Chapter Seventeen

Rufe reined in his horse as he reached the top of the hill, glad to have reached his destination. The goldfield at Copeland was set in rough, steep country and the ride had been hard for both horse and rider. He spent a moment viewing the scene below him. Night had closed in quickly, as happened in the bush, and the lights from hundreds of camp fires below made a pretty sight, twinkling in the darkness. Noise rose up to meet him, the hum of a thousand voices, joined by the notes of a mouth organ and a voice raised in song with it.

He picked out his destination, the inn, by the fact that it was a solid building with lights spilling out from its open doors and windows from numerous oil lamps within. No matter that its walls were of timber slabs, it had a solid iron roof, and the bed that would be prepared for him would be comfortable. A hot meal would be waiting, with ale to wash it down. And tomorrow he would immerse himself in business with Harry, his store manager. He must keep himself busy and engrossed in work. It was his only hope of easing the pain of the last few days.

He patted his horse’s neck. “Nearly there, Banjo, just down the hill and we’ll be there.” The horse whinnied and tossed his head, then sure-footedly picked his way down the rutted track. As they reached the valley below, Rufe heard the noise of tumbling water. He knew this was from the river that dissected the shantytown into two; the river all the diggers here hoped would yield up its riches to give them wealth beyond their wildest dreams.

He guided his horse over the sludge of the tracks between the makeshift dwellings until they reached the Inn. A youth raced forward as he dismounted. “G’day Rufe. I heard you was comin’. I been waitin’ for you.”

Rufe tossed him the reins. “Hi, Tommy. Look after him for me, will you? Make sure he has some oats tonight as well.” He reached in his pocket and took out a coin. He flipped it to the boy, who caught it neatly with his free hand. “You know what to do.” He stretched and flexed his shoulders. “Aah, I’m knackered. Can’t wait for a hot bath and a decent meal.”

The boy grinned cheekily at him. “Yeah, looks like a quiet night for you tonight. Come a long way t’day, ’ave you?”

“Too bloody far. Take good care of him, Tommy, he’s tired.” Rufe made his way to the open door as Tommy led Banjo away.

He paused inside and his gaze swept the room in front of him. The long bar that ran down one side of the room was full of men of all ages, sizes and skin tones, talking loudly and gesticulating as they drank or waited for their pints to be refilled. They were a rough looking lot, many of them dusty and looking in need of a good scrub. Most of them wore what seemed almost like a uniform, a dark blue or red shirt with a colorful, if somewhat grubby, kerchief at the neck and moleskin trousers and boots. Three barmaids behind the counter were busy filling glasses. The other side of the room was occupied by tables and chairs; many of them filled by miners eating great plates of stew and potatoes, with damper and a glass of ale beside to wash it down.

The only clean-shaven face to be seen amongst all this lot was that of a young police trooper, now standing talking to Irene, the only woman in the place who was not behind the bar. As Rufe watched, the trooper nodded and walked toward the door. Rufe stood aside to let him past. The rest of the clientele ignored him.

Irene watched him go and saw Rufe standing there. Immediately, a smile lit up her face and she hurried across to him, her hands outstretched.

“Rufe. Here you are at last. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

Rufe took her hands in his and leaned to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Well, Irene, I’m here now.” He dropped her hands and stood back to look at her. She wore a green velvet gown, cut low, but not immodestly so. As usual, her dark hair swept up and caught at the back of her head to fall in clusters of curls over the nape of her neck. A jade necklace hung at her throat and jade earrings swung daintily from her ears. “And you’re a treat for tired eyes, as usual.”

A faint flush colored her cheeks. “Your room’s all ready for you. I expect you’d like to go straight away to clean up, or would you rather have a drink first?”

“No, I need a hot bath, if that’s possible.”

“Of course. There’s a tub in the room, and I’ll have Tommy bring some hot water for you.”

“Let him finish attending to my horse first, we’ve had a hard day’s riding. I’ll sit here until he’s ready.”

She motioned him to a table away from the others. “Sit here. I’ll just let Ah Lee know to have plenty of hot water ready, and I’ll be back. We can talk while you’re waiting.”

Rufe looked around as he sat down, and had his interest taken by a large group at the bar, more boisterous than the rest, laughing and clapping the backs of three men who seemed to be buying the drinks.

He nodded toward them as Irene came back and sat opposite him. “Seems like they’re shouting the bar. Struck it rich, have they?”

Irene nodded. “Yes. Dropped on a jeweler’s shop today. According to them it’s a beauty. Gustaf, that’s the tall one doing most of the talking,” she inclined her head in his direction, “he’s been showing everyone a nugget the size of an emu’s egg.”

Rufe frowned. “That’s not a smart thing to do in this company. I hope he’s still got it in the morning.”

“I know. I tried to tell him, but he was too excited to keep quiet.”

“Where’s their claim, is it near the river?”

“Yes. They’re down amongst the furthest lot of tents, a bit off on their own.”

Rufe shook his head, his frown deepening. “Pity they didn’t keep quiet. I know a few large nuggets have already been pried from the banks. They should’ve given themselves more time to search before they started a rush to that end.”

Irene shrugged. “You know what miners are like. You can’t tell them if they don’t want to hear. Now, there’s Tommy taking the hot water to your room. You’d better follow him.” She looked up expectantly as he stood. “Will you join me for dinner when you’re ready? Ah Lee’s brother is growing vegetables for us, so I can promise you a good meal. Not just stew and damper.”

“Thank you. I’ll be delighted.”

“Good. Come directly to my private rooms, whenever you’re ready.”

****

Rufe looked around with surprise as he entered Irene’s rooms. It looked very different to last time he had been here. The table in her private dining room was set with snowy linen and polished silver cutlery. Crystal wine glasses sparkled in the light cast by two silver candelabra. A bottle of claret stood opened ready on the table. Irene indicated it as they took their seats.

“This is from my own special store. I chose it to go with our meal.”

“I see you’ve redecorated your rooms since I was here last,” Rufe said, looking at the gold-embossed wallpaper, the heavy drapes, and the silk cushions on the chairs.

A satisfied smile hovered around Irene’s mouth. “I’m glad you noticed. Do you like it?”

“Indeed, it’s very elegant. Not at all like one usually sees on the diggings. You must be doing very well.”

“I’m very pleased with the way the business is going.”

At that moment the door opened and Ah Lee entered, carrying a silver tray. He placed the tray on the sideboard before bowing to them.

“Welcome, Mista Rufe. It a pleasure to see you again.” His lined face creased into a smile.

“It’s good to see you, too, Ah Lee. It’s been a long time.”

“Too long, Mista Rufe. I have cooked you special meal, not miner’s meal.” With a flourish he placed a plate each in front of them. “Yabbies, fresh from water today.”

Rufe looked at the crustaceans in front of him. “I haven’t had yabbies since I was a boy at home. Where on earth did you find them out here?”

Ah Lee bobbed his head in delight. “From cattle man. I trade him vegetables for them, they fresh today from dam.” After checking they had all they needed, he left them alone.

Irene seemed anxious to hear all that had been happening in Sydney and so throughout the meal Rufe kept the conversation light, with amusing anecdotes of the latest doings of well-known figures.

The yabbies were followed by succulent roast lamb with potatoes and tender baby green beans. The finale to the meal was rhubarb pie, with pastry light as air, served with thick clotted cream.

When Ah Lee came to collect the dishes after they finished, Rufe sat back in his chair. “You really are a marvel, Ah Lee. That meal would have done justice to any establishment in Sydney. I certainly didn’t expect anything like it here.”

Ah Lee’s eyes shone as he bowed his way out of the room. “Thank you, Mista Rufe. You too kind.”

Irene rose from her chair. “We’ll have coffee and liqueurs in the sitting room,” she said, heading to a closed door that she opened to reveal a sitting room beyond, decorated in similar style to the dining room. She sat on a sofa and patted the seat beside her as Rufe followed her in.

“Come and sit beside me, then Ah Lee can put the drinks on the coffee table in front of us. Now, what would you like with your coffee? Brandy? I have some Courvoisier.”

Rufe’s brows lifted in surprise as he sat down. “Coffee? Courvoisier? You are doing yourself well. I hope they’re from my store.”

“Of course. Since your store has been supplying me with such a good variety of foods and drinks, my business has more than trebled. You’d be surprised. When a man strikes gold, even if it’s not a big strike, one of the first things he wants is a slap-up meal with all the trimmings, prepared by someone else, in decent surroundings. I even have a private dining room for those who want it. It’s well used.” She smiled up at him. “I have you to thank for much of my success.”

“I’m pleased to hear the store has helped, and that business is doing so well.”

“Oh yes, I have all the comforts of Sydney here now.”

Rufe sat back as Ah Lee brought in the coffee and placed it on the table, along with a bottle of Courvoisier and two balloon glasses.

Irene nodded to him. “Thank you, Ah Lee. We’ll look after ourselves now. That will be all tonight.”

Ah Lee bowed and left the room.

Irene leaned back, sighing gently. “You know, Rufe, I really have most things I ever wanted here now. I should be completely happy.” She turned to look directly into his eyes. “The business has grown amazingly and my bank balance with it. I live in relatively luxurious surroundings, as you can see.” She swept her arm around to take in the room. “And my bedroom is even more comfortable,” she added, moving close against him as she sat forward to take her glass from the table.

Rufe was amused by her transparency. There was no doubt what she was offering. She had hinted she could be available when he had spent time here before. But the hints had been more subtle, and he had ignored them. Obviously, the trappings of success had increased her confidence and encouraged her to be more forward.

He swirled the brandy around in his glass, then raised it in salute to her. He smiled as he looked into her eyes over the rim. “I guess you’re happy with life here then.”

She sighed again, more dramatically this time. “I know I should be but, well, the truth is, I do get lonely here on my own.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Lonely? With all these hundreds of men around, any one of whom would be more than happy to keep you company.”

She pouted. “But I don’t want just anyone. I’m most particular about who I share my time with.”

He laughed then, a rich laugh full of good humor. “Irene, my dear, you’re a most delightful companion, and a very beautiful one at that. And I must thank you for a delightful evening. But it’s probably time for me to go to my own room.”

“Wait, Rufe.” She put her hand on his thigh. “You don’t have to go to your room. You could stay here with me tonight, if you want.”

He looked at her, her lips parted invitingly and her wide blue eyes shining, and felt a flicker of interest. A picture of Kitty flashed into his mind. Honey gold hair and deep green eyes, soft body melting into his arms. Pain knifed his heart. Kitty was lost to him. Barron would never let her go now. He needed to forget about her, and perhaps Irene could help with that.

He tossed down his brandy and put the glass back on the table, then turned to face her. “Irene, it’s possible I might not be back here for another year, maybe even more.” His voice was serious now. “Is that what you want?”

“No strings attached, Rufe,” she whispered.

He studied her, liking what he saw,an oval face with a generous mouth, long dark lashes that fringed glowing eyes, and creamy white skin marred only by a tiny mole next to her mouth. He lifted his hands and slowly removed the pins from her hair so that it tumbled down, falling in soft waves on her shoulders, then ran a finger gently down the side of her face. He leaned toward her and felt her breath warm on his face as she let out a quivering sigh. Taking her in his arms, his lips came down hard on hers.

****

Rufe woke at daylight next morning to what sounded like a chicken house full of roosters crowing. He looked across at Irene. She was still sound asleep, her hair tousled on the pillow, and one arm flung out. Yawning, he stretched, slipped out of bed, and padded across to the window, pulling aside the curtain. The scene below him brought a smile to his lips. “Only on the diggings,” he muttered as he watched the ludicrous spectacle of fully-grown men strutting around outside their tents or humpies, flapping their arms like wings and crowing loudly. “Morning wake-up call.”

Daylight revealed the diggings clearly. On both sides of the river, but set uphill from it to avoid danger from flash floods, stood a jumble of tents and shanties, the latter made mostly from slabs of bark hastily nailed together, some even of hessian or calico, roofed with sheets of iron. The ground in between these dwellings was churned to mud and slush by the daily tramping of a legion of boots taking the shortest route from home to claim and back.

The sight was nothing new to Rufe, and he gave it only a cursory glance from the window before heading back toward the bed. On the way, he changed his mind and turned to the washstand instead where he used the water in the pitcher and quietly washed and dressed. He closed the door gently as he left the room.

A few men were already being served breakfasts of chops or steak and, for those who could afford the extra, bacon or ham. He ordered chops, bacon and eggs from one of the girls who had been behind the bar last night, and who was acting as waitress this morning. Ah, eggs from Ah Lee’s brother. Another investment that had paid dividends for Irene. Tommy brought him a cup of tea as he sat reflecting with mixed feelings on the previous night.

Irene had not been what he expected, her inexperience had surprised him. He had taken her for the usual good time girl, but he now doubted this was so. He had no complaints about the night itself, but he wondered if Irene really accepted her own words of ‘no strings attached’. He doubted that she gave her favors as freely as he had surmised. Was she really happy to accept what he had to offer? As he sat pondering this, and waiting for his breakfast to arrive, he became aware of someone standing beside his table.

Rufe looked up to see Gustaf, the finder of the gold strike yesterday.

“Excuse me, Mister Cavanagh, may I please have word with you?” he asked in an accented voice that Rufe judged to be Swedish or Danish.

“Of course. What can I do for you?”

“You are owner of store?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I hear you are honest man.”

“I won’t rob you, if that’s what you mean.”

“You buy gold?”

“Yes.”

“I have gold I find yesterday. My partner, Joe,” he nodded toward a table where another miner sat watching them, “he come here this morning to tell me last night our tent was ripped. Someone look for this gold.”

“But they didn’t find it?”

“No. Last night I drink bit much vodka. I no go to tent, I sleep here. Gold with me.”

“You were lucky.”

“Yes. Now I no want to keep gold here. I think perhaps you buy it.”

Rufe nodded. “I can do that. Are you eating here now?”

Gustaf nodded. “Yah, we have good breakfast before we start digging again.”

“Good. Then after we’ve all eaten we’ll go across to my store and weigh what you have.”

“Right. We go together. Is good. Now we eat.” With another nod, he went back to his table, sat down and commenced talking to his partner.

Rufe knew that theft was not uncommon on the gold fields,—those who found little sometimes took the easy way by helping themselves to another’s find. Even some of the storekeepers on the fields, many of whom acted as gold buyers, were known to cheat those with little education when they purchased their gold.

It was one of the reasons Rufe had formed a group of honest men, who’d been lucky enough to strike it rich, into a consortium. They purchased and arranged safe escort for gold from the diggings. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Ah Lee with a large plate of eggs, bacon, and chops that he placed in front of him.

“Good morning, Mista Rufe.” He bobbed his head. “I hope you slept well.”

Rufe studied his face, knowing that Ah Lee knew full well where he had slept, but his countenance was bland.

“Very well, thank you, Ah Lee.” He sniffed appreciatively at the aroma coming from his plate. “And I’ll do justice to this, I can assure you.”

Ah Lee smiled and bobbed again. “Good. You tell girl if you want anything more. I look after you myself.”

“Thank you.” He looked at the large helping in front of him. “I think this will probably see me out.” As Ah Lee left, Rufe applied himself to his meal, spearing a piece of bacon and dipping it into an egg yolk, cooked to perfection. Ah Lee was certainly an asset to Irene’s business.

When he finished he crossed the room to where Gustaf and Joe waited for him. They pushed back their chairs as he approached and met him on the way.

“Ready?” he asked. When they both nodded, Rufe led the way through the door. Outside, the sounds of the diggings greeted them. Men’s voices called out to each other, accompanied by the sound of picks and shovels breaking the earth, and the creak of windlasses being turned to lift the buckets up the shafts from the depths below.

Rufe led them to a building made of heavy timber logs with a corrugated iron roof, over which a flag flew. The solid door, now open, had a heavy lock and the windows, also open, had shutters, which were always closed at dark. All in all, the most secure building at the diggings.

As Rufe led the way inside, they saw the shelves piled high with all manner of goods. Picks and shovels stood side by side with pudding pans and dishes, boots, clothing and bedding, tobacco, tea, sugar and flour, and fresh and salted meat. A side of bacon hung from the roof alongside a ham. Large bins on the floor holding food for horses stood next to rolled up tents and tarpaulins.

Harry emerged from a door at the back of the store and came forward with his hand outstretched and a smile on his face.

“Hello, Rufe. Good to see you.”

Rufe shook his hand, then clapped him on the shoulder. “And good to see you, too, Harry. How’s it all going?”

“Fine, Rufe, just fine. I’ve got everything ready for you.”

“Good man. But we’ve a couple of customers here first.”

“Ah, Gustaf, and Joe. Sure. What can we do for you?”

“Gustaf has gold to sell,” Rufe explained.

“I heard he had a good strike yesterday,” Harry said.

Rufe’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Doesn’t take long to get around, does it?”

“Not round here it doesn’t. ’Specially news like that.”

“Come on then.” Rufe ushered them through the door at the back to the large room beyond. In one corner stood a heavy safe, with a set of scales on top.

Gustaf took the gold nugget from his pocket and hefted it in his hand, looking at it reverently. “Ah, my beauty.” He rubbed it with his fingers. “I hate to part with you. But is not safe to keep.” He looked at Joe. “You still sure?”

“Yeah. Those thievin’ bastards might find it next time.”

Gustaf nodded and handed it over to Rufe. Harry moved the scales onto a desk and they all watched as Rufe placed it in the pan on one side of the scales and added weights to the other side until the two were balanced.

He whistled softly. “Ninety ounces. Very nice. Enter it up, Harry.”

Harry went to the safe and took out a ledger. Opening it, he wrote Gustaf’s name in the first column, then the date and weight of the nugget. Finally he entered an amount and took a roll of notes from the safe. When he counted them out and handed them over, Gustaf nodded and smiled with satisfaction as he pocketed them.

“Thank you. What they tell me is true. You are honest men.”

After they left, Harry placed the nugget into an already bulging pouch he took from the safe then returned both ledger and pouch to the safe.

“What time are you expecting the escort, Rufe?” he asked when he had closed and locked the safe.

“They’ll be here early afternoon. I wanted to be here before them to let you know that one of them is a new man,—Hank Masters. He’s an American. According to his references he’s had experience with armed escort over there. I hope he’s as tough as he seems, I fear we could be in for some trouble in the future.”

Harry frowned. “What kind of trouble? Something special? I thought things seem to have quieted down a bit lately.”

“There’re still plenty of bushrangers interested in preying on the gold escorts, but I have reason to believe there might be someone new taking an interest, in both gold and diamonds. That’s why I want to take them to all the diggings myself this time. From here we’ll move on to Wangat and Whispering Gully before we take a bit of a break at Dungog.”

RufeRufe moved over to the books waiting in readiness for him on the desk. “Anyway, let’s forget about that for now. It might never happen. I just wanted to let you know my thinking. Let’s get on with our work now.”

For the next few hours, they were occupied with the general business of the store. They worked methodically through what had to be done.

Frank Purdie and Hank Masters, the two escorts, arrived shortly after they finished. Following the introductions, Harry produced a bottle of rum and they all sat around the table, relaxing with a drink.

“Do you want to get on today, Boss?” Frank asked Rufe. “We could get a few miles up before dark.”

Rufe pursed his lips, thinking. They could indeed make several miles before dark. But he thought of Irene’s warm bed and soft lips, which had been able to push thoughts of Kitty from his mind, at least for a while.

“No,” he said, “I think we’ll stay here tonight. I’ll arrange a room for you. We’ll make an early start in the morning.”