Authors: Margaret Tanner
“Git the tea,” Ma ordered Ruby before she could even scoop up the last of her food.
The tea came in a wooden bowl. These people did not have the most basic implements of civilization. They belonged in the Stone Age.
She had to find the key so they could escape. Jake appeared to be a vicious simpleton and God alone knew what Sol might be like. Tommy crawled over to the fire, better for them to think she couldn’t walk.
“You’re not going to chain me up are you?” She injected the whining note in her voice again and squeezed out a couple of tears for good measure.
“Nah, if you be good.”
“I’ll be good, Ma, I promise. How do you take the chain off Ruby?”
“Don’t.”
“Ever?”
“Nah, I got the key.” Ma pointed to a thong tied around her neck.
Night fell quickly, and the blackness inside the hut she shared with Ma, became so deep Tommy felt like she had been buried alive. Ma, who had guzzled down copious amounts of whisky, snored and grunted in her sleep.
Tommy crept over to the doorway and reached up to yank out the hunting knife stuck there. If Ma woke up she wondered whether she would be prepared to use it. Stepping over to the old woman, she took a deep breath and then inched her fingers under the thong, and lifted it away from the scrawny neck.
The stench from the old woman’s body made her eyes water. Her hands became clammy as she sawed through the thong. Several times she stopped to wipe the perspiration from her brow, lest the droplets falling on to the old hag’s face woke her up. Desperation gave her the strength to work on the thong instead of taking to her heels and running for dear life.
The thong was almost cut through when Ma started to roll over, so Tommy risked giving it a sharp tug and the key fell into her hand. She clamped her fingers around it. If the key dropped on the ground she would never find it in the dark.
Moving stealthily to the doorway, she pushed aside the kangaroo rug and went out into the night. After the fetid closeness of the hut, it felt like heaven to inhale cool, fresh air. The temptation to escape and run for her life proved almost irresistible, and many white people wouldn’t have risked getting caught to rescue an aboriginal girl, but she couldn’t leave poor, wretched Ruby behind to suffer in this hell on earth.
With only the moonlight to guide her steps, she crept to the lean-to. She could hear Jake snoring in a whisky-induced stupor like his mother. The rancid odor of his skin caused the breath to gag in her throat.
“Ruby,” she whispered. “I’ve come to unlock the chain, hurry.”
Like a silent shadow Ruby slipped away from the shadowy hump of Jake, holding the chain up so it wouldn’t drag on the ground and make a noise. They could expect no mercy if they got caught.
With shaking hands, Tommy fumbled with the lock. The chain, which must have been on for years was corroded. She broke out in a cold sweat. Please, God, she sent up a desperate prayer, don’t let us get caught now. Finally the lock gave way and Ruby was free.
Holding hands, they dashed into the night. Ruby took control now. She led and Tommy followed. It was imperative to put as many miles as possible between themselves and their captors, if they wanted to make good their escape.
They communicated by touching hands. Out here on the flats danger lurked. Once they reached the bush it would swallow them up. Tommy instinctively trusted Ruby to find their way back to civilization.
They hurried as fast as they could, stopping every now and again for a short rest. Tommy grew thirsty and once the sun came up her thirst would intensify a hundred fold.
Dawn found them out of the flats and amongst the trees. She didn’t have a clue where they were, but she heard the blessed sound of running water. Crying with relief, they dashed towards the small stream and drank their fill. Never had anything tasted so good. With hand gestures Ruby told Tommy to stay here while she went off in search of food. Once Ruby left, she threw herself in the water, rolling over and over in an endeavor to wash away the depravity and filth of Ma and Jake, two of the foulest creatures to ever walk the earth.
Ruby returned within a short time carrying a pile of berries in a piece of bark. She put some into her own mouth before motioning Tommy to do likewise. They tasted bitter, but palatable nonetheless.
They set off again, pushing through almost impregnable bush. On her own Tommy knew she would have been swallowed up and lost forever, but her silent companion seemed to know where to go.
They eventually broke out of the trees, and facing them was a track. Ruby grabbed hold of Tommy’s arm, pointed north, and patted her on the cheek. Giving a toothy grin she loped back into the bush and within seconds disappeared.
Tommy started walking in the direction Ruby had pointed. By mid afternoon her legs trembled with fatigue, her head throbbed, but she doggedly kept on going. A sudden haze rose up before her eyes. Maybe her head injury was affecting her sight.
The haze turned out to be dust kicked up by a lone horseman. She waved frantically with both arms in case he could not see her. How ridiculous, if he didn’t stop, he would ride straight over the top of her.
As the rider drew closer she recognized Adam Munro. Who wouldn’t notice his relaxed riding manner and the arrogant carriage of his head?
“Miss Lindsay.” He reined in his horse and swung from the saddle in one easy, fluid movement. “Where have you been?” Thank God she was safe. “Half the district is out searching for you.” He couldn’t understand himself. One part of him wanted to put her over his knee and administer a good spanking, the other part wanted to drag her into his arms and kiss her senseless. Tommy Lindsay menaced his sanity. He took a rifle from his saddlebag and fired three shots into the air in quick succession.
“I’ve been to hell and back,” she croaked. “I’m so glad you’ve found me.”
“Here, you look like you need a drink.” He held the canteen to her cracked lips and she drank greedily. “Not too fast, you’ll make yourself ill.” He used the tips of his fingers to wipe the drips off her chin.
“Oh, Adam. It’s been awful. I was so scared. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m happy it’s over.” She blinked back tears, wondering why she acted so idiotic now the danger had passed. He picked up a glistening droplet on his forefinger, stared at it for a moment then slowly raised it to his lips.
Tommy swallowed several times to get her feelings under control. “Jamie and David, are they all right?”
He lifted her into the saddle and swung up behind her. “David was worried about you, the boy inconsolable. He’s at my place.”
“You can’t imagine the horrible time I’ve been through.” She leaned her aching head against his chest, closed her eyes and told him what had happened.
“Fiends. I’ve heard about these feral families. There are several of them up in the hills, mad from years of inbreeding.”
“Poor Ruby.” Tommy shuddered. “I hope she makes it back to her own people.”
“She will,” he reassured, holding her close and resting his chin on the top of her head. Bruised and battered, she bravely tried not to cry, her bright hair tumbling down her back in disarray. Her beauty and courage moved him.
“You’re safe now, my darling.” Hell, had he spoken the words out loud? He shouldn’t even be thinking thoughts like this. Concentrate on Sophia. He closed his eyes and couldn’t even remember what she looked like. He saw only golden hair and big blue eyes.
Chapter Eight
Two weeks after Tommy’s ordeal with the feral mountain family, David returned to the homestead for morning tea, after riding the boundary fences. “There’s a fire somewhere close by,” he said, sounding worried, accepting the cup she handed him. “I can smell it.”
“I thought the mountains seemed hazier than usual. It won’t come near here will it?”
“Doubt it; there’s not much fuel left to burn anyway.”
Jim Cavendish calling from outside interrupted them.
“What a pleasant surprise.” Tommy greeted Jim and Mary on the verandah with a warm smile. “Perfect timing, you can join us in a cup of tea.”
“Could I spend the day here with you? Jim’s off to fight the bushfires and doesn’t want to leave me on my own, in case they come our way.”
“Of course you can. David and I have just been discussing the fires. He smelt the smoke.”
Mary followed Tommy into the homestead, leaving the men out on the verandah.
“Sit down and I’ll pour you out some tea. You look like you could do with it.” Tommy bustled around collecting more cups.
“Yes, thanks, it’s going to be another scorching day. I love the heat but not when I’m so heavily pregnant. It will be a relief when my mother arrives.”
“I’ll come with you,” David said as the men entered the kitchen.
“You can’t,” Tommy protested. “It’s not our business. The fires are miles away.”
“We have to help if we can; everyone pitches in when there’s some disaster. Isn’t that right, Jim?”
“Yes, it’s the unwritten code of the frontier—help your neighbor in times of need.”
“Except for you and Mary, no one’s been particularly welcoming to us.” It sounded churlish but she couldn’t help it.
“This is different,” Jim explained. “The squatters and small farmers band together when there’s a dire emergency like bushfires or floods.”
“It could be dangerous.” Tommy bit her lip, hoping she didn’t sound too selfish. “David doesn’t know anything about bushfires.”
“Don’t talk such rot. I don’t know much about fires, but I’m used to being in charge of men, so I should be of some help.”
Pointless arguing with him once he made up his mind. She was acting petty and un-neighborly, but they had been ostracized by most of the locals. All because of Adam Munro. She bet he wouldn’t leave his forty thousand acres to fight a bushfire.
She banged the teapot on the table. He and his kind would be hoping all the little farmers got burnt out so they could grab up more land. Then again, he must have certain principles by which he lived. He had helped them out on more than one occasion. Any decent person would have done the same thing, she tried to justify her resentment. Wretched man, always intruding on her thoughts, she was becoming paranoid about him.
As the day passed Tommy became more worried. The bushfire seemed to be moving closer. She saw the smoke now even though the fire was miles away. The whole mountain range turned red.
“This is the biggest bushfire I’ve seen since we moved here.” Mary patted her stomach. “If something happened to Jim…”
“You’re being silly.” Tommy fought to bring her fear under control. “The men can take care of themselves. Why don’t you lie down for a while, you must be exhausted.”
“You can have my bed,” Jamie volunteered.
“Thank you, darling, that’s a generous offer. But my bed is larger and more comfortable.” Tommy gave Jamie’s shoulder a squeeze.
When Mary went to lie down, Jamie trotted off to play with Touser. He spent most of his days roaming around with his faithful companion, only returning to the homestead to eat and sleep or when she called him.
By nightfall the men had still not returned. Mary rose from her nap and grew more distraught with every passing hour.
“I swear if they’re not here by morning, I’m riding over to find out what’s happening.” Tommy swallowed down on the lump of fear constricting her throat.
“I know I’m being selfish,” Mary said. “When you’re with child you worry a lot. You’ve got more to lose, I suppose.”