Ironbark (77 page)

Leslie lit his pipe before saying obliquely, ‘Your bairns are welcome to stay here for as long as it takes, lad.'

‘You know me, Doc. Don't believe in miracles. And time's running out.'

‘I havena had a proper chance to evaluate Keziah's condition since her homecoming.'

‘Don't pull your punches, Doc. She won't see you or any other quack.'

‘What's wrong with Keziah may well be a combination. Trauma over Iago's death. The brutality of life in the Factory. Plus a state of depression some women suffer badly after birthing a babe. I'd prescribe something, but I dinna doubt she'd nay have a bar of it. In my opinion Keziah's built up a barrier to protect herself from
something
.'

‘Me!' said Jake with a bitter laugh.

Leslie Ross looked discomforted. ‘I am not convinced I am entirely free of guilt. At the time of her trial I gave her wine and tea laced with laudanum to prevent her condemning herself. The problem is that laudanum can have diverse effects. It makes some patients free of pain or melancholia. Others appear drunk, lucid, energised, even free from the need to sleep for days at a time. It can subject them to extraordinary dreams and hallucinations. I may well have contributed to her present mental state. I have never before treated a patient like Keziah. Even in her normal life, the lass appears to be in contact with other worlds.'

‘Yeah, Kez claims she sees ghosts. And has dreams about the future.'

‘Does she know what lies ahead of her today?'

‘Blood oath, no!'

Through the window Jake saw his guests approaching.

Nerida and Sunny Ah Wei were led by a much taller young Murphy. Mac Mackie followed uneasily behind Polly Doyle and George Hobson. Leading an anxious-looking Daniel, Bran Penrose took giant strides, beaming from ear to ear. Berrima's Reverend Parsons brought up the rear wearing a snow-white surplice over his cassock.

Jake went out to meet them and saw Keziah emerging from the kitchen garden. At the sight of the guests she looked ready to bolt, so he hooked his arm securely around her waist to prevent her escape.

‘Gabe and Pearl wanted to hold off Yosie's naming till your return. The Rev knows I don't believe any church mumbo jumbo, but I'll never forget how he ferried my letters to you.'

The reunion hugs were warm, but when Keziah saw the approach of an elegantly dressed couple, she turned on Jake in horror. ‘How could you do this to me?'

Jake only had time for a quick word. ‘Gabriel wanted me to invite him, but the lady's a surprise to me too. She used to live in Bolthole Valley. But remember,
I've never seen her before
!'

Caleb Morgan clasped Jake's outstretched hand with every appearance of genuine warmth. ‘I can't tell you what your kind invitation means to me, Jake. May I introduce Mademoiselle Liliana du Pont.'

Jake bowed to the red-headed fashion plate in apricot silk and realised from Keziah's fixed expression she had guessed this was Lily Pompadour, the prostitute who'd sent him money for a thoroughbred horse.

His manner was faultless. ‘Delighted to meet you, Mademoiselle.'

‘Liliana. Caleb's told me so much about you, I feel we're already
close
friends.'

Jake had a vivid flash of Lily riding him in bed, naked except for his hat. ‘Any friend of Caleb's is a friend of mine,' was his polite reply.

Jake smiled at Lily to give her confidence that her secret was safe with him. They both knew the risk she took in coming here. She quickly checked all the men's faces to see if any were former clients. Evidently Jake was the only one.

‘Liliana has only recently left her convent school,' Caleb explained. ‘So the ways of the wicked world are all very new to her.'

‘My daughter, Pearl, went to a convent.' Jake added sincerely, ‘My word those sisters give young ladies a thorough education.'

Sisters.
Lily almost choked trying to hold back her laughter. She slipped her arm through Caleb's but her eyes smiled at Jake.

Just when Jake thought Lily was safe, their host descended on them.

Jake covered quickly. ‘Doc, this is Mademoiselle Liliana du Pont. Caleb Morgan's friend from
Melbourne Town
.'

Leslie Ross didn't bat an eyelid. He welcomed Caleb as an old friend and allowed himself to be introduced ‘for the first time' to the girl that Jake knew full well the Doc had routinely examined each week at the Four Sisters to prevent venereal disease. Liliana smiled up at the Doc in gratitude when he shepherded her and Caleb on a tour of the grounds.

Alone with Keziah, Jake said quickly, ‘It's not what you think.'

Keziah said coolly, ‘Your past is no concern of mine.'

Jake tried to think of a fitting answer but gave up. He flinched when a heavy hand lobbed on his shoulder.
Jesus wept! Not the bloody arm of the law again?

He spun around to face Isaac and Molly Andersen at the head of the phalanx of his eight blond Viking brothers, ranging in age from seven to twenty-five. They were flanked by his tomboy sister, Miriam, looking uncomfortable wearing her Sunday best – a dress.

Jake stumbled over the introductions. Keziah looked overwhelmed. Even Jake was lost for words.

It was Molly Andersen who saved the day. She opened wide her arms and hugged Keziah to her bosom.

‘My new daughter! Bless your heart for giving me
three
beautiful grandchildren. Where are the little darlings?' Molly hooked her arm through Keziah's to steer her away.

Jake could not believe his ears when he heard his mother's next words.

‘Welcome home, Keziah love. I know just how you feel. I was bloody glad to see the rear arse of the Factory myself, a right bugger of a place! You're a brave lass taking on my son. Jake's a good lad but swears like a trooper, he does. You'll be needing to keep a tight rein on him.'

Isaac Andersen studiously examined the sky with a farmer's keen eye. ‘Well, I'll say this for you, son. You picked a good day for it.'

‘Could you sink an Albion with me, Pa?'

‘I could at that, seeing as your mother's fully occupied, thanks be to God.' His father hesitated. ‘Good to see you again –
son
.'

Jake drew his arm around his father's shoulders. ‘I reckon this proves that yarn about prodigal sons, eh Pa?'

• • • 

Under a eucalypt canopy, the Rev stood before a trestle table covered with a snowy altar cloth adorned with a brass cross and arrangements of orange and scarlet bottlebrush blossoms.

Jake's sister, Miriam, and Leslie Ross made their vows as godparents to little Yosie. When the Rev splashed the boy with water to make the sign of the cross, Yosie thought it was a new game, so he dipped his hand in the font and splashed the priest in retaliation.

Jake beamed and muttered, ‘That's my boy!'

When it was Pearl's turn to be named there was a halt in the proceedings until Father Dennis Declan came charging down the path, prayer book under his wing as he hurriedly donned his vestments. His first handshake was with the prison chaplain.

‘Good day to you, Fred. Sorry I'm a tad late. I was called in unexpectedly to give the last rites to an old lady who decided she wasn't quite ready to meet Our Maker.'

The Rev's quiet aside caused Father Declan to throw his head back in shared laughter at some private ecclesiastical joke.

When Jake offered them each a whisky, Father Declan gave him a friendly punch on the arm.

‘Good to see you settling down into family life, Jake. So your daughter's chosen to become one of
my
flock. Not an atheist like your good self, eh?'

‘I'm not one for bobbing and scraping, Father, as the Rev here knows, but the little ones like all that stuff so they're free to choose whichever way they want to do the holy bit.'

As Jake escorted Father Declan towards the altar, the priest put in a quick word. ‘I've always said it, lad. You're a joy to watch in the ring. We're planning to build a church hall in Tagalong. Could I be tempting you to come out of retirement?'

‘I'd be in it like a shot, Dennis, but I promised my woman I'd never fight again.'

Jake felt a lump in his throat at the sight of Pearl wearing Keziah's silver amulet with the new white dress he had bought her for the occasion. The focus of all eyes, she looked like a little flower that had finally blossomed.

Polly and Mac came forward to be her godparents.

Father Declan never missed a cue. ‘Well Mac Mackie, have you scraped up your courage to make Polly Doyle an honest woman?'

Mac flushed scarlet, so Polly said tartly, ‘All he has to do is
ask
!'

Mac finally managed to say the words. ‘Righto. Polly, how about it?'

Polly's freckled face turned pink. ‘All right. I'm not doing nothing next Saturday if you get a special licence.'

Jake whistled between his fingers from sheer relief and everyone cheered. He looked to see if there was any reaction from Keziah. At least she was smiling in Nerida's direction.

Gabriel was the last child to be named. Jake felt great pride in his
little Rom as the boy escorted his second mother, Nerida, to the altar. Her hands rested on her swollen belly, clearly announcing that she was carrying Sunny Ah Wei's firstborn.

The chaplain knew Nerida's history and put her at ease. ‘Keziah said you brought Gabriel into the world, Mrs Ah Wei. The lad could have no more appropriate godmother.'

‘That little
gubba's
like a son to me,' Nerida said firmly.

Jake tensed as he watched Keziah's reaction when Caleb Morgan strode through the throng to join this group at the altar. Jake was quick to block any disapproval.

‘Blame me. I asked him to be Gabe's godfather. You have to give Caleb
some
role to play in public with his son.'

Outmanoeuvred, Keziah showed a flash of anger. ‘I'm not Jenny. I don't stop Gabriel loving whoever he wants to love.'

Jake felt a glimmer of hope. ‘Good on you, girl!'

• • • 

Daniel smiled encouragingly across at Keziah on the other side of the garden, relieved that she appeared to have passed unscathed through the ordeal of her first public appearance since her release from prison. He circulated amongst the guests feeling a familiar sense of ambiguity in his role as Keziah's husband. He had designed the blueprint for all their lives and never regretted their ménage. It had given him a deep sense of family for the first time in his life. A loving bond with a woman and children he would otherwise never have had. And the right to share Jake's friendship on a comfortable daily basis. He glanced around at all their mates.
Ah, but there's the rub. How many of them suspect I'm living a lie? That some day my other secret life could end in the death penalty? Only Keziah and Jake accept me for what I am. And even Jake shies off that subject.

He poured another drink to give himself courage before making his way to Jake. ‘You're playing your cards damned close to your chest today, Jake.'

‘All will be revealed in five minutes, mate.'

Daniel decided to force the issue. ‘Well I'll lay
my
cards on the table right now. I'll soon be heading off to Sydney Town. Thanks to Jonstone I've got more commissions lined up.'

‘Good for you but that doesn't mean you're leaving Sarishan Farm for good?'

‘No. I'll not run out on Keziah again or you. Not until you don't need me anymore.'

Jake's eyes held him with a level look. ‘We'll
always
need you, mate.'

‘Likewise,' said Daniel. He tried to lighten his tone to keep his deeper feelings in check. ‘But you know me. Art is my mistress. I've got to follow whenever she beckons.'

Jake nodded. Daniel saw he was relieved to be back again in shallow waters.

Jake had something else on his mind. ‘What say we have a drink, Dan? I'm just about to make my big announcement. You know me. I'd rather fight thirteen rounds with a crocodile than put things like that into words.'

Things like what?
Daniel wondered but he just said, ‘Make mine a double, mate.'

Daniel smiled as he watched Jake swagger to the bar. He was reminded of those words Keziah had once said to him.
We can't help who we love.

• • • 

The whiskies had been sunk. The hour had come for Jake to bite the bullet. He jumped up on a bench, a fresh drink in hand.

‘My thanks to the Doc for his legendary Highland hospitality. Even an agnostic like me can see that our mates the Rev and fighting Father Declan did a great job today. A man's lucky to have a mob of friends like you lot. You stick like bloody glue to Dan, Kez and me no matter what strife we get into on the wrong side of the law.'

Mac whistled through his teeth until Polly Doyle elbowed him to be quiet.

‘Speaking of the law,' said Jake, ‘I just heard on the grapevine that Will Martens has done it again. He escaped from gaol in Van Diemen's Land and was last seen heading towards a ship setting sail for America. Here's to freedom, Will!'

Everyone cheered but Jake knew in his heart that the end of the road for Will was Norfolk Island.

Jake turned serious as he raised his glass in Pearl's direction. ‘My little princess is back where she belongs, thanks to my Yankee mate, Benjamin Rogers, who couldn't make it here today. How do you say thanks to a man who tracked down your lost daughter?' Jake touched his silver belt buckle. ‘And then gives you his own good-luck charm?'

Jake took a deep breath. ‘I brought you here today to tell you the good news.' He turned to the priests. ‘Don't get too excited. Nothing to do with your bible!'

Both priests exchanged a grin.

Jake glanced significantly at his mother, Molly. ‘My last bender is long gone. I've decided to get serious about breeding thoroughbreds.'