Dust on the Horizon (56 page)

The colour left Catherine's face and she wobbled sideways. Henry caught her and lowered her to her chair. He passed her a cup of water and helped her sip it.

“You remember Jack Aldridge?”

She looked at him, fear in her big round eyes.

Henry placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. “Tell me, Catherine. Has Jack Aldridge been inside my house?”

She sucked her lips into her mouth and nodded.

It was only his deference to good manners that kept back the profanities he wanted to blurt out. “When?”

“While you were in Adelaide.” Her voice was a whisper. She reached for her cup and took another sip of water. Her hands trembled.

“You invited him into our house and you were alone? Catherine, what were you thinking?”

“I didn't exactly invite him. He came in. He carried the bag of potatoes for me. He was very charming and the next thing I knew we were having dinner.”

Henry put his hands to his head and took in a deep breath. He lowered his hands and spoke very slowly. “A stranger and a man with black blood sat at my table?”

“Well not exactly a stranger. He was the man who played ball with Charles that time and he's not very dark of skin.”

Henry thumped the table in front of her. Catherine jumped along with the utensils.

“He was very polite.” Once more her voice was a whisper. “He said he knew you.”

“What else did he say?” If Jack had told Catherine about their connection Henry would kill the man himself.

“Nothing really, small talk. He was very charming at first and then … well then …” Catherine's hand went to her locket.

“He didn't … harm you?”

“No. I did begin to feel uncomfortable. Then Flora and Charles came home and I asked him to leave.”

Henry's eyes widened. “Our son and housekeeper saw you with another man in the house?”

Catherine shook her head and looked down at her lap. “I left him here in the dining room. He let himself out.” She put a hand to her mouth and looked back at Henry with tears in her eyes. “I'm sorry, Henry. I should have told but you weren't home and then I put the whole awful incident from my mind.”

Henry wrapped her in his arms and drew her to his chest.

“There, there, my dear. Don't upset yourself any more.”

She sobbed against his shirt a moment then he gently pushed her upright.

“Promise me you'll tell me if you ever see him again.”

She nodded.

“I mean it, Catherine. Jack Aldridge is a dangerous man.”

“Why Henry, surely you don't associate with him?”

“Not for much longer.” Henry sat back in his chair. “Let's not talk about him any more. We have your lovely supper to eat.”

“I'm not hungry, Henry.”

Catherine wobbled to her feet. He rose to help her.

“I think I will retire early.”

“Very well, my dear.” He pecked her on the cheek. “I will look in on Charles once I've eaten.”

She gave him a weak smile and left.

Henry flopped back in his chair, snatched up his fork and stabbed at the slice of mutton on his plate. Anger surged inside him. Here he was at his own table with Jack's ugly initials gouged right before his eyes. He took a mouthful then slammed down his fork. Jack Aldridge had to go.

Forty-eight

“You're only leaving a week earlier than we'd planned.” Hegarty's big voice was gentle. “You've been away from your family long enough, Joseph. They need you even more now. Go home.”

Home. That word rattled around in Joseph's head. He should have stayed there and then perhaps his youngest son wouldn't have been injured. He ached inside. Joseph felt a failure. He'd let his family down with his pursuit of gold. Millie had been right. They needed each other, not things. At least this time he would return with a wad of money in his pocket.

Automatically his hand reached for the gold bottle.

“I've got the rest of your gold, remember.” Hegarty patted his shoulder with the look of someone talking to a child. “I'll bring your money once I've traded the gold in Adelaide.”

Joseph looked at his screening table, his knife and empty gold bottle lay there along with the pouch. He reached for it.

“You know that's an unusual rock you've got in there,” Hegarty said. “Why don't you let me take that with your gold to Adelaide? See what the dealer thinks it is.”

Joseph's hand hovered over the pouch. He gave a snort. “Might as well. I used to think it was lucky but now I think I've used up all that luck.”

He turned back to his tent and began tugging at the ropes that had held it upright for almost two years.

“We'll sort it out, man.” Once more Hegarty's hand was on his shoulder. “You go.”

“There's nothing here I want.” Joseph waved his hand at the tent. “Give it away.” Joseph wished poor old Jones was still around. He could have done with Joseph's tent.

Joseph shook Peterson's hand then Hegarty's before he mounted his horse. He gave them one final look, then he turned his horses for home.

“Go well, Joseph.” Hegarty's voice called after him. “We'll find you in the new year and bring your money.”

Joseph sat with his father by the creek. They were silent, both staring into the darkness alone with their thoughts. It had been a long day. Everyone else was in bed but them. Christmas at Wildu Creek had been a quiet affair. Lizzie's absence had been keenly felt at a time when she would have been in her element, cleaning, cooking, singing, infecting them with her happiness.

Instead small gifts were exchanged with little fanfare and they had eaten delicious but simple meals. Robert had been irritable with his leg bound up. He had not been content sitting in a chair watching the others play nor did he want to be with the adults. His head ached, he said. Joseph worried about his recovery. Millie said the child suffered less from pains in both his head and leg but Joseph was still troubled. Since his return both his wife and youngest son had been distant.

“I'm glad you're back to stay, Joseph.” Thomas's words drew him back to the present.

“I wish I hadn't gone.”

“You can't undo what's done.”

Joseph shook his head. They hadn't spoken much since his return. He'd ridden with William to see Binda and the last of their sheep in the hills and then Christmas day had arrived. Eliza had prepared most of the food. Millie spent a lot of time fussing over Robert. He was sure his wife and youngest son blamed him for not being home when Robert had his accident and he couldn't fault them for that. He felt the same.

“I shouldn't have left.”

Once more they lapsed into silence. The evening breeze ruffled the leaves above their heads.

“How is Millie?”

Joseph took a moment to respond to his father's question.

“I don't really know. She's … distant. I'm worried I've let her down so badly she won't be able to forgive me. I should have been here to protect my wife and son.”

“I understand. I keep going over it myself. I think Millie blames herself for Robert's accident.”

Joseph turned to his father in surprise. “Why would she do that?”

Thomas shook his head. “We all felt we should have done better to prevent it.”

“I don't understand, Father, what was Robert doing out at the house in the dark?”

“Have you talked about it with Millie?”

“Yes. She said he got restless some nights but she didn't elaborate and I don't like to press her.”

“She hasn't said anything else about that night?”

“No.” Joseph leaned towards his father. “Did something else happen?”

“She didn't want me to say anything.” Thomas continued to stare into the night. “But I'm worried about her.”

Joseph's stomach squirmed. He reached out to touch his father's arm. “Please, if there's something more tell me. I need to know what happened.”

Thomas turned weary eyes to his son. “Jack Aldridge was here that night.”

“Jack? What for?”

Thomas drew in a deep breath then slowly let it out. “I can only tell you what I know. The rest you'll have to ask Millie.”

Joseph's stomach churned more. What did that mean? Millie and Jack. Joseph felt cold. He had been away a long time.

“Before you go jumping to any conclusions, your wife loves you. Remember that. Jack Aldridge was not here that night at her bidding.” Once more Thomas looked off into the darkness. “We had all retired for the night. The girls were in my spare room, Millie and Robert up at the quarters and everyone else away. Like Robert I sometimes don't sleep well. I took a walk along the creek and I came across Jack's horse, tethered in the bushes a way back from the house. It seemed odd. I took his gun and went to find my own. I discovered Jack in the new house with … I believe he was going to … well anyway my arrival stopped him from hurting Millie any more.”

Joseph leapt to his feet. “He hurt Millie?”

“Not badly but there had obviously been a fight. He had scratches down his cheek and … Millie had a scrape on her neck.”

Joseph shook his head. “She didn't tell me.”

“Jack left and then we realised Robert was missing. Millie had sent him to fetch me when she saw Jack coming but he never found me. For some reason he climbed over one of the walls. The top layer dislodged and he fell …” Thomas's shoulders sagged. “Like you I wish I'd been there and I know Millie wishes she hadn't sent Robert to find me but we can't undo what's done.”

“What should I do?”

“Give her time.” Thomas stood. “I'm going to bed. You should too.”

“Good night, Father.” Joseph put his head back and stared up at the stars. The night sky glittered like thousands of diamonds. He felt so useless and small. His wife needed him yet wouldn't let him get close. He stood and picked up a stone from the small pile Robert had used to make his marble tracks. Joseph threw the stone into the darkness and turned for his hut.

The days continued to slip by and 1889 began with little acknowledgment from those at Wildu Creek. Like the months before, the gruelling weather continued into January. Even the cooler night-time breeze from the gully had deserted them. Everyone was listless from the heat. Dust seeped through the gaps of the quarters into every corner and flies made their lives a misery.

It was late afternoon, grey clouds were building on the horizon and the heat was oppressive. Joseph had taken it upon himself to improve their living conditions in the quarters. He was hammering some small pieces of wood over the larger gaps around the doors to each room in an attempt to keep them a little more dust free.

“Please stop.” Millie was at the door of their bedroom. She held a hand to her head.

“I'm sorry.” Joseph put down his hammer. “I thought everyone was down at the house.”

“I was … I just needed some sleep.” She swayed in the doorway.

Joseph reached out and put an arm around her shoulders. She had hardly let him touch her since he'd come home and now he could feel the bones of her arms through her shirt. She'd grown so thin in his absence. She spent most of her waking hours looking after Robert. He guided her back inside and sat her on the bed. Her eyes were round and full of sadness.

Joseph opened his mouth then closed it again. How was he to make up for all that he'd put her through alone? He didn't want to alienate her more but he needed some answers. He sat himself on the bed beside her leaving a gap between them but taking her hand in his.

“Father told me Jack Aldridge was here the night Robert died.” He felt her hand stiffen. “Father is worried about you, like I am Millie. I have to know.” He put his large hand to her chin and gently turned her face to him. He saw more than sadness in her eyes, there was fear there as well. “Did Jack …” How was he to ask this question? “Did he hurt you?”

Millie's lip trembled and large tears rolled silently down her cheeks. She shook her head. “He frightened me. I fought him off but he was so strong. Your father came just in time.”

A pain as sharp as a knife stabbed through Joseph but he kept outwardly calm.

“What did he—”

“Nothing more than some bruises.”

Joseph tried to pull her close but she pushed him away, her eyes focused on something on the wall beside them.

“I was down at the new house looking for Robert. I saw Jack coming and I was frightened. He thought I was playing a game with him and I knew that look in his eye.” She gripped Joseph's hand tighter. “I told Robert to find your father.” She turned her anguished face to Joseph. “If I hadn't sent him he wouldn't have been injured.”

“You weren't to know Robert would climb the wall instead of going round.”

Millie's mouth crumpled. “I heard him whimper.” She gasped. “I thought he must have bumped himself and then Jack was there, he grabbed hold of me. He had his hand at my throat. I pushed him and scratched his cheek. He reeked of liquor and became angry. He was so strong I knew I wouldn't survive if I tried to fight him …” Her voice trailed off.

Joseph closed his eyes as black dots of anger clouded his vision. That bastard.

“If it had just been me I would have.”

Millie's voice forced his eyes open. “What do you mean?”

She put a hand to her stomach. “I was with child, Joseph. Our baby. I didn't care about me but the baby … I was terrified if I fought him I would lose the baby.”

Joseph reached for her and this time she fell into his arms. Great racking sobs shuddered through her body. He held her close, stroking her hair, kissing her cheek until finally she was silent in his arms. Then he recalled her words. Was with child. She'd said ‘was'. His heart felt as if it would truly break.

Millie took a long deep breath and sat up. She put both hands against her skirt and he saw what he hadn't noticed before. There was a small bulge even though the rest of her was so thin. “The baby still grows inside me.”