Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [40]
He heard her voice echoing faintly across the beach, ‘No! No, Conrad!’
Leaping from the wagon he ran to her, gathering her in his arms as she sobbed, ‘They are friends, Conrad—they have helped me.’
‘My dear, dear Olivia.’ He held her tightly, overcome with relief. When he stepped back from her, he realised she was wearing only her undergarments, camisole and petticoat, her feet were bare, her hair loose about her shoulders, and then it hit him, the bulge of her belly was gone. He reached out and soundlessly touched her, feeling the loose softness of her flesh, no tightness of skin over a body stretched wildly out of shape.
Olivia smiled tenderly, and took his hand. ‘It’s all right, Conrad, come with me.’
Excitedly she led him to her shelter as he mumbled at the nightmare the trip had been, how he’d feared for her safety, trying to grapple with the idea she had given birth. She pulled him down to his knees and, reaching inside the little tent, drew out the bark dish–like cradle in which the baby was sleeping. She lifted the torn petticoat covering the infant.
‘We have a son, Conrad,’ she said gently.
He touched the baby’s cheek, loathe to disturb him. ‘But how did you manage my dear? Alone, here … oh it must have been dreadful.’
Olivia calmed him. ‘No, I had good care. The women, the Aboriginal women, they looked after me.’
Conrad stared at her aghast, realising he had fired on these people.
Olivia touched his hand. ‘You’d better see to the horse, and I’ll put the pot on to boil. Don’t worry too much about the shot. I’m sure they’ll come back. Perhaps we can make amends with them in some way. Oh, I have so much to tell you.’
‘And I you,’ he said, suddenly feeling exhausted. ‘It is a miracle I am here. I really don’t know how we are going to forge our way back again. It is truly ugly country to travel through. This coming ashore was not a good idea.’
She pressed his hand. ‘Conrad dear, the Lady Charlotte … it has been wrecked. All are lost. We did make the right decision.’
He shuddered and held her close.
‘Don’t worry, Conrad,’ pleaded Olivia. ‘Just see the bright side—we have a son.’
Olivia returned to the beach and collected two fish that had been thrown onto the sand. She called out to the Aborigines. Even though there was no response of any kind, she felt sure they were watching.
Conrad led the horse to a patch of shade, tethered it and contemplated the wagon stuck in the sand. He asked Olivia for some water and looked at the near empty barrel of water. ‘Maybe they can show us where we can find water. We will need this replenished for the journey.’
‘Conrad, stop worrying. Come and rest, the fish will be cooked soon. Now tell me. What is the town like?’
Conrad bit his Up. ‘A ramshackle place I’m afraid. Not what I expected, but we can get all the supplies we need. There are sheep arriving in a week or so on one of the trading vessels. I plan to buy some to start us off. I think we should set out as soon as you feel ready, my dear. I don’t think you’ll be too comfortable in Cossack, I mean, there are very few women and it’s a bit of a rough place.’
‘I understand. I’ll do what you think best, Conrad. You know, I’ve learned so much from these people. I do hope there are tribespeople close to our farm.’
Conrad stared at her in astonishment. He hadn’t anticipated sharing his land with the blacks. He didn’t want his precious stock stolen or hunted nor the fear of reprisals or attack at any time. ‘We’ll see.’ He smoothed the baby’s head. ‘He is a handsome child, Olivia.’
They exchanged their first relaxed smile. ‘Pick him up Conrad, he won’t break.’
Later, after their meal, Olivia walked to the sea to throw the fish bones into the water and to look for some shellfish. Conrad sat at the camp with his son in his lap, examining the small fingers and toes. Suddenly a shadow fell across him. Looking up in surprise he saw three Aboriginal women staring at him. They had bemused expressions at seeing the