It was Saturday morning and Jake was hammering shingles on his roof – not his most urgent job because it hadn’t rained properly since New Year. He was surprised when a cartload of bonneted matrons halted in the home paddock. Janet Macgregor was leading them forward, bearing a silver tea service on a tray. She asked to speak to Daniel Browne.
Jake explained that his partner was visiting his wife at the Parramatta Female Factory, but could he help them?
Janet cleared her throat. ‘Aye, you’ll do. We are the members of the new Wesleyan Women for Temperance group. We took up a collection to present this Award for Bravery to Mrs Keziah Browne. It’s an insult to Australian womanhood to gaol this heroine for defending herself against a drunken monster!’
Jake kept a straight face. It was clear the other women were less outraged by Iago’s sodomy than his having departed this world in the grip of the Demon Drink. Janet had proven herself to be Keziah’s ally. Funny how being the Doc’s woman has mellowed her.
He thanked the temperance ladies. ‘I reckon she’d be honoured if you ladies christened her tea service.’
The women nodded in unison. ‘We shall pray for Mrs Browne’s speedy release.’
Jake never missed an opportunity. ‘And would you ladies sign my petition to the governor to have Mrs Browne assigned to her husband’s care?’
He had a pencil at the ready to record their names. Most could only make their mark.
Janet pointed out that none of the other temperance women had ever seen Keziah.
‘I can soon fix that!’ He raced inside the house, hastily bypassed Keziah’s naked portrait over his bed and brought out Daniel’s earlier portrait of her with little Gabriel.
The ladies exclaimed over it in admiration and one asked Jake confidentially if Mrs Browne shared their views about total abstinence.
‘Alcohol never touches her lips!’ he said fervently and tried to avoid the laughter in Janet Macgregor’s eyes.
The temperance wagon had barely disappeared over the rise when Jake recognised the rider approaching over the crest of the hill. He was too astonished to speak when he saw the hessian sack on his back was wriggling.
Daniel thrust it into Jake’s arms. ‘Keziah wants you to teach your son to be a man. Haven’t slept since Parramatta, I’m buggered.’ Daniel headed for the forge house. ‘Keziah sends her love.’
Jake looked down at the son he had never seen. The babe’s little fringe of red hair looked like a monk’s tonsure. Unblinking dark blue eyes stared back at him. The boy looked contented enough even though milk dribbled from his mouth.
Jake spoke his first ever words to his son. ‘No bloody wonder you’re chucking, mate. Galloping on horseback can do that to a bloke.’
He called after Daniel’s retreating back. ‘Hey! Did our wife give him a name yet?’
‘Yeah. Yosef Jakob Andersen Browne. Sorry he has to cop the Browne bit.’
‘He could do a lot worse,’ said Jake.
• • •
In Goulburn the following week, Jake was ushered into Mrs Hamberton’s sitting room. He felt awkward in such an elegant setting but was determined to press his case.
Daniel had told him the magistrate’s wife was a beautiful woman ‘of a certain age’, and Jake saw this was no exaggeration. She appeared to be much younger than her husband. Finely boned and fashionably gowned, her blonde hair was coiled on top of her head like a princess. For some odd reason Jake found her dark blue eyes disturbing. When she gracefully held out her hand he didn’t know whether he was supposed to shake it or kiss it. So he touched it and backed away.
‘Jake Andersen, Ma’am. Had no luck tracking down the magistrate. Reckon I was a bit desperate coming here to present my petition to the governor.’
‘You are the young man who was recently granted a full pardon, due to the false testimony of a witness the law should never have allowed to condemn you.’
‘That’s a polite way of putting it, Ma’am!’
‘And you have a friend, Mrs Keziah Browne?’
‘She’s the wife of my partner, Daniel Browne. The jury found her guilty of murder, but the truth is she shot the Devil Himself, Iago, for what he did to my Romani mate, Gem Smith. Saved me the trouble of killing the bastard.’
Aghast at his careless choice of words, Jake added quickly, ‘Forgive me, Ma’am. I can’t find no words low enough for him.’
Mrs Hamberton nodded in agreement. ‘I attended your friend’s trial. The English language is barely adequate to describe that man. He was the embodiment of evil.’
She gently prompted him. ‘How is your friend adjusting to conditions in Parramatta?’
‘Keziah’s a model prisoner, Ma’am. She’s earned special privileges to see Daniel, her husband. Of course I ain’t seen her myself,’ he added quickly.
‘And how are you managing with the children?’
‘Real well, thanks. Yosef’s taken to cow’s milk like a duck to water. The other two help us around the farm. They’re real bright with their school lessons.’
‘That handsome little boy I saw with his mother?’ She added tactfully, ‘During your own day in court. I understand from Mr Browne that his wife adopted him?’
Jake was suddenly absorbed in studying the wallpaper. This is tricky. Mrs Hamberton was in court when Pearl identified me as her father and Gabe had to be muzzled to stop him. What’s she playing at?
‘Gabriel Stanley’s near six and a half and as game as they come. He plays at soldiers, loves fighting the Battle of Waterloo. He’s got a real way with horses and knows what they’re thinking. What’s more he’s musical. There’s nothing that lad couldn’t play if he put his mind to it.’
There was an odd note in Mrs Hamberton’s voice. ‘Ah yes, musical gifts are often inherited from a grandparent.’ She pulled the bell rope. ‘I shall order tea. Please tell me about your petition.’
Jake took this cue. The law was no help to him so he poured out his heart. Who knew what influence Mrs Hamberton had? He never under-estimated good women. The law gave the fair sex no advantages so they had to use devious methods to run the world.
Mrs Hamberton’s eyes never left his face as Jake told her how he had collected 649 signatures from every estate, farm, store and public house in the locality, and how he had even swum across a flooded creek to collect names from a remote farmhouse.
‘Men and women are pretty much all on her side, Ma’am. All I’m asking is for her to be assigned to her husband. She’s a great mother – the children need her.’
‘Your petition is impressive. I would be most pleased to add my own signature.’
Jake grinned as he watched her sign it, imagining Magistrate Hamberton’s surprise when he read his own wife’s name on the petition – Stella Hamberton.
‘Don’t allow your friend to lose heart. A woman needs courage to rebuild her life. That first day I saw Keziah Stanley in court at your trial I recognised a woman of valour.’
‘She’s got more guts than most men. Saved my life and I’d gladly trade mine to free her.’
Mrs Hamberton gracefully nodded her head. ‘Your friend is fortunate to have you as her champion. I am certain my husband will make adequate time for you to state your case before his next visit to his friend Governor Gipps. And when you pass this way feel free to bring Gabriel. My husband has a miniature model of the Battle of Waterloo that might interest the boy.’
Jake took his leave feeling pleased but bemused. I’m buggered if I know why, but I reckon she’s fighting for our cause. Then it struck him, her slip of the tongue. Stanley. The first time she had seen Kez was at my trial when the world knew her as Saranna Browne. The way she said it sounded like she knew Kez in another life.
As Jake turned Horatio towards home, he decided that strange feeling he had on meeting Stella Hamberton was no accident. It was like seeing Keziah in her eyes.