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Serenity quickly packed the dishwasher, and popped some scones in the oven. They would need half an hour to thaw. She filled the large kettles and started to make the sandwiches. She liked to have the morning tea well forward before tackling the vegetables for lunch.

Her visitor came through and stood by the table. ‘They look rather nice, I’ll try one. I think you’re using a bit too much butter. Don’t be so heavy-handed, it’s not economical.’

Serenity continued with her work.

‘Is Mr Grey over at the woolshed?’

‘I dunno. Yeah, I s’pose Hudson is at the yards.’

‘Did Mr Grey give you permission to call him Hudson?’

‘Naw! I guess not. Everybody calls him Hudson, he’s not stuck-up like some.’

She felt rather than heard her visitor twitch with annoyance and kept on with the sandwich making.

‘That will change in the near future,’ an icy voice declared.

‘Yeah, well . . .’ but Serenity was talking to herself and all that was left of the elegant visitor was a waft of an expensive perfume on the wind.

Serenity leaned round the door and yelled raucously, ‘See yah, then!’

She grinned as she saw the figure stiffen in anger and then proceed at a more determined pace towards the woolshed.

‘Wotchit, Mr Grey, darling,’ she muttered then giggled hysterically wondering what made her behave in such a ridiculous fashion. She hoped the woman would leave before lunch because she would have trouble keeping up her act for long. Still, she had more important things to think about. Only two more rounds to go and then the bell would sound to finish the series. She wasn’t going to spoil her record by worrying about some haughty madam.

When she saw Cameron Blair come in the back gate she waved happily. In only a few days she had really come to like him, a pleasant quiet young man, but not shy.

‘Oh, Cam, when you take this over, will you have a look on the nail by the first louvre just in the side door? I hooked my engagement ring on it and then forgot all about it.’

‘Sure. You mean at the end of the board where Jim’s shearing?’

She nodded as she loaded him up with the morning smoko, and then went to check on the corned beef. Carrots, cabbage, corned beef and potatoes, that should hold them.

Cam was back almost immediately. ‘I must have got the wrong nail. You’d better come and look for yourself. I can’t see it there.’

'I'll come now, everything is okay here.’ She enjoyed getting out in the sunshine even if just for a few minutes. ‘Did you know the lady who was visiting Hudson this morning?’

‘Yes, that’s Madeline Buchanan. She’s a lawyer, a very astute one too, from what I hear.’

‘Are she and Hudson . . . er. . . close friends?’

‘Very close, I’m told. She’s his regular partner at any official functions.’

‘That’s peculiar. He’s got great taste in dogs,’ Serenity replied with a grin.

‘Oh, Serenity, that’s a terrible thing to say.’ But he chuckled in spite of his protest.

‘That’s the one he
may
marry?’ Serenity asked, appalled as the awful thought struck her.

‘Everyone is expecting them to marry,’ Cam offered, a bit doubtfully.

And she had called her a
pathetic lump.
She certainly wasn’t that . . . Hudson was. ‘She’s got a splendid speaking voice.’

'She was educated in England. I’m told she’s brilliant in court. She lives and practises in Christchurch, but she’s got a super car and makes it over here relatively often.’

They reached the shed door as Serenity thought happily that the next time her ladyship returned she would be long gone. She looked up confidently at the nail. It was so big nothing could fall off it.

But it was bare. Shocked, she stared at it, then climbed the stairs to run her finger along it. The ring had gone!

She felt sick in the pit of her stomach. How could she have been so careless? It was such a valuable ring. Perhaps Hudson had taken charge of it. She felt much happier. It would be just like him, taking it to teach her a lesson. She hurried over to where he was sitting with the men enjoying their morning break.

She edged around beside him and as he looked up she dropped to her knees beside him. ‘Hudson, did you move my ring from that nail?’

‘What nail?’

Her heart sank. ‘That one by the first stand. I thought you
must
have taken it,’ she said desperately.

‘No, I never saw it. When did you put it there?’

‘The other morning when I was scrubbing the board. It hurt my hand so I took it off. I just never seemed to get the time to get back to it.’

‘You’re a complete idiot. That ring must have cost the earth, well over a thousand dollars. I thought how that guy must love you to give you such a smashing great rock.’

Serenity nodded miserably. ‘I know, I know . . .’

His face was dark with anger. ‘To leave a temptation like that sitting there for days. You were encouraging someone to steal. Was it fully insured?’

‘I think so.’

He got to his feet, towering over her, ‘You only think so. Explain yourself.’

Serenity stood up shakily. She was aware that everyone was looking at her. Hudson had not raised his voice, but the very quietness of his tone seemed to accent his disgust. ‘The jewellers’ shop said something about them insuring it. I suppose they did. I won’t know for certain until I ring them.’

‘You realise by your careless action that you’re going to throw suspicion on every person who works here, and all those who have visited during this period . . .’ Serenity glanced at the group at her feet, who had resumed their conversation, but their expressions showed concern. ‘Please don’t tell them. I’m positive none of them would take it. They’re really nice ... I think of them as friends,’ she pleaded anxiously.

‘They
are
my friends,’ he said harshly. ‘You leave me no option. To claim insurance you
have
to notify the police. I could. . .’He didn’t complete the sentence, but there was no doubt what he meant.

He raised his voice. ‘Can I have your attention for a moment? Miss James has just informed me that she has lost a valuable engagement ring. She hung it on a nail on the board the day we started shearing and now finds it missing. Show us the nail, please.’

Serenity walked the length of the board and reached up to touch the nail feeling every eye riveted on her. Hudson had shown his anger by calling her Miss James, and they would all know what a fool she had been.

‘Now come here and describe the ring. I want to know if any of you saw it hanging there and when.’

Serenity swallowed the huge lump in her throat and walked slowly back fighting her tears. It wasn’t the loss of the ring. It was the fact that Hudson and these men might be hurt by her stupidity.

‘It had a sapphire, a big one in the centre and a tiny group of twelve diamonds encircling it. It was sort of oval. . .’ She stopped, unable to go on.

As she stood looking at the board she was amazed to hear voices saying. ‘Hard luck, kid.’ ‘Gee, that’s tough.’ ‘Hope you find it.’ She looked up and saw, not condemnation, but genuine sympathy. But not in Hudson’s eyes. He condemned her.

‘Well, anyone see it?’ he demanded sharply.

Heads shook, shoulders shrugged, some looked at the nail, some at Hudson, some at Serenity, and some at the floor ... all negative. There was a long silence.

'I
’m not accusing anyone. I certainly am not going to because I consider Miss James to have been criminally careless to have taken such a risk with her property. The responsibility is hers, not mine. Most of you have been coming here for years and are trusted friends. All I want to know is did anyone see it on the nail. I just want confirmation that it was there, if possible.’

Serenity felt her heart lurch sickeningly. He didn’t even believe her.

There was another long silence then a young rousie, Ben, stood up. ‘I didn’t see the ring but I’ve been thinking back to the day I arrived. We’d finished at Frazer’s, and coming down on the back of the truck I put on my thick jersey because it was cold. It was my best one, so I took it off as soon as I got here, and I hooked it on that nail. I didn’t see the ring, honest, I was in a hurry to help pen up. It could have been there, I just didn’t see it.’

‘Thanks, Ben. that's helpful. What sort of a jersey?’ Hudson asked quietly.

‘A thick Arran jersey. My mother knitted it.’

‘Did you notice anything when you took it down?’

‘No. I’ve been trying to think back. It had been a big day. I was completely b. . . sorry, whacked out. I think I just flicked it down and flung it over my shoulder. I didn’t have the strength to put it on. I’m not used to this caper.’

‘So a ring could have got hooked on your jersey without your knowledge. It may be still there. I’d be grateful if you’d nip over to the cottage at lunch time and have a look. Right, we’ve spent enough time on this enquiry, and I have no intention of interrupting your work. If anyone knows anything about the ring, whether they removed it themselves, or know of someone else who did, or if they find it, I would appreciate it if they would replace it on the nail. I give you my word there will be no further action taken if that happens. Clear this stuff away, Cam, then go and give Serenity a hand to cope with lunch.’

‘There’s no need,’ Serenity said fiercely. ‘I am quite capable of handling my job. Thank you all for being so kind and helpful.’ She turned sharply away so that they wouldn’t see her tears.

Ben caught up with her as she reached the back gate. ‘Jim’s the head of the shearing gang, not Hudson Grey. He said they could manage without me for five minutes and for me to take a quick look. I’m real sorry, Serenity, Jim is too. I’ll stay back and give you a hand to hunt for it when we finish shearing. We’ll find it.’

Serenity nodded at him, ‘Thanks, Ben. It’s not your fault.’

‘I know that, but I’m just wishing that I’d picked any other darned nail in the shed. I'll run in with it if I find it, otherwise I’ll go straight back to the shed.’

Why hadn’t Hudson said he was sorry the ring was lost? She hated him for making her look such a moron in front of the men, and not even offering a word of sympathy. And he hadn’t even believed it was there, asking for confirmation like that. Did he think she was pulling some sort of con job, that she was hoping to get money out of him? She had never liked him and his arrogant ways. People like him
never
made silly mistakes.

She put on the vegetables and made a huge apple crumble. It was easier to work hard than to think about the ring. What would John think about her losing it?
He
wouldn’t think she had done it deliberately.

‘Sorry about your ring, Serenity,’ Cam said as he came in. ‘I’ll give you a hand to search for it when the gang leaves. Hudson sent me over to put the beer in the fridge. The pace has dropped a bit and they’ll have to work another hour after lunch. Don’t worry about afternoon smoko, they’ll finish off on beer and a few sandwiches.’

‘I suppose that’s my fault too, the pace slacking off,’ she said sadly.

Cam shrugged his shoulders. ‘Something’s taken the edge off them, but they won’t blame you. Is there anything I can do to help you?’

‘No, I’m right up with the play. I’m fine,’ she answered with a forced smile.

Cam looked at her strained face and huge shocked grey eyes, ‘Sure you’re doing fine. I’ll be back to give you a hand at five to twelve. Try not to worry.’

‘Is Ben back in the shed?’

‘Yes. He couldn’t find it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. He only had time for a quick look. It could have dropped off his jersey anywhere between here and the woolshed. It’ll turn up.’ He gave her an encouraging smile and left.

Serenity turned back to the sink. Thousands of sheep had trotted backwards and forwards over that ground. It would be a miracle if it was still there.

She served lunch quickly and efficiently and spoke very little. The men were quiet also. Perhaps they were always like this at the end of a run, but she believed her problem had shadowed their normal good spirits.

As they filed out, Jim, the head of the gang, came over to her. ‘Bad luck this ring business, Serenity. The boys and I really appreciate the way you’ve laid it on this week, you've really looked after us. We know that you just filled in, and it’s a tough job, so accept our thanks.’

‘I’m glad you survived my cooking in good shape,’ she said with a pleased smile.

‘We’ve done exceptionally well. Listen, I’ve got a mate who fossicks for gold. He’s got one of those scanners that picks up metal in the ground and bounces the sound back. He has had exceptional success with it, and he helped a farmer I know. This guy and his wife were drafting sheep in the yards and she threw out her hand to block the sheep and her wedding ring, which was a bit large, flew off. The yard was all churned up and muddy, yet weeks later when they called Terry in, he only took five minutes to find it. It was buried about four inches in the mud but he spotted it no trouble.’

Hudson had joined them and was listening. ‘Now, that’s a brilliant idea, Jim. Who has it? Would he come out here with that gadget? I’m quite prepared to pay him for his time.’

‘He wouldn’t take money. He’d come like a shot, he loves to show what it can do. Terry Goulder, you’d know him Hudson.’

‘Of course I do. He’s been out here often. We’ll have a bit of a look this afternoon, and if we don’t find it, we’ll call him in.’

Jim walked out and Hudson turned to Serenity. ‘I talked to Jim on the way over. He can vouch for all his men except one new chap, so we may be lucky.’

‘It wasn’t Ben,’ she exclaimed, then added harshly, ‘You mean you actually believe the ring was on the nail?’

'I’ll take your word on anything, Serenity.’ He gave her a curious glance and walked out.

Suddenly she was swamped with guilt. She hadn’t been completely honest with him. She had let him think her wedding had only been unavoidably postponed, that all was well between her and John. Well, it was none of his business really, but if he learned about that he would naturally start to doubt her word in other areas. Still, there was no way he could find out if she didn’t tell him herself, and she wouldn’t do that.