Frontier Wife (5 page)

Fate allowed David to escape the massacre. During the battle at about ten o'clock, there had been a partial eclipse of the sun, and in the resultant darkness he managed to crawl away. At the intervention of the Commander of the South African forces, Lord Chelmsford, an old friend of their late father, David was sent home to England to die on his native shore.

The will to live that saved him from the Zulu massacre kicked in again, so they waited a few weeks until he got stronger before embarking on their voyage to Australia.

“Tommy.” He clicked his fingers three times. “Did you see the notice about the local steeplechase? I’m going to enter Warrior in it.”

“What steeplechase?”

“On Munro’s place, it’s an annual charity event.”

“You can’t be serious. What about your leg?”

“It will be all right, we’ll talk about it when we get home.” He set his mouth mutinously and she knew it was useless arguing with him. Besides, after her bruising encounter with Adam Munro, she wasn’t up to arguing with anyone right now. What a presence the man had though. Ruthless, piratical good looks. An aura of power and confidence money couldn’t buy. What was she thinking of admiring such a man?

Chapter Three

Adam Munro sauntered into the bank feeling satisfied with the world as a whole. Sophia slipped her arm through his as they entered the building. He had put his plans into action. Fiona McKenzie was out of the picture. Sophia proved attractive enough to please him, even if she didn’t have the fragile beauty of Tommy Lindsay. Damn it all. He needed a wife who could survive the rigors of frontier life, not some little hot house flower from the other side of the world.

“I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the Commissioner's Ball, Adam. All the important people in the district will be there. Will you escort me? I’m sure father would agree.”

“My dear, I should be honored.”

The moment they entered the bank, George Thompson scurried towards them.

“How are you, Miss Bothroyd? Adam?”

“We’re well,” Adam answered for both of them. “Did you have a visit from the Lindsays?”

“Yes, they wanted credit.”

“You didn't give it to them, I hope?”

“No.”

“Where did they get the money to pay the feed store?”

“They came in asking about credit. I didn't like rejecting them, seem decent types of people.”

“Look here, George.” Adam's lips snapped together. “I need their property. I’m desperate for the water. Anyway, where did they get all the money from if you didn't give it to them? I saw them in the store less than an hour ago and they couldn’t afford to buy more than flour and sugar. Ten minutes later they return and pay for a ton of items.”

“I'm trying to explain. Miss Lindsay came back on her own, to ask if I would buy some jewelry.”

“What are you babbling about, man?”

“It's in the safe. I'll get it for you.”

“What's he talking about? Those Lindsays are dirt poor farmers.” Sophia pouted.

Adam gave a ferocious scowl. “If they have a few trinkets to pawn, so what?”

George coming back broke into their conversation. “I bought this from her.” He held the pendant aloft.

“Adam, it's beautiful.” Sophia stretched out a greedy hand for the necklace.

“Tommy Lindsay sold you this?”

“I gave her thirty-five pounds for it.”

“She took it? Must be worth at least seventy. Where on earth would she get jewelry like this from?”

“She assured me it wasn't stolen.”

“Adam, it's beautiful.” Sophia gave him a beseeching look.

“Would you like me to buy it for you, my dear?”

“Yes please. I can wear it to the ball. My gown is green so it will be a perfect match.”

“You don't mind if I buy the pendant, George? Take the money out of my account. Oh, and transfer a hundred pounds to the school building fund, will you? I promised them a donation.”

“All right. It’s a generous gesture, Adam, especially when you’ve already provided the land.”

“Keep your voice down, I don’t want everyone knowing my business. We need a school. All children should receive an education no matter how poor their parents are, and I don’t mind putting up the money to ensure they do.”

“What happens now, about the Lindsays, I mean?”

“Don't give them any credit. It's quite obvious they need money. This is probably the only valuable thing Tommy Lindsay possessed. Don't you see, for her to sell it so cheaply, they must be desperate?” He grinned; things were working out even better than he anticipated.

“You can be a hard man, Adam.”

“Yes, if it’s necessary. Here, Sophia, my dear, let me put this trinket on for you.” The moment he made the offer he regretted it. All of a sudden the pendant felt like a lead weight in his hand.

“Thank you, it's beautiful.”

“As long as you like it.” He allowed his fingers to linger on the smooth skin at the back of her neck. She would make him a suitable wife. Socially acceptable and heir to a good property, a man couldn’t ask for anything more. Fair-haired English women were not for him. He glanced at the pendant around Sophia’s neck and the stone had lost its vibrant color. It needed soft milky white skin to enhance its beauty and bring it back to sparkling life.

****

“Stand and deliver.”

Adam pulled the horses up. Jamie Lindsay stood in front of him, a wooden pistol clenched in his chubby little hand. “I'm a highwayman.”

“You mean bushranger, don't you?” Adam suppressed a grin. The boy looked so serious, he could not laugh outright and hurt his feelings.

“Do they hold up travelers?”

“Yes, some do.”

“Who's the pretty lady?”

“The pretty lady is Miss Bothroyd.”

“Will you marry her?”

Adam laughed out loud at this. What a fine little fellow, even if his name was Lindsay.

“Come on, Adam, we should be going, mother and father will be waiting for us.”

“In a minute, the boy is playing a little game with us. Why spoil his fun?”

Touser bounded out now, causing the horses to stamp nervously.

“Down boy, you're frightening Mr. Munro’s horses.” The dog flopped to the ground beside the child. “See how I trol him. Tommy says you have to trol a dog.”

“You mean control, don't you, little boy?”

“That's what I said. Tommy did too.” He glared at Sophia. Adam catching the expression decided his eyes matched those of his sister. “Tommy says I have to go to school next year.”

Adam sensed Sophia's impatience, but he enjoyed the boy's prattle.

“Tommy said I couldn’t go to Eton like David.”

“Eton?” Sophia gave a derisive laugh. “The working classes wouldn’t be accepted at Eton, even if some do-gooder did pay their fees.”

“I don't like you, lady. David did go to Eton.” Jamie shook his fist at her. “So there.” He poked his tongue out to emphasize his feelings. “I don't tell lies. Tommy says God punishes people who lie.”

“I believe you, boy. You’d better run along home now, your sister might be wondering where you are.” No valid reason for it, but he just could not bring himself to utter her name.

Jamie scampered off with Touser at his heels.

“What a horrible, common child. So cheeky and ill-mannered.”

Adam’s eyes narrowed. Without a word he slapped the horses’ rumps with the reins and set them into motion.

****

The heat continued unabated, the sun scorching the landscape without mercy, as if the gates of hell had opened up to spew out surplus fire. David spent most of his time training Warrior for the annual steeplechase held on Adam Munro’s station.

“This is madness,” Tommy told David one afternoon when he returned to the homestead red in the face and dripping with perspiration. “You’ll end up getting sunstroke. No amount of money is worth this kind of risk.”

“I’m all right. We have to win this race. The twenty pound purse will be handy, but it’s the publicity I want for Warrior. I’m desperate, you know that.”

She had become acclimatized now, but always wore a wide-brimmed hat and avoided being outside during the hottest part of the day. She didn’t want to end up with a brick red leathery complexion, like some of the women she saw in town.

Warrior was in peak condition. She had never seen him look so well. David seemed stronger, with a light tan replacing the previous pallor of his skin but he drove himself too hard.

They went hunting on a number of occasions. Even in the dry conditions wild game abounded. David brought down a wallaby, which she made into soup. It tasted strange at first, although after a few mouthfuls she grew to like its rather gamey flavor.

If only her friends in England could see her now. She flipped through the dog-eared pages of the
Frontier Woman’s Handbook
she had found in the dresser drawer.

Parrot pie sounded interesting and parrots, in a multitude of gaudy colors, abounded. Squawking creatures filled every tree.

There was a recipe for scented soap, if you couldn’t afford to buy any. You boiled up plain soap in a saucepan, added some lavender oil, let it cool on a tray and cut it up into squares. God willing, she would never be reduced to that level of penury.

****

“Ten ewes were killed last night, boss. I found the carcasses this morning.”

Adam swore savagely. “Saddle my horse, Barney, while I get my gun.” He strode into the homestead slamming the door behind him. Over the last few days he had lost more than fifty sheep. He'd put a bullet in any bloody dog he found within a mile of this place.

By the time he collected his gun and filled his pocket with cartridges, Barney waited outside with the horses. They rode in silence, and all the while Adam’s fury built up.

He let out a string of curses when he came to the slaughtered sheep. If those marauding mongrels killed one for food he would not have minded so much, but senseless, wanton slaughter. Black crows already covered the carcasses and he felt tempted to turn his gun on the dirty scavengers. It would be a waste of bullets as others would soon replace any he killed.

Surprisingly they found only one set of paw marks. Too large for a native dog so the culprit had to be a domestic one. It could not have been any of the station dogs; they were always locked up at night.

They dismounted, leading their horses and walking slowly, stopping every now and again to take a closer look at the dusty ground where the paw marks showed up. They headed towards the Lindsay place. One of their dogs must have been let loose, probably on purpose. Adam ground his teeth with rage.

The shot when it came startled him. Who would be shooting on his land?

He watched a bird plummeting earthwards. Another shot rang out, followed by another.

“Three shots for three hits, that’s good shooting, Mr. Munro. Wonder who it is.”