Beyond the Sunset Page 13

  ‘You’ll still be busy. You’ve your own housework to do.’

  ‘Kevin does quite a bit, the lighter jobs anyway, and you know we take our washing and do it with the Southerhams’.’

  ‘How is Kevin?’

  Cassandra’s expression saddened and she said in a low voice, ‘He’s always cheerful, but you can’t help noticing he has more difficulty doing some things and gets tired more easily.’

  ‘Francis is the same. I’ve heard him coughing sometimes during the night, now he’s sleeping on the veranda. Yet Livia always stays cheerful. She’s a wonderful wife to him. It makes me ashamed that I’ve let my homesickness get me down.’

  ‘You seem happier than you were.’

  ‘Yes, but . . . well, the feeling of loss is still there. Something inside me yearns for England. I can’t believe you don’t feel the same.’

  ‘I do miss some things, but I’m enjoying life here and I love the warmer climate.’

  ‘I don’t! It’s such a relief that the weather’s cooler now.’

  ‘Kevin says the winter rains will start any time and it’ll get quite chilly. How did the riding go today?’

  Pandora’s face lit up. ‘Wonderful.’

  She chatted to her sister for a while, then had to leave and hurry back to work. What would she do when she didn’t have Cassandra working with her most days? Go mad, probably. Amiable as they were, the Southerhams were always disorganised and would change their minds without warning after Pandora had planned and sometimes started another task. So she was often prevented from working efficiently, which gave her no pride in what she was doing.

  9

  As the man in the garden finished his pipe and knocked out the embers against his boot sole, it began to rain. He hurried inside and Zachary shepherded Leo quickly out of the shed. The chain clanked at the slightest movement and he tried to wrap it more securely in the overcoat. But it was still attached to Leo’s ankle and someone was bound to notice that once they were out in the streets. And what would they think of a man carrying an overcoat in such weather instead of wearing it?

  The rain grew markedly heavier and he looked up to see charcoal-coloured clouds massed overhead. No sign of any breaks in the lowering mass. Perhaps the worsening weather might help them get away because who’d willingly be out on a day like this?

  As they turned a corner a few streets on, however, Leo bumped into a man and let the overcoat slip to the ground.

  The man stopped dead, looked down at the chain and then stared at Zachary. ‘Helping him escape, are you?’

  ‘Only from an employer who’s treated the poor fellow badly. He’s not a convict but is being treated like one because he’s not – um, quick-thinking. You can see for yourself how badly he’s been beaten.’

  All hung in the balance for a moment or two then the man looked at Leo’s childlike expression and gave them a wry smile. ‘Well, I was a convict once and one of the guards treated me badly, so I know what it feels like to be beaten. You need help if you’re to get him away, though. They’re sticklers about masters and servants here, only it’s the masters’ rights the law supports all the time, not the servants’. They put one fellow in jail a while back for trying to leave his employment against his master’s wishes. And he wasn’t a convict or ticket of leave man.’

  Zachary drew in a long, shuddering breath of relief that this man wasn’t going to try to stop them. ‘I’d be grateful for any help you can give me.’

  ‘We can’t stand out here in the rain talking about it. Look, I live just along the road. Come to my house. I must be mad, but I’ll see if I can help you. Only hide those damned chains and stop them clanking.’

  He shook his head as they tried in vain to do this. ‘No good. You two walk behind me. If anyone stops you, I’ll hurry on and pretend you’re not with me. I can’t risk people thinking I’m involved in something against the law. I’ve got my ticket of leave now and I don’t want to go back into jail.’

  He led the way at a brisk pace and to Zachary’s relief, the people they passed in the street were more concerned to get out of the rain than investigate the faint clanking sound, though one or two did stare in amazement at the coat hanging over Leo’s arm on such a day instead of protecting him from the downpour.

  After a few minutes their guide stopped at a narrow weather-board house crammed between others of similar size. He flung open the front door and hurried inside, beckoning to them to follow with one hand. ‘It’s not grand but it keeps the weather off.’

  They were just in time. Outside thunder boomed overhead, lightning flashed and even heavier rain beat down on the tin roof, producing a drumming sound that made it necessary to raise their voices to talk.

  ‘It’s just coming into the rainy season, first real rain of the year,’ their rescuer said. ‘Give me the cooler weather any day.’ He held out one hand. ‘Fred Moore.’

  Zachary shook the hand, introducing himself and Leo.

  ‘I’ll get the fire burning up and make us a cup of tea while you tell me your story.’ Fred put more wood on the smouldering embers and swung the soot-blackened kettle over the flames on its chain.

  He listened in silence as Zachary explained what had been happening then looked at Leo. ‘Poor sod. I hate shackles. They shackled me when I was a convict and they do it to the blacks too. I’ve still got the scars on my ankles. I’d not chain an animal like that, let alone a human being.’ He stood up. ‘Well, Leo my lad, let’s get that thing off you, then we’ll bathe those cuts and bruises. That fellow must have laid into you good and hard.’

  ‘He slapped me.’ Leo cradled one hand against his bruised cheek. ‘When I hit him back, he hit me with a stick till I fell down.’

  Fred didn’t take long to saw off the shackles. ‘I’ll throw this damned thing into the river after dark. More important, what are we going to do with you two?’ He looked at Zachary as he added, ‘You’ll need to get him right away from Perth or they’ll recapture him. Do you have anywhere to go outside the city?’

  So Zachary explained his mission.

  Fred let out a mirthless laugh. ‘Good luck to these sisters, wherever they are. I wish someone would leave me a bloody fortune.’ He stared into the fire for a moment or two, then said, ‘I think I can find a fellow to guide you, but you’ll need to hire horses. Have you enough money?’

  ‘Yes. But will they hire them to a stranger who’s going out of town?’

  ‘It’s a bit of a problem, but I know someone who might help us. Leave that to me. Can your friend ride?’

  They looked at Leo, who was holding his hands out towards the warmth and seemed too weary to pay attention to what they were saying.

  ‘Can you ride a horse, Leo?’

  His face brightened. ‘Yes. I like riding. I like horses.’

  Zachary grimaced. ‘It’s me who’s not got much skill at riding. I’ve ridden my cousin’s horse around his farm, but I’d not call myself an experienced rider, not by any means.’

  ‘You’ll be sore and stiff the first few days, then. But the only way to get around the colony is by horse or cart, and horse is faster. You could pay for a place in the mail wagon that goes to Albany, if that’s where you’re heading, but it only goes every month or so. Besides, you need to find this place where the girl’s working first and there’s no saying how far away from the main road that is. The mail wagon wouldn’t wait around for you, not even for half a day.’

  ‘No, I can see that. Well, I can face being sore from riding. If I pay you for your time will you help us hire horses and find us a guide?’

  Fred brightened. ‘Yes. If I was a good man, I’d do it out of kindness, but I’m in need of money, so I’ll ask you for five pounds because I’m taking a bit of a risk helping you. But for that, I’ll make sure you get a guide you can rely on and he’ll help you get horses. Where exactly is this place you’re looking for?’

  ‘All I have is the address.’

  ‘Tell it to me.’

  ‘
If you have pen and paper, I’ll copy the address out for you.’

  Fred let out another snort of laughter. ‘I’m not so good with the reading, and I’m even worse at writing. Just tell me the address and I’ll remember it.’

  Later that day he brought back a taciturn man called Bert, who nodded when introduced then listened to Zachary’s explanation in silence.

  Fred nudged his friend to speak. ‘You know where they want to go, don’t you?’

  Bert nodded. ‘More or less. It’ll be one of the new farms in the foothills, but someone round there will know where it is.’

  ‘We need to hire horses and we’d like to set off as early as possible tomorrow to get Leo out of Perth before most people are up and about,’ Zachary said. ‘Can you arrange that?’

  Bert frowned. ‘Can’t get ready for tomorrow morning. Have to get supplies as well as horses. Day after would be better.’

  Zachary sighed. More delays.

  When Bert had gone, he looked at Fred. ‘Can you let Leo sleep here until we leave?’

  ‘If he doesn’t mind a blanket on the floor.’

  They looked at Leo.

  ‘You’ll be all right here with Fred, won’t you?’

  Leo looked anxious. ‘I want to stay with you.’

  ‘It’d not be safe at my hotel. Sayrson might find you. You stay with Fred. I’ll come round to see you first thing tomorrow and we’ll set off the morning after.’

  ‘Promise.’

  ‘I promise.’ He slipped Fred some more money. ‘Get him something to eat. Now, what do I do with my trunk?’ he wondered aloud. ‘We can’t take that on horseback.’

  ‘Pack what you can in the saddlebags and send the rest down to Albany on the coastal steamer,’ Fred said. ‘What about your things, Leo?’

  He scowled. ‘Mr Sayrson took my bag and trunk. He said I’d not need good clothes and he was going to sell them. I’ve only got these clothes.’

  Zachary turned to Fred again. ‘We’ll have to buy him some more.’

  Another grin said his host expected to make additional money from this. ‘I happen to know a second-hand clothes dealer.’

  Zachary walked back to the hotel, shoulders hunched against the rain, trying to avoid the puddles that lay everywhere, in spite of the sandy soil. By now his boots were so wet they squelched as he walked and he was shivering.

  Was he doing the right thing? He could only hope so.

  Ralph Dawson went out after dark, collar turned up and hat pulled down so that he wouldn’t be easily recognised. He knocked on a door a few streets away. ‘Could I speak to your husband, Mrs Worth?’

  ‘Come in, do.’

  ‘I’d rather have a quick word here.’

  Marshall Worth came hurrying to the door. ‘Mr Dawson! Is something wrong?’

  ‘No. I wonder if you’d come round to my house. I may have some more work for you.’

  The man’s face lit up. Ralph felt sorry for him. Marshall had been an overlooker in a small spinning mill until the lack of cotton closed the town’s mills. Now, he worked at breaking stones, or doing anything he could to earn an extra penny or two.

  ‘I’ll come with you now.’

  ‘No. I don’t want us to be seen together. It may sound strange, but wait a few minutes then come to our back door and don’t let anyone see you. It’s all right – it’s nothing dishonest. I’ll explain later.’ He left at once, hurrying home by another route. He felt a bit foolish, acting like this, but he wanted his dealings with Marshall kept secret and the other man’s house was too small and crowded with children to be sure of that.

  There was a knock on his back door shortly after he arrived home. He gestured to a chair. ‘Would you like a cup of tea and a scone as we talk?’

  The other hesitated.

  ‘This is no time to be proud,’ Ralph said quietly.

  ‘Thank you.’

  When they were seated, Ralph explained about the shop, the missing heirs and the temporary manager.

  ‘Never trust a Prebble,’ Marshall said at once. ‘If you lived on certain streets you’d find people afraid of all that family, and though Harry Prebble works in a respectable occupation, there are rumours about him, too.’

  ‘What sort of rumours?’

  ‘The maid who worked in the Blakes’ house before Dot was sacked for immorality, was expecting a child. She refused to say who the father was and drowned herself in the mill reservoir – only I happen to know the man who pulled her body out and he said it looked as if she’d been beaten. I saw her myself with Harry Prebble, not just once but several times. She never said his name, mind, so we can’t be sure. I was surprised when you put him in charge of the shop.’

  ‘There was no one else suitable. He seemed to have a clean slate there and I can’t deny that he knows his job. But just in case . . . We want to appoint someone to work in the shop and keep an eye on what Prebble’s doing. Would you be willing to do that?’

  ‘I’d jump at the chance.’ Marshall laughed. ‘I’ve enough friends to be sure I won’t end up in the reservoir. But I know nothing about shop work.’

  ‘You can learn.’

  ‘Won’t he guess I’m there to spy on him?’

  ‘Probably. But I’ll interview a few other men at the same time.’ Ralph hesitated again. ‘There’s the question of clothes. Do you have anything smarter than that?’

  Marshall shook his head, embarrassment flooding his cheeks with colour. ‘We had to pawn my best things to feed the children. Even so, our youngest died. Too weak to fight an illness she was, the doctor said.’

  Ralph patted his hand. He’d heard many stories like this one. ‘Then I’ll give you some money and you can get something suitable from the second-hand clothes dealer.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Very sure.’

  And suddenly his childhood friend was weeping, strangled sobs that shook the man’s whole body.

  Hard times indeed, Ralph thought as he patted Marshall’s shoulder, when a strong man like this was driven to near desperation.

  The following morning, Zachary was back at Fred’s house by nine o’clock. He was relieved to see Leo looking a lot happier.

  ‘Your friend certainly likes his food,’ Fred said with a smile.

  ‘I was hungry,’ Leo said. ‘That bad man only gave me bread and water. Said I had to earn more.’

  The other men exchanged disgusted glances.

  ‘Mean sod,’ Fred muttered.

  Bert arrived a few minutes later and took Zachary to a small livery stables whose owner he knew. They paid for the hire of three riding horses and two pack horses. The owner said he trusted Bert to bring the animals back to Perth afterwards and the two men shook hands on it.

  ‘They’re not such good nags, but they’ll get us there,’ Bert said once they were back at Fred’s house. ‘My friend wouldn’t let his best horses go so far away, even with me to keep an eye on them.’

  Zachary wasn’t as sure about the staying power of such sorry-looking animals but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

  He arranged to send his trunk on the coastal steamer and went back to see Fred again.

  It was wrong to spend the money Mr Featherworth had given him on rescuing Leo, he knew that but couldn’t help it. To treat a man as a slave just because he was slow-thinking, made his gorge rise, as did the needless cruelty. It wasn’t necessary anyway. If you were kind to Leo, he’d work his heart out for you. Look how he’d cared for the animals on the ship. ‘Can we be ready to leave first thing in the morning?’

  ‘It’s a Sunday.’

  ‘What does that matter? We need to get Leo out of town.’

  ‘All right. Better fetch your things from the hotel now. We’ll set off just before dawn. Don’t worry. I’ll see your trunk and bag safely on the coastal steamer for you on Monday.’ Bitterness rang in his voice. ‘I only steal when I’m hungry and you’re paying me enough to eat well for a few weeks. I won’t cheat you.’

  A more unlikely
guardian angel it’d be hard to find, Zachary thought as he strode back to the hotel for his things. The rain had stopped for the moment and the sky was looking brighter, but there was a moist chill to the air that had him shivering.

  He still had to find the Blake sisters and get them to Albany in time to catch the mail ship – and this in a colony without railways. He didn’t want to wait until July for the next mail ship or the end of the year for a ship from Fremantle.

  What he was going to do with Leo when he left, he didn’t know, only that he couldn’t leave him in Perth to be ill-treated, just could not. He’d have to pay back what he’d spent on Leo, however long it took him, even if it meant continuing to work at the shop under Harry Prebble.

  Sometimes doing what was right wasn’t the most comfortable thing.

  They set off at first light, with Leo dressed in a motley collection of garments. There were the three mounts and two packhorses carrying their possessions, plus food for them and the horses.

  ‘These poor animals are old and tired,’ Leo said disapprovingly. ‘Aren’t there any better ones?’

  ‘Only these,’ Bert said.

  ‘We’ll have to be kind to the poor things.’

  Bert rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly as if praying for patience.

  ‘Will we be able to buy more food on the way?’ Zachary asked.

  ‘Yeah.’

  Getting information from their guide was like chiselling words out of stone, Zachary decided after a while and stopped trying to chat.

  Bert had given Leo the ugliest of the horses to ride, an animal which had bared its teeth at Zachary when he approached it. It had let Leo handle it happily enough, though, nudging him for further attention.

  ‘You’re right,’ Bert admitted after a while. ‘He does know horses.’

  The animal Zachary was riding refused to do anything but amble along.

  After an hour they stopped to let him get down and stretch his legs. His thighs in particular were already aching from the unaccustomed exercise.