The Long Journey. Susan Wright
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so we could grow pasture then there were sheds to be built and animals to be tended and fed. I was a lot younger then Katherine I would not like to attempt doing it all again. When we first arrived here of course there were no fences to keep in the stock can you imagine what sort of problems that caused.’
‘Where did you live when you first came here?’
‘You probably didn’t notice but on the way up to the house past the farm buildings there is a small one roomed cottage set back against a macracapra hedge.’
‘No, I didn’t notice.’
‘Well that was our first home. It was primitive but compared too many others of the time it was a great deal better. The first farm houses were usually small rough and simple with every thing being made out of wood even the roofs had wooden shingles. Some didn’t even have chimneys.’
‘How did they cook a meal then, not to mention keep warm?’
‘They had to cook outside over a camp fire as I said Katherine life was far from easy in those days.’
Katherine sat mentally trying to imagine what it had been like at that time unaware that Helmut was closely observing her. The fire was burning brightly giving the room a warm cozy feel. The lamp was flickering casting almost magical images, Helmut leaned back and smiled at her. ‘What are you thinking about you seem to be miles away, I hope you are happy here Katherine?’
She blinked rapidly as she forced her mind back to the present. ‘Who wouldn’t be happy living in this beautiful place?’ Yet she knew that there were some needs that would never be satisfied no matter how beautiful the surroundings. In order to hide her true feeling she added, ‘I was thinking, that now we have the house in order I should begin to think about the school.’
‘I would suggest that you leave that until after the winter, I can feel snow in the air already. Why not have a good rest, and get out your paints and capture some winter scenes.’
So it was decided that the formation of the school would begin in the spring.
Later that same night Helmut awoke to the sounds of her screams. He bounded up the stairs almost knocking over Too Gum who had also heard her. He entered the room to observe her sitting up with a terrified look on her face, she was bathed in sweat and her breathing was rapid. Quickly crossing the room he sat down on the bed and took her in his arms. ‘Whatever is the matter my dear?’
‘I thought I was on the ship again there was water every where. ‘She sobbed.
‘Sh-sh-sh it was only a bad dream.’ He held her close all the time talking soothingly to her. ‘Look Too Gum has brought you something to drink. Here let me hold it for you.’ He carefully held the blue and white container that Too Gum had handed to him and she sipped at the liquid waiting for the soothing effects to wash over her, which it did almost immediately. Helmut straightened the bedding for her as she lay down and quietly drifted back into a peaceful sleep. ‘Thank you Too Gum, I don’t know what you have in that jar but it sure does the trick.’
‘It velly old Chinese recipe, she will sleep good now for long time.’
‘Go back to bed now, get some rest yourself.’ He watched as the small man left the room. He was almost sure he saw a ginger cat waiting at the door. He turned his gaze back to the bed and watched as Katherine lay sleeping. Her hair which she normally tied up was now loose and spread out over the pillow. As he looked at her he thought, up until now I thought of her as being pretty but she is beautiful. If only she could reciprocate this great love that I feel for her, but it is early days yet he thought. He sat for some time just watching her. He had taken hold of her hand, after a while he bent forward and gently kissed her on the forehead. ‘Goodnight my dear,’ he whispered. Then he quietly left the room and walked back through the silent house to his own room.
When she awoke the next morning and looked out the window it was to see a completely different world. It had snowed heavily during the night and now everything was glistening white. It was like an enchanted place as if some benevolent giant had spread white snow over everything and soon the fairies would come out and perform some pageant. She felt a great excitement as she dressed for the day as if she was a small child again waiting to go out and play. Helmut had already eaten and gone out to attend to the stock when she came down for breakfast, she ate heartily of porridge and then had some bacon and an egg, this return of appetite surprised her. ‘It must be the mountain air,’ she said to no one in particular.
She put on her boots and coat and tied the red scarf around her hair and neck and went outside. The air was clear and crisp as she walked just enjoying the sheer beauty of the place. Looking down the valley she could see some children playing and laughing as they pelted each other with snow balls, even a couple of dogs where getting in on the act. She smiled and remembered her own childhood in England where she had played like that with her sister and the local children. Afterwards her Mother would scold them for getting wet; it seemed like a lifetime away.
And so a pattern was set during the winter months, after eating breakfast she would go for a walk just around the homestead but never ventured down the hill. Then she would go upstairs to the room that she had set up as a studio where Too Gum would have a fire burning brightly. She would paint or read as there being plenty of books in the library to choose from. Sometimes she would do some needlework. Later in the day weather permitting she would go for another short walk and then bathe and dress for dinner.
Towards the end of winter a great restlessness came over her almost a feeling of claustrophobia as if she would scream if she did not get out of the house. Fortunately spring came early that year and with it all the activity and excitement that comes to the farm at this time of year. There were new born lambs everywhere. Helmut was out at first light and sometimes was still out well after dark. Many of the lambs that were weak or cold would be brought into the shearing shed along with their mothers and there the shepherds would attempt to keep them warm. However the weather was kind to them this year and there were few lamb fatalities. It was during this time that Katherine decided to begin preparations for the school. The first thing she would have to do would be to go and meet with the mothers and get their reaction to this. She had no idea as yet whether they would even want such a thing. She was putting on her outdoor things when Too Gum said, ‘You be velly careful, it velly hard frost, ground velly slippery.’
‘Yes Too Gum I be velly careful.’
They knew each so well by now that he did not mind her making fun of his English. She left by the back door and made her way around the house and for the first time since the day she had arrived she ventured down the hill. The ground was indeed slippery and so she walked cautiously down to the farm sheds. First there was an enormous shearing shed and equally large sheep yards which were in turn divided into smaller pens. In the last pen closest to the shed were ramps leading up to small doors, she assumed correctly that must be where the sheep would come out after being shorn. Along the road winding past the sheds was a creek. On the banks grew tussocks and flax and in amongst these there were Muscovy ducks, geese, turkeys and hens of all colours each trying to look after their own small families. There were constant squabbles over youngsters and nest sights as they went about their daily affairs. Katherine learnt later that it was one of the chores of the children to search for eggs. Past the wool shed was the blacksmiths, she could almost smell the heat coming from the forge. This must be a favorite place to gather in the winter, she thought. Standing outside the blacksmiths were two huge Clydesdale horses. They were gentle creatures and stood patiently waiting their turn to be shod. Although the men were aware that Katherine was there they didn’t look up. It wasn’t that they were rude it was just that they were country folk and were more than a little in awe of this English lady in their midst.
Next came the stable which was a long building with two large doors in the centre, sitting outside was an old man with a gray beard. Beside him sat an equally old dog that was blind and full of rheumatism but the old man had refused point blank to have him put down as they had been close friends for a very long time. In contrast to the rest of the men the old man gave her a cheery smile and wished her good-morning. Katherine was gratified that someone had spoken to her and replied, ‘Good-morning my name is Katherine