Beyond the Sunset Read online

  ‘The colony is not at all what I was led to expect.’ There was a bitter twist to Francis’s lips as he walked away.

  Conn didn’t say what he was thinking: at least you had a choice about coming here.

  As much as they could, the men left the sisters alone together that day. The four young women were packing Pandora’s trunk and bag for travelling, not only for the journey south, but for the sea voyage. They spent a lot of time discussing clothes, walking to and fro from the tent to the washing lines, where some garments were still drying. They did their best to iron them in almost impossible circumstances, wanting their sister to look the best she could on the ship.

  When everyone had finished their midday meal, Conn produced the papers he’d drawn up, which the other sisters needed to sign to give Pandora authority to act on their behalf. ‘I thought you’d be the best person to witness their signatures, Mr Southerham, together with Zachary.’

  And so it was done.

  After the meal Reece waited till the others had moved away before looking at Zachary with a very serious expression. ‘You’ll take great care of Pandora, won’t you? She’ll be upset about leaving her sisters.’

  ‘I know. And you don’t need to worry. I’ll guard her with my life, if necessary.’

  ‘I doubt it’ll come to that, but we both feel we can trust you.’

  ‘In return, I’ll ask you to look after Leo when he returns from Albany. He’s a gentle soul.’

  ‘Of course I will. He’s actually a very useful sort of fellow to have here.’

  Reece went back to work and Zachary sat on, taking in everything he saw. When he got back, Hallie would want to know every detail. His eyes kept going back to the shack: another of these primitive houses and so isolated from other dwellings. How could anyone want to live like this? His own home, humble by most English standards, was a palace in comparison.

  He’d write about this visit in his diary, which was quite a long document by now. He was looking forward to getting home again, missed modern amenities like running water, gas lighting in the shop, railways and newspapers.

  But it had been a wonderful chance to see something of the world, and he’d see even more on the way back, since they would probably be returning via Suez and Gibraltar.

  The day seemed to pass all too quickly. As the sun sank lower in the sky and the piles of neatly folded clothes vanished into the trunk and portmanteau, Conn, who was sitting on the veranda with the Southerhams, glanced surreptitiously at his pocket watch.

  Francis noticed and looked at the sky. ‘It’s getting late.’

  ‘Yes. I’ve been dreading this.’ Conn went across to the group of women. ‘I’m sorry, but it’s time we were leaving. With such poor roads, we need to travel by daylight.’

  ‘Time for a cup of tea first?’ Livia asked.

  He hesitated, then shrugged. ‘Just a quick one.’

  ‘I’ll make it,’ she said. ‘Sit down with your sisters, Pandora.’

  The four young women sat down on the rough wooden benches on either side of the table. They didn’t talk, just sat together, perhaps for the last time ever. Once Pandora took hold of Cassandra’s hand, looked down at it and gave it a quick squeeze, then let go and wiped her eyes. A little later, Maia leaned across to give Pandora a hug.

  They all looked up as Livia said, ‘Tea’s ready.’

  The men went across to join them, but it was a silent group who sipped their drinks.

  In the end Conn decided this was only prolonging the agony. ‘We’ll be leaving now. I’ll come back for the other horses tomorrow, Southerham.’ He went to tie two of the hired horses to the back of his cart then helped the twins up into it.

  Pandora walked along beside the cart to the bottom of the slope. As she stopped there to watch them drive off, she burst into tears, hearing Maia begin sobbing, seeing Xanthe hold her twin.

  Who would there be to hold her from now on? Pandora wondered. Was she doing the right thing, going back? How did you know?

  It seemed a long time before Pandora got to sleep that night. She’d hated sleeping in this tent, but now, perversely, she didn’t want to leave it. Who knew what would happen to her on such a long journey?

  She wanted to weep, but couldn’t. She’d shed so many tears today she seemed to have none left. Lying in the darkness, she listened to the night sounds outside, worrying about how she’d cope on her sisters’ behalf, having to deal with so much money and run a grocery store. What did she know of such things?

  When someone shook her, she jerked awake to see a man kneeling beside her bed, holding up a candle lantern. ‘Reece? Is something wrong?’

  ‘No, love. It’s nearly dawn, time for you to get up.’

  ‘Oh.’ She heard her voice wobble and fought for self-control. ‘I’ll – not be long.’

  ‘I’ll make you a cup of tea. Cassandra sends her dearest love. She thought it best not to come, said it’d only start her weeping again. And I didn’t want her falling as we walked through the bush in the dark, not in her condition.’

  Pandora rolled out of her makeshift bed, washed and dressed quickly, then packed the final few things in her portmanteau, before taking it outside as she joined the men gathered round the table by the light of a lamp.

  The cart had been loaded the night before with everything except Pandora’s portmanteau. In the end it had been decided that Leo was to ride Conn’s mare Nellie, something which pleased him greatly. The strongest of the hired horses was tied behind the cart, ready to spell Conn’s raw-boned gelding who was to pull it over the first stretch.

  ‘I’ve poured you a cup of tea, love,’ Reece called.

  Pandora went to the table and drank thirstily but couldn’t force down even one mouthful of the bread and jam. She pushed it away untouched. ‘I’m not hungry.’

  ‘I’ll wrap it in a cloth for you to eat on the way,’ Reece said. ‘You need to keep up your strength.’

  She nodded, grateful no one was trying to make conversation in an attempt to cheer her up.

  She hugged Reece, clinging to him for a moment, then forcing herself to step back. He picked up the lamp and walked with her to the cart, his arm round her shoulders.

  Zachary helped her up on to the back, where a blanket had been laid next to her trunk. ‘You look tired. Maybe you can get some more sleep?’

  She nodded, too unhappy to think what she was doing.

  As they set off even the light seemed strange, for it was still only that false dawn that comes before the true sunrise, a time when everything appears grey or black.

  Neither of the Southerhams came out to say goodbye to her. They’d done that the night before when Francis had paid her the wages owing to her. She felt better for having some money of her own.

  Bert was driving over the first stretch with Zachary sitting up beside him. Leo rode ahead of them, looking absolutely at home on a horse.

  After they’d been travelling for a while and she’d calmed down, she couldn’t bear to sit in silence any longer, so asked, ‘Do you think we’ll get there in time?’

  Bert replied. ‘It’ll be tight, missy. It’s only the 21st today. We ought to get there by the 28th to be certain. But the mail cart takes only a week to get all the way from Perth to Albany, and we’re over a day’s travel ahead of them, so I dare say we’ll do it.’ He spoilt this optimistic pronouncement by adding, ‘Mind you, they have changes of horses on the way and we’ll have to manage with these, so we won’t be able to go as fast.’

  ‘We can’t push the horses too hard,’ Leo said. ‘Mr Largan told me to look after his two very carefully.’

  ‘What do you think I’m going to do, whip them?’ Bert snapped.

  A little later he asked, ‘Can you drive, Leo?’

  ‘Yes. I like driving.’

  ‘Good. For now, you ride behind and keep an eye on that spare horse, make sure it’s all right. You can drive part of the way to spell me.’ Bert began to whistle, a thin, monotonous sound.

&n
bsp; At first Pandora sat on her own in the back of the cart, hugging her knees and trying not to let the jolting throw her around too much. After a while, she grew tired of that, because the boards of the cart weren’t much cushioned by the blanket and folded tarpaulin she was sitting on. She looked at the two men and it seemed to her that they had the best place. ‘Is there room for me on the driving bench, do you think?’

  ‘If you don’t mind a bit of a squash,’ Zachary said. ‘Let me help you up.’

  The cart wasn’t going fast, so she had no trouble clambering up to sit between him and Bert.

  As they continued to bump along the rough road, Zachary braced himself on the armrest to his left and offered her his right arm. ‘Here. You’d better link arms with me or you’ll bounce right off this seat.’

  She took his arm, grateful more for the warmth and human contact than for his strength.

  She had never felt so alone in her whole life.

  The following Friday Hallie’s mother noticed how tense and upset she was.

  ‘I don’t know what’s got into you lately, love. You’re forgetful and you jump if anyone so much as knocks on the door.’

  ‘I’ve not been feeling the best.’

  ‘Have you got a fever?’

  ‘No. I’m just – a bit down. I’d be better if I could get a job.’

  That set her mother off worrying about the hard times and how many people were out of work and what was to become of the poor things if this went on for ever.

  But Hallie hardly heard a word because the clock kept ticking and as soon as it turned nine, the time the shop shut on Fridays, she kept listening for the door knocker.

  When it went, she jerked to her feet, her only thought to protect her mother.

  She opened the door a crack and thought her heart would leap out of her chest as she saw Prebble standing there.

  He thrust the door further open and stepped into the hall before she could stop him. ‘I hope you’re feeling friendlier tonight, Hallie.’

  ‘I’m not. You’ve no right to treat me like this.’

  ‘Might is right. How are you going to stop me?’

  ‘I’ll tell Mr Dawson.’

  ‘And I’ll tell him it’s just a lovers’ tiff. Who can prove it isn’t?’ He grabbed her breast before she could stop him and gave it a hard squeeze, hurting her so much she couldn’t hold back a moan as she tried to push him away.

  But he was stronger than he looked and trapped her against the wall, continuing to fondle her in that loathsome way.

  Then a man’s voice said, ‘Are you all right, Hallie?’

  Prebble moved away, smiling. ‘Just having a bit of a kiss and cuddle. Aren’t we, Hallie?’

  She looked at his face and shuddered, but couldn’t say a word.

  Her tormentor felt in his pocket and shoved an envelope into her hand. ‘Here’s your Zachary’s money.’ He pushed past the man standing in the doorway and walked off whistling cheerfully.

  It was the way he whistled so cheerfully that upset her. As if what he’d done to her was nothing. Hallie burst into tears, trying to muffle the noise with her hands, ashamed that Cousin John should catch her in this position.

  ‘Nay, lass,’ he said gently. ‘I won’t let him do it again.’

  ‘How can you stop him? He’ll hurt my mother if I don’t do as he says.’

  John’s expression grew grim. ‘Is that what he’s been threatening?’

  She nodded. ‘Someone knocked Mum over at the market a few weeks ago, jabbed her in the stomach so hard she couldn’t breathe. I know he arranged it.’

  ‘Well, he won’t arrange it any more.’ He bent to pick up the envelope.

  Her mother called, ‘Are you all right, our Hallie?’

  She realised her mother had opened the door of the other room so kept her back to it. ‘Yes, I’m fine. I just got something in my eye.’

  John moved to stand between them. ‘Hello, Cousin. I’m back in Outham so thought I’d call in.’

  ‘Eh, your mother must be glad to have you back.’

  ‘She is. Sends her regards. I was just passing the time of day with your daughter. Fine lass she’s grown into.’

  ‘Yes, she has.’ Mrs Carr turned and exclaimed, ‘The tea’s burning!’ She vanished from sight.

  ‘I will sort this out for you, Hallie,’ he said in a low voice. ‘He’ll not trouble you again.’

  ‘How can you?’

  ‘I know one of his uncles. He’s not as bad as the rest of them and owes me a favour.’

  She looked at him, not daring to believe him.

  ‘It’ll be all right from now on,’ he repeated.

  She managed to eat enough tea to stop her mother questioning her about how she felt, and listened to a complicated explanation of exactly how John was related to them – some sort of distant cousin – and what he’d been doing in Manchester for the past few years.

  When Hallie got undressed in Zachary’s room, where she was sleeping while he was away, she was shocked at how bruised her breasts were. Prebble had hurt her so quickly!

  He was a beast, a beast who pretended to be polite and hardworking.

  Could Cousin John really make him leave her alone?

  She couldn’t go on like this, living in fear. And she wasn’t going to give Prebble what he wanted.

  They travelled slowly but steadily all through that day, resting the horses at regular intervals and alternating the one pulling the cart. Occasionally they’d meet another rider or vehicle and stop to exchange greetings, always asking about the condition of the road ahead.

  Mid-afternoon they stopped briefly at Bannister, where the mail changed horses. The place seemed to consist of little but the way station, stables and stores.

  Bert chatted to the people there, then came striding back to the cart carrying a loaf. ‘You owe them five shillings for this,’ he told Zachary.

  ‘That’s robbery!’ Pandora said indignantly. ‘How can one four-pound loaf possibly cost that much?’

  ‘It’s better to pay high prices than spend hours waiting for a loaf to bake in a camp oven at night. They tell me there’s a small stream a few miles down the road that’s starting to flow, so I reckon we should push on and stop there overnight.’

  Leo didn’t join in the conversations very often, but Zachary noticed how he stared at everything, shutting his eyes regularly and muttering to himself.

  ‘Are you all right?’ he asked at one of the rest stops.

  Leo nodded vigorously. ‘Yes. I’m learning the road so I can find my way back to Mrs Southerham’s house.’

  ‘Bert will bring you back after Pandora and I’ve sailed.’

  ‘I like to know my own way. I can always remember a road once I’ve been along it.’

  Bert looked sceptical but caught Zachary’s warning glance and shut his mouth on what he’d been going to say. Later, Zachary took him aside to make matters plain.

  ‘Don’t treat Leo as if he’s completely stupid. He isn’t. If he says he can find his way once he’s travelled a road, I believe him. I’ve seen for myself how good he is with sick animals. On board the ship there was an accident in rough weather with several people injured. Leo set a valuable cow’s leg so skilfully it healed straight and good as new.’

  ‘Leo did?’

  ‘Yes. He can’t read or write and he doesn’t think as you and I do, but he has his own skills.’

  Bert shrugged. ‘Well, he’s good with horses, I’ll give him that. Never seen animals take to anyone like they do to him.’

  As they set off again, Pandora asked, ‘How far do we travel each day?’

  ‘About forty or fifty miles, barring accidents,’ Bert said. ‘More if we can.’

  ‘A train can take you hundreds of miles in one day.’

  ‘And it frightens the animals in the fields.’

  She laughed. ‘Dad told me they used to say that in England when the first railways were built, but they were wrong. The animals don’t seem to mind the
trains at all.’

  He shrugged. ‘Well, trains will never replace horses, not in a big country like this.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose they will. But I think they’ll have trains between the main towns eventually and I still prefer travelling that way.’ Travelling by cart was uncomfortable and already her body felt bruised all over from the jolting.

  There was little to see, compared to England. No pretty villages like those near Outham, or the ones she’d seen through the train window on the trip to London. In fact, no villages at all, not what she’d call villages anyway. No farms either, most of the time, just every now and then a roof in the distance or a sign indicating a nearby property. Oh, and the occasional group of kangaroos or flock of parrots, but such creatures had lost their novelty for her now.

  In fact, to her this land felt empty.

  By the end of the first day’s travel, Pandora was stiff and sore. They went on till it was nearly dusk and just as she was wondering if they’d ever stop, Bert reined in the horse and thrust the reins into Zachary’s hands.

  ‘I reckon this is the place they said would be good for overnighting. I’ll take a quick look round.’

  She stared at the flattened sandy space next to the road. It had a thread of greenery to one side, but there seemed nothing special about it. She watched Bert walk off between the trees and move down a small slope beyond it until only his hat showed.

  He vanished completely from sight, but was soon back again. ‘It’ll do. The stream’s flowing, which it doesn’t do in summer. It’s only a trickle at the beginning of winter, but someone’s made two or three deeper pools where we can get water for the horses.’

  She looked round and shivered at the darkness creeping in on them, couldn’t help saying, ‘I thought we were going to sleep at farms.’

  He shrugged. ‘We can look for shelter if it starts to rain, but that’ll mostly take us off the road so it’ll cost us extra time. You’ll be all right sleeping on the cart tonight, missy. Probably sleep like a log after a long day’s travel. Folk usually do.’

  ‘Where will you three sleep?’