Daring Masquerade (24 page)

Pain darkened his eyes and she thought she glimpsed a sheen of tears. "Dashed back to help him, stepped in front of him and collected the bullet with Matty's name on it. They'll help you. If I have time, I'll call in and see them before sailing. Matty lost his leg. The other son, Richard, served with me. Died of wounds in the hospital tent before they could evacuate him. The Renshaws went to Melbourne Grammar." He gave a lopsided grin. "But don't hold that against them, will you?"

"Don't worry. Devil's Ridge will be waiting for you when you get back, just as beautiful and tranquil as it is now."
They'll have to kill me to get it.

They started down from their eyrie in the sky. Never would she forget these precious hours spent with Ross. Halfway down he stopped and offered her a drink from his water bottle.

"Thank goodness you thought to bring it." She wiped her mouth with the back of one hand.

"I never go into the bush without it."

When they arrived back at the hut, she shed her clothes straight away. He watched her, marveling at how unconcerned she was about displaying her nudity in front of him. Not that he was complaining. He enjoyed the spectacle of her beauty, adorned with nothing but the gifts nature had bestowed upon her.

Her arms were tanned, the rest of her body milky white, her flawless skin, smooth as porcelain. Her breasts though small, had firm rosy tips and her stomach was flat with no sign yet of the baby developing in her womb. Dear God, so lovely, untouched and unfamiliar with the sometimes wicked ways of the world. He wanted to lock her away somewhere to save her from being contaminated by any badness, and keep her all for himself. Brave, spirited Harry, with her uninhibited loveliness and innocence, he feared for her.

She was already in the water frolicking and splashing around before he started removing his clothes. He had always swum naked here, either alone or with Eric, so why did he feel embarrassed?

He shrugged out of his shirt then his trousers. Harry was his wife, she had seen him naked, had, in fact, touched and kissed him all over. Not one inch of his body was unknown territory to her. You're hopelessly old fashioned, Ross Calvert. He loped towards the water.

"Come on, it's beautiful," she called out.

The first sudden impact froze his legs. He waded out until it was deep enough to swim. Harry frolicked around, duck diving and shrieking with delight. She disappeared under the water and he felt her grasp at his ankle. Her sudden attack unbalanced him and he toppled under. As he surfaced, he saw her swimming away from him. Grabbing hold of one foot, he dragged her towards him.

He wrapped his arms around her and they drifted towards the center where the current created little whirlpools. The water swirling around his neck would have been over her head, but she clung to his shoulders, encircling his waist with her legs.

She took her hands away, leaned right back until her head touched the water and drifted there, letting the water wash over her breasts every now and again. His breath quickened. He put out a hand and caressed her flat, smooth stomach.

"Our baby isn't showing yet."

"It's too early." She gasped with delight as his hand moved a little lower and tangled in her damp pubic curls. His fingers parted the soft velvety lips of her womanhood. Gaining access to her hot, moist bud, he rubbed it gently until it fluttered into life.

"You want to make love to me out here?"

"No."

"Why not?" She could have screamed with disappointment.

"The water is too cold, bloody frustrating, but there it is."

Laughing, she pulled away from him and started swimming. He caught up after a few of strokes. They swam side-by-side for a while, until he put on a spurt and surged ahead. While she was an adequate, self-taught swimmer, he was an expert. He cleaved through the water with a fluid, even stroke.

"I used to be the school swimming champion," he confessed with a grin

"That's not fair. Gil taught me in our dam."

They frolicked around, laughing, touching, until the sun drifted towards the mountain and the air chilled.

"Time we got out." He sighed regretfully.

They left the water together. As the golden rays of the sun shafted down on him, Harry caught her breath. Dripping with water, his dark hair plastered to his head, muscles rippling in his arms and shoulders, he looked like a Grecian God. Even the scars on his chest did not detract from the sheer perfection of his naked body.

He picked up a towel and patted her skin dry, while she did the same to him. After they were dressed, he built up the campfire and set the billycan on to boil. While he went fishing, she laid out their bedding and prepared damper.

In no time he returned with a couple of nice fish. He cleaned them and put them in the pan to cook.

"Fresh fish, damper and smoky tea," he said. "You can't beat it."

"I know. Sleeping under the stars rolled up in a blanket next to your campfire. Heaven on earth."

As the sun dropped behind the mountains, the sky turned blood red, faded to pink then gray. Nocturnal animals came out to go about their business. The mopokes called out to each other, the bullfrogs croaked in unison and the wild dogs took up the call. Night fell quickly in the mountains and the air became cold and crisp. With the flickering flame of their campfire throwing out a comforting orange glow, peace enveloped her.

After a long passionate session of lovemaking tired them out, they slept wrapped in each other's arms, while on the other side of the world, the clouds of war intensified.

* * *

"Well, my darling," Ross said next morning. "This is our last breakfast on the mountain for a while."

She sipped from a mug of tea, and nibbled toast cooked on a fork over the flames. "You really are leaving his afternoon?"

"Yes."

"Can I go to Melbourne and see you sail?" she asked.

"No, I'm not sure when I'm sailing. For security reasons they'll only let us know at the last minute. Come to the station with Jack to see me off."

"But, I want to go to Melbourne with you."

"Please, I'll know you're safe if you stay here."

After washing the dishes and putting them back in the hut ready for next time, she collected the bag containing her personal papers. He extinguished the fire and saddled their horses. As they rode away, the sun climbed into the sky, streaking it with pink.

* * *

Harry always thought Ross a good looking man, but in his uniform he was devastatingly handsome, a princely warrior.

For his final meal with them Mrs. Bates roasted a piece of seasoned beef accompanied by his favorite vegetables and covered them with lashings of gravy. The old lady's eyes filled with tears as she kissed him goodbye. Even old Hughie's eyes misted over as he closed the gates behind them. Fighting to control her tears, Harry sat between the two men as Jack drove, his features set in grim lines.

"You're not going to cry, are you?" Ross broke the somber silence descending upon them. "I want to carry a picture of my wild, reckless Harry bidding me a laughing farewell. I'll be back soon, my love, and the two of us will never be parted again, I swear."

"Of course, we'll be together again soon. There will probably be three of us by then."

She forced herself to sound cheerful even though her heart lay shattered. He must take happy memories away with him. They would sustain him in his darkest hour.

She sang bush ballads, her voice floating on the perfumed bush air. Ross joined in, his baritone a perfect foil for her soprano. Jack mumbled something about not being able to sing, but he did join in the final chorus of the song, 'Australia Will Be There.'

Numerous people congregated on the station platform, a couple of young soldiers, an elderly married couple, and several farmers waiting to collect freight from the train.

"Good luck, Ross." The stationmaster shook his hand.

The train steamed into the station, spitting out a plume of black smoke and sooty embers.

Jack shook Ross' hand. "Take care of yourself, son. Don't worry, everything will be all right here."

He thoughtfully moved away to give Harry and Ross some privacy to say their final goodbye.

Ross pulled her into his arms and his lips claimed hers in a long, desperate kiss. He strained her so hard against him that his chest crushed her breasts.

"Goodbye, Harry, my love. I'll write as soon as I can."

"Goodbye." She stepped back as the guard called out for the passengers to board. "Good luck, take care. I love you." She gave him the thumbs up sign.

As the train chugged out of the station, she sprinted beside it for a little way and he hung his head out the window of the first class carriage. She imagined his last sight of her was of wild, red curls bobbing in the wind and a smile parting her lips as she waved at him.

The train thundered around a curve in the line. He was gone. Sobs tore at her throat and tears cascaded hotly down each cheek. As Jack helped her out to the buggy, the stationmaster waved to them on his way back to the ticket office.

"How will I survive without him?" she whispered.

"You will, my dear. You've got guts and determination. You made Ross happy. All we have to do now is keep Devil's Ridge going and pray God will bring him safely home."

Chapter Twelve

A week after Ross departed, Harry and Jack attended a meeting in town about the expansion of the timber mill. The Mayor chaired the meeting and Clyde Bromley stomped around, fat and perspiring.

Harry had told Jack about Clyde's attack at Andrew's party. "I ought to punch that pompous little bastard on the nose," he growled.

The hall was packed with townspeople and a few middle-aged farmers. All the young men were away at the war, or had been killed on Gallipoli.

"A few selfish individuals are trying to stop progress." Clyde waved his pudgy fists. "I intend upgrading and expanding the mill, bringing prosperity to the whole town."

"What about the damage done to the rivers and creeks?" Harry jumped to her feet. "The townsfolk have to drink that water."

"Ross Calvert has been using crown land for years without paying a penny for it," Clyde shot back.

"He's kept it free from vermin and blackberries." Jack sprang up. "He burned fire breaks on his own land to protect that forest when the bushfires came through. Now you want to cut it all down."

"We need the jobs," someone else said, and other voices brayed in agreement.

The hall was packed with Bromley sympathizers.

"You'll rip the heart out of the mountain, rape the forest and then leave." Harry, ignoring the shocked gasps, ploughed on. "You've done it before. Earlstown. Graychurch. Wattlegrove. You took the timber from around those towns and left them in ruins."

"Order." Mayor Peters banged a wooden mallet on the table.

"The authorities need timber for the war effort," Clyde declared, his tone pious. "I'd be falling down in my duty to the Empire if I didn't try to help the government."

She shook off Jack's restraining hand and charged towards the stage. "Help! Enlist if you want to help the Empire," she yelled. "You don't have the guts?"

A shocked murmur rippled through the audience. Clyde sent her a poisonous glare.

"Please, Mrs. Calvert, such language," one of the council members spluttered.

"My husband is on his way to fight in France. You waited until he left before trying to ruin his land. You despicable creature. You coward."

Clyde turned red in the face. Sweat poured down his face and trickled off his chin. "I want this mad woman arrested. I demand it, Mayor. I have never been so insulted," he blustered.

"Yeah, arrest me," she dared them. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself." She turned on the mayor. "This meeting is rigged. How much did Bromley pay you?"

Uproar broke out as the different sides hurled insults at each other. Jack came up and grabbed her arm, literally dragging her out of the hall.

"Come on, or Bromley will end up lynching you. My God, young Harry, you almost caused a riot." He chuckled as he helped her into the buggy. "Did you see Bromley's face when you called him a coward? He looked ready to have a seizure."

"I wish he had. But I was awful," she conceded, calming down a little now. "They tried to insinuate Ross used that land illegally. That's what really made my blood boil. Bromley accused him when he wasn't here to defend himself. I lost my temper. I shouldn't have but I couldn't help it."

"You did well." He patted her hand. "Probably went a bit too far, but they deserved it."

"I miss him so much."

"I know you do, girlie, so do I. He's the son I never had. Those last few days before he left were the happiest I've ever seen him."

* * *

The mail was dropped at the letter box every second day and Harry rode down to collect it and the papers so they could get the latest war news.

A month after Ross left she collected a letter from the mail box. It was postmarked from Western Australia and she eagerly ripped the envelope open.

Dear Harry,

We are finally on our way. By the time you receive this letter we will be well and truly out of Australian waters. Spirits are high among the troops, only boys most of them, of course, who think they are embarking on a great adventure.

She scanned the neatly penned lines, not particularly informative, and she realized he was being careful with what he said in the letter, to avoid censorship by the authorities. No flowery lines declaring his love for her; he was not that type of man. An intensely private person, he would not want anyone else reading his innermost thoughts and feelings.

Write to me, Harry. Give me all the news. A letter a week you promised, and I'm going to hold you to it. Give my best regards to Jack and Mrs. Bates.

All my love, Ross.

 
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Not much after a month of silence. She pressed her lips to the crosses to claim his kisses. Slipping the letter into her shirt pocket, so it rested near her heart, she put the rest of the mail and newspapers in her saddlebag and cycled back to the homestead.