South of Capricorn (16 page)

An uneasy silence followed, with Gail half wishing he would go, and yet aware that there would be a tiny void as soon as he had done so.

‘You’ve had them here, at Vernay Downs, then?’ She spoke a little breathlessly, urged to break the silence because it seemed like a weight on the atmosphere.

‘We’ve had them here, yes,’ was his non-committal reply, and after another silence Gail spoke again.

‘If I had come as a home help, I am sure I’d have stayed at least until the end of my term.’ Her eyes wandered to the window again. The MacDonnell Ranges seemed close in the brilliant white light of the sun. In the foreground a billabong shone brightly, its edges frilled with casuarina trees, while to the east lay the river from which the billabong had been cut off, but the bed was dry and bounder-strewn; it meandered close to the homestead and the eucalypts growing along its hanks provided shade for anyone wanting to take a walk or a ride on horseback. Leta, who was often seen riding with Dave, went this way with him, and once or twice Gail had walked along the dry creek bed to meet them on their way back to the paddock.

‘I half believe you would.’ Kane’s response came at length, and he looked down into her face, an odd expression on his own. Gail smiled, conscious, as always, of his attractions. That particular expression which softened the slate-grey eyes, that prominent chin and firm lean jawline, the dark skin, the clearly-chiselled lines that spelled pride and clearly marked him as one of the aristocrats of the Outback. ‘I must be off,’ he said at last, but, strangely, no action followed his words.

‘And I must finish my dustings.’ She felt awkward, as she so often did when in his presence. This morning at breakfast had been an exception, as was part of this present little interlude. But now there was a tenseness in the room; she was more than a little affected by it and with a jerky, nervous gesture she began making the duster into a small pad. ‘A little help from me makes it easier for the lubras,’ she added lamely when Kane did not speak. Why had he come back to the house? If it was for the customary reason of wanting something to eat then why didn’t he leave her, and make for the kitchen? It was so unlike him to remain with her like this, for no apparent reason at all.

He looked down at her, faintly smiling.

“You appear to enjoy working,’ he said.

‘I’d rather be doing something than be idle all the time.’

‘Most commendable.’

‘Not at all; I’m keeping myself from being bored.’

His eyes flickered; they slid down from her face to her neck, then to her tiny waist and lastly to her legs and ankles, A soft blush fused her cheeks; she moved nervously, then forced a smile to her lips. She saw his mouth relax, his eyes take on a softened expression. He seemed unable to bring his eyes from her and she turned at length and began dusting an antique occasional table.

‘Don’t forget what I said about coming to my room this evening after dinner,’ he said and, with a lift of a hand in salute, he strode from the room.

THE evening was cool and fresh after the searing heat of the afternoon and Gail was reluctant to leave her most comfortable place on the verandah. She had come out immediately after dinner, intending to enjoy the breeze for a few minutes before going to Kane’s room. Dave had asked her to walk with him, but she had explained, in low tones as she sat next to him at the table, that they must be careful on account of the vindictiveness of Mrs. Farrell and Ertha. She told him what had happened on the occasion when they went out into the bush; he had scowled and thrown Mrs. Farrell a darkling glance. This was seen by Kane, who instantly raised his eyebrows and flashed a glance at Gail.

‘Don’t talk about it,’ urged Gail to Dave. ‘Kane’s seen you glaring at his stepmother.’

‘What a pickle!’ he exclaimed exasperatedly, but in response to her plea he had changed the subject to something trivial, something that had not to be discussed in undertones.

But now he came out to her and she looked up with a smile.

‘I thought you’d be going over to your friend’s,’ she said, but glanced at the chair opposite to her.

‘Jim, you mean?’ He shook his head as he sat down.

‘He’s off on a fortnight’s holiday tomorrow, so he won’t want me around now.’ Automatically Dave’s eyes wandered to the small bungalow which stood all on its own in a lush, flower-filled garden. Only the lights could be discerned from here, but these were on in every room and Dave smiled faintly as she added, ‘They’ll be busy packing. Betty’s so excited at the idea of bringing back their daughter.’

Gail looked interested.

‘I didn’t know they had a daughter. You’ve spoken of Jim and Betty once or twice, saying what good friends they’ve been to you, but you never mentioned a daughter.’

‘I suppose,’ replied Dave thoughtfully, ‘it’s because I’ve never seen her.’

‘She’s married?’

Dave shook his head.

‘No, she works in Perth. They all lived there until two years ago, but then Jim decided he wanted an outdoor job and he and Betty moved out here, Jim having got the job of stockrider. He was a stockrider in his youth and left the Outback when he met Betty while he was on holiday in Perth. She didn’t want to leave her family, so they bought a house and settled down. Georgina - that’s the daughter - had a splendid job, so she didn’t want to come with them. In any case, there’s nothing here for a girl of eighteen.’ ‘She’s only eighteen?’

‘She was then. She’s twenty now.’

‘She’s coming for a holiday only?’

‘I have an idea they’re going to try to persuade her to stay permanently. She’s been teaching in a private school which has closed down and as the Boss will soon be short of a teacher Georgina could fit in nicely.’

Gail nodded, aware that one of the teachers was leaving next month. She was marrying a grazier from a station two hundred miles away, a man she had met at one of Kane’s shed dances a few months previously.

‘It would be nice for your friends; they sound homely, the sort who like to have their children with them if possible.’ She drifted off into a pensive silence and Dave asked her curiously.

‘Are you dreaming of home, and your parents?’ He seemed faintly disconsolate as the question was asked and Gail looked up with a friendly smiles

‘Yes, Dave, I was.’

‘You’re looking forward to going back?’

She nodded, but not with any enthusiasm,

‘I love it here, but my parents wouldn’t be happy for me to stay, even if that were possible.’

He made no comment and for a long moment there was silence between them.

‘It’s a bit of a muddle, isn’t it?’ he said at last. ‘I said I’d like to get to know you better, and I meant it.’

She swallowed hard.

‘Dave, I don’t think we ought to talk about such things.’

He looked at her through shrewd and frank brown, eyes.

‘You like me, just a little, don’t you, Gail?’ The question was out and she coloured delicately. Somehow she had known that it was bound to come some time. And she had to answer truthfully and the answer was yes. He nodded his head as if he had never doubted what her answer would be. ‘What are we going to do, then?’ He was brisk all at once, and she frowned as the great difficulties crowded in upon her.

‘It’s better that we don’t talk about it,’ she said again. ‘I’m Kane’s wife as far as everyone is concerned—’

‘Everyone?’ he cut in swiftly.

‘Kane’s giving a party for my birthday and all his friends will be here. I wonder if Kane took an assessment of all the difficulties that must result from this deception.’

‘He’ll have something ready. I believe in your supposition that he’ll just spread it about that you became fed up with our way of life and deserted him again.’

‘It seems the only way that I can visualize.’

‘But us ...?’ Brief the query and Gail had no answer to it. ‘There must be some way in which we can get together - eventually, I mean.’ Another pause while he waited once again for her to speak. She shrugged her shoulders and glanced at her watch. It was time she was going to see Kane, but she had not the heart to terminate this interlude and send Dave away to spend the time brooding, on his own somewhere in the garden or upstairs in his room. ‘I could follow you to England,’ he suggested, but now it seemed to Gail that he was moving far too fast for her.

‘I don’t know if I want that,’ she had to say. ‘After all, we’ve not really had a chance to get to know one another, let alone ...’ She trailed off, her colour rising again. Dave’s forehead creased in a frown.

‘We must find an opportunity of seeing one another just occasionally.’

‘We see one another several times each day,’ she reminded him.

‘You know what I mean, Gail,’ he returned almost angrily. ‘I mean - alone!’

‘It would be far too risky. Kane would be furious if scandal and gossip resulted from anything I did.’

‘I can understand that,’ he replied with a little less heat. ‘All the same, you’re not married, and therefore he should realize that you’re free to do as you wish.’ ‘I’m free, yes, but I’ve made him a promise to pose as his wife. I must keep that promise, Dave; I must - it wouldn’t say much for my integrity were I to let him down.’

He had to agree, but she saw that he was thinking hard, endeavouring to find a way out of the difficulties. ‘Dave,’ she said at length, taking another glance at her watch, ‘I have to see Kane about my party. He says there are things to discuss—’ She looked apologetically at him. ‘I’m sorry ...’

He smiled to put her mind at ease and she thought again what a nice person he was.

‘All right, Gail.’ He paused and his eyes wandered. ‘You’ve noticed how the colour of the MacDonnell Ranges changes according to the time of the day?’ he said, diverted. She looked first at him and then at the dark outline of the mountains. He was in a sort of brooding mood and she recalled her own conclusion that he was a lonely man.

‘Yes, I’ve noticed. They’re flame at dawn and change throughout the day until, at night, they are a deep purple like this.’ She allowed her eyes to travel along the summits. ‘They’re far more beautiful when the moon is out.’

He nodded absently, and then looked at her.

‘I must let you go,’ he said, and they both got up from their chairs. ‘Good night, Gail.’

‘Good night.’

He followed her into the room, then stopped. ‘Tell Leta I’ll be free tomorrow at four o’clock. We’ll go riding.’

Gail nodded and promised to mention this to Leta.

‘She loves riding with you,’ she murmured, and again he nodded his head.

‘I could make something of her.’ His lips went tight and suddenly Gail’s heart contracted. She said impulsively,

‘Dave, how is it that you haven’t married before now?’

He turned his head to look full into her face.

‘How often does a man meet girls in a place like this?’ he asked.

‘But you have holidays.’

He seemed to laugh within himself - a short and humourless laugh.

‘A couple of weeks now and then. What am I supposed to do — rush around taking a look at any girl who happens to cross my path, eyeing her with a view to making a snap decision and asking her to marry me?’

Although frowning heavily at his sarcasm, Gail allowed it to pass, understanding and compassion rising within her.

‘It’s difficult, I can see that.’ She forced a smile to her lips as she added, ‘At my party - you might meet someone there ...’ And then she trailed off, aware of her lack of tact.

‘I don’t happen to want to meet anyone now,’ he told her seriously. ‘I want - somehow - to find a solution to this problem of our not being able to see one another alone. You’ve admitted that you like me and that’s a beginning. We’ll find a way,’ he ended, and before she could make any comment he had said good night again and turned back on to the verandah.

She was looking troubled when she entered her ‘husband’s’ room and she saw his eyes narrow slightly. He was sitting comfortably in a deep armchair but rose on her entry.

‘Sit down, Gail.’ He drew a chair forward and she took possession of it. He was obviously in a mellow mood and she did wish she could have opened up and told him what was on her mind.

‘No,’ she lied, ‘it’s only that I’m feeling rather tired.’

‘You are? You’d rather leave this until tomorrow evening?’

She shook her head at this.

‘I’m not too tired to do what’s necessary.’

‘There isn’t anything to do, exactly,’ he smiled, sitting down again. ‘But naturally we must talk about your party. You’ll be wanting to know what kind of people are coming. You will also have to be briefed, of course.’ He was expressing faint amusement and she found herself smiling in response even though she murmured something about being scared. ‘Nonsense,’ he said, passing that off on the instant, ‘Why should you feel scared? You have me there for support.’

‘Meeting so many strangers ... and also, I’m going to feel strange because we’re supposed to have been separated. Everyone will believe that it was all my fault.’

The slate-grey eyes opened very wide.

‘Why on earth should they believe that?’

‘Well... They’re going to think that I wouldn’t face the life out here.’ The window behind him was wide open and she allowed her eyes to travel to the dark void that was the plain.’What else can they think?’

Kane answered quietly,

‘I’ve already been in touch with everyone who matters - over the air, of course. I’ve explained that it was all my fault—’

‘Did they believe you?’ The question was out before she realized just what had prompted it. Kane seemed far too honourable a man to marry and then decide it was all a mistake. And yet ... he was not an honourable man; this had been proved.

‘Why should they disbelieve me?’ he asked her curiously, and, when she offered no reply, ‘I’m a cad, remember - the type to make a mistake like that and then with a shrug of my shoulders forget all about it.’