Read Online A HAZARD OF HEARTS by Frances Burke - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Frances Burke
Ads: Link
back home. Here we all
start equal. Self-government will bring with it the chance for men of intelligence
and integrity who have the good of this young country at heart.’ He stopped
abruptly. ‘You must pardon me for haranguing you like this, Miss Ballard. I’ll
descend from my podium immediately.’
‘No, no. Go on. I need to talk, to listen to new
ideas. It’s been so long... And I like to hear someone express commitment. My
father believed this colony would one day head a nation of strong, fearless men
and women. He wanted to live to see that day.’ She faltered.
‘You’re grieving for him, still. I’m sorry for
your loss, amongst all your other tribulations.’ Paul got up to fetch a meaty
bone for Pepper.
The little brown dog gazed up at him with adoration
and fell to his breakfast. Paul pulled the floppy brown ears gently, spoke a
few words in an under-voice, then returned to his place, saying briskly to
Elly, ‘Speaking of tribulations, what is your attitude towards the people who abused
you and drove you out to die?’
She gave him a scornful look. ‘My attitude is,
as you would expect, one of anger and great disappointment. One likes to be
appreciated, not execrated. However, thoughts of revenge are childish and
benefit no-one. I have to make a new life in a new place and put The Settlement
behind me.’
‘I agree.’ He leaned back against a handy
sapling, crossing his long legs in comfort, relaxing as fully as a man at home
in his own favourite chair.
The niceties of social behaviour had little
place in the bush, reflected Elly, settling herself on the bed-roll. She
wriggled her bare toes and grinned privately. Time enough to resume boots and
propriety when she arrived back in civilization. She looked up to meet Paul’s
speculative gaze.
‘Miss Ballard, circumstances have caused me to
limit my circuit of the townships on this trip. May I offer you my escort to
Sydney Town?’
Elly flushed. ‘Has my plight influenced your decision,
Mr Gascoigne? I shouldn’t like to think you had abandoned your journey for such
a reason. I could quite easily find employment in the next settlement you
visit.’
‘No doubt your skills would be welcome there. Yet,
would you not prefer to begin a new life in completely different surroundings,
away from unhappy memories? I assure you, I had already turned back towards
town.’ His half-smile said far more than words, telling her that he understood
her dilemma, knew how relief warred with chagrin at her position, underlined by
her anxiety not to burden a stranger.
He understood entirely too much, thought Elly. It
irked her to be so beholden, but what choice was there? She’d best be gracious
and find some way to even the balance later.
‘I accept your offer with gratitude. However,
you must let me earn my way. Show me how you break camp.’ She reached for her
boots.
~*~
They made an early start before the heat
struck and, despite her sore arm, Elly worked diligently, approving Paul’s
careful loading of the pack-horse, his checks to see that nothing galled the
animal. Finally he mounted Elly behind him on a saddle blanket and led the
pack-horse jingling in the rear. Pepper ran ahead like a forest scout, his questing
nose flushing up birds and lizards and, once, a giant goanna which sent him
into prudent retreat. The great striped lizard eyed him, tongue darting
furiously, then sped up a tall tree, its claws gouging the trunk as easily as knife
blades.
At Paul’s insistence, Elly wore his hat while he
tied a handkerchief about his head over a bunch of damp leaves, and his absurd
appearance helped her to put aside her shyness at his proximity. She’d never
before sat pressed against a strange man’s back and buttocks. The sensation
caused her decidedly mixed reactions. A ladylike withdrawal was hardly
possible, nor even appropriate. Despite her efforts to tidy herself, she felt
that nothing could turn her from a shabby vagabond into the gentlewoman
start equal. Self-government will bring with it the chance for men of intelligence
and integrity who have the good of this young country at heart.’ He stopped
abruptly. ‘You must pardon me for haranguing you like this, Miss Ballard. I’ll
descend from my podium immediately.’
‘No, no. Go on. I need to talk, to listen to new
ideas. It’s been so long... And I like to hear someone express commitment. My
father believed this colony would one day head a nation of strong, fearless men
and women. He wanted to live to see that day.’ She faltered.
‘You’re grieving for him, still. I’m sorry for
your loss, amongst all your other tribulations.’ Paul got up to fetch a meaty
bone for Pepper.
The little brown dog gazed up at him with adoration
and fell to his breakfast. Paul pulled the floppy brown ears gently, spoke a
few words in an under-voice, then returned to his place, saying briskly to
Elly, ‘Speaking of tribulations, what is your attitude towards the people who abused
you and drove you out to die?’
She gave him a scornful look. ‘My attitude is,
as you would expect, one of anger and great disappointment. One likes to be
appreciated, not execrated. However, thoughts of revenge are childish and
benefit no-one. I have to make a new life in a new place and put The Settlement
behind me.’
‘I agree.’ He leaned back against a handy
sapling, crossing his long legs in comfort, relaxing as fully as a man at home
in his own favourite chair.
The niceties of social behaviour had little
place in the bush, reflected Elly, settling herself on the bed-roll. She
wriggled her bare toes and grinned privately. Time enough to resume boots and
propriety when she arrived back in civilization. She looked up to meet Paul’s
speculative gaze.
‘Miss Ballard, circumstances have caused me to
limit my circuit of the townships on this trip. May I offer you my escort to
Sydney Town?’
Elly flushed. ‘Has my plight influenced your decision,
Mr Gascoigne? I shouldn’t like to think you had abandoned your journey for such
a reason. I could quite easily find employment in the next settlement you
visit.’
‘No doubt your skills would be welcome there. Yet,
would you not prefer to begin a new life in completely different surroundings,
away from unhappy memories? I assure you, I had already turned back towards
town.’ His half-smile said far more than words, telling her that he understood
her dilemma, knew how relief warred with chagrin at her position, underlined by
her anxiety not to burden a stranger.
He understood entirely too much, thought Elly. It
irked her to be so beholden, but what choice was there? She’d best be gracious
and find some way to even the balance later.
‘I accept your offer with gratitude. However,
you must let me earn my way. Show me how you break camp.’ She reached for her
boots.
~*~
They made an early start before the heat
struck and, despite her sore arm, Elly worked diligently, approving Paul’s
careful loading of the pack-horse, his checks to see that nothing galled the
animal. Finally he mounted Elly behind him on a saddle blanket and led the
pack-horse jingling in the rear. Pepper ran ahead like a forest scout, his questing
nose flushing up birds and lizards and, once, a giant goanna which sent him
into prudent retreat. The great striped lizard eyed him, tongue darting
furiously, then sped up a tall tree, its claws gouging the trunk as easily as knife
blades.
At Paul’s insistence, Elly wore his hat while he
tied a handkerchief about his head over a bunch of damp leaves, and his absurd
appearance helped her to put aside her shyness at his proximity. She’d never
before sat pressed against a strange man’s back and buttocks. The sensation
caused her decidedly mixed reactions. A ladylike withdrawal was hardly
possible, nor even appropriate. Despite her efforts to tidy herself, she felt
that nothing could turn her from a shabby vagabond into the gentlewoman
Similar Books
