Lily, riding hard as she crossed Ezekiel’s home paddock, could see the happy children and the horse as they came down the track from the gate, home from school. She could see Ezekiel marching towards them, and she wondered if he always did that—met them on the track.
Her thighs hurting brought her back to the moment. It had been a long time since she’d ridden bareback, even as long ago as in her childhood. Gripping Cricket’s sides had come naturally, but she’d forgotten how difficult it was to sustain; she was so out of practice.
‘Ezekiel.’ She tried to call, but her voice only croaked. She tried again and this time it was a scream. She waved, crying, calling his name.
It was his eldest son who saw her. He was walking ahead of the horse, leading with the reins. He waved back, then hesitated.
Ezekiel turned towards her and waved, too, before he realised something was terribly wrong. He waved his son over, then ran towards her.
Cricket slowed on her command, and as they got closer to Ezekiel, she could see the shock on his face. Oh God, Judah’s blood is all over my clothes.
‘Come quickly, Ezekiel. It’s Judah. He’s been attacked.’ She leaned down and gripped his outstretched hand, but she didn’t dismount. ‘Can your boy go for the doctor?’
She was about to wheel Cricket around when Ezekiel grabbed his reins. ‘Wait. You don’t look too good either.’
‘It’s not my blood, Ezekiel.’ She felt her panic rising. ‘Please, let me go back.’
Ezekiel wasn’t letting go. ‘Giff,’ he shouted, and the boy started at a run, the horse trotting behind with the two younger children bobbing on its back. ‘Gracie, Jonty, hop off Milo, quickly now.’
‘Please, Ezekiel, let go of—’
‘Mrs Hartman, give me your horse. Giff can go for the doctor,’ Ezekiel said and spoke to his son. ‘Tell him to hurry and get to Uncle Jude’s.’
Giff swung onto Milo’s back, turned the horse and took off.
The younger children stared at her.
‘Down you get, Mrs Hartman,’ Ezekiel said quietly. ‘Gracie will get you a cup of tea, help you clean up a bit.’ He still had hold of the reins and lifted his free hand towards her, urging her to dismount. His face was creased with worry, and she could hear the urgency in his voice.
Suddenly tired, she slipped off poor Cricket and caught Ezekiel’s horrified look at the state of her dress. Alarmed, she glanced at the children. The young lad was wide-eyed and silent.
The girl, perhaps seven or eight if she remembered correctly, was solemn, and curious. She went to Lily and held out her hand. ‘We’ll get you a bit washed up, Mrs Hartman,’ she said, in her steady, soft little voice. ‘I think you’ve swiped something over your face.’
Oh dear. Lily took Gracie’s outstretched hand as Ezekiel clambered onto Cricket’s back.
He looked down at her and said, ‘Wait here for me. Look after my kids.’ Turning the horse, he kicked him into a gallop.
Look after his kids. Lily took a glance down at her dress. Judah’s blood had dried on it and where it had darkened, the fabric was stiff. She looked at Gracie who firmly had her hand and was leading her to Ezekiel’s house. Dogs barked and yipped frantically somewhere in the background. She glanced back at Jonty who, after staring at his brother then his father, jogged along beside to catch up to her.
‘You’re all dirty, missus,’ he said, pointing at her skirt. ‘Dirtier ‘n’ me.’
Lily laughed a little, cried a little; the sound of it was pathetic in her ears.
‘No one’s dirtier than you, Jonty Jones,’ Gracie said, matter-of-fact.
He considered that for a moment, tilting his head. ‘That’s true,’ he said with a lisp.
Jonty sneaked his hand into Lily’s, and she sobbed some more, squeezing the two children’s hands in hers. Then as she walked on wobbly legs towards their house, a few tears flowed for Judah.