CHAPTER 7

While Rhino sleeps, Evie hears the crunch of buggy wheels coming through the front gate of Lunar House.

A buggy ride into Breamlea usually takes about thirty minutes, but Grandpa and Mr Duffer have been gone most of the day trying to find a place to cross the creek. Bream Creek, a tributary of the Thompson River that flows through Breamlea village, is about two miles from Lunar House. Built on a rise, they’re spared from seasonal flooding.

Evie places Albine in the straw next to the sleeping Rhino and hurries to the house to see how they got on.

In the kitchen everyone is talking all at once. When Grandpa sees Evie, he holds his arms open to her, enveloping her in a huge hug.

“We couldn’t find a way through the flood waters, Evie. The banks of the Thompson have burst and the water is flowing fast. It’s too dangerous.”

Mr Duffer nods, despondent. “We attempted several creek crossings. Bream Creek is well and truly flooded. None of ’em is safe.”

Evie’s stomach flutters. The land around Lunar House always floods this time of year, leaving them cut off for weeks on end. Rhino is going to be staying, thinks Evie. He’s staying! She wants to dance a jig, but Grandpa’s face is downcast.

“Come on now, Mr Strahan and Evie, yer must be starvin, I have yer dinner ’ere waiting for yer,” says Cook preparing to serve them in the study.

“Please, Cook. We’re happy to eat in the kitchen with you and Mr Duffer. It’s been quite a day,” says Grandpa, rubbing his face with his hands.

Cook tut tuts. She disapproves of the master of the house eating with his staff, but she gives in, happy for the company.

Sitting down, Grandpa places his hands on the kitchen table and exhales.

“I guess now is as good a time as any,” he says to Cook and Mr Duffer. “I’m not sure how to put this, but it might surprise you to know, there’s a rhinoceros in the stable.”

“A what ... ?” cries Cook.

“Did you say a rhinoceros?” Mr Duffer’s cap falls off and he blinks several times as if he can’t quite take in what Grandpa’s said.

“Oh, Lord,” puffs Cook, her cheeks reddening. Every part of her, including her apron, is trembling. She’s trembling when they sit down to eat their shepherd’s pie, and she’s still trembling when Mr Duffer insists on making her a cup of tea after dinner.

“How on earth did it git ’ere?” asks Cook, stammering. “Don’t they ’ave dangerous horns on their snouts or somethin?”

“Ah, yes. Yes, it has a horn. Quite a long one, actually.”

Evie bounces up on her chair, holding her hands out wide to give Cook and Mr Duffer an idea of exactly how massive Rhino’s horn is. But Grandpa gives Evie a quick shake of his head, gently pushing her hands down.

“Evie found it on the beach this morning,” says Grandpa. “There’s been a shipwreck. That’s why I needed to go into Breamlea, to report it. The rhinoceros is injured and Evie put it in the foaling stall to recover.”

“O’ course, she did,” sighs Cook, shaking her head. “Always bringin’ this, that an’ the other home, and God knows what else.”

Evie slides from her chair and sidles over to Cook, placing her hand on her arm.

“Evie believes it to be good-natured, Cook. She is a reliable judge of animals. For all we know, it could be as domesticated as a cow,” says Grandpa, shooting a glance at Evie.

Cook and Mr Duffer look at each other and nod in agreement. They’ve all witnessed Evie’s kindness and patience with animals. The ladies, in particular, receive much attention from her, and they cluck around, happily laying eggs every day. Cook once witnessed Evie calm a distressed chicken. She held it like a baby and stroked its feathery chest until it stopped squirming. The chicken squarked and gave a soft sigh. Its wings drooped and its head flopped backward. Cook believes Evie hypnotized it!

Both Florette and Claudette were feral kittens rescued and tamed by Evie and when Francie and Freddie first arrived, they were disobedient and uncontrollable. Now, they readily respond to hand commands to “stay”, “sit”, “come” and “go way back”. Mr Duffer has also witnessed Evie’s ability with their old coach horse Bernard. Ageing and cantankerous, he refused to be harnessed until Mr Duffer came across Evie blowing in his nostrils and staring into his eyes. From then on, Bernard worked steadily without a problem.

Cook’s head jerks up as she pleads. “If I can’t git along with the house cow, how will I manage with a bleedin’ rhinoceros?”

“I’m as uneasy about this as you are, Cook. But with all the rain we’ve had, we have no choice. Rhino will be staying with us until the floodwaters recede.”

Evie’s heart is pounding and she smothers a smile. But it’s too late. Grandpa sees it and he raises his eyebrows at her.

“Now, you listen here my dear girl. Rhino is not yours to keep. As soon as we can cross the floodwaters we’ll be reporting this shipwreck. The authorities will notify Rhino’s rightful owners and they will come to get him.”

“Aye, he’s not a bleedin’ pet, child,” mumbles Cook, patting Evie’s hand.

Thunder can be heard rumbling in the distance and heavy rain begins to hammer down.

“Surely, it can’t rain forever,” says Grandpa.

Evie prays it does. She flexes her toes to let them know they’re going to the stables in a minute to tell Rhino he’s staying on with them.

“Everything will be all right,” Grandpa promises them. “The chickens have taken a fancy to Rhino and I’ve always said chickens are a good judge of character.”

“Chickens, pah!” says Cook, shaking her head. “It don’t feel right, Mr Strahan. It shouldn’t be ’ere, monstrous great thing. And yer say it has a horn!”

Grandpa nods. “I agree. It doesn’t belong here.”