Read Online And Those Who Trespass Against Us by Helen M MacPherson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Helen M MacPherson
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Katherine to hang on.
KATHERINE REMAINED TIGHT-LIPPED during the journey through town, electing to occupy herself with viewing the structures left standing in the main street. The two remaining buildings were also made of stone. One was a bank--its door blown away by the storm. In the place of what must have been two beautiful arched windows were black holes. The building now resembled a blind man, open-mouthed in shock. The next building, unlike the previous, had bars where windows normally would have been, signalling its use as some form of law enforcement structure.
At the end of the street, Catriona steered the wagon around a group of bedraggled trees. She guided the horse toward a structure which surprisingly hadn't suffered the brunt of the storm. The house was an imposing, garish two-story residence, and looked completely out of place in the Australian countryside. Made mainly of red brick, it possessed an iron lace verandah on both levels. Catriona guided the wagon up the gravelled semicircular driveway, halting at the front entrance.
Katherine had barely pivoted in her seat to get off the wagon when Catriona was on the ground beside her, hand extended. "I don't understand," Katherine quietly said. "You let me struggle at the store, but not here? "
"I don't mind some people seeing the more cantankerous side of my nature. But I'll be damned if I'll give a bunch of interfering, beak-nosed old women more fuel for their fire." Catriona motioned with her hand. "Please let me help you down."
She placed her hand into Catriona's gloved one and was gently assisted from the wagon. "Thank you." Katherine's hand lingered in Catriona's. "I expect that's as close to an apology as I'm going to get."
Catriona cleared her throat and removed her hand. "I'll leave you in the hands of the ladies' welcoming committee. There's still a lot of work which needs to be done in town." Catriona consulted her fob watch. "If you don't mind I'll call for you again at, oh, about four-thirty?"
"You mean you're not coming in? Given you and your brother's affluence, I thought you'd be welcomed by such a committee. In fact I'm sure the ladies won't be concerned by you joining them. And, besides, what am I going to talk to them about for such a long time?"
A wry smile tugged at the corners of Catriona's mouth. "I'm sure you'll think of something. As for my staying, to be honest, I wouldn't be caught dead in this viper's nest of gossips. Nor would they welcome my presence. Mind you," she wickedly smiled, "it would be worth it to see the look on their faces. Maybe not on your first visit though. I'm afraid you must go alone. They don't approve of me and I don't approve of their patriarchal attitudes." She placed her timepiece back in her pocket. "We're in Australia, not the mother country, and every person is the same, or at least should be. They should have the right to live their lives as they see fit."
Katherine opened her mouth but then noticed the front door of the house open. The sight of the woman at the top of the stairs was enough for Katherine. "I'm not quite sure what's going on and I'd like some sort of explanation," she whispered. "Now is clearly not the time. I don't like being a pawn in anyone's game and I'd like some answers. And, I don't think four-thirty is such a good idea. Three-thirty will be a better hour to head for home before it's too dark." Katherine hurried to finish as the woman strode down the stairs to greet her.
"Three-thirty it is then." Catriona pulled herself on to the wagon, not waiting to acknowledge the elderly woman, who was also doing her best to ignore Catriona.
Katherine turned toward the woman.
CATRIONA DIDN'T LOOK back. Her mind lingered on Katherine's actions in the store. Katherine's white knuckles, when she had clutched the hat, belied the obvious control she had over her emotions. Catriona crookedly smiled, admiring Katherine's ability to control her anger, which was something she'd never managed
KATHERINE REMAINED TIGHT-LIPPED during the journey through town, electing to occupy herself with viewing the structures left standing in the main street. The two remaining buildings were also made of stone. One was a bank--its door blown away by the storm. In the place of what must have been two beautiful arched windows were black holes. The building now resembled a blind man, open-mouthed in shock. The next building, unlike the previous, had bars where windows normally would have been, signalling its use as some form of law enforcement structure.
At the end of the street, Catriona steered the wagon around a group of bedraggled trees. She guided the horse toward a structure which surprisingly hadn't suffered the brunt of the storm. The house was an imposing, garish two-story residence, and looked completely out of place in the Australian countryside. Made mainly of red brick, it possessed an iron lace verandah on both levels. Catriona guided the wagon up the gravelled semicircular driveway, halting at the front entrance.
Katherine had barely pivoted in her seat to get off the wagon when Catriona was on the ground beside her, hand extended. "I don't understand," Katherine quietly said. "You let me struggle at the store, but not here? "
"I don't mind some people seeing the more cantankerous side of my nature. But I'll be damned if I'll give a bunch of interfering, beak-nosed old women more fuel for their fire." Catriona motioned with her hand. "Please let me help you down."
She placed her hand into Catriona's gloved one and was gently assisted from the wagon. "Thank you." Katherine's hand lingered in Catriona's. "I expect that's as close to an apology as I'm going to get."
Catriona cleared her throat and removed her hand. "I'll leave you in the hands of the ladies' welcoming committee. There's still a lot of work which needs to be done in town." Catriona consulted her fob watch. "If you don't mind I'll call for you again at, oh, about four-thirty?"
"You mean you're not coming in? Given you and your brother's affluence, I thought you'd be welcomed by such a committee. In fact I'm sure the ladies won't be concerned by you joining them. And, besides, what am I going to talk to them about for such a long time?"
A wry smile tugged at the corners of Catriona's mouth. "I'm sure you'll think of something. As for my staying, to be honest, I wouldn't be caught dead in this viper's nest of gossips. Nor would they welcome my presence. Mind you," she wickedly smiled, "it would be worth it to see the look on their faces. Maybe not on your first visit though. I'm afraid you must go alone. They don't approve of me and I don't approve of their patriarchal attitudes." She placed her timepiece back in her pocket. "We're in Australia, not the mother country, and every person is the same, or at least should be. They should have the right to live their lives as they see fit."
Katherine opened her mouth but then noticed the front door of the house open. The sight of the woman at the top of the stairs was enough for Katherine. "I'm not quite sure what's going on and I'd like some sort of explanation," she whispered. "Now is clearly not the time. I don't like being a pawn in anyone's game and I'd like some answers. And, I don't think four-thirty is such a good idea. Three-thirty will be a better hour to head for home before it's too dark." Katherine hurried to finish as the woman strode down the stairs to greet her.
"Three-thirty it is then." Catriona pulled herself on to the wagon, not waiting to acknowledge the elderly woman, who was also doing her best to ignore Catriona.
Katherine turned toward the woman.
CATRIONA DIDN'T LOOK back. Her mind lingered on Katherine's actions in the store. Katherine's white knuckles, when she had clutched the hat, belied the obvious control she had over her emotions. Catriona crookedly smiled, admiring Katherine's ability to control her anger, which was something she'd never managed
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