And Those Who Trespass Against Us (11 page)

"I don't think so."

Catriona tossed a water bladder over her shoulder and picked up her hat from the table. "We better get going then." She looked down at a ladies' broad-brimmed hat which sat at the end of the table. "Are you
sure
you don't need anything else?"

Katherine rolled her eyes. "I've said it once, but I'll say it again, in case the sun has addled your brain. I'm not wearing a hat over my wimple and veil."

"Suit yourself, but don't come crying to me when, in a few years time, your beauty is all but gone."

Without waiting for an answer, Catriona walked out the door.

Katherine self-consciously brought her hand to her face. Did she say I was beautiful? Her eyes narrowed and she shook a finger at the back door. "You can't fool me. That was no more than another one of your tricks to get me to wear that hat. I won't be fooled that easily." Walking past the headgear, she headed toward the barn.

KATHERINE ONCE AGAIN shifted in her seat.

Catriona looked sideways at her. "I told you in the barn that the journey would take two hours."

"Yes, you did," Katherine grumbled. "And next time I'll accept your offer of a cushion. By the way, when I was in town the other day, I overheard the constable discussing the local bushrangers." Despite the danger, Katherine couldn't control her excitement at the thought of such desperados.

"They're ranging around the district again. The constable's upset because they're too smart for him to catch them. I've no doubt it's because they're being protected by the poorer families of the district. The bushrangers never rob from these families. They only target the richer graziers. With tactics like that I doubt they'll ever be caught."

"Have they robbed you?"

"No, but that doesn't mean they're not dangerous. For the immediate future it might be best, when you have to leave the house, for you to leave me a note, so I know who you're visiting."

"Of course." As they topped the rise of a hill, Katherine saw, in the very far distance, a group of trees which couldn't readily be called a copse, yet were a strange presence in such a landscape. Katherine pointed. "What's over there? Is it still part of the property?"

Catriona stared straight ahead. "It's still part of the property, but it's nothing now but a dried, weed-choked spring. I don't think it's properly flowed for years."

"You're not even looking. How did you know what I'm pointing at?"

"There's not too much of this property that I don't know like the back of my hand."

Catriona's clipped tones were lost on Katherine. "How do you know it's dry?" she enthusiastically asked. "If it's not, it might be a wonderful place for a picnic, wouldn't it?"

"It's not nice and it's most likely overgrown, and full of snakes. Besides, I've hardly the time for picnics. And I don't want you going there by yourself. If you hurt yourself you mightn't be found for days."

Catriona whipped the horse into a faster pace, making it difficult for Katherine to look behind her at the trees and hold on at the same time. She thought that there was obviously more to the spring than what Catriona was telling her. Rather than commence their day on a sour note, Katherine let the matter rest. There'd be plenty of time to ask again, when her companion wasn't in such a prickly mood. She attempted to steer the conversation onto safer ground, "You mentioned you had cattle on your property?"

Catriona's features slightly relaxed. "We run a herd of beef cattle in the top paddock. At last count I think it was only fifty head, nothing too substantial. They're currently in the paddock close to a gate connecting this property to the Connor property."

Katherine frowned. "Why do you need a gate between the two farms?"

"This enables a business arrangement between us, regarding the free agistment of Connor and Gleneagle cattle. We switch between properties, allowing the herds to graze on the other property when the grass gets too low on one."

"I didn't think the Connor selection was that big." Suddenly the pieces came together. "You do this for them, don't you?" Catriona shyly smiled and pretended to occupy herself with the handling of the wagon and horse. "Why are you so uncomfortable about people knowing how much you help others?"

Catriona shifted in her seat. "The less people know about it the better. I trust you not to say anything to them. I'm sure if the arrangement was actually mentioned to Mr. Connor then he would insist on paying me for his agistment on my property. And besides, in times like this when Alexander's away, it does help to have another pair of eyes on the cattle."

Katherine nudged Catriona. "You can't fool me, you're overly generous." Catriona merely grunted and urged the horse forward.

SIX PAIRS OF hands made quick work of the fence repairs. Katherine was spellbound by the process used by the team. Some of the group barked the trees, while others split the logs, and Catriona prepared the hole for the posts to go into. When finished, they placed a wood structure on both sides. Roughly hewn, it looked like a stepladder erected on both sides of the fence to stop clothing being torn when climbing through barbed wire.

Katherine handed a water bag to Catriona. "Why don't you cut the trees down when you arrive, rather than leave them on the ground?"

Catriona took a swig from the bag. She then soaked her handkerchief and wiped her face. "The trees must cure first." She offered the water bag to Mr. Connor, who gratefully accepted it. "Otherwise we'll be left with warped posts, and a warped fence line."

"What's that for?" Katherine asked.

Catriona wiped her hands on the seat of her trousers. "It's a step-over system used around this area. It eliminates the need to travel the extra distance by road."

"Such a simple invention and yet so versatile," Katherine said.

The group shared a laugh, most likely at her incessant questions. One of the men slapped Catriona on the back as they gathered the tools together. Katherine was again amazed by how well she worked with the men. Catriona clearly didn't possess their strength but she still managed to hold her own. She laboured with gracefulness and a surety of purpose that Katherine had never seen in other women. She reminisced on the moment, during the morning, when Catriona's axe swing missed its intended target. Catriona casually laughed with the rest of the men, about her poor aim. When she laughed her face altogether changed, and her eyes took on a completely different light. She had such a natural beauty. Katherine felt it such a shame that she chose to live her life without someone close to share it. Bringing herself back into the present Katherine decided to occupy herself in a more practical manner.

Rather than waste the time of one of the men, she set out the lunch, which was more than an adequate fare for the seven of them. Catriona was right. Mrs. Connor had prepared a number of sweet and savoury pastries which were easy to eat on the run. With the tea Mrs. Connor had also provided, it reminded Katherine of the ploughman's lunches she'd often eaten in Ireland.

Unlike Ireland in late October, the sun was hot, and her woollen habit wasn't helping matters. She placed the back of her hand to her face and felt even more heat, only imagining what her face would look like by the time she got home. Maybe I should swallow my pride and wear that hat after all, she concluded. When the men and Catriona finished their work, she motioned them over for their meal.

MR. CONNOR WIPED his hands together. "That was lovely, even if I do say so meself."

Katherine placed the remainder of the lunch into a wooden box the Connors' had brought it in. "And all thanks to your wife. How is she faring?"

"After six children she's well and truly got this child bearing thing down pat. She's fine or at least she looks like she is."

"If you don't mind I might pay her a visit, to see how things are going," Katherine said.

Mr. Connor stood, his sons following their father's action. "I don't mind at all Sister Katherine, and I'm sure the missus will be happy for a break from the young-uns." He held his hand out to Catriona and she took it. "Thanks again, Catriona. Let me know when you want a hand moving your cattle. I'll send one of the boys down."

"Not a problem." Catriona picked up her water bag. "We better get going. I've still got business in town."

THE RETURN TRIP to the homestead was quiet and especially strained when they once more passed by the trees in the distance. Catriona again concentrated on the task at hand rather than acknowledge the copse. In truth, she was lost in her thoughts of her time with Adele and her newfound friendship with Katherine. Things were so difficult at the moment and she was slowly losing the fight over her feelings for Katherine. She wanted Katherine to stay with her. But seeing her everyday created such a painful wound. For all the pain it caused, she knew she wouldn't have it any other way.

Katherine held on as Catriona crossed the entrance gate to the property and turned the wagon toward town. "That was a lot of heavy work today. I expect you're grateful for the assistance you received."

"I appreciate it very much. I know Alexander and I could've managed it between us, although it would've taken much longer. I wonder, sometimes, if it wouldn't be just as easy to employ permanent workers. But in truth I enjoy the solitude being out here provides me."

Katherine placed her hand on Catriona's arm. "Sometimes there's more than physical assistance you can ask for. If there's ever anything you want to speak about, you
can
talk to me. What we discuss will remain private."

Catriona looked at Katherine's hand resting on her forearm. "Thank you, I'll keep it in mind. For the moment I think I better concentrate on the trip to town or we may not get there. We'll be stopping at Susan's store. Is there anything you want while we're there?"

"I'd like to check with Susan on when the books will be arriving. I can't wait to see the look on the children's faces when they get the opportunity to read something different than rain calendars and agricultural manuals. What are you picking up in town?"

Catriona smiled as though she had a secret. "Nothing much. Some farm machinery and a parcel Susan has for me. It'll be a quick stop for it's been a long day and I'm eager to get home and into a bath for a good soak. And by the look of your face we better pick up some malt vinegar. You're as red as a beetroot."

Katherine brought her hand to her cheeks. "I admire your self control." She laughed. "I'm sure it's taking every bit of your self control not to lecture me on the pitfalls of going without a hat."

"I did tell you it's better than getting sunburnt."

Katherine held up a finger, effectively halting any further comment. "I know you did. I'll talk to the father on his return. You said he's a reasonable person. Maybe he'll let me wear a hat."

"If you don't manage to burn to a crisp first," Catriona mumbled, and then dodged Katherine's mock slap.

SUSAN WAS BUSY when they arrived, stopping only long enough to hand Catriona a sizeable brown paper parcel and direct her to the repaired farm implement on the store's verandah. Calling over her shoulder, Catriona invited Susan to dinner when she felt she could spare the time. She jokingly added they might use the formal dining room in celebration of her visit.

Arriving home almost at dusk, their time was taken up with the ritual positioning of the bathtub in the kitchen and the filling of the utilitarian kettle on the stove. Both were thankful for their respective baths. It had been a hot day and, for Catriona, quite a sweaty one.

Finally clean, Catriona sat at the kitchen table and, using a pocket knife, cleaned the dirt from under her fingernails. "I couldn't believe how many people were at the store today."

Katherine placed a plate of smoked ham sandwiches on the table. "I know. I barely had time to ask her about the books."

"What are you complaining about? She just about threw my package at me. Thank heavens she didn't do the same with the malt vinegar. Speaking of which, what did you do with the bottle?"

Katherine toweled dry her curly hair. "It's in the pantry."

Catriona folded the knife, placed it back into its leather holder and put it on the table in front of her. "We'll have to apply some malt vinegar to your face once you've finished with your hair. The vinegar will help remove the sting. Tomorrow you'll need to use some lanolin on your nose to stop it from peeling." Catriona wiped her hands and reached for one of the sandwiches. "Of course this could have been avoided if you'd decided to wear a hat. It's not as if you're committing a mortal sin or anything."

Katherine placed the towel aside on the table and looked at Catriona. "I'm very much aware it's not a sin, but you already know my reasons. Besides, at least your hair is shoulder length. Mine looks like a madman's taken to it. And believe me when I tell you it isn't normally this long. The sisters in Ireland kept a strict regime of haircuts. While vanity isn't something expected of a nun, I'm still a woman and I can't abide when people see that I'm just about bald."

Catriona reached out as if to touch Katherine's hair, but instead picked up Katherine's towel, and placed it over one of the chairs. "Honestly there's nothing wrong with your hair. You should be glad you've the freedom to wear it that long." She touched her locks. "I barely get away with the scandal of wearing my hair like this. Besides, your curls aren't done justice beneath your stifling habit. Speaking of which, I've something for you."

Catriona passed into the hallway and returned with the parcel Susan had given her. "Before you open this, let's get one thing straight. What I'm about to give you is not charity, nor is it another hat. I know you've got your own money, and I don't want any of it. I'm not taking this back and I
certainly
can't use it if you don't want it." Catriona placed the package in front of Katherine. "Think of it as my thank you for not only being my champion with the town's matriarchs, but also for the being out here with me. I'd forgotten how lonely it can get without female company."

Katherine looked at the brown paper wrapping held by a string and then at Catriona. "It would be rude not to accept your present. Honestly though, I can't think of anything I truly need." She untied the string and pulled the paper aside, revealing two complete habits. She fingered the material. "These are made of cotton," she whispered. Momentarily at a loss for words, she shook one out and pressed it to the front of her chest.