Mary's Guardian (11 page)

‘Oh?’ Mary said curiously. ‘You mean to tell him about the baby?’

‘That too.’ He winked. ‘See you later,’ and he was gone.

‘He’s as happy as a dog with two tails, you know,’ Ellen said as she began to sponge Mary.

‘At last, Ellen. I can hardly believe he’s here.’ She turned her head toward the child snuffling softly beside her.

‘He? You keep referring to him as ‘he’. You haven’t said what his name will be.’

‘Jimmy. His name is Jimmy. Will and I decided…years ago, actually. We’ve always said the first would be Jimmy.’

‘Ah, then little Jimmy, let’s get you cleaned up, eh?’ Ellen gently began to wipe his tiny hands and face.

‘So what’s this you had to see James Ruse about, Will?’ Mary asked later that night. She’d just finished feeding the baby and wrapped him warmly. She sat up in the bed and rocked her arms gently, holding him close to her breast; still half unbelieving that she had her own baby boy.

‘Well, love. I meant to tell you what I had to see James about before I left this morning, but you seemed to have woken with other plans today.’ He winked and rubbed his hands together. ‘You see, my love. New life. I told you there’d be new life. And now in the same month that God has given us a son, we’ve been granted land at the Hawkesbury. Thirty acres! Imagine that? Our own land!’

‘Oh, my,’ Mary gasped. ‘Really? It’s really happened?’

‘Really. And what’s even better, Joe and Ellen got a grant too. And the Ruses. Twenty-two families chosen to start farming up river. We’re to be pioneers, Mary. Farmers! How about that? Just as soon as you and young Jimmy are up to it we’ll be on our way.’ He threw his arms in the air and whooped as quietly as he could, watching for any sign that he was disturbing his son.

‘I think you’re more excited about the land than this baby I’ve delivered, William Douglass,’ Mary chided, though her eyes were laughing. ‘After all the false starts I’d be thinking your son would have your full attention, and here you are arranging for us to move to a farm.’ She giggled and hugged the baby to herself, bending to kiss his forehead.

‘He’ll have my attention all his life, Mary. His life on the land. I’ll have something to pass on to him. Who’d have imagined that, now?’

‘You, from what you said to Joe a few months ago. You said it’s all you’ve thought of since you arrived here and you couldn’t believe he wasn’t the same.’

‘That’s true enough, love, but it’s a bit like having Jimmy here. As much as I imagined it happening, now that he’s here I’m finding it hard to take in.’

‘I know what you mean.’ She smiled down at the baby again. ‘Though I suppose I never was as sure as you that it would happen. And I suppose I’m still a bit the same about this farm you talk about. I find it hard to believe we’ll really have land of our own. I guess I’ll only really believe it when I see it.’

‘Then it’s only a matter of time, my love.’ William’s enthusiasm was so infectious that Mary cautiously let her heart swell with hope for the future as she watched him gently lift his son into his arms and turn him about in a slow circle.

‘He can’t see whatever it is you think you’re showin’ him, Will.’ Her face broke into a grin. ‘You’ll have him bringin’ up his dinner, and I’ve nothin’ left for him, you know.’

‘We’ve more than you can imagine for him, little mother. He’ll see it all soon enough.’

***

All through September and October William used every spare minute of his time repairing an old cart he’d bought from one of the farmers, building sturdy boxes to transport their few belongings, and seeking out garden implements and building tools that he could restore to good working order in readiness for their move to the Hawkesbury. As October drew to a close Mary began to box up seeds and small plants. She’d mended their linen and clothes and made two sets of clothes for Jimmy from one of her petticoats and a nightdress given to her by one of the farmer’s wives.

The first week in November, while the weather was dry and not too blisteringly hot, as they knew it would soon be, they loaded up their cart and headed off on the track to the settlement on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. Joe and Ellen were ready to leave with them and they were to travel together. Some of those who’d been granted plots had already made their way up river and had begun to get established. James and Jane Ruse had gone a couple of months earlier and sent word that all was going well.

‘James has started planting already,’ William said as he steadied their horse while Mary climbed up on the bench seat with her baby. ‘He’ll be showing the rest what to do, for sure.’

‘Do the others all have experience with farming?’

‘I’m not sure. I don’t really know how they chose us in the end. I know there were quite a few who applied. But there’s also plenty who aren’t interested. Too far from the townships, they say. Some are afraid of the natives. Some don’t want to put in the work to start afresh. I hope all those who’ve taken the plots are going to pull their weight. This is an important venture for the colony. One the Governor’s counting on and one that might change the way ex-convicts are viewed.’

‘That’s a lot resting on us, isn’t it?’ she said, as they waited for Joe and Ellen to pull alongside in their cart.

‘It is a great responsibility. One I’m ready for,’ he said confidently and his face split into a wide grin.

‘You’ve not a doubt, have you?’ She held tight to Jimmy as the cart began to bump across the track along the river.

‘None I let overtake me,’ he shook his head. ‘Look at this beautiful day, Mary. The sun is shining, the skies are blue, and we have the makings of a home on our cart and our beautiful baby son in your arms. We’re off to start our own farm. What more could a man want?’

‘You didn’t mention your wife,’ she giggled.

‘You know I can hardly think of myself without you, Mary.’ His expression was as earnest as she’d ever seen. ‘Don’t ever doubt that, will you, girl? I know you joke about and I try not to take some of what you say too seriously, but when it comes right down to it, I couldn’t bear for you to really doubt my love for you.’

‘I know it, Will,’ she said almost coyly. The depth of his feeling still sometimes overwhelmed her but she promised herself as she looked forward along the track that this new start for them would be a time for her to rid herself of any doubt she still had. William had never given her cause to doubt him, not once in all the time she had known him. And so she must fully trust that she was the woman he’d chosen and he had no intention of going back on his promises to her.

***

It took most of the day to make their way over the rough track. In parts it was barely wide enough for a cart. At times Mary and Ellen had to get out and walk, carrying their babies while the men pushed the carts through thick muddy grass. But the day was pleasant enough. There were plenty of small trees to shade them. There was a light breeze to cool them. Their anticipation grew from curiousity to excitement when they came to the narrow creek which they’d been told formed the southern arm of the river. On the other side of this they would find their plots marked out just a few hundred yards to the north. They’d stopped numerous times through the day to eat and feed the little ones but now, in the fading light, all they could think of was standing on ground that was registered in their names. William wanted to pick up a handful of his own dirt. He wanted to look around and imagine a field of maize that he’d planted and would reap for his family and for the colony.

‘Nearly there, Mary,’ he beamed. ‘How’s that son of ours doing?’

‘He’s just fine,’ she answered looking down at the sleeping child. ‘He’s a peaceful one. Enjoyed the bumping along all day, I think.’

‘Good, for we’re to get across this creek now and it could be quite bumpy indeed.’

He guided the horse down into the shallow sandy waters and across to the other side with little trouble, checking behind every now and then to see that Joe’s cart was following.

James Ruse met them as their carts pulled up on the far side of the south arm.

‘Hey there,’ he waved and shouted. ‘Almost there.’ He pointed north and hurried toward them. William jumped down from the cart to greet him, shaking his hand warmly. James was holding a long roll of paper and immediately began to spread it out in front of William. ‘I’ve the plot plan here,’ he said excitedly. ‘See, they’re marked out right along the river bank. They’ve named the area Mulgrave Place. The lots are all pretty much the same, allowing for the bends in the river. But this row goes right to the next bend.’

He pointed to the map. ‘My plot’s just here on the corner, where this creek goes off the main river,’ he said, waving his hand. ‘We’re standing on it now. The soil’s very good. By the texture of the ground, no doubt it’s been flooded at the edges. Very loamy. Great for planting. I’ve put in two small fields of maize and one of barley.’ He looked up at Mary and grinned, his eyes shining with excitement. ‘Your plots are just down a bit. There’s a couple between here and there, the Cunninghams and another, but those folks haven’t arrived yet. Yours are side by side, from that line of trees,’ he pointed up towards a small rise in the land, ‘down to the river’s edge.’

‘All that?’ Mary’s mouth dropped open.

‘Yep, thirty acres. That’s what it looks like. There are a few further down that’ve got themselves started. They’re sure to lend a hand while you’re setting up. The Gilberthorpes are next to you, Joe,’ he said as Joe brought his cart to rest on the bank and joined the other two men looking over the plan. ‘I’m not sure about them, yet. He’s a bit odd, I’m afraid. But not to worry, there’ll be plenty of families here soon. And we’ve got young Andrew Thompson at the back here, behind me. A better man you won’t find. And, up on the ridges, there are some farmers who’ve been here a year or so now, ever since the Governor had this part of the river explored. They’ve seen what the land can grow here. We’ll all be producing well in no time. So,’ he stopped for a breath, ‘why don’t you go and get your tents set up and over the next week or so some of the other men will help you get a hut started. There are plenty of those small saplings along the river bank. They’re easy to cut and fine for a hut. Better than wattle and daub here. And then you can get a field or two marked out.’

‘Whoa there, James,’ William laughed. ‘Give us a day or two to get settled, eh? I’m mighty excited about this myself but I want to do it right. I’ll get Mary and Jimmy comfortable and safe and then I’ll talk to you about a plan for the crops, eh?’

‘Sure thing. I don’t want to rush you fellows. I can just see this place in a few years, is all. Fields of maize and wheat as far as the eye can see. Farm houses, children playing. It’s enough to make a man half crazy with the joy of it.’

***

By late in December Will had built a small one-roomed hut made of sturdy saplings. He set it quite a way back on the block, under the shade of a large gum tree that provided ample shade from the hot sun. He’d had help from some of the other farmers and they’d also built a similar hut on Joe and Ellen’s land. Early on Christmas morning the two couples, babies in arms, wandered down to the river’s edge and stood quietly as the sun rose over the water, sending shafts of shimmering light across the small ripples that played in the breeze. It would be very hot as the day wore on, they knew, but in these first hours of the day, the air felt warm and comforting. The small trees along the bank leaned towards the water, their leaves reflected in the stillness at the edges. On the other side of the river they could see the beginnings of a few farms. Behind them, their land stretched back toward the rise, some of it already cleared of the scrubby bush and weeds that had littered what was now looking like fields ready for planting. William stretched and turned about. His shoulders, always broad, were now thickening up, strengthened by the hoeing and ploughing, the clearing and chopping that had been his occupation from daylight till dark these past months.

‘We must give thanks,’ he said loudly, turning back to the water. ‘We have much to be grateful for.’ He turned to Mary and kissed her on the forehead lightly, then did the same to his son in her arms. He nodded at Joe and Ellen and smiled as they beamed back at him. He was quite lost for more words but he knew they all felt the same as he did. They were home at last.

They celebrated Christmas under the tree beside William and Mary’s hut, a trestle table set with the best food they could muster between both families.

‘Not too much for me,’ Ellen kept insisting. ‘My stomach’s not feeling so good these days…well, these mornings, at least.’ She grinned at Mary and nodded.

‘Oh, Ellen, how grand. I’m sure Joe will be looking for another son to help with the farm in a few years, eh?’

‘We hope so,’ Ellen giggled.

Mary looked over at William, sitting on a tree stump with little Jimmy on his knee and smiled. She hoped it wouldn’t be too long before she’d have another baby too. Surely now that her body had finally learned how to give birth, she’d be able to do it again without too much trouble.

‘Will’s good with him, isn’t he?’ Ellen followed Mary’s eyes. ‘And Jimmy’s looking bonny. He’s such a smiley baby. Good natured, I think.’

‘Like his father,’ Mary nodded. ‘And determined too. He’s trying to sit up already, you know.’ She smiled proudly at Ellen and then broke in a soft laugh. ‘We all think ours are the cleverest, don’t we?’

‘It’s only natural, love. Our little Joseph’s a determined boy as well. And isn’t it just as well? They’ll need to be strong lads. They’ve a lot ahead of them.’