Читать книгу From Orchards to Outback - Tracey Friday - Страница 15

Elsa helped Mrs McKinnley serve up beef stew and potatoes when everyone was present, with the exception of Mrs Heppler who was taking Emily a tray of food.

“So,” said Jack, as they tucked into their dinner, “What have you been doing today Maggie?”

“I’ve had the grand tour today courtesy of your mother and Ted. It’s a huge place.”

“It is but you’ll get used to it. We’ll give you a few more days to settle in and adjust then Sylvia and I will take you down to the far paddocks to show you more of the land and to explain what we do here.”

“I’ll look forward to that, thank you. It will be good to learn a little more about how the Station is run.”

“That’s good, Maggie, I’m pleased,” said Mr McKinnley senior, “you are a welcome addition to the Station.”

Mrs Heppler re-entered the kitchen and took a seat at the table.

“Thanks Mr McKinnley, appreciate that. Mrs Heppler,” Maggie turned to face her, “I almost forgot to ask, did Slimeball … sorry, Norman, come in pursuit?”

Mrs Heppler blushed somewhat and the others around the table burst out laughing. “That’s my fault everyone,” she said, “I only refer to Emily’s ex-boyfriend as Slimeball, which is an apt description because he is, Maggie will tell you that. But no, Maggie he hasn’t turned up. Yet.”

“After Mrs Heppler’s radio call we were on standby for a while, even had someone looking out in shifts throughout the night in case he did come here,” said Mr McKinnley.

“Damn, it doesn’t make sense at all,” said Mrs Heppler, shaking her head. “I know he will turn up. I just know it, can feel it in my water. But the good thing is that everyone is on alert. And remember everyone,” she looked around the table, “he is dangerous, so no heroes. If you see someone like him approaching, ring that bloody bell outside the kitchen door.”

“And Emily?” asked Maggie. When Mrs Heppler looked at her blankly she continued, “Surely Emily knows that he may still turn up?”

“She’s scared out of her wits, but I downplayed it and said he would have turned up by now. Better for her to concentrate on recovery, so I think it best that she isn’t concerned with this right now,” said Mrs Heppler.

Everyone was silent. Apart from the cicadas, you could hear a pin drop.

“With all due respect, I disagree,” said Maggie, breaking the silence.

Sylvia looked with interest at Maggie. No one ever disagreed with Mrs Heppler, not even she. This would be interesting.

“Sorry, Mrs Heppler,” continued Maggie, “sorry everyone, but surely Emily should know? What if he suddenly turns up? She must be aware that it is still a possibility that she isn’t out of the woods yet, she should be prepared.”

After what seemed like a long uncomfortable silence, Mr McKinnley said, “I agree. Maggie is right, Emily mustn’t rest in a false sense of security, it could do more harm than good.”

“Looking at it that way, I agree too,” said Mrs Heppler. “I’m big enough to admit when I’m wrong. I will talk to her later on. Thank you, Maggie. Never be afraid to speak up and don’t apologise for saying what’s on your mind. I like that about you. Although… I will either listen or tell you to bugger off.” She smiled.

Everyone laughed. Jack looked across at Maggie with admiration. Mrs Heppler seemed to be only one who noticed the look and she thought they would be ones to watch.

Sylvia looked disappointed. She had thought there might be an argument but it had fizzled out like a damp stick of dynamite. She upped and left the table without a word to anyone. Maggie noted her departure and again thought that she would be a challenge to get to know.

During the early years, when Maggie had first begun corresponding with the household at McKinnley Station, Sylvia had been the only one who hadn’t really contributed. She had written a sentence here and there, but now Maggie wondered if it had been to appease the adults.

In later years, she hadn’t written at all. Mrs Heppler had mentioned that Sylvia was a loner, so perhaps Maggie would get more out of her when they were due to ride down to the far paddocks in a few days. While nicknames were still afresh in her mind she decided to allot her own to Sylvia and smiled when she thought that Coco would suit.

After Maggie had helped with the washing up she visited Emily who was sitting up in bed and looked a little brighter.

“How are you feeling, Emily?” Maggie asked.

“Much better thanks. It’s still a bit painful but nothing like before. I’ve managed to have a short walk around but the last few days feel like a blur. Last thing I remember was lunch out in the bush and the next I am here.”

“That’s really good about the walk and that you don’t remember and no offence, but I wish to un-remember. They were the scariest couple of days of my life, scarier than being on the rough seas with only a bucket of sick to keep me company.”

“That sounds fun!” They both burst out laughing until Emily clutched her stomach. “Please don’t,” she said between laughs, “it hurts more when I laugh.”

“Then I’d better not visit you for another two weeks.” Maggie winked and left Emily who was still trying not to laugh. As she made her way down the corridor she heard Emily call out, “Come back soon, Maggie.”

Maggie smiled to herself. She knew they would become good friends. As she entered the kitchen she saw that Sylvia had returned and from the frosty look on her face, Maggie wished Emily a rapid recovery.

“Mellow,” said Mrs McKinnley, “what are you doing at my kitchen door at this time of day?” Mellow stood with his hat in his huge hands looking down at Mrs McKinnley like he was a naughty schoolboy. “Is there a problem?” she asked.

“No, no problem Mrs McKinnley, just wondering...”

“Just wondering…?”

“Just wondering if Miss Emily would like to sit with me a while on the verandah on the west side. It’s quite cool in the shade and she could read if she wishes.”

Mrs McKinnley tried hard to mask a smile as Mrs Heppler stopped stirring a big pot of stew and walked over to the door. Mellow was in his late twenties, a huge man of solid muscle and he almost filled the entire doorway. But at this moment he looked more like a big lost puppy than the man mountain he was. Mrs Heppler thought she would have a little fun with him.

“Hello Mellow,” she said brightly.

“Mrs Heppler.”

“Fine day isn’t it?”

“Yes, very fine,” he said, as he shuffled his feet.

“It’s ten in the morning.”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve been out since breakfast mending the fence at Oak Paddock is that right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“I see. Hard work that is.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Very hard and dirty work, sure you’d build up a sweat in no time doing that.”

“Not sure where this is going ma’am.” He was becoming a little nervous as he passed his hat from one hand to the other and back again.

“But here you are Mellow, not with the other men at smoko but all washed and brushed enquiring about my Emily. Do you want to court my daughter?”

Mellow looked dumbfounded and flustered at what to say. He wasn’t used to being questioned like this, usually it was the other way around, given his size and reputation.

“Come on in lad,” gestured Mrs Heppler as she smiled. “Take a seat and Elsa will get you a cup of tea.”

Mellow moseyed into the kitchen with a sigh of relief. He did like Emily. They had spoken a few times during the past week and he thought they seemed to hit it off quite well.

If Mrs Heppler was honest, she liked Mellow. His reputation didn’t bother her, she knew that he seldom lost his temper for the wrong reason, but he had a good heart and morals. The downside was that he was judged too harshly because of his size. Plus, any man was better than Slimeball.

“You don’t have to answer that Mellow,” said Mrs Heppler, “I was just larking with you. No harm done, and it was kind of you to think that Emily would like some company on the verandah. She’s still recovering as you know and if truth be told she’s beginning to grow a little bored. We’ll set up a tea tray and if you would carry it around, I will let her know where you are. Okay by you?”

“Thank you, Mrs Heppler, I would like that,” he said grinning like the cat that got the cream. The women smiled in admiration as he left the kitchen. Here was this mountain of a man who had cleaned himself up in the middle of the day, carrying a tea tray and warm scones out towards the verandah. They thought it was very sweet.

“Can sense romance in the air,” smiled Elsa, as she poured the ladies a fresh cup of tea.

“Think we agree,” said Mrs McKinnley. “How do you feel about that Mrs Heppler?”

“I feel fine about it and that’s the truth. Emily has been bored lately and when she’s fully recovered I half expect her to bend my ear about getting back to the city. But the danger with Slimeball makes my blood run cold to think what could happen if he were to get control over her again. At this current time, I think old Mellow here could be the answer to both our prayers. He is more than strong enough to take care of Slimeball, also he is happy here at the Station. And if Emily likes him too then she may change her mind about going back to the city. How perfect for me that would be?”

“Perfect for everyone Mrs Heppler,” said Elsa.

“Totally agree,” said Mrs McKinnley, “we’ll keep an unobtrusive eye on those two.”

And not just those two, thought Mrs Heppler, keeping that thought well and truly under her hat.

“Talking of romance,” said Mrs McKinnley as both women looked at her, “I must speak to Jack. I am on tenderhooks wondering when he will propose to Kara. We think it may be at the rodeo only a couple of months away and there will be plenty of organising to do. I have been radioing Mrs Sampson and they are very keen to get things moving and hopefully there will be a wedding by the end of the year. It’s very exciting.”

From the look Jack gave Maggie when they were introduced and over dinner the other evening, Mrs Heppler thought that she had more chance of giving birth to quads than Jack marrying Kara Sampson. But, she also kept this under her hat. If this keeps up, she thought, there won’t be enough room for my own head under my hat!

“It will take months to prepare and plan the cooking,” said Elsa excitedly. She always liked to spend time in the library looking through Mrs McKinnley’s magazines for new recipe ideas. Elsa was in wedding mode; she loved the joyous occasion and the organising. It would be a welcome change from cooking the usual hearty meals for hungry men who didn’t care what the food looked like as long as it was filling and edible.

Elsa was in her forties, average height with a full-bodied figure and proud of her aboriginal ancestry. She had started helping out in the kitchen during the shearing season then she had stayed on to look after Jack and Sylvia when they were small children as Mrs McKinnley had found it hard to cope in the early years.

Elsa had visited her family as often as she was able and more so when Jack and Sylvia were old enough to take care of themselves. When her husband suddenly passed away, Mrs McKinnley had asked her to stay on at the homestead on a permanent basis helping out in the kitchen. Elsa and her husband hadn’t had any children, so with the elders’ approval she decided to stay.

Elsa loved Jack and Sylvia as if they were her own children as she tried her best to fill the gap left by Mrs McKinnley. She never held any ill feeling toward Mrs McKinnley as she knew that she was having a hard time adjusting to two small children as well as running a busy homestead.

Equally, Jack and Sylvia knew no different and never questioned why Elsa did so much more with them than their own mother. It was just the way it was. Jack and Sylvia enjoyed learning about aboriginal life and were enthralled by Elsa’s stories of her ancestors as well as learning a great deal about how to survive out in the bush with little or no provisions.

It was also in the early years when an almost unspoken arrangement was formed allowing Elsa and Mr and Mrs McKinnley to work together amicably without anyone being aware. Or, so they thought.