Distant Mountains, page 20
“That’d be grand.” A huge sense of contentment settled over Rem. All he had to do now was see Sara and his son, and life would be complete.
They stared into the fire for a moment, each with his own thoughts, then Carlos asked, “So, what you gonna do when we get over there? You going to stay?”
Rem rubbed his nape. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. To be honest, my life’s in a bit of a bloody turmoil at the moment.”
“So, that’s unusual?” Carlos dug him in the ribs and chuckled.
“No, this is a real pickle.” Rem chewed on the inside of his mouth. “I’ve done some things I’m not proud of, Carlos.”
“Ain’t we all? Life is made up of mistakes and ways of trying to set them right. We haven’t exactly been served with a cushy existence, have we? We do what we have to do, and hope the ones we love don’t get hurt too much. So, tell me, what you been up to in the past five years then?”
Rem sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“We’ve got plenty of time.” Carlos looked into the darkness shrouding the mountains. “How long does it take to get over these bloody giant hills anyway?”
“Up to a fortnight, depending on the weather and the animals. The teamsters and their oxen can hold things up or speed along depending on their mood.”
“What, the animals’ mood or the rough blokes who drive 'em?”
“Both.” Rem laughed. It was a fact. The teamsters were a breed unto themselves and answered to no man. But most travelers couldn’t manage without their skill and knowledge of the hazardous road.
“Right.” Carlos settled back. “I know you met up with Bella after her husband found you in Sydney, but I’ve sort of lost track of your doings after that.”
Rem pondered how much to disclose, but once started he couldn’t seem to stop. The words tumbled out. He told Carlos about Aggie and his guilt. Then he told about his love for Sara and the mess he’d made of her life.
“Now I’ve found out I left her with a babe inside her when her husband had me sent off to Moreton Bay.”
“Seems to me her father’s the one who made her life what it is, boyo. You’ve got too much guilt hanging over your head that’s not yours to worry over. So, this Sara you love is over where we’re going. And what of her husband?”
Rem dragged in a harsh breath. “That’s going to be the problem. He’s not going to let her go. He don’t want her for himself any more it seems, but he ain’t likely to give her up. Especially to me.”
“Looks like you’re going to have a fight on your hands, boyo.” Carlos thumped Rem’s thigh.
“Looks that way.” Morosely Rem stared at a crackling log on the fire.
“So, go on with what happened when you got in with this band of bushrangers,” Carlos prompted.
Rem continued with his story. “I’m going back for the gold, Carlos,” he said softly, when he reached the part of the story where Lulu died and his life slid further and further down into hell.
“’Course you are. It’d be a foolish man who left gold lying around. Finders keepers—it belongs to you. Can you remember where you’ve hid it?”
Rem rubbed his chin. “More or less. I only have to look out for certain landmarks when we get near the spot. The hard part is going to be finding my way back to the hut. I reckon the path has overgrown. I left markers, but it’s been a long time...”
“How you going to get away from that lot?” Carlos jerked his head to the free travelers gathered about their fire.
“I’ll slip off when I get near the spot, and catch up with you further along the trail.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Rem put a hand on his brother’s arm. “No you won’t. Don’t be daft, man. You’re a convict. You just stay out of trouble, d’you hear? I’ve been places no man should be sent and had things happen to me I wouldn’t wish my worst enemy to suffer, my lad, so you keep sweet with the authorities and serve your term like a good boy. Hear me?”
Carlos grinned. “All right, I hear you. I ain’t bloody deaf. So, carry on with your story. What happened next?”
By the time Rem finished his tale, everyone was asleep and the camps quiet, except for the snores of those nearby.
“Lord man, how’s your back now?” All jollity had left Carlos when Rem haltingly relayed his flogging and the conditions up north.
“It’s a mess. But the scars up here”— Rem tapped his head—“them’s the ones that’ll never heal.”
“We’ll find a way to do this Ravenbrook bloke in, don’t fear,” Carlos said vehemently. “It’ll have to wait awhile until I’m free, of course. There’s ways we can do it so’s no one will ever know, and this land is so bloody vast we can chuck his body in one of these ravines and no one would be any the wiser.”
Rem’s blood ran cold. “No! You leave him be, you hear me?” he hissed. “I’ve made enough mistakes in my life, and I’ve paid hard for them. Somehow I’ll find a way to get even with the bastard that don’t involve killing.”
Carlos grunted but said no more on that subject. After a lull when Rem thought he dozed, Carlos said, “Hey, I haven’t told you the most important news yet, have I?”
“Depends. What else is there you have to say?”
“I found out where Papa hailed from in Spain. And something else.”
His grin told Rem there was a lot more to his story to be told. “Oh yes? Like what? We ain’t descended from the King of Spain, are we?” he asked sarcastically.
“Not quite.”
“So, go on. I can tell you’re just busting to tell me all the details. Where did you find out this about our pa?”
Carlos pushed his hair back. “I met this bloke in Newgate,” he said eagerly. “This old geezer was from a ship that had been doing a bit of pirating and smuggling of sorts. Nothing grand, but enough to get the captain and his crew arrested. This bloke shared my cell for a while, and we got to talking. What a bloody windbag. Wouldn’t shut up. He was a pain in the arse—at first. But once I heard his tale I was glad he was forever going on about his travels.”
Rem’s interest was sparked. All tiredness left him as he demanded, “Get on with your bloody story then.”
Carlos pulled a face. He was enjoying stretching out the tale. “Apparently he was on this ship in about ’74, and there was a lad who’d been brought aboard by the captain.” Carlos’ enthusiasm grew as he said, “I worked it out. Pa would have been about ten then, and this bloke was almost the same age, that’s why he remembered it so well. The kid was Spanish and his pa and ma were killed in some plague that wiped out his family a few years earlier. The captain told everyone at the time they’d been related to the royal family or something, but the crew all laughed it off. This boy couldn’t speak their language then so didn’t know what was going on.”
“That don’t prove a single thing.” Rem’s disappointment grew. “There must have been hundreds of Spanish kids brought to England about that time. How could you think it was our Pa?”
“I don’t think, boyo, I know. Remember when Pa used to tell us about the captain and that ship?” Rem nodded, and he went on, “What was it called?”
Rem tipped his head back and closed an eye. “The Lady Mary or some such thing.”
“Right, and this was the name of the ship these boys were on. And Pa always said he lived with his parents in a grand house overlooking the sea in a place called Cartagena.”
“Yes,” Rem said slowly. “But why didn’t this captain ever take Pa back to Spain where he rightfully belonged? Pa stayed with the ship for years until the captain died.”
“Well, it seems the Spanish declared war against Britain about that time, when the Americas were at war. There were battles going on all over the place in those years, and by the time Spain and the old country were ganging up against the Frenchies the captain of The Lady Mary was sailing nearer home.”
“So, that don’t alter much.” It was all in the past now.
“But it’s good to know where Pa came from, don’t you reckon?” Carlos seemed disappointed at Rem’s lack of interest. “He came from good stock, Remy my boy, and one day I’m going to Spain to search out my ancestors. Wouldn’t you like to know exactly where you sprung from?”
“I suppose so.” But right now Rem’s priority was his reunion with Sara. And his meeting with his son. The thought made his insides shiver with apprehension and anticipation.
* * *
“Psst!” Rem shook his brother’s shoulder, and Carlos’ eyes shot open.
“What?” Carlos sat up, immediately wide awake.
“I’m off now,” Rem whispered. “Thought I’d get going before the sun comes up.”
“Right, good idea. Watch out, man.” Carlos came onto his knees and laid a hand on Rem’s shoulder. “Don’t get into any strife.” He looked about. “You sure this is the spot?”
“Yeah. The only thing that’ll fox me is if the undergrowth has covered all the track. I’ll catch up with you again as soon as I can. If anyone wants to know where I am, don’t forget to tell them what we planned.”
“Right.” Carlos nodded. “You buried your woman along the trail and you want to go visit her grave. I doubt any of these codgers’ll worry too much. They mind their own business, and won’t do anything even if they are interested.”
“I’m banking on that.” Rem stood and cuffed Carlos’ about the ear gently. “Behave yourself. I don’t want to lose you now I’ve found you again.”
“Never fear. I don’t want to go back to Sydney and the old treadmill, so I’ll do all I can to stay out of trouble.” He pushed himself up.
“See that you do.” Rem hugged his brother, picked up the bag containing his water bottle and a chunk of bread, cheese and beef saved over the past couple of days. With a wave he stealthily left the campsite.
Carlos was more or less right: being a free man, no one paid him much heed. One of the travelers’ daughters had been eyeing him with interest since they left town, and she would be about the only one to say anything.
Keeping an outcrop of rock in his sights, he trod carefully. The last thing he needed was to tread on a snake. A rustle to his right made him jump, but when a large kangaroo bounded off, he grinned.
It was almost light by the time he reached the outcrop. He now turned left and hoped his instincts were guiding him in the right direction. The trees had grown so much since he passed this way with Lulu it was useless to try to use them as markers.
“Thank God,” he sighed as he reached a pile of rocks he had put there all those years ago. Wild beasts had trampled the area, thankfully treading the grasses and bracken so the marker still stood out, the branch he set in its midst askew, but still there.
Now, he estimated he had about five hundred paces to go before he reached the clearing. Would the hut still be there? Perhaps another lone miner inhabited it.
After an hour or so of trampling through the undergrowth, Rem began to lose heart. He’d marked trees, broken stems from bushes and left branches to point his direction, and it became clear he had backtracked. Cursing, he retraced his steps until he found the last marked tree, and then changed direction. Sweat poured down his face, dripped from his chin and soaked his shirt.
Suddenly he broke into a clearing, and there it was.
The dwelling was barely standing, a wall completely gone, the roof sagging. Obviously no human inhabited it. A shiver raced over his skin when he thought of the man at the bottom of the mineshaft nearby. Taking a swallow from his water bottle, he looked about and took his bearings. It had changed so much, and a desolate air hung about the place. He shuddered, remembering Lulu and her sweetness.
At least she was at peace now. Pulling himself up, he turned and paced away to the place where they buried the gold. A sense of guilt washed over him as he began to dig. This was her gold, not his. Still, no sense in leaving it here; she would have wanted him to make use of it.
Sweat poured from every pore by the time he uncovered his cache. There was too much for one man to carry. Now he knew the whereabouts of the cabin for sure and that no one lived here, he could always come back at a later date. Once he saw Sara and his son, and they decided on their future, he would return. He packed as much as he could carry on his person, in his pockets, and then filled the cloth sack he brought along.
* * *
“Well, how’d it go?” Carlos rose from his place by the fire and held out a hand to Rem.
“As you see I got what I went after. We’re made for life, boyo.” Rem shook his brother’s hand, and they both sat. The night was warm and they were well away from the dying fires built to cook the evening meal. “I had a bit of trouble finding the spot, but got there eventually.”
“What you going to do with that?” Carlos gestured to the sack Rem placed on the ground at their feet.
“Keep it as near at hand as I can. I’ll roll it in my blanket. As long as no one guesses what it is there should be no trouble. Did anyone wonder where I’d gone?”
“The teamsters were curious when you didn’t show up for the noonday meal. I told them you’d had a touch of diarrhea and would catch up with us as soon as you felt better.” Carlos laughed as he punched Rem’s arm.
“That’s as good an excuse as any, I suppose.”
“The little fair-haired chit was asking after you. She knew I was your brother and got up the courage to venture near enough to question me. I told her the story about your wife’s grave, and she looked mighty pleased when she found out you don’t have a live wife somewhere.”
Rem groaned. “Lord, that’s the last thing I need. I’ll have to tell her I have a sweetheart.”
“I’ll give her the eye; I reckon she’ll prefer me to you when she finds out what a fine specimen I am.” Carlos smoothed his hair back and pulled himself up straight.
“Keep away from her, Carlos. Wait until you’re a free man before you start eyeing the innocent young girls of the colony. Take my word for it, it’s the best path,” Rem advised. “Now, no one must guess what I went after; there’s no telling what lengths a man will go to for gold.”
Now he had it in his grasp, Rem wasn’t about to give up his wealth for anyone. “Let’s get some shut-eye. I’m whacked.” Rem went to retrieve his bedroll and meager stash of belongings. The women were in their tents, and the teamsters who were smoking their pipes passed a few ribald comments on his supposed condition but other than that no one paid him any heed.
Chapter Twenty
Rem set his bundle of belongings on the ground and wiped his sweaty palms down his trousers as he paused to gaze at the house Tiger Carstairs built for Bella. It fitted in with its surroundings as if it had been there forever instead of six years. Solid, it would likely stand forever.
He had left the teamsters and Carlos at the barracks. Bathurst now had an inn, a church, but still no bank. More settlers were coming over but it was still not too different to when he’d left. The area had been plagued by drought. How had Tiger fared?
Eager now to meet up with his sister, he picked up his bundle and strode purposefully toward the orchard, pausing again when he reached the spot where he’d first kissed Sara. It seemed so long ago, and he was a different person from the carefree young man back then. Would Sara think he’d changed? How could a man endure what he had and not change irrevocably? But one thing hadn’t changed, and that was his love for Sara, the woman of his heart.
He saw Bella before she glimpsed him. As always, her serene beauty astounded him. She stood on the porch, wiping her hands on her apron. “Tim!” he heard her call. Then she looked in his direction and he saw her press a hand over her heart, saw her lips move. “Remy.” His name burst out in a near shout.
“Aye, 'tis your no-good brother,” he cried, dropping his roll and rushing toward her as she jumped the steps in two leaps to throw herself into his arms.
Tears fell unchecked down her face as she wrapped her arms about him, whispering his name over and over. “Let me look at you.” Finally she stepped back a pace to stare at him. Her eyes missed nothing, he knew. “Oh, Remy, it’s so good to see you. I thought I’d never set eyes on you again, you rogue.” She sniffed and wiped at her face with her apron hem. “What have they done to you?” His Bella was never one to mince words.
“Nothing I want to talk about right now. You’re looking good, plump as a mother hen. Where’s Tiger? And Tim? And how many little 'uns have you got that I haven’t seen? Has the count reached ten yet?” Rem wiped at his own eyes, unashamed of the tears dampening his cheeks.
“Not quite. Come on inside.” She began to drag him up the steps. “Tiger’s due back any time. He’ll be so pleased to see you—and Tim will be overjoyed. He’s never forgotten you, Rem, and is always asking after you. The little blighter is likely off fishing. The minute his schooling is over he’s off with his dogs to the river bank.”
“It’s so good to be back.” Rem sniffed the familiar aromas of pine, beeswax, and good meat cooking.
“Gracie, come see who’s here,” Bella shouted as Rem tossed his hat on the hallstand.
Bella’s old housekeeper came from the kitchen, she too wiping her hands on her apron. She beamed when she caught sight of Rem. “Well, look what the cat’s brought in,” she cackled as she came to hug him.
Too choked to speak, Rem breathed deeply and let the air of happiness that pervaded this home sink into his beleaguered soul.
* * *
Rem had never been so nervous in his life. Dressed in one of Tiger’s linen shirts and a pair of his tan breeches, he looked about as presentable as he was likely to get. Bella had trimmed his hair, but it still curled around his nape. He dismounted Tiger’s sorrel gelding and straightened his shoulders as he tied the reins to the post before the house. A lad of about fifteen appeared from one of the barns and loped over to him.
