Drowning in Her Eyes (19 page)

“When will you do that?
”

“I thought after shearing in August. We might as well get a final wool cut from the buggers. After all, we have been wiping their arses for them for five bloody years. How have you been doing with your studies?
”

“Not so bad. It
's all theory now, and I
'm finding che
m
istry a bit of a struggle. Next year should be better, when we get into agronomy and livestock.
”

“How are Lil and the kids?
”

“They are really nice, Dad. They have taken me under their wing. I usually have dinner with them once a week. Maree is not there
; she
'
s away at Teachers College in Sy
d
ney. Bernadette has been marvelous. If she wasn
't my cousin, I might be romantically inclined.
”

“Well, it wouldn
't be the first time
that
happened. What
's the situation with your little Yank?"

“It
's pretty serious, Dad. Do you think she could be the new mistress of
Ballinrobe
, or should I marry my cousin?
” he joked.

“It depends on your mother. She
's the brains around here. If
they
hit it off it might be a goer.
”

They left the veranda and began an inspection of the farm buildings. Parked in the barn was a new John Deere Tractor.
“I bought it because your Mother liked the colour scheme,
” joked Paddy,
“but I can
't get her to drive it!
” This machine was the first of a long line of green machines that would dominate the machinery pool on
Ballinrobe
, but they did not know that at the time. They returned to the garden to find Helen
and Susan laughing together.

“I
'
m going to take Susan on the grand tour
,
” Jack said.
“
We
'll be back for afternoon tea. Is my Land Rover right to go, Dad?
”

“The boys gave it a service yesterday. New plugs, oil change, and a good clean out, but why don
't you take mine? It
'd be more comfortable.
”

Nevertheless, Jack preferred the old familiar vehicle. They set off for the paddocks, along with Sam. All the cro
p
ping fields lay fallow, waiting for the new crop planting. Jack drove around the watering points. At one, sheep gat
h
ered around a water trough. Jack was pleased to note their good condition.

“Where does the water come from?
” asked Susan.

“From way below ground,
” said Jack.
“We are situated over huge underground water reserves called the Great Art
e
sian Basin. The water flows up under its own pressure. This bore, that we call the
‘Last Drink
' is about
eleven hundred
feet deep. The water is not good for irrigation, but it is just fine for stock water.
”

“Oh, look,
” cried Susan. Away in the distance, she had spotted a mob of kangaroos. She had not seen them in the wild before. She was fascinated to see them flee at great speed for the cover of the trees.
“Wow!
” she said
.
“They can really jump.
”

They continued their tour until Jack finally came to a halt at his favourite spot near another bore, surrounded by belah trees and cypress pine. He cut the motor and placed a hand on Susan
's arm.
“Hush, just listen.
” The breeze stirred the trees and their soft whispers floated across their senses. The silence was undisturbed until Jack said,
“This is where I come to reconnect with the spirit of the land, to revitalise
my
spirit. This is
my
thinking place. Just like the Aboriginal people, I have an unbreakable attachment to this land.
”

Susan could not speak for a moment. His obvious love of the land moved her. She said.
“Our native Indians feel the same way. Everywhere there are spirits they commune with, in animals, in bushes, in rocks, in canyons and especially in rive
rs and streams. I guess they
'
re not so different to you.
”

“I love you like that too, always and everywhere.
”

Susan moved towards him, embraced him and kissed his mouth. The familiar tingle stirred within her. She kissed him again, fiercely.
“I so love you my little bush kid. Make love to me here in this spiritual place,
your thinking place; then you
'
ll always think of me
when you
're here.
”

There on the picnic blanket, beside the Land Rover, they made love, not with the frantic haste of their first time, but slowly, tenderly. Afterwards, they lay in the silence, minds and bodies entwined. A chattering flight of noisy miner birds interrupted their reverie.
“It looks like others have a claim on this place too,
”
said Jack,
“
W
e
'd
better be going.
” They dressed and stood beside the Land Rover, hugging tightly. Sam came to Susan and nuzzled her arm.
“Look,
” said Jack,
“she loves you too.
” One last kiss and they were on their way.

* *
*
*

They tumbled onto the homestead veranda, flushed
from
their adventure.
“I could kill for a cup of tea,
” said Jack.
“I don
't suppose you have some of your A grade gingerbread, Mum?
” Helen looked at the two of them, so happy, and was glad for them.
They are so young
, she thought,
but so was I, and I could not have had a better life. Please
,
God, look a
f
ter them
. Later, after dinner, in their bedroom, she said to Paddy,
“She seems a lovely girl, and she is very fond of him. What do you think, Paddy?
”

“They
're like a pair of kids playing together, no inhib
i
tions at all.
”

“She loves him very much.
I know they
'
re already lo
v
ers
;
a mother can always tell. I can see it in their eyes.
”

“Bloody hell!
” said Paddy
.
“Maybe you should have put them in the same room after all.
”

Helen looked askance. This visit had put some life into Paddy. He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye.
“Come on, love,
” he said,
“We can do it too.
”

Paddy lay in the afterglow, nuzzling his wonderful woman.
By God
, he mused,
he
's a bloody chip off the old block all right!

Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
—1964

Marci had accepted the inevitability of the situation. She could not control her daughter, but she was determined she would
not allow a marriage. H
er daughter would be retur
n
ing to the United States. She
remembered
now
that she
'
d had the
sense
to retain her house in Worcester
and was thankful for her foresight
.
She knew
Jimmy would not be coming with her. She had always known that. Now that the situation was clear, she began making plans. The lease on the house would run out at the end of the year and she did not intend to renew it. She had discussed this with Jimmy. He asked her to stay until the children could finish the school year before leaving.

Jimmy asked his legal advisor to visit the hospital, and he made a new will. He was satisfied. He still had substantial savings as well as his stock. The sale of the house in Alb
u
querque had financed their travels and their living expenses, with a lot to spare. Marci had her house; there would be no money problems for his family.

Susan visited him daily. Sometimes Jack went with her. Jimmy was pleased to see them together. Anything that pleased his little Princess was ok by him, and she was obv
i
ously very much in love with Jack. One day, as they were leaving, he smiled a painful smile and said,
“Mr. Riordan, could you give me a few minutes of your valuable time? Alone please.
” Jack went back to his bedside.
“Son,
” he said,
“I will be going to a better place soon.
” Jack tried to protest the statement. Jimmy held up his hand.
“The time for bullshit is long gone. I know the facts. I want to know what you intend for my daughter.
”

Jack looked at him.
“I love Susan more than anything in the world. I want to love her and protect her for the rest of my life. I can offer her a good life at
Ballinrobe
, a
nd we
'
ll be able to visit your family in America eventually.
”

“My lawyers tell me that, because of my terminal state, you would require Marci
's permission to marry, and she is adamant she will not give it. However, you should know you have
my
blessing. Be good to her
;
she loves you very much.
”

James Armstrong Baker took leave of this life a few days later, with his family close around him. His life had been tragically cut short, but he died in the knowledge that his family would be cared for, and his Princess would be happy. Before, during, and after the funeral, Jack spent many hours with Marci and her children. Susan and Sarah were devastated, but they had known the time would come and were for the most part prepared. James Junior could not be consoled. Jack spent many hours with him, sensing he nee
d
ed male support. He was only fifteen years old, too young to lose a father; It would be a long time before he came to terms with it.

Susan and Jack were inseparable. They both missed le
c
tures to spend time with each other and with her family. Their love continued to console Susan. She was even more loving and wanting to loved, and her passion when they made love seemed to compensate her for her loss. Jack and Susan had made sure they had a good picnic blanket to keep in the Ute and they often found isolated spots in the beautiful New England countryside to enjoy each other. Now, howe
v
er it was getting too cold for outdoor passion. April came and went, and the Uni closed for a four-
week break. Jack headed home to help with planting the wheat crop. Susan remained with her family. The prospect of at least t
hree weeks apart was horrible;
it would seem like three years. On their last night, Jack brought her to his College room.