Short and Sweet (29 page)

Maggie nodded. She felt numb, as if her head was full of cotton wool and her thoughts couldn’t get through it.

Ten days later she realized it was Sunday. She’d done nothing but work since Bill’s death, the children too. ‘Let’s go for a walk.’

‘I want to finish mending that hay trough.’ Peter stubbornly refused to contemplate leaving the farm, even though she’d tried to prepare him for it.

She and Jenny followed their usual path, though Maggie couldn’t help looking ahead to check that no large branches were hanging over the track.

Daniel was out walking at the same time. They stood together while the three children wandered off, chatting.

‘I’m sorry about your husband,’ he said gently. ‘I didn’t have time to come and see you before. Been a bit busy. You must be missing him.’

She stared down at the ground, tried to say something suitable and couldn’t. The words were out before she could prevent them. ‘I’m not.’

There was silence next to her.

She looked up. ‘I expect you’re disgusted with me, but I can’t lie to you, Daniel. I’m not missing Bill at all. He was drinking heavily, wasting my hard-earned money on booze, not being a good father. And the last time I saw him, we quarrelled.’ Her voice broke on the words. Would Daniel think her heartless?

‘I was sad when Alice died, but relieved as well. She never forgave me for bringing her to Australia, you see, never stopped complaining, on and on.’

Maggie let out her breath in a great whoosh of relief. ‘Bill made me come to Australia. I didn’t want to. And now, well, I’ve grown to love it here and he hated it. Strange that, isn’t it? But I can’t manage the farm on my own.’

‘I expect it’ll all work out in the end. Give it time.’

They stood in silence, but it was a companionable silence. It had felt good to admit to her true feelings. Strange how easy it was to talk to Daniel.

Then she sighed. ‘I’d better get back. There’s always something needs doing. I promised myself just half an hour in the forest.’

He nodded. ‘I’m glad we met today.’

‘Me too.’

A week later Elsie came across, looking full of herself. She sat down, refusing a cup of tea. ‘You don’t want to go back to England, do you, love?’

‘No.’

‘And Daniel Marr is struggling to manage without a wife.’

Maggie froze, guessing where this was leading.

‘He asked me to sound you out, see what you thought about marrying him.’

‘He – did?’

When she didn’t say anything else, Elsie cocked her head on one side and prompted, ‘Well?’

‘I don’t know what to say. Marriage isn’t something you’d rush into lightly.’

‘He’s a good man. My Mick thinks well of him. And those two lads of his are nice kids. You’d have no trouble with them.’

‘We might have trouble with Peter, though. He’s trying to be the man of the house, won’t give that up lightly.’

‘Then you’re thinking about saying “yes”? You are, aren’t you?’

Maggie frowned. ‘Not exactly. Not yet. I’d need to speak to Daniel first. Could you ask him to come to tea here tomorrow, do you think?’

‘I’ll send one of my boys with a message. And Maggie love . . . I’d marry him if I was you. He’s a fine-looking man, hard-working and kind with it.’

‘You would?’

‘Yes.’

‘But it’s so soon. What would people say?’

‘They’d say it makes sense and be pleased that you’re staying. And so would I. I don’t want to lose my best friend.’

After Elsie had gone, Maggie sat lost in thought. Was it too soon? It’d give her and the kids another chance here, the only chance they had. And she liked Daniel. She blushed at the thought of him as a husband. But smiled as well.

After the evening milking and tea were over, Maggie said to the children, ‘Don’t get your books out yet. I need to talk to you.’

They sat back in their chairs, looking at her anxiously.

‘Do you want to go back to England?’

Jenny shook her head. ‘I’ve got lots of friends here.’

Peter spoke without a second’s hesitation. ‘No. And I won’t do it. I’ll run away if you try to make me. I like it in Australia and I like being a farmer.’

‘I know. But we can’t manage the farm on our own.’

‘No one would worry if I stayed off school. They’d understand.’

‘You’ve not got a man’s strength yet, love.’ She hated to see the light die in his eyes. ‘And anyway, the bank wouldn’t let me take on any more debt. They don’t trust women.’ The bank had already written to say Mr Spencer’s debt to them must be settled when she sold up.

Peter scowled at the floor. ‘Well, I’m
not
going back to England.’

‘There is one way for us to stay; the only way, I think.’

He looked up eagerly.

She explained what Daniel had offered and they both stared at her open-mouthed.

‘But Dad’s only just died!’ Peter exclaimed.

‘I know. It’s too soon, really. Only I don’t have time to wait. So,’ she paused, took a deep breath then said, ‘Daniel’s coming to tea tomorrow, with his sons. Give them a chance, Peter, meet them, talk to them.’

‘I like John and Henry,’ Jenny volunteered.

Peter stared at her in surprise. ‘How do you know them?’

‘Mum and I meet them sometimes when we go for walks.’

Peter began tracing patterns on the wooden floor with the toe of his shoe.

Maggie waited and when he didn’t speak, she said, ‘If you think you won’t get on with Daniel, I’ll not marry him.’

‘I don’t know what to think,’ he said.

Nor did she really. She’d liked Daniel Marr instinctively, right from their first meeting. But would she rue a hasty decision for the rest of her life?

I can always say no, she decided. We’ll just – see how we go.

When they were finishing the following morning’s milking, Peter said suddenly, ‘Did you love Dad?’

She hesitated, then decided he was old enough for the truth. ‘I did when we got married, but the war changed him. It wasn’t his fault.’

‘Did he hit you?’

‘Once.’

‘He hit me sometimes.’

She stared at him in dismay. ‘You never said anything.’

He shrugged.

‘You should have said.’

‘I got a stick and whacked him back a couple of months ago. He stopped hitting me after that.’

‘Oh.’

‘But if Daniel hits me, I’m not living with him.’

‘I don’t think he will, but we can tell him that, if you like.’

Jenny spoke up from the other side of the shed. ‘Mr Marr doesn’t hit John and Henry. I asked them when Dad hit me once.’

Bill had hit a nine-year-old girl too! Maggie felt sick to think of that.

The children began talking about something else.

But she couldn’t get the thought of Bill’s violence out of her mind.

Daniel turned up at two o’clock driving a small cart and wearing a suit. His face was rosy red, as if he’d scrubbed it. The boys were equally well scrubbed and in their Sunday best, though their shirts needed ironing.

It was a hot day, so they all went to sit in the shade on one side of the house.

As the children fidgeted, Daniel said suddenly, ‘Why don’t you show me round the farm, Peter?’

The boy nodded and stood up.

‘Can I show John and Henry my favourite places, Mum?’ Jenny asked.

Daniel looked at Maggie. ‘Do you mind us leaving you for a bit? I want to ask Peter something.’

She shook her head and watched the two walk away. She’d be glad of a few minutes’ peace and quiet. Her emotions were in turmoil. He looked good, Daniel, strong and manly, and his sons looked at him with love in their eyes.

Could she? Dare she?

In the shed, Daniel said abruptly, ‘Would you mind if I married your mother?’

Peter hitched his shoulders up and down.

‘It won’t work if you’re going to hate it.’

‘She says it’s the only way we can stay here.’ The boy gestured around. ‘I love the farm. I want it to be mine when I grow up. Can we keep it, manage two farms?’

‘Maybe. We could try.’

‘I won’t have you hitting me and Jenny, or Mum, like my father used to.’

‘
He hit your mother?
’

‘Once. She threatened to hit him back.’

Daniel chuckled. ‘I can imagine her doing it.’ He laid one hand on Peter’s shoulder. ‘I don’t hit people.’

‘All right. But you’d better treat Mum properly.’

‘I shall. I like her a lot.’

From where she was sitting in the shade Maggie watched them come back. They were gesticulating and talking earnestly, and they stopped once as Peter pointed something out. She felt happiness stir in her at the sight as she stood up. ‘I’ll get the tea ready.’

Daniel moved towards her. ‘I’ll help you.’

In the kitchen, she felt suddenly shy.

‘I asked Peter if it was all right for us to marry and he thinks it is.’

‘Oh?’

‘You told Elsie you’d consider it seriously. You haven’t changed your mind, have you?’

‘No.’ Maggie realized she was being a coward, so raised her gaze to meet his. ‘I’d rather have waited, but there isn’t time for that, is there?’

‘Not really. Not for either of us.’

‘Do you think we could be happy together, Daniel?’

‘It won’t be my fault if we aren’t.’

‘I’m a hard worker,’ she offered.

He nodded. ‘I know. Everyone says you are.’

‘They say that about you, too.’

‘And I’d look after your children, Daniel. They’re grand little lads.’

He smiled and she noticed how one side of his mouth curved up more than the other, giving his face a crooked charm. His smile lit up his eyes and warmed something in her heart, too.

He knelt down suddenly, taking her hand. ‘Maggie Spencer, will you marry me?’

She felt flustered. ‘I’ve already said I will.’

‘But I didn’t think you should be cheated out of a proper proposal. Just as I don’t want to be cheated out of a proper answer.’ He looked up at her, head on one side, that smile curving his lips again.

Suddenly she knew it was going to be all right. It might not be smooth sailing, life never was, but this man’s heart was in the right place. ‘I’ll be honoured to accept your proposal, Daniel Marr.’