Secrets and Lies (24 page)

‘Thanks, Min.’

‘You can come in now, Leo.’

Leo said, ‘I’ve been talking to Alex. I’ll be taking Esmé to Melbourne, where she can be looked after properly. The air ambulance has already been ordered.’

‘I feel responsible for her condition, and I’d like to look after her myself.’

‘I know, Minnie. But you can’t look after her here, and besides, that was quite a fall, and she’ll have to spend a few days in hospital so we can make certain that there’s no internal bleeding. Have you got somewhere to go?’

‘Yes, I’ll go and live with Ma. Esmé and I had planned to, after we’d had a bit of a holiday here.’ She shrugged. ‘It was my fault. I thought she might like to find out what living in the bush was like.’

‘Taking the blame is a waste of time. Anyone with half a brain cell would have known not to have moved into a termite palace.’

‘Termite Palace.’ Esmé giggled through her tears. ‘I feel a bit fuzzy.’

Leo placed a warm hand over hers. ‘You look fuzzy too, as though someone has used you as a scrubbing brush.’

‘You always say such lovely things, Leo. Do I really look that bad, Minnie?’

‘Worse.’ Minnie laughed. ‘Try not to walk under a magnet else you’ll take off like that iron roof did in the wind. Look after her, Doc. As soon as you’ve gone I must go back and find our bags. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.’

‘You had rather a lot to deal with.’

Alex said, ‘I’m feeling a bit useless too, Minnie. I’ll come with you. Leo, I take it you’re going in the air ambulance with Esmé?’

Leo nodded. ‘I’ll leave Minnie in your hands then. She can’t stay here by herself. You can fly her down in the Moth and get her settled.’

‘I’ll send a message to the folks, too. Tell them what’s happened.’

They took Leo and Esmé to the airstrip first, and went back to what remained of the house. Alex cast an assessing eye over it. ‘What will your husband say?’

Throwing a sharp look at him, Minnie retorted, ‘I no longer live with my husband and I intend to divorce him, when I can find him.’

‘Oh . . . I’m sorry.’

‘So am I. It was a case of marry in haste and repent at leisure.’ She smiled at him, though it felt forced. ‘Never mind about my troubles. It was my own fault, and I was stupid.’

‘I know a lawyer, if that will help.’

‘I can’t afford a lawyer. I owe money to Esmé . . . money Wally stole from her when we worked together. Es and I had such plans. Well, I guess it was me who had the plans, and Esmé fell in with them. We were going to come to Australia and have a working holiday. Then, when her brother finished his medical training, she was going home to work as his nurse. Her family had her future all mapped out for her. I just wanted her to experience something different before she settled down. But it all went horribly wrong for both of us. Poor Esmé. She came back to Australia to make sure I was all right . . . and look what happened to her.’

‘It wasn’t your fault. It’s not as though you made Esmé climb on to the roof.’

‘If only I hadn’t married Wally.’ She drew in a deep, despairing breath. ‘It will be a long time before I can afford a divorce. But despite everything that’s happened, I like it here. I like the little bit of Australia I’ve seen; the patterns on the trunk of the eucalypts, the sky at night and the bright colours of day. I like it that the sky goes on forever, and I really, really love having all this space around me. I intend to settle in the country if I can find work, then sort out the legal side of it.’

Alex laughed. ‘There isn’t much work about, especially in the country . . . though we can usually manage a meal for those who knock at the door. I like your enthusiasm. The government should hire you as an ambassador for Australia. You’re a girl after my own heart.’

Her smile faded when she remembered Wally, and it seemed that Alex remembered his existence to, for he said, ‘Being married to an Australian might help you with permanent residence.’

‘Nothing will induce me to stay married to Wally any longer than necessary . . . not even permanent residence. I’d rather go home, then apply to migrate.’ She laughed. ‘You and Leo are alike.’

A slightly self-deprecating smile came her way. ‘He got most of the brains and I got the brawn. I’m a farmer.’

‘You’re talking to someone who doesn’t know which way up a daffodil bulb is planted.’ She waved her arms around. ‘This is supposed to be a sheep farm . . . or so I was told. I can’t see any sheep. Is your farm about the same size.’

His eyes flew open and laughter came into them. ‘Yeah, I guess it’s pretty small as farms go . . . about a couple of thousand acres. Dad and his brother had an adjoining farm each, though they worked it together. Leo and I inherited our uncle’s between us. Leo leaves it to me to manage his half. His heart isn’t in farming, though he helps out now and again. Like I said, he got most of the brains.’

‘I imagine it takes quite a few brains to run a farm properly. After all, it is a business.’ She gazed around her and laughed. ‘Looking at this place you wouldn’t think so. Did you want to be a doctor, then?’

‘Good Lord, did I give you that impression? I love what I do. Let’s talk about something else. Have you noticed that my brother is nuts about Esmé.’

‘One can hardly miss it. Esmé is perfect for Leo. She grew up with doctors surrounding her. She knows how to handle them.’

‘Doctors need handling?’

‘In a hospital environment, they’re God . . . especially the specialist surgeons. The man who brought Esmé up is a senior surgeon. They suck humbugs together to see who can make the loudest noise . . . whereas, I hardly dare breath when I’m in his presence. Neither do the doctors under him.’

Alex’s laughter rang out. ‘He sounds to be quite an imposing man.’

‘Esmé took up nursing because medicine is a bit of a family tradition. It was expected of her, you see, and it came easily. I took up nursing so I could move out of home, even though it was only into nurse’s quarters. I was all right with the practical stuff, but Esmé spent hours coaching me before a written exam. I wouldn’t have passed anything if she hadn’t helped me out.’

‘Why did you want to move out of home?’

‘When Dad died I inherited a wicked stepmother and two ugly stepsons. She made it clear that I wouldn’t get anything. My father hadn’t made a will, you see. You know when you’re no longer wanted, and they made that plain about five minutes after my father died.’

His eyes searched her face. They were a paler shade of blue than Leo’s. His smile inched across. ‘I wish I’d met you before Wally did.’

Minnie wished the same, but she wasn’t about to tell him that, since she wasn’t free and she didn’t want to encourage him.

He nodded, accepting what he read in her face. ‘Too personal was it? Sorry. I’ve just remembered there’s a picnic basket in the truck. It would be a shame to go hungry. How about we have lunch while we’re here? It’s not a bad spot. You get the picnic basket from the truck and I’ll see if I can find us a table and some chairs amongst the rubble.’

He dragged them out and dusted them down, even though they were covered in dust themselves. They lunched under the trees in the soft green light that only sunshine filtered through gum trees could provide. There was chicken and potato salad . . . and a pie his mother had made from bottled apples. And there was home brewed cider and ginger beer.

‘Don’t drink too much of that cider too quickly. It has quite a kick. Leo and I pinched a couple of bottles and got drunk on it in the shearing shed when I was fourteen. We could hardly think straight for a week.’

She laughed. ‘It serves you right.’

‘That’s what my dad said when he paddled our backsides.’ He gazed around him. ‘It must have been a pretty spot when the creek ran through the property.’

Alex had turned out to be good company, and he was more intelligent than he’d led her to believe. ‘There’s supposed to be a secret stash of gold hidden here.’

‘It wouldn’t surprise me. This is gold bearing country. Do you want to look for it?’

‘I don’t want anything belonging to Wally, only what he owes Esmé. He can keep his gold.’

‘Nobody could call you a gold digger, then.’

Minnie was good at shrugging things off, but the events of the day were beginning to catch up with her. Her nerves were practically in shreds, and tears were not far from the surface. ‘Did you think I might be one?’

Silently they gazed at each other. After a while he placed his work-worn hand over hers, saying awkwardly, ‘Sorry, that was lame. It was a joke, and not meant to be taken literally.’

Turning over his palm, Minnie ran a finger gently over his calluses. It was an honest hand. ‘Farming is hard work.’

‘Yes, it is sometimes, but I get a sense of achievement from it. I’d like to see you again sometime if I may, Minnie. No pressure, but after things are sorted out and you can see your way clear, perhaps.’

She nodded, and smiled at him. ‘I think I’d like that too, Alex. Thank you for trying to take my mind off Esmé’s plight.’

‘Despite that, I enjoyed your company. We’d better start work and see what we can rescue.’

After Alex unearthed their suitcases, he found a forked branch to support a beam that looked as though it might drop. Carefully, they sifted through the area where the bedroom had been, collecting clothes from a shattered wardrobe. Some of Minnie’s worry left her when she found their handbags. At least they’d have some money for basics. Bits and pieces of jewellery, hairbrushes and the like, were scattered about.

Alex found the pedal radio, the keys full of debris. ‘It should clean up all right.’ He placed it on the back of the truck, along with the other bits and pieces.

Minnie thought they’d picked the place clean of their belongings, when a shiny reflection caught her gaze. She bent to pull it from under a piece of rubbish. It was Esmé’s powder compact and lipstick. Made from sterling silver, the top was enamelled in vivid blue, with a silver bow in the middle.

‘That’s pretty.’

‘Yes, it belongs to Esmé and was a birthday gift from her brother. She comes from a closely knit family and would have been upset by its loss.’ Minnie wasn’t leaving it for Wally to pocket, and slid it into her friend’s bag.

As they drove away she gazed back at the place, hoping she’d never have to set eyes on it again. She grinned as she wondered what Wally would say when he saw what had happened to it.

Despite being nervous, because she didn’t like heights, Minnie enjoyed the flight. When they reached Essendon airfield, Alex and another man pushed the plane into a hanger. He got them a taxi, and dropped her off at Ma’s hotel. Alex escorted her to the door. He was an imposing figure in his Akubra hat and his best blue visiting shirt, though he was as dirty as she. A suitcase was grasped in each of his tanned hands, as if they weighed nothing.

‘Thanks for your help, Alex. I don’t know what I’d have done without you. I enjoyed the picnic, too.’

There was an awkward moment when she thought he was about to kiss her goodbye. He didn’t, but gave a faint grin as though he was assessing the wisdom of it in his mind. There was a quiet reserve about Alex, one that the more outgoing Leo didn’t seem to possess. It was endearing. She doubted if he’d do anything without deliberation.

He brushed a finger down her face and flicked a strand of her hair out of her eyes. ‘I like you, Minnie girl. I like you a lot. In case he doesn’t get home, tell Leo I’m staying at his flat, and if he wakes me coming in I’ll flatten him.’

‘I wouldn’t put a wager on who would do the flattening, if it came to it.’

When she laughed he chucked her under the chin. ‘No, neither would I. Tell him I’ve got a lift to the turn-off in the mail truck in the morning. I’ve left the Moth in its usual place in the hanger.’ He took the luggage to the door.

Suddenly, she didn’t want him to see the inside of the hotel. It was too dreary with its smoke-stained ceiling and the yellow flypaper circling down from the ceiling like a scabby tongue. Besides, Ma would be nosy and ask him personal questions. Minnie realized she was scared he might judge her by it, when she said. ‘You needn’t come in.’

‘Aren’t you going to shout a man a beer, then?’

‘Well . . . I suppose . . . if you really want one.’

‘Not really. Besides, it’s not opening time yet.’ He nodded, then turned and got back in the taxi, giving her a wave as they drove off.

When she struggled inside with the luggage, Ma welcomed her with a beaming smile, delighted to see her. ‘Well, I’ll be blowed. Hullo love . . . you’re staying, I hope. Where’s that nice little friend of yours?’

‘Esmé’s in hospital, Ma. Wally’s homestead fell on her; the beams were full of termites.’

Ma’s expression changed to one of worry. ‘Is Esmé all right?’

‘I think so. Leo was on hand.’

‘Thank God for that! I told Wally to get the place looked at, but, oh no, he wouldn’t listen. He thought he knew better. Bloody termites! They’d eat the wooden leg off a cripple before he had time to swallow his beer. Is Esmé all right?’

‘She has several broken bones. I’ll be going to the hospital later, but I need to wash the dust out of my hair first and sort our clothing out. I think I’ll have to wash it all.’

‘You know where everything is. Give Es my love, then. Tell her she’s welcome to come back here? I got used to having you girls around, you know. It can get a bit lonely now my old man’s gone.’

‘We were hoping you could put us up.’ Minnie didn’t want to ask about her absent husband, but thought she should. ‘Have you heard anything from Wally?’

‘Not a blessed thing.’

‘Esmé suggested he might have gone to Singapore on the
Horizon Queen
.’

‘I doubt it, since he hasn’t got his passport with him. It’s still in the dresser.’

‘Someone must know where he is.’

Her face took on a bland look. ‘If they do, they’re not saying.’

‘You might as well know, Ma. I intend to divorce him. I’ll need to serve the papers on him.’

Ma sighed. ‘Well . . . I can’t say I blame you. As men go, he’s not much of one, and he never could settle to anything. He was always easily led. He hung around with the wrong crowd and landed himself in trouble. He was either flush with money or stony broke, with all the gambling he did. You would have been the making of him, Minnie love.’