And Those Who Trespass Against Us (37 page)

When she was not outside, Catriona retreated to the solitude of the study and away from a frustrated Katherine. Then one morning, while she read a week-old copy of the Sydney newspaper, there was a soft knock on the study door. She looked up as Katherine walked toward her.

Katherine held out her hand. "Could you have a look at this for me?" she asked sheepishly.

Catriona took the letter and silently read the missive, then solemnly met Katherine's eyes. "It doesn't say anything about you and me in here."

Katherine snatched the letter back from her, her tongue clicking in disgust. "If you're not going to take this seriously, then I'm not going to waste my time." She marched to the door.

Catriona jumped out of her chair and placed her hand on the handle to halt Katherine's dramatic departure. "Oh, for heaven's sake I was only joking! I didn't expect you'd tell the Mother Superior about us. And, as you so correctly indicate in your letter, there are a number of reasons for your decision."

Katherine's body slightly relaxed. "I know you were only teasing. But, given what this letter means, it's been hard while I've been writing it to find
any
humour in the matter."

"I know." Catriona pulled Katherine into her arms. "You're finished now and that's the main thing. And a good thing as well--I was running out of paper." Catriona smirked. "The letter's fine. When are you going to send it?"

"I'd like to mail it as quickly as possible. The sooner I do this, the faster I'll get a reply. Then we can honestly get on with living our own life. Are you going into town tomorrow?" Catriona nodded. "I'll come in with you and give it to the postmaster. Now how about we get some of the work done that's been waiting and tolerating my boorish mood for the past week?"

They spent the remainder of the afternoon riding the property, checking on the status of the newly planted lucerne and barley shoots.

"I'm glad we had rain the other day." Catriona cast her eyes over the paddock in front of her. Just last week this was only a sewn field. Now it's a tinge of green."

"It does make it look so lush," Katherine said.

"Unfortunately, though, it won't be long and the kangaroos will seek out these sweet grasses. I'll have to ride out here early in the morning to see to them."

"Are you bringing them feed?"

Catriona bit the inside of her cheek. "Not exactly. I need to shoot them."

Katherine turned in her side-saddle, her shock evident. "I can't believe you're planning to kill those creatures! In terms of size, there isn't that much to them. Surely they don't eat much?"

"One kangaroo doesn't eat much, but they don't travel alone. They travel in mobs capable of ruining a farmer's livelihood in less than a week. Rest assured, I only cull as much as I need to. I don't do it for sport, like some of the richer families do."

"If you have to do it, then so be it. Although don't expect me to help you. I honestly can't see myself killing such beautiful animals."

KATHERINE TIGHTLY GRIPPED her letter as the wagon rolled along the rutted road. "I don't mean to be rude, but why do you call Mr. Tanner the postmaster? Isn't he the stagecoach driver?"

"He
is
the stage coach driver, but he's also a part of the newly formed general post service. In fact, I've heard that both Melbourne and Sydney have their own General Post Offices. The one in Sydney is where your letter will go for sorting prior to it heading to Ireland."

Katherine frowned. "Why not send it via the train?"

"You could, but the next train's not due for another week. And, as strange as it may seem, the coach will still beat the train." Catriona swatted a fly from her face. "The coach route is less circuitous."

Katherine raised her brows. "I never realised. But then I've never had reason to post many letters to Ireland." She fingered the thin envelope. "How much will it cost to send this?"

Catriona shrugged. "More than a shilling--less than two."

"Are you serious?" She thought back to the lesson two weeks ago, where she'd used weekly salaries to help teach the children math. "That's almost half a day's wages."

"That may be so, but I don't see we have a choice. It has to be sent, and when you think how far it has to go, that probably accounts for the letter's price." Catriona patted Katherine's hand. "Trust me, my love, I'd pay a lot more to see you get an answer from the convent."

Katherine clasped Catriona's hand with her own. "Thank you."

With Catriona driving the wagon, Katherine scanned the countryside. She was surprised by the changes since her arrival. With the onset of regular rain, the yellow brown grass was now interspersed with a carpet of green on which cattle contentedly grazed. One thing which struck her as truly beautiful were the blossoms on the enormous eucalyptus trees. In all the time she'd been here she'd thought on these trees as steadfast, reliable, and decidedly masculine in their visage. Now they revealed their true beauty. She smiled. They reminded her of Catriona. Strong, silent, and unapproachable at first--but, in essence, hiding their true tenderness. She again whispered a silent prayer of thanks.

Catriona turned and smiled. Returning her smile, Katherine asked, "A penny for your thoughts?"

"I was thinking, among other things, about how many times we've made this trip together, you sitting on
your
side and me on
mine
."

Katherine scooted closer to Catriona and took her hand. "I prefer the closeness to the distance option."

"I was also thinking about your letter. What happens if the Mother Superior refuses to release you from your vows? What will you do?"

Katherine sat back and frowned. "I hadn't given that much thought. Why wouldn't they honour my request, especially if I no longer want to be part of their Order?"

"I don't mean to play Devil's advocate, but have you thought it mightn't suit them? I expect they've outlaid a great deal of money to send you here and they'll be looking for a return on their investment. Besides, the idea of them having to send out another nun so soon to replace you may not be financially viable. Plus, in one of your more
delightful
moments, you once told me nuns are married to the church. Aren't you breaking your vows in seeking what you wish?" Catriona winced at the look of worry which clouded Katherine's features.

"I think we should wait to see what her response is before seeing only the bad in things. If they refuse my request though, I'll have to take another approach. I'll pack up everything I have which belongs to the convent and return it to Ireland," Katherine declared vehemently. "I've no intention of living as a nun for the rest of my life and I also have no intention of living the rest of my life without you!"

Catriona drew the wagon to a halt, short of a bend in the road. She secured the reins, applied the brake, and turned to Katherine. "You don't know what it means to me to hear you say that. I've never had anyone who was so willing to take risks for me like you are, not even Adele. I honestly hope everything goes smoothly. Whatever the result I'll be here for you. I only hope I can live up to what you want and need from me." Closing the distance between them, Catriona surreptitiously glanced around, then took Katherine's face in her hands and tenderly kissed her.

Both were so engrossed in each other they didn't hear the phaeton buggy until it was close enough for its occupants to view them. At the clatter of the buggy wheels, Catriona abruptly pulled away from Katherine. She turned to see the buggy drawing closer and caught sight of the shocked faces of Miss Elsbeth Greystone and a male companion who stared wordlessly at them. Before Catriona could utter a word, the man urged the horse into a canter, and the hose and buggy swept by.

Given their reaction, Catriona was in no doubt they'd witnessed them kissing, and she cursed under her breath for kissing Katherine, in full view of anyone who rode along.

Katherine groaned as the phaeton made a hasty departure. Of all the people in the region, why did it have to be the daughter of the head of the ladies' committee? She was sure the young woman would waste no time in telling her mother what she'd seen. Fortunately, this was the only road she could return on, and she and her male friend had been travelling
away
from town.

Catriona looked at Katherine. "Well, I suppose that's torn it. It won't be long before the ladies' committee will finally have their suspicions confirmed." She laughed bitterly. "It's a shame really. I've been leading them on such a merry chase for so long. I'm sure Mrs. Greystone will waste no time in advising Father Cleary of our horrendous actions."

Katherine's face ran the gamut of emotions from shock to anger. Her hands balled into tight fists and she fought her barely controlled rage. "I'll be damned if I'm going to allow our happiness to be disturbed by that intrusive woman. I haven't come half the way around the world to find love and then be cheated out of it when it's barely begun. We'll mail the letter and wait for a reply. In the meantime, if the town's about to know all, then I might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb." Katherine reached over, drew Catriona into embrace, and passionately kissed her.

Catriona pulled back from kiss. "You never cease to amaze me. I can see there's not going to be a dull moment between us, my love. I suggest we get into town and mail your letter. Because if you do that to me again, I'm just as likely to disrobe you by the side of the road. Now
that
would give them something to talk about. We better let Susan know what's happened and then head home. We may have a long wait until the dust settles over the both of us, if it ever does." She motioned the horse back on to the centre of the road and toward town.

KATHERINE USED THE last of her savings to send what she hoped would be her lifeline out of the convent. The postmaster assured her it would reach Sydney within four days, where it would thereafter be put on a vessel bound for Ireland. Because all mail was sent by steam packet, the earliest she could expect a response was four months. Katherine gasped at the time period, only now realising how long the wait would be.

The two walked up the mercantile stairs. "While you load the wagon, I'm going to speak with Me Lin. Morning Susan," Katherine said when they entered the store. "Is Me Lin here?"

"Yes, she's in the laundry. Is everything alright?"

Katherine tilted her head toward her companion. "Catriona will fill you in."

Catriona quickly relayed the morning's events to Susan. "So, I think it would be a good idea if we get enough stores to see us through the next month."

"Sure, but before you start loading the wagon, what do you think the town will do when this gets out?"

"I've a pretty good idea of the reaction of the ladies' committee. There'll be malicious private celebrations and 'I told you so's' all round," Catriona said. "As for the rest of the town, I can't be certain. I don't think they'll be too receptive to the idea of me ravishing their nun. Whether they'll continue to think along those lines, or try to force us out of town--" Catriona shrugged. "I don't know. I'll tell you one thing though. I'm willing to sit this out for as long as it takes. I don't intend to leave here merely to satisfy the prejudices of others. I only hope, after a while, they either get used to us or just leave us alone."

"Only time will tell." Susan came around the counter. "Why don't I give you a hand to load the wagon?"

By the time they were finished, the buckboard was packed to the brim with all manner of goods. Catriona wiped her hands on the back of her trousers and reentered the store. "I'm not sure if that'll be enough supplies for us to wait out what's to come. But it should go some of the way." Catriona settled her bill of sale at the counter.

Susan nodded her thanks as she took the note from Catriona. "Other than what I've just done, I don't know there's much more I can do for you except to point out to those who'll listen that who you love doesn't change the person you are. You have the respect of a lot of people in this community. People who will lose out if you're forced to leave. I've no doubt they'll initially be angry over the matter. I'll keep my ear to the ground and let you know which side of the fence the town is sitting on. Unfortunately though, I don't think their acceptance is going to occur overnight."

Katherine returned from her discussions with Me Lin. Susan reassuringly squeezed her arm. "You'll be fine as long as you stick together." Susan swept around the counter and gave Catriona a hug. "And so will you. Now you best be on your way."

ALTHOUGH THEY RETURNED via the road where they'd been caught in their embrace, they didn't see the returning phaeton or Miss Greystone and her companion. Unless it had been an abridged trip and Miss Greystone returned past the store unnoticed, then Catriona surmised that the town was still ignorant of what had happened.

On returning to the farm, they unloaded the provisions and packed them away in their respective places. Having finished, they sat beside each other at the kitchen table and shared a pot of tea. Both were lost in their own thoughts, considering the storm which was about to descend on them.

THE NEXT DAY Catriona had little reason to work around the house, but she couldn't help but feel it would be in Katherine's best interests that she didn't stray far from it. She worked on superfluous paperwork in the study until she heard the sound of a carriage coming up the drive. She looked out the window and grimly smiled. It mustn't have taken the Greystone girl long to tell her story. Catriona walked to the front door and opened it.

Father Cleary stood at the foot of the front steps, his countenance stony. At Catriona's presence in the doorway he took a step back and busied himself with tethering his horse, then turned Catriona's way.

"I've come to speak with Sister Flynn." He barely made eye contact with her. "Is she in?"

Despite an almost overwhelming desire to physically remove him from her property, Catriona maintained a level head. "Yes, she is. If you'd like to move into the parlour I believe you'll find her there." Turning, she walked headlong into Katherine.