Dust on the Horizon (33 page)

“But she was only going to visit your family for a few days.”

“Maybe she's decided to stay, not come back.”

Joseph's heart gave a thud. Millie had told him she was going to tell her father she planned to marry Joseph. Yardu wouldn't be happy and he was sure Millie wouldn't want to stay any longer than she needed. He'd wanted to go with her but she'd laughed at him, said her father would have steam coming from his ears and nose at the sight of Joseph.

Binda's sharp gaze locked with Joseph. “My Mary can keep house for you.”

“Mary has been wonderful but—”

“You don't need Millie.” Binda stamped his foot and stood tall.

Joseph rarely saw him angry. He opened out his palms to his friend. “I love her, Binda.”

“You think you do.” Binda shook his head vigorously from side to side. “Millie is smart and pretty. I knew as soon as she set her eyes on you she would try to charm you. I've seen her play her games, giggling and touching your arm when she thinks I'm not looking.”

“We have kept our feelings to ourselves as much as we could.”

Binda snorted. “She's my sister but she will be no good for you and you no good for her.”

“Why?”

Binda stretched his arm out beside Joseph's. Even though Joseph's skin was dark from the sun he was still fair in comparison to the black of Binda's skin. “This is why.”

Joseph stared at his friend. Anger surged within him. He flipped over his wrist and waved the scar at Binda. “Does this mean nothing to you?”

“You are my blood brother but nothing can change the colour of our skin. We chose this friendship.”

“Yes, and Millie and I chose ours. No-one forced us. She charmed me yes, but in a good way. We love each other. I thought you would understand.”

“Millie will not bring you happiness.”

Joseph's anger ebbed as quickly as it had peaked. “She already has. Millie has brought happiness back to my life and to my children.”

“Others will not understand.”

“If you don't I'm certainly up against it.”

“Your people only tolerate us if we can work for them.”

“My people?”

“Those who have stolen our land.”

Joseph's hands fell to his sides. “Stolen? Jundala's people are always welcome here. Your people too. Yardu is the one who chooses to keep away.”

“It is not a choice.” Binda's dark eyes glittered. He remained perfectly still. “The land is fenced, the waterholes are used by many sheep, rabbits and sheep eat the food of the animals he hunts.”

Joseph was speechless. He had no idea his friend felt this way. “I'm sorry, Binda. I was born here. I don't know any other life.”

“I do.” Binda's lips turned up in a small grin. “I am my father's disappointment, living in two worlds.” He lifted his hand and gripped Joseph's shoulder. “You are a good man but you are only one person. Many others do not treat our people well. It is these people who will make life bad for you and Millie if you marry. You will not belong to them or to her family. No-one will want you.”

“I can't turn off my love for Millie and I won't let what others think dictate my life.”

Binda gripped his shoulder tighter. “I am proud to call you my brother.”

“So we will continue to be friends?” Joseph was still shocked by Binda's outburst.

“We will. I want you to be sure you understand.” Once more Binda squeezed his shoulder. His dark eyes, barely a foot away from Joseph, stared steadily. “You will be treated like a black man if you marry my sister. You might not like it.”

Joseph and Millie had already had this conversation on several occasions. “We are not children, Binda.”

Binda's hand fell away. “Your mind is made up and so is Millie's.”

“You've spoken to her about our marriage?”

“Before she left.”

Joseph felt panic constrict his chest. Perhaps Binda had said something to make Millie stay with her family. “What did you say?”

“That I would talk to you. Try to make you see sense.”

“And what did she say?”

“She laughed. Said she would see me when she came back.”

Immediately Joseph's gaze went to the top of the ridge. It was the direction Millie would return from.

“Why don't you go home that way? She should be coming any time now. You might meet up with her. Unless our father has tied her to a tree and beaten her with a stick.”

Joseph looked back at his friend. There was a sparkle in Binda's eyes.

“I am hoping that's unlikely.”

“He is a determined man. I think that's where Millie gets her strength from. For all his anger he would not hurt her but I think he will no longer want to see her again.”

Joseph felt bad about that.

Binda gave him a little push. “Go on. Millie was destined for a different life. It might as well be with a good man like you.”

Joseph gripped his friend's hand. “Thank you. I will come back tomorrow with some supplies.”

“Tell Jundala where I am. She will want to come up here too.”

Joseph gave a nod and mounted his horse. He gave Binda a wave and moved down the gully away from the sheep that had been joined by two more. He circled through the bush and then followed the slate-covered ground that led to the top of the ridge. He took a deep breath. The heat of the day released the scents of the leaves and flowers. Above him the azure-blue sky was studded with small strips of wispy cloud and an eagle drifted on the currents.

He loved this country, and couldn't imagine living anywhere else which made him think again of Binda's words. Was Smith's Ridge really stolen land? If that was the case every pastoral lease and farm was stolen. Even Hawker itself was standing on land that did not belong to those who built there. He shook his head. Not every inch could belong to the natives.

Joseph turned his horse's nose east and followed the ridge top pondering the dilemma of it all. He stopped to wipe the sweat that trickled down his face and took another drink. Down in the small curve of the rocks below him a shadow moved. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, focusing on the spot, wondering if he might come across the wild dog.

The shape moved out from behind an arm of rock and strode to a large gum beside the creek. Joseph gaped. The shape was female and looked a lot like Millie but the thing that surprised him most was that even from his distance he could see she was naked. Her back was to him. He watched her pause on the edge of the creek and slip into the water.

Once more heat from within swept up Joseph's chest and to his cheeks as he forced himself to look away. When he had kissed her goodbye a week ago she had been wearing her favourite green patterned skirt and light brown blouse. He slipped from his horse and led it quietly back along the ridge until he could find a place where he could get down to the flatter country. What was he to do? He had never seen Millie naked. Jundala and Gulda's wife Daisy often wore little clothing when they worked outside but they were at least partially covered. From what he could see Millie was wearing not a stitch. Thank goodness her back had been to him.

Millie climbed out of the creek into a patch of sunshine and squeezed the water from her hair. It had only been a quick dip to wash away the smell of campfire and the layers of dust that coated her skin. She had enjoyed the temporary freedom of camp life with her family but it came with other restrictions. Her journey to see her family had not been an entirely happy one. When she'd first arrived she'd seen the hope in her father's eyes that she had returned for good, hope that had turned to anger and then to sadness when she'd explained she was going to marry Joseph Baker. Yardu had ignored her from that moment.

Thankfully the rest of her family had not been so intolerant, especially the women. Her mother had been sad at first but when Millie had joined her aunties and cousins to gather berries and yams, they became immersed in the pleasure of their task and each other's company. That was the only thing Millie missed, she thought, as she dragged her fingers through her wet hair then twisted it up onto her head; the company of the women. She had spent most of her time with them, listening to their stories, laughing at their jokes and sharing the burden of any sadness. At Smith's Ridge, Jundala mostly worked outside. Mary was good company but so much younger. Millie missed the camaraderie of women.

She took her neatly folded clothes from the hole in a large gum tree where she'd left them, shook them out carefully and laid them out on a fallen trunk. Slowly she slipped each item on and turned her thoughts to Joseph Baker, the man she loved and would marry. She didn't need other company. Joseph and his children were her family now and maybe there would be another baby one day. Millie did up the last of the buttons on her blouse, tucked the ends into her skirt and set off for the house that would soon be hers. Happiness made the journey short.

Joseph stopped his horse. It snorted and tossed its head. He decided to follow the track through the trees to the lower hill country and walk the horse in the hope Millie would catch him up. He couldn't stop his mind from replaying the vision of her dark skin shining as the sun caught it before she slipped into the water. He enjoyed the memory of her long hair, loosely flowing in glossy waves over her shoulders, the nip of her waist, her slight hips.

He rubbed at his eyes trying to erase the image but he couldn't and his body responded, out of his control, making it difficult to sit in the saddle.

“Hello.”

The sound of her voice so close startled him. He turned his head slowly, terrified she would still be naked and yet part of him hoping she was.

There stepping out of the bush was Millie, dressed again with her hair coiled up on her head, even darker now that it was wet. He got down carefully from the saddle.

“Hello to you.”

She flung herself into his arms. Joseph gave her a quick squeeze and let her go. His wayward body was already far too responsive to the sight of her.

“How are your family?” He chose his words carefully not wanting her to know he had spied on her.

“Well, except for father who must have an upset stomach. He rumbled and glared and groaned the whole time I was there.”

“Because of us?” Joseph smiled and took her hand as they fell into step together.

“Yes. I am a bad daughter.” Her dark brown eyes were liquid like a deep pool.

“I am sorry, Millie.”

She grimaced. “I wish he could be happy.”

“You didn't expect him to be?”

“No but a small part of me hoped.” She put her other hand to her breast.

Joseph's heart ached for her. He had to trust he would be enough to keep her happy. After seeing the ease with which she shed her clothes and blended with the bush he wondered how comfortable it was for her to live with him.

“Are you sure you want to marry me, Millie?”

She stopped walking, making him stop behind her. The horse he was leading dutifully did the same.

“Yes.”

Once more Joseph felt as if he could fall into the depth of her dark brown eyes. Binda's words came back to him. Millie was destined for a different life. “But you are giving up so much.”

“The land will always be in my heart but I like these clothes, a high roof over my head, cooking and sewing. They make me happy. I love my family but I also love yours. Robert's hugs are so special, and Esther's determination and Violet's eagerness to please. William is so like you.” She reached a hand up and gently traced the curve of his cheek, over the rough stubble of his unshaven face to the tip of his chin. “And I love you.”

Joseph couldn't help himself. He took her in his arms and kissed her, savouring the softness of her lips, the slightly salty taste of her mouth. He groaned and with two hands on her shoulders gently moved her away from him. He would not take advantage now.

“We should marry soon.” Millie's eyes were wide, her breathing quick.

“Yes.” He nodded. Once more he took her hand, snatched up the reins of the ever-patient horse, and they set off again following the rough track through the low bush. “Binda is in agreement.”

“How did you make that happen?”

“We talked.”

“I am glad. He is my brother but also your friend. I don't want to spoil that.”

“There is only my family to tell now,” Joseph said. “The children will be happy.”

“Except perhaps William?”

“William likes you very much.”

“I know but as a friend, not as your wife.”

“William will have to accept our marriage the same as everyone else.” Joseph looked at the bush ahead but he could feel Millie's gaze upon him.

“I hope your parents understand better than mine.”

“They will be happy for us.” Joseph spoke with a conviction he wasn't certain of. His parents got on well with the local natives and called them friends. He hoped they would be accepting of his planned marriage. He squeezed Millie's hand and brought it to his lips.

“The children have missed you.”

She smiled back at him. “It will be good to get home.”

Twenty-eight

Harriet had asked Mrs Simpson to pack the seamstresses up thirty minutes early and usher them home. The first week of March had been excessively hot. It was stifling in their workroom and the lingering smell of their sweat had pervaded her house. They were on time with current orders and she thought the bonus of an early finish would be most welcome.

She closed the door on dusty O'Connell Street and made her way to the haberdashery counter where Miss Wicksteed was overseeing a junior who was serving a lady's maid in need of items for her mistress. Thankfully the shop smelled sweet as ever. Harriet always kept it stocked with perfumed soaps and the scent lingered and disguised other less pleasant odours.

“All well here, Miss Wicksteed?” she asked.