Puppy Pie (10 page)

‘Well, I'll walk up and meet them.' Gull rushes to the door and then turns. ‘Uh, Shirley, who'll be driving if it's just Lucy and the twins?'

‘Oh, Lucy or one of the twins,' Shirley answers casually.

‘They can drive? I mean, they know how?'

‘Sure,' Shirley says. ‘They've been driving around the farm for years. They're farm kids: they all can.'

Gull stares in amazement. ‘Do you think they could teach me?'

Shirley looks Gull up and down amused. ‘I tell you what, Gull. If all this works out well, I'll teach you myself.'

‘Would you really? Promise?'

‘Promise,' Shirley laughs. ‘Now off you go before Helen wakes up.' They both look over at her: she seems to be stirring.

‘Look behind you, Harry!' Helen screams as she sits bolt upright.

‘Go,' Shirley hisses. ‘I'll write it all down.'

Without looking back, Gull slips out of the lounge room, through the kitchen and bangs the screen door after her.
Wonder what that was about?
Gull thinks slowing her pace as she walks around the big shed and deposits the warm puppies in the pen. She shrugs.
Shirley'll tell us all later
. ‘Now,' she says, looking around the farm. ‘Where will I go first? I know. I think I'll go and check on the horses.'

Strolling to the stables, she breathes deeply. The smell of horses, hay and saddle soap lingers in the air. She smiles and relaxes, swinging around to release the tension in her shoulders. Taking a sturdy brush from the shelf, she begins grooming Velvet, then Brutus and the two ponies. Enjoying the rhythm of the brushing, she's happy to feel physically tired at the end of it. Then Gull takes a bucket off a hook on the wall and fills the water trough in the paddock opposite the farmhouse. She leads the horses into the paddock closing the gate behind them. As Gull's sitting on the fence watching them gallop around the paddock, Velvet strolls up to Gull and nuzzles her. Gull scratches behind her ears while Velvet eats the oats out of her hand.

Jumping down off the fence, Gull heads back to the puppy pen. Jam is sitting comfortably on a hay bale washing herself. ‘Having some time out too?' Gull asks as she sits down beside her. Jam immediately starts purring loudly. Stroking her, Gull lets her mind wander.

A picture of the new bank manager pops into her mind. She looks over at the spot where he was standing with a puppy in his hand. She remembers how Useless snarled at him.
But why would Useless carry on like that?
she ponders.
He's such a dopey dog, not a bad bone in his body. Must have been because he was holding his puppy. Then again, he didn't mind me picking them up
. ‘Oh, well,' she sighs, ‘just another mystery.'

Gull smiles down at Jam on her lap. ‘This place seems to be full of mysteries.' Gull counts them on her fingers. ‘Helen's strange sleeping sickness; the new bank manager Harry can't remember going to school with; Useless' odd reaction to him, and the hemp crop lying down. Sleepy Helen, sleepy hemp. ‘Oh, Gull,' she says severely to herself, ‘stop being so fanciful. Just coincidence. Remember, you're on a farm. What could be more down to earth than a farm?'

Just then, Jam leaps off Gull's lap, trots over to the puppy pen and daintily jumps in. Immediately, half a dozen hungry puppies greet her. With a contented sigh, she lies down and the puppies start drinking. Gull strolls over and watches for a while. Then, after making sure they have enough water and fresh straw, Gull runs out of the big shed and over to the vegie patch. She picks up the bucket and begins to load it up with shallots, tomatoes and zucchini. With a variety of lettuce leaves, some rosemary, parsley and basil, she gathers the eggs and goes back to the farmhouse. She glances at the kitchen clock. Six o'clock.

Before running into the lounge room, Gull has a quick look at the photos in the hall. She stares at the photo near the front door. ‘You look so tidy, not a hair out of place. And so silent,' she adds as she waves goodbye to her ancestors. Then she runs into the lounge room and stops quickly. Gull is surprised to see the two women sitting on the veranda deep in conversation.

‘Come in,' Helen says waving.

‘I thought you were still, er…' Gull begins.

‘I was, and it seems I've been asleep for about a year. I just thought I'd been having catnaps: I had no idea of the time.'

‘Helen's just been telling me about her awful dream,' Shirley says.

‘Oh yes. That's what woke me up. I can't see that it's got anything to do with the hemp falling over but who knows. Shirley tells me the gang is keeping a record of what I say in case it gives us any clues.'

‘Tell Gull,' Shirley says. ‘She might make some sense out of it. I can't.'

‘Well,' Helen begins, ‘in my dream, I'm looking at a schoolyard. It must be lunchtime because everyone's outside in the playground. There's a bunch of boys. They look about ten, about Tom and Jake's age. They're just mucking around. There's a boy who looks like Tom but I think it must be a very young Harry. The boys are running around, letting off steam. Harry picks up an old tennis ball pretending it's a football. He starts running with his arm out to keep the other boys from getting it, just fooling around really. One particular boy, a sullen sandy-haired boy, is standing on the sidelines. As Harry runs past, he pushes past him just as he has with the others. But this particular boy falls backwards. Harry looks over his shoulder and sees him fall. Harry drops the ball and runs to help him up. He says, ‘Sorry. I didn't see you.' And the other boy says, ‘No one ever does.'

Then Harry runs off and the other boy looks after him and adds, ‘But one day you'll see me.' Then I see his face clearly. He looks furious. And really wicked.' Helen shudders. ‘I know it's just a dream …'

‘Your dreams always mean something,' Shirley murmurs.

‘But it's so frustrating,' Helen says. ‘I don't know what these mean.'

‘Well, we've got the whole gang working on it now,' Shirley laughs, ‘so I'm relying on them to find the right answers.'

‘That sounds easy, I don't think,' Gull shrugs dispiritedly. ‘Well, I suppose we'll just add it to the notebook.'

‘Gull,' Helen says suddenly, ‘I think I can hear a truck at the top gate. Why don't you run out and meet them?'

In a flash, Gull is running along the veranda to the front door. She sprints up the long driveway and is halfway up when she sees them.

‘See you're giving the horses a bit of freedom,' Tom declares as the cousins and Gull walk back towards the “Folly”. ‘Can you help me bring them in after dinner?'

Gull nods. ‘Helen's awake and talking to Shirley on the veranda.'

Together, the four of them walk out onto the veranda.

‘You all look pooped,' Helen says giving them each a hug. ‘Guess Harry's working you hard?'

‘And Jimmy. And Ted,' Tom adds looking sharply at Shirley. She can't help laughing.

‘How's it all going?' Helen asks seriously.

‘Well, the Harvesters are working flat out gathering whatever's left standing,' Jake says.

Lucy says, ‘Ted reckons it'll take another few weeks.'

‘If no more falls over,' Jake adds.

‘What about the scything? Is it working?' Shirley asks worried.

‘Yeah, it is,' Lucy grins. ‘But it's hard work. Those old farmers are really tough. Especially “Young Fred”.' Lucy, Tom and Jake start to laugh. ‘You should hear those old farmers talking,' she says.

‘Saying they knew there'd come a day when they'd be needed again,' Jake adds.

‘Instead of being put out to pasture by their children,' Lucy giggles.

Helen and Shirley look at each other startled.

‘Don't worry, Mum,' Lucy adds, catching their look, ‘we'd never do that to you and Dad.'

‘No, we'd make sure we used you up and worked you to death before that happened,' Tom grins.

‘Thanks a lot kids,' Helen says trying not to laugh.

‘Well, at least you know where you stand,' Shirley says. ‘Oh, look at the time: it's almost seven. Ted will be wondering …'

‘When he's ever going to get home,' Lucy cuts in quickly. ‘He's harvesting until last light. So are Dad and Jimmy.'

‘In that case,' Helen says firmly, ‘you, Shirley, are staying for dinner. And as I'm the most rested, I'm making dinner.'

‘I'll help,' Shirley and Gull chime in together.

‘As for you three, you can head for the showers. You're filthy! Just throw your clothes into the washing machine,' Helen instructs.

‘And add powder. And turn it on,' Shirley says slowly. Lucy and the twins laugh: it's a standing joke at Shirley's house. They know this is the part of the washing that Ted pretends he hasn't figured out yet.

‘Dinner's in half an hour!' Helen yells up the stairs after them. ‘And don't use up all the hot water. And be quick.'

Chapter 6

Slowly, Harry climbs
out of bed the next morning. It's still dark. Half asleep, he has a quick wash, pulls on some old clothes and pads down to the kitchen. He puts the kettle on and throws some bread in the toaster. Taking two fresh eggs from the egg basket, he fills a saucepan with water, places the eggs in it and puts it on the stove.

‘Hi, Harry.'

Harry spins around. With her white-blonde hair even more tousled than usual, Gull is standing just inside the kitchen in her striped blue pyjamas.

‘Hi, honey,' Harry answers. ‘Boiled egg?' he asks as he grabs another one. Gull nods. ‘I've got tea and toast on the go,' he says smiling. ‘By the way, what are you doing up so early? Can't you sleep? Country air usually makes city folk sleepy.'

‘It's not that,' Gull says. ‘I wanted to ask your permission.'

‘For what?'

Gull takes a deep breath. ‘To sell your puppies,' she says.

‘Sell them?' Harry laughs. ‘Who'd take any of Useless' mutts? They're not even pure bred. And everybody around here knows where those pups came from: wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.'

‘But Harry,' Gull says persisting, ‘I think I know a way to make sure they go to a good home. And make money too.'

Harry looks seriously at Gull. Plopping the eggs into eggcups beside the toast and tea, he and Gull sit down opposite each other at the table. ‘Now tell me how you propose working this magic?'

Twenty minutes later, Helen finds Gull and Harry deep in conversation over their breakfast. ‘And what scheme would you two be cooking up?' she asks as she pours herself a cup of tea.

‘Not one of my wild schemes for a change,' Harry says shaking his head, his hands in the air. ‘It's all Gull's doing. I think she's mad, of course. And I can't see how anyone will believe her. But she's determined. So, what more can I say?'

‘This is all very mysterious,' Helen says sitting down beside Gull. ‘Are you going to tell me?'

‘Not until I've proved Harry wrong,' Gull answers, her jaw set.

‘That's the spirit,' Helen laughs. ‘We all love to prove Harry wrong,' she says giving her husband a cheeky grin.

‘This wouldn't have anything to do with that “puppy pie” business now, would it?' Harry asks, looking keenly at her.

Gull smiles slowly, her eyes twinkling. ‘Maybe. Maybe not,' she says as she picks up the last piece of toast, gets up and runs out of the kitchen laughing. In the hallway, she stops. Staring at the family photos, she studies each in turn until she reaches the one nearest the front door. ‘Don't know why I keep looking at all of you,' she says to herself. ‘You seem to have some sort of hold over me.' She sighs as she keeps gazing at the last photo. ‘Maybe I just wish you could speak and tell me all about yourselves: about your lives at the Folly. I wish you could talk.'

Dragging herself away from the photos, she runs up the stairs while downstairs in the kitchen, Helen is quizzing Harry about Gull's early appearance.

‘What's that all about?' Helen asks. ‘No, don't tell me. It's Gull's secret.' She laughs. ‘Now I can see the resemblance between you two,' she says to Harry. ‘You've both got those Hepplewhite twinkling eyes, full of mischief.'

Now it's Harry's turn to laugh. ‘I think Gull really believes that, if times get tough, I'd be tempted to make puppy pie.'

‘No,' Helen scoffs. ‘You wouldn't, would you?' she asks teasing.

‘Well,' Harry groans, ‘we'll have to find homes for them quickly. Because,' he says looking away into the distance, ‘my latest venture is causing much more hard work than I ever expected.'

‘It's not your fault,' Helen says, reaching out and holding his hand. ‘I mean, you did all the research and there's nothing to explain what's happening to this crop. All the books said hemp has no natural predators. Who knows, if you'd sown wheat or cotton, the same thing probably would have happened. Anything new or different is bound to have teething problems.'

‘If that's the case, I should have been the only one growing it. At least for the first season or two.'

‘You know there wouldn't have been enough to pay off the overdraft,' Helen says gently. ‘Listen to me Harry, I really feel something good will come out of this in the end.'

‘Is this one of your prophecies?' he asks hopefully.

‘A bit of that,' she answers. ‘And a lot of faith in you.'

‘Rather have a good prophecy at the moment,' Harry sighs downcast.

Just then, Ted and Jimmy arrive to pick him up. ‘Going so soon?' Helen asks.

‘Yep. Five thirty! The other shift will just be starting up now the sun's coming up. As I feel responsible, I'm going to be out working until every last leaf is baled. Gotta go,' he says, grabbing his hat. ‘See you tonight. And don't tire yourself out worrying. I'm doing that for both of us.' Kissing the top of her head, Harry opens the screen door and lopes over to the waiting ute.