And Those Who Trespass Against Us (26 page)

"Adele Cooper," she replied in her soft English accent, her gaze lingering on Susan's face. "I used to work at the Pelham property as governess to the Pelham children. I left some time ago and returned to England. I've only recently returned to Australia."

"Pardon my bluntness. Am I correct in assuming Catriona isn't aware of your arrival?"

"Yes, I happened to be in Sydney when I literally ran into Mrs. Greystone at the emporium."

Susan wryly smiled. "I expect pursued might be a better word."

Adele nodded. She pulled a pin from her hat and then removed it from her head. "She mentioned there had been a great deal of tragedy with the Pelham family, with the most recent being the loss of Catriona's brother. My plans were reasonably flexible. So I thought I'd come out and pay a visit."

Susan speculated that Sydney was a long way to come for merely a visit. She inwardly smiled while she looked at Adele. If there was one thing Catriona possessed, it was impeccable taste in women. Adele had a quiet assuredness about her which placed Susan at ease. She would definitely be an interesting person to hold a conversation with. Maybe another time. "Although there've been some changes in town, they haven't extended to adding any form of transportation service within the immediate district. If you give me a moment to close up, I'd be happy to drive you to Gleneagle. Catriona's a
very good friend
of mine and it would be remiss of me not to deliver you to her doorstep."

Adele raised her brow and enigmatically smiled, as if the emphasis Susan had used wasn't missed. "Thank you, I'm grateful for your help." Susan locked the store and, after preparing the buggy, both women headed toward the Pelham homestead, talking all the way.

Susan wheeled the buggy into the driveway of Gleneagle. "I have to say, after filling you in what's been happening since you left, I'm surprised so much
has
actually come to pass in a town the size of ours.

They crossed the grate, and Adele's face sobered. "And it's so sad to think Catriona's parents lost their lives here. She must have been beside herself."

"I don't know what she'd have done if Alexander hadn't been here."

"And now he's gone also. How is she coping?"

"It's taken her a while, but I believe she's at last coming to grips with his death."

"What about the local sister? The one who was to marry Alexander? Has she been replaced? In my time they were made to live in the hovel outside of town. The dust storm has thankfully put an end to
that
disgrace."

Susan took an inordinate amount of time rearranging the reins. "Yes, in fact the new sister arrived the day of the dust storm. Fortunately she got here after the event or we may have also lost her. Her name's Sister Katherine Flynn and she's worked miracles with the children of the district." Susan didn't mention her effect on Catriona. "She lives above the store with me." She felt no need to explain to Adele this was only a recent arrangement.

"Hopefully I'll get to meet her then."

Susan wondered whether Adele's return was merely a passing visit or something more permanent. "She's normally very busy. Although I've no doubt you'll catch up with her sooner or later. Because of the size of the rooms above my store, Catriona has graciously allowed her to keep her children's books here at the property."

Susan drew the buggy around to the rear of the house, reined in the horse, and both women got down.

"Given the time of day, I expect she'll be outside here somewhere." Susan walked toward the barn. "Catriona, are you there?"

From the darkness of the smokehouse, Catriona emerged, wiping her hands on what appeared to be an already greasy towel.

Susan heard Adele catch her breath. Catriona raised her hand to her face to shield her eyes.

"When I last saw you," Adele whispered, "you were no more than a teenager. Now look at you."

Adele's comments were not missed by Susan. "Yes, she's a beautiful woman."

CATRIONA WIPED HER hands on her towel, curious about what would bring Susan out so late in the afternoon. She stepped into the sunlight. Blinded by her sudden transition from darkness to light, she raised her hand to her face.

"I hear you Susan, but I'm a bit troubled by the glare at the moment." Catriona could just make out the vague outline of a woman standing next to Susan. She blinked, in an attempt to focus. "Sorry for keeping you both out in this heat. Where are my manners?" She walked toward the two. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met."

"Don't you know me, Catriona?" Adele answered in a quiet voice.

Catriona's heart missed a beat and her mind filled with a myriad of conflicting emotions: confusion, memory, search, recognition, disbelief and, finally, a desperate longing.

"Adele?" Catriona whispered, half hopeful, half fearful. Her eyes finally focused, she took in Adele. "My God," she said, gaping, "I can't believe it's you." She went to hug her and, remembering Susan's presence, checked herself.

Catriona drank in the apparition before her. Despite the passing of years, Adele was even more beautiful then when she had last seen her. "How are you? What are you doing here? What have you been doing all these years?"

Adele laughed in delight. "Why don't we all go inside and I'll answer that for you?"

Susan interrupted. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to decline. If I don't return soon I won't be home before dark. With the increase in bushranging activity in the district, it's a risk I don't want to take." Susan pulled herself on to her buggy. "I'm sure there'll be time for us to speak more when you're better settled. I'll see you soon. Oh, and Catriona, I do have some stores arriving on this Friday's train. Don't forget to come and pick them up, will you?"

Catriona mutely nodded, recognising Susan's last comment as the well-known code between the two that she wished to speak with her, most likely about this recent development.

Susan waved goodbye and went on her way.

Catriona picked up Adele's bags, and they made their way to the back of the house. Adele closed the door and turned to Catriona, who had placed her suitcases next to the table. Looking at Catriona, her violet eyes twinkling, she opened her arms. "Now, are you going to finish what you almost started outside?"

Catriona needed no more prompting and moved into Adele's embrace. "God, it's so good to see you." She basked in the feel of being in another woman's arms. "What brought you here? How did you know you'd be welcome out here, given your last departure?"

Adele laughed and she released Catriona. "Still the curious mind, I see. Before we sit down, could I have a few moments to wash?" She held up her hands. "The roads out here are as dusty as I remember them to be. Could we also have a bite to eat? I'm starving."

OVER A LIGHT repast Catriona listened to Adele relay what she'd done in the ensuing years since her banishment from the Pelham household. After being sacked without references, she'd been unable to find a placement anywhere and had decided to go home to England. She was booking her passage when, by chance, she encountered a young family who were doing the same. She'd graciously helped the mother with her unruly children, and the suffering mother had complimented her on her skill. Adele explained what her employment was and the fact she was going home to seek a position there. She was offered a job on the spot. After proving her worth on the voyage, she'd remained in the family's employ. The choice for her was a natural one, that when they again sailed for Australia she would return with them.

"You wouldn't believe the coincidence but on my second day in Sydney, I was shopping in the emporium and ran into Mrs. Greystone." Adele rolled her eyes. "She treated me like I was her long lost friend."

"Stupid old busybody," Catriona mumbled.

Adele grinned. "If I recall correctly you had a similar lack of respect for the Greystone's when I was last here."

"Some things never change."

"As I was saying, she spent the afternoon regaling me with what had happened in the last ten years. Truth be told, I couldn't have given a fig to sit with her for so long." She reached across and took Catriona's hand. "But I was very keen to know about you. Fortunately I didn't have to ask such a blatant question, as Mrs. Greystone then told me about your recent tragedy." Adele's thumb lightly stroked Catriona's knuckles. "I'm so sorry, Catriona."

"Thank you. It's been hard to accept his passing. But I know I must go on."

"What about you? What have you been up to?"

"After the loss of my parents, Alex and I decided to continue to run the farm, and it's proven to be a successful venture. Having Coreen here also helped to centre him." Catriona sighed. "Prior to that, he was a bit of a lad, not to mention the target for every single girl in the district."

"I expect you've had your fair share of male callers, haven't you?"

"I may have, but the interest was never reciprocated. I told my mother I'd never conform to her expectations of a daughter, and I never have. As time's gone by, I've found myself more than comfortable living that life, away from the pretensions forced on women of my age."

"What we shared," Adele asked, as if choosing her words carefully, "was there anyone else?"

Catriona's mind's eye immediately filled with the elfin features of a smiling woman. Was what she shared with Katherine the same as what had been between her and Adele? As much as Catriona wished it were so, Katherine had virtually made her position clear when she'd moved into town. Despite that, she still spent an inordinate amount of time at Gleneagle. Realising she was taking far too long to reply, she raised her eyes. "No, nothing that's been reciprocated." That was the truth, wasn't it? "What about you?"

"I expect I've been more fortunate than you. In London society, a woman who doesn't have close female friends is considered unusual. She was an older woman of independent means," Adele replied, a wistful look on her face. "Our arrangement suited her."

Catriona felt the stirrings of jealousy and tamped them down knowing she had no more control over Adele's personal life over the last ten years than Adele had of hers.

"I don't think she was all too pleased when I said I was going to Australia. I'm sure though, should I never go back, she'll find someone else."

Catriona's breath hitched. Adele wasn't committed to returning to England? What did that mean for the two of them? Despite the flicker of hope, she was cautious not to read too much into Adele's comments.

Adele looked at the clock above the wood stove. "Heavens, I don't believe we've been talking for so long. I expect if you're going to get any sort of an early start tomorrow we best call it a night."

Catriona looked at the fob she drew from her trouser pocket. "Do you remember when you were last here you were stuck in those cramped quarters out by the barn?"

Adele laughed. "I remember it all too well."

"No more of that for you, for tonight I think my parents' room is the suitable place for a guest of your standing." Catriona rose and, with Adele following her, made her way down the hallway.

As they walked through the house, Catriona paused at Adele's gentle touch on her arm. She turned, her brows creased.

"While I'm flattered at you giving me your parents' room, I think I'd be much more comfortable in this one," she suggested. Catriona realised they were standing outside the door to her room.

Adele's fingers gently traced a trail down Catriona's arm until their fingers were entwined. Raising her eyes to Catriona, Adele opened the door and led her through it, where the two rekindled intimate memories long dormant through long years of separation.

CATRIONA AWOKE, HER body languishing in the feel of being in another woman's arms. Thinking back on the night's events, she was touched by the tenderness of their lovemaking. Unlike the stolen moments of intimacy she'd shared with Adele years ago, there had been no urgency between them. Instead, their loving was a more mature ritual, like two friends renewing an old acquaintance.

Spooned in Adele's sleeping embrace, Catriona shifted when Adele's hand found its way to her breast. Catriona reacted, melting into the luxury of such a peaceful moment.

Laying there in the early morning light, her thoughts guiltily strayed to Katherine and the morning they'd shared together. Katherine had undeniably reacted to Catriona's touch, and their all too brief contact lingered in Catriona's memory. As she thought about Katherine, she felt the stirrings of desire and was ashamed. She was in the arms of a woman who had taught her well about the arts of love, and now she was repaying her by thinking about someone else.

She shook her head to dispel the thoughts. In reality, she could indulge in any number of fantasies involving Katherine. But that might be as close as she ever got to the real thing. Regardless of Katherine's words on that morning, Adele held her now, not Katherine.

She was troubled by her reluctance the night before to tell Adele what had happened between her and Katherine. A part of her rationalised her thoughts, suggesting her lie by omission was to protect Katherine who, in truth, hadn't initiated the intimate contact between them. If she was honest, a selfish and secretive part of her didn't want to share the yet-to-be-defined nature of their relationship with Adele.

CATRIONA HANDED ANOTHER watercolour to Adele. "And then there's this one."

"It's our waterhole! This is absolutely exquisite, Catriona. Stop blushing. You have a prodigious talent. Trust me. I've been to a number of exhibitions in London. Some of those paintings wouldn't hold a candle to yours. You convey an emotion which captures the essence of the moment." Adele pointed at the picture. "And the way the wind is blowing through the spinifex here. It's as if I can feel it on my face." She handed the picture back. "If you ever tire of farming then you could paint for a living. You would profit greatly from your efforts."

Catriona placed the painting down beside her and shrugged. "I don't know that I ever could. I mean, I find I have to be in the right mood to paint, otherwise they end up looking awful." She bit the bottom of her lip. "I painted a picture of you, but mama found it and took it away."