the boy. She recognised the rifle as one Joseph kept at the quarters. William rarely carried a gun but he did know how to use it. Jack was quickly on his feet and hurrying towards her as if he'd been watching for her. He placed his big hands over hers and leaned closer.

“Let me take that for you,” he murmured.

Millie tried to extract her hands but she couldn't. They were trapped underneath Jack's and if she struggled the tray would tip. He smiled and eased his grip so she could pull away.

He fell into step beside her and placed the tray on the outside table.

“Mr Aldridge has some good ideas for keeping the hens safe.” William maintained his seat slightly apart from Millie and Jack.

“That's good.” Millie poured the tea. A breeze had sprung up from the gully disturbing the branches that cast some shade over them.

Jack remained standing even after she had passed him his tea and offered the plate of pikelets. There was an awkward silence and finally Millie sat. Jack lowered himself to the seat next to her. She wished he would leave. It was worrying, him being here and William seated with the gun close by. To her it was obvious he was on guard but she wondered if Jack realised that's what he was doing.

“It's so good to taste a woman's cooking.” Jack licked the jam from his fingers slowly, watching Millie as he did.

“Someone's coming.” William leapt to his feet.

Millie heard Jack mutter under his breath as they both turned to look in the direction William was pointing. It was the track that led in the direction of Hawker.

“It's a cart.” William climbed a little way up the trunk of the tree. “It's Grandpa.”

Millie felt a flood of relief wash over her.

“They're back early.” William jumped from the tree and came to stand beside Millie.

“They weren't absolutely sure how long they'd be.” Millie gave Jack a self-assured look now that she knew help was on its way.

As the wagon drew closer they could see the younger children waving. There was no sign of Lizzie. It wouldn't surprise Millie if she'd stayed on in Port Augusta to be with Ellen.

“Hello, hello.” Esther's voice was loud above the others.

Thomas gave them a brief wave and drove the cart right to the front steps of the house.

Millie hurried towards him. She could tell by the look on his face something was wrong. A hacking cough echoed from the cart and Lizzie's head appeared as she struggled to sit up, one hand clasped to her mouth.

“Lizzie's sick again.” Thomas climbed down from the cart and William helped his sisters and brother down from the other side.

“Don't fuss, Thomas.” Lizzie's voice was a weak rasp.