Chapter Twenty

The room was silent except for the drumming of rain on the roof.

When Kitty finally spoke, her words were weary. “So, it all starts again. Once more we’re to be browbeaten and subdued to his wishes.”

Bella answered with a sob in her voice. “It’s all my fault. I should never have asked Jack to stay.” She buried her head in her hands.

Kitty shook her head. “No, Mother, if it hadn’t been today, it would have happened again sooner or later. Don’t blame yourself. We must get away from him somehow.” She rose from the table and crossed to the window. Drawing the curtains aside, she was unable to hold back a scream at what she saw, and pressed a hand to her mouth.

The rain was falling in torrents and brown, seething water rushed angrily past the verandah, ripping shrubs and plants from the ground and spinning them away on its surface. Only the larger trees withstood its fury as it washed away everything in its path in its headlong charge to join the river.

The sound of her scream galvanized Bella into action. Jumping up, she tipped her chair over backward in her haste. “Whatever is it?” She gasped, rushing to Kitty’s side. She let out a scream of her own as she saw the scene of destruction before her. “We’ll be washed away. The house will be washed down into the river.”

Kitty bit her lip as she considered the sight before them, forcing herself not to panic. The water was covering the bottom step to the verandah but had not reached the verandah itself. Was it rushing underneath the house? She clutched Bella’s arm.

“I’m going to look out the back.” She turned and hurried from the room to the back door and opened it, peering out into the murky atmosphere. Water rushed down from the mountain and overflowed the deep drain at the side of the garden, spreading out over the grass, over the garden. Brown water flowed wherever she looked, causing chaos at the side of the house, but the drains at the back were coping with it. At the moment the house was safe.

What was happening down at the river? Would it be able to cope with this amount of water flowing into it? Kitty closed the door and quickly retraced her steps, passing the sitting room, where Bella still stood looking out, and went to the front window. From here she could see down to the river. It had risen but still remained contained within its banks.

Returning to the sitting room she saw that Bella still seemed dazed, staring from the window. She crossed the room and put her arm around her shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze.

“It’s all right, Mother,” she said quietly. “We’re safe. The water is bypassing the house.”

Bella turned away from the view outside, fingering the beads around her throat. “Well, that’s a mercy. But, Kitty…” She paused, and her eyes filled with tears. “What are we going to do? About William, I mean.”

Kitty felt another rush of anger at William. She strode over to the fire and poked it viciously with the poker.

“I don’t know. I have to think, make a plan, but we have to get away from him.”

“We can’t do anything in this storm.”

“No, we must wait until it clears. But William can’t do much, either. I it gives us time to plan what to do for the best.”

****

William paced around his study. Really, Kitty had gone too far this time. She knew how he felt about encouraging the workers to familiarity; to have one of them at his table was unforgivable. His fists curled. At this moment, he felt he could kill her. He would like to wrap his hands around her throat and squeeze it until she went limp in his hands, and he could toss her aside like a piece of rag. Just as he had killed Rupert’s puppy when his two brothers made him look a fool in front of his parents by revealing his gambling habits. But he couldn’t do that to Kitty, the law did not allow it.

Picking up a paperweight from his desk he hurled it across the room. The crash as it landed made him feel a little better. He must devise a severe punishment this time, something that would really hurt her, something that would make her realize she must obey him. He had thought often of sending her mother away, making her live down in Sydney where she wouldn’t be around him all the time. Her presence annoyed him. Without her, he could more easily bend Kitty to his will. He was sure Bella encouraged her daughter to disobey him. Yes, this time he would send her away, but to make the punishment complete, he would not provide her with any support. She could starve for all he cared.

He turned his mind to his other worry. The cards had not run in his favor lately; he had lost large sums of money. Thank God he had a load of cedar ready to sell; he must make sure Morgan sent the timber immediately. He must take more care in future; if Kitty should ever learn of his losses, she would despise him, just as his mother had done.

He picked up the brandy decanter and poured himself a large measure, tossing it down before refilling it and sitting in his chair.

****

The rain continued unabated and by lunchtime the river had risen alarmingly. Sticks and debris floated on its surface, bobbing and twisting as they were caught in the strong currents as the river churned its way down to the sea. The punt with its load of timber bucked and dipped with the movement of the water, but remained securely at its mooring.

William didn’t appear for lunch, he’d not left his study since he stormed off after ordering Jack from the house.

By midafternoon, the river had broken its banks and the water started to rise up the hill toward the house. Kitty sat with Bella on the window seat, watching and waiting, hoping Jack was right when he said they were above the flood level. There was no letup in the rain.

Kitty gnawed at her lip. “I hope the rain stops soon.”

“I hope so, too, and the wind is still strong. Look how fast the clouds are moving.”

“There’s nothing we can do. We just have to wait.”

Kitty stood up, stretching her arms above her head, and then shivered. “It’s becoming colder; shall we go back in by the fire?”

The fire had burned down to coals, but the sitting room was warm and cozy. Mary came in with more wood, put it in the wood box, and added a log to the fire. “This’ll keep it going,” she said cheerfully. “Do you want me to light a fire in the dining room before dinner?”

“Leave it until closer to dinner time, I think,” Bella said. “Have you seen Mr. Barron leave his study?”

Mary shook her head. “No. He didn’t have any lunch, so I expect he’ll be ready for his dinner. Same time as usual? Or do you think he’ll want it earlier?”

“I’ll let you know if it’s to be earlier, but I think it’ll be as usual.”

Mary nodded and went to draw the curtains. “The rain’s stopped but, goodness, look at those black clouds,” she exclaimed.

As she spoke, thunder rumbled overhead and a flash of lightning lit the sky. Wind buffeted the house, making it shudder. Kitty ran back to the front window and knelt on the window seat, looking down to the river. The wind was lashing it, whipping it up, and the surface seemed to boil, carrying branches and other wreckage swiftly along with it. As she watched, a dead animal, she thought it was a goat, floated by and then disappeared as the strong current sucked it under. The punt was gyrating at the end of its chain, tossing and pitching, its load still securely in place.

Suddenly the study door crashed open and William charged into the hall. “My timber,” he shouted, waving his arms wildly. “My cedar.”

He lurched toward Kitty and stumbled, almost falling. “My cedar, it’ll be lost. All my lovely cedar. All that money.”

Again he stumbled and as Kitty went to his side she smelled brandy. He had been drinking, and heavily. His clothes were in disarray, his coat undone and his shirt hanging out. His flushed face was agitated, and his hair stuck out in every direction.

“My cedar,” he shouted again. “I have to save my cedar.” He staggered to the door.

“No, William,” Kitty yelled frantically. “You can’t go out there. It’s dangerous in this storm. The timber’s safe. The punt’s tied up.”

He ignored her and reached for the doorknob. Kitty tried to push his hand away, but he shoved her violently and she fell back against the wall. Again he grabbed the knob and wrenched the door open, staggering from the force of the wind. The wind outside pushed William off balance. He straightened up and put out his hand and clutched a verandah post, and stood there, steadying himself.

At that moment, Bella and Mary came rushing up the hall.

“No, William,” Kitty shouted. “You can’t go out in this. It’s too dangerous.” She turned to Mary. “Go and find some of the men, any of them. We have to stop him.”

Mary ran back through the house.

William walked down the steps one at a time and started to splash through the water, heading for the river. The shock of the water around his legs seemed to steady him somewhat, and he moved quickly. The wind howled around him.

Kitty followed him, panting a little as she caught up to him, wind tearing at her skirts, and her shoes deep in the water. “Come back.” She grabbed his arm and shook it. “Come back. You can’t do anything. The punt is safe, it’s tied up.”

He shook her hand off. “I have to save the cedar. It’s all I’ve got. It’s red gold. I mustn’t lose it, I need the money.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s plenty more cedar, and you have plenty of money.”

“No, no. You don’t know. You don’t know anything.” He slipped and almost lost his balance, but saved himself and continued.

They were almost at the river now and the wind kept up its banshee howl. Kitty looked around to see if help was coming. Bella was struggling through the water behind them, but there was no sign of anyone else. The rain started again.

William drew level with the punt and grabbed hold of the chain. He tugged with all his might, trying to pull the punt closer to him, but it stayed put. He shook the chain hard, up and down. At that moment a large wave surged down the river and hit the punt. It tilted, and then turned slowly over on its side. The saturated logs broke their ropes and tumbled off, down into the water.

“My cedar. My cedar,” William screamed. He plunged forward through the water.

“Stop. Stop. You’ll drown yourself.” Kitty grabbed at his coat, but he pushed further ahead. Bella joined her and they both held on to his coat, but he put his arms back and it fell off him. All the time he was moving steadily forward. Kitty dropped the coat and tried to catch up to him.

Bella screamed at her and grabbed her arm. “No. Don’t go any further.”

At that moment, William lost his footing and shrieked as he disappeared below the water, his arms thrashing.

Kitty screamed. Then she was pushed back as Jack raced into the water beside her.

He dived down where William had disappeared. As he came up, gasping for air, another man appeared and dived into the water alongside him.

Bella hung on to Kitty and Mary suddenly joined them, taking Kitty’s other arm. They stood together watching, Kitty shivering.

The two men dived again and again, taking a different direction each time. Finally, they came slowly back to the women, both breathing heavily.

Jack shook his head. “It’s no use. We can’t find him.” He put out his hand and touched Kitty on the shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“We can’t do anything more, missus,” the other man said, wiping his arm wearily across his eyes. “He’s gone.”

“Gone?” Kitty shook her head and stared at him blankly, unable to believe what had happened. From the moment William had stepped outside the door she had acted on instinct, aware only of the danger of going to the flooded river, intent simply on stopping him. And now…surely he couldn’t survive in that turbulent water. Could he swim? She didn’t know. “But we can’t just go and leave him. He’ll need help to get out.”

Bella put her arms around her. “Kitty, no one can help him. He’s been washed away. He’s gone.” Dropping her arms she took Kitty firmly by the elbow. “Come on now, we must go back to the house. You need to get out of those wet clothes. We all do,” she said firmly.

Obediently, Kitty turned and started to walk, dazed. It had all happened so quickly.

With Bella and Mary on each side of her and the two men following, they splashed through the water and trudged back up the hill. Bella hurried Kitty up the steps into the sitting room and stood her in front of the fire, which still burned brightly, and started to remove her sodden clothes. Kitty stared into the fire, numb, trying to comprehend what had happened.

Mary came into the room with a bundle of towels and dry clothes. “Here, Mrs. M, you let me do that. You get out of those wet clothes and rub yourself down.”

“But you’re still wet yourself,” Bella protested.

“Don’t worry about me. Dry yourself off and get into these dry things.” She pushed Bella gently aside and took over removing Kitty’s clothes. As she stepped out of the last of them, Kitty took the towel from Mary.

“Thank you, Mary,” she said, her voice little more than a whisper. “I can manage now. You go and take off those wet things.”

“Are you sure you can manage?”

“Positive. Go on.” She gave her a little push, and commenced to rub herself all over. When she was dry she put on the dry clothes and stood warming herself.

Bella finished dressing and pushed Kitty gently into one of the two chairs by the fire. They both sat silently staring into the flames.

After a few moments Bella leaned across and covered one of Kitty’s hands with her own. “You feel warmer now. Are you feeling all right?”

Kitty nodded. “I’m just stunned. I can’t seem to take it in. I can’t believe he won’t come marching in that door. Furious because we all left him.”

Bella shook her head. “It would take a miracle for that to happen. I think you must face it, Kitty; he couldn’t survive in that flood. If Jack and that other man couldn’t find him, he’s been washed away.”

Kitty tried to pull herself together, to concentrate. “Perhaps he came up further down, while we were all watching the place where he disappeared, and managed to struggle to the bank.”

“That’s a very small chance, Kitty.”

Kitty bit her lip. “I know I wanted to get away from him…for both of us to get away. But I would never have wished this on him. Not for him to drown.”

Bella drew a deep breath. “I can’t understand why he went down to the river in that storm. Whatever made him do it?”

Kitty frowned as she remembered how he had come rushing out of his study. “He’d been drinking,” she said slowly, “and he seemed almost out of his mind, he was raving about saving the timber, the cedar. Red gold, he called it. He said he needed the money.”

Bella lifted her hand to the beads at her throat and she twisted them slowly. “But he has plenty of money, hasn’t he?”

“Of course.” Kitty hesitated and frowned again, looking across at Bella. “He must have.” She pulled her mind away from the events of the day to think back to the last payments she had entered into the ledger. “The cedar has been bringing good prices.”

“Then what can he have meant?”

Kitty shook her head. “I have no idea.”

The door opened and Mary came into the room carrying two steaming cups. “Here, I’ve brought some hot drinks for you; they’ll help to warm you up. And Jack told me to let you know he’s organized the men to search the river banks downstream.”

Kitty took the hot drink gratefully, and as she sipped it, she felt the baby move, and wondered if her baby would be born without ever knowing its father.

The three women sat together until the men returned from their search, weary and dispirited, to report there had been no sign of William.

When Kitty finally went to bed, exhausted, she tossed and turned for most of the night, but fell into a troubled sleep two or three hours before dawn.