Nothing Lasts Forever Page 11

  Joe poured his tea and added a generous spoon of sugar and sat facing Tim at the table. He extended his huge hand across the table to Tim. “Hello, I’m Joe, friend of Mel.”

  Tim was amazed at this wild native drinking tea in a civilized manner in a white man’s residence. He took the extended hand gingerly, and winced as Joe squeezed his hand.

  “I’m Tim Fletcher, looking for my brother, Alan, who hasn’t contacted us for a while from the goldfields.”

  “Ah,” Joe released Tim’s hand and a sad look crossed his face. “Me thinkum not good story ‘bout Alan.”

  “What are you talking about?” Tim’s expression was of dismay and disbelief. He’d never encountered an aborigine at close quarters before, and to see one of these wild black as midnight men pouring tea and having a real conversation was almost too much to believe.

  “What are your feelings, Joe?” Mel asked quietly.

  “Spirits warn of bad things,” Joe said simply, his head bowed.

  Mel turned to Tim. “Joe is very intuitive. He feels and sees things we can’t.” The shadowy look in Tim’s eyes prompted Mel to add: “It just may be that Alan was hurt, and is unable to get word out. Tim, can you secure a seat on Cobb&Co to go to the diggings and find out yourself? If Alan’s hurt you can bring him home.”

  Tim brightened, then he shook his head. “I only have enough money for accommodation for a day or two. I doubt I’d have enough to coach to the diggings then back again.”

  Mel made more tea, then made a more than generous decision as they sipped in silence. “Let’s go and talk to Harry in the coach office.”

  It was so important to find Alan Fletcher; for his family, for Angelina, and for Mel to know where he stood in her life. So Tim left two days later, seated on top of the coach beside the driver. The thought of the experience ahead bought a bit of a sparkle to his otherwise sad eyes. Mel had paid for Tim’s return journey, and generously handed him money in case of emergency.

  It was seven days before Tim returned. Mel met the coach, knowing sadly in his heart from Joe’s visions that the news was not good. The drained expression on the young man’s face spoke of the ordeal he had faced on behalf of his family. Tim walked to Mel and immediately began to sob. Tears coursed down his dusty face. Mel put an arm around Tim’s shoulders and led him gently along the street to the General Store.

  Mel offered the young man a watered-down brandy, which he gulped down thankfully. He didn’t push for information, Joe had been pretty specific in his account of the raging bushfire, pushed by strong, hot winds, which consumed the tent city within minutes.

  Tim was finally able to talk about what he’d found out. Some diggers had tried to save personal property from their tattered tents and bark lean-tos, but the speed of the fire front was beyond their comprehension. Many were later buried in unmarked graves; some had a name roughly etched on a rock placed as a headstone. Alan Fletcher was one of the names on a rock.

  On making tearful enquiries, Tim was handed a watch, the face blackened and shattered, and a medallion given to Alan by the family for his 21st birthday with his initials engraved on the back. These meager possessions were secured in a calico bag with a number on the front. That number was the same number chiseled into the rough tombstone.

  Tim spent two days with Mel before the coach’s scheduled return journey to Tamworth. He was comfortable sleeping on Mel’s sofa, and was saving money on accommodation. They decided to visit the Giavano’s farm on the first evening. It was important to let them know that Alan was gone.

  Tim’s voice faltered in the telling. Mel took up the story in the living room with all family members present. When Mel finished giving them the bad news, Angelina rose silently and left the room, eyes brimming with tears, followed quickly by her mother. Mel felt his heart break for her.

  Albert bought out the Galliano and poured drinks, suggesting to Leonardo who sat with tears on his cheeks, he take Mia out of the room. Mia had sat expressionless. She’d noted the way Mel looked at her sister, and she hated them both. This news made the way open for Mel and Angelina, and that was damned unfair. She’d planned her future with Mel, and now her dreams were in shambles. She sure as hell didn’t want to live out her life on this damned farm. She was destined for better things.

  Leonardo took Mia’s arm again. “Come on, Sis. Let’s go to the kitchen. Mama’s made a berry cordial and it’s one of her best efforts.”

  Mia rose and stomped to her room. The tears of defeat and frustration needed some release, and didn’t need to be confused as tears of concern for her sister’s loss. That didn’t rate a thought to her.

  The next day, the day before Tim was to return to Tamworth, Mia put in an appearance at the store. Her cunning mind had thought of an alternative plan.

  “Mia, perhaps it’s not a good time to be here. Your family is grieving, and you should be supporting them, don’t you think?” Mel felt very cross with her heartless attitude.

  “I’m here for Tim. He has no one to support him,” Mia said, tight lipped, walking through the store to where Tim sat at the kitchen table, his head in his hands.

  The hardest part for him was to come: facing his parents with the news. They would be devastated. Alan was always the favourite. Tim just seemed to get the crumbs.

  They would be broken hearted of course, then angry, as he knew from past experiences. And he would bear the brunt of their anger; that’s how it always had been. He was not looking forward to the homecoming.

  Mia felt bold and quite reckless as she put her arms around his shoulders. “It’s all right, Tim. I’m here for you,” she whispered.

  They were in each other’s arms when Mel entered the room. It’s O.K., he told himself. They are only comforting each other. The whispers were continuous from the young couple, so Mel left them to console each other.

  The coach left on time in the early morning. Mel had said his goodbyes to Tim the night before. For some reason Tim had chosen to spend his last night in a room at the hotel.

  Mel had felt so helpless that night and had two rums before retiring. He could not lift the feeling of discontent bearing down on him. Something was not right, but he couldn’t put a finger on it.

  John had stayed clear of the emotional turmoil, but Joe sat with Mel till late drinking tea. Mel worried that he may have become addicted.

  On rising next morning, Mel still felt the pressure of discontent. Damn, he’d only wanted to find out once and for all whether Alan Fletcher had made his fortune, planning to whisk Angelina away. And instead he’d brought heartbreak and devastation to two families.

  After breakfast he opened the shop doors for business, then had a sudden thought. In his downer last evening he’d forgotten to count the takings from his cash draw ready for the bank this morning. He swung in behind the counter and froze on the spot. The cash draw was open and empty.

  Joe was still in the kitchen, and he looked at Mel with a sad expression on his face when Mel told him.

  “What do you know, Joe?” Mel asked him quietly.

  “The girl, Leonardo’s sister, she took.”

  “What!” Mel shouted. “No! That can’t be! Why the hell didn’t you tell me, Joe?”

  “Not know till early morning, just before coach left. Through night, young girl sneaked past with bag, and go to Hotel. Me watchum young Tim come meet her, then they went to room. Joe watchum through window girl with handful of money. She say to Tim she tookem from store, Tim was mad at her. They leave together on the coach…far away now.”

  Mel felt almost giddy after that revelation. What was he to do? He couldn’t just ignore the facts. He hurried into the Cobb&Co office.

  “Tim Fletcher, he was on the coach this morning?” Mel asked, a little breathless.

  Harry looked at Mel with concern. “Yep. Boarded with a young girl. She paid for her seat just before the coach left. What’
s the problem, Mel?”

  Mel took a deep breath. There was bound to be serious repercussions over this incident, and it was only fair to let Harry know. “The girl, Mia Giavano, is a runaway, I think.”

  “Good God! I did question her, and she said she was of age. Tim backed her up. What was I to do?” Harry was devastated.

  Mel closed the shop, and he and Joe saddled Baylord. Mel ruffled Joe’s hair and swung into the saddle. “Don’t think you are to blame for any of this, Joe. I thank you for being so observant. I’ve got to talk to Albert, let him know.”

  Mia’s room was empty, the bed not slept in. Her closet doors hung open, indicating she’d packed and left in a hurry. The family was devastated; Bella wailed, Angelina cried, and Leonardo came running from the dairy. When told he began striding around the room in a fury.

  “Papa, let me go after them,” Leonardo said after a while.

  “With what?” Albert said, his face streaked with tears. “We only have one run-down horse, Leonardo. He’d never survive the trip.”

  “Then what are we to do, Papa?” Leonardo said.

  Mel took a deep breath. “May I suggest you talk to Sergeant Green? I’m sure he’ll have some good advice.”

  “That blasted girl, too headstrong for her own good. She should have been…” Albert began.

  “What, Papa? Tied to a post like a dog? We all knew she was stubborn and willful, but none of us knew she was capable of something like this. It’s just too much after the news of Alan.” Angelina broke down and sobbed.

  Mel moved to her and took her in his arms. He felt like he was the bearer of bad news to this unfortunate family. Angelina sobbed her heart out, wetting Mel’s shirt, and stirred up strange emotions in him of love and protection. He wanted to shield her from this hurt. And there was no way he would add to their distress by telling them Mia had stolen money from the store. That little incident would stay with him and Joe.

  Sergeant Green was shocked. The whole Giavano family stood in his tiny office, Bella wailing again. “And she’s what? Sixteen years old? Was she kidnapped? We should track that Tim Fletcher down and goal him for life.”

  Albert shook his head. “No, not kidnapped. Mia doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to do. She had it all planned, I think.”

  All the police could do was notify every station they could to be on the lookout for Mia. The fugitives could have left the coach anywhere along the route and disappeared into the countryside.

  Six months later: The new store built beside the General Store had opened, and had an amazing display of imported fabrics and handmade gowns, frilly petticoats, bonnets and accessories. Angelina and Bella were kept busy filling orders in the new sewing room behind, and the money rolled in.

  Mel had invested in not one, but two Singer treadle sewing machines, model No 28; a vision of intricate wrought iron and highly polished wood.

  The Giavano family had survived the devastation brought about by Mia’s escapade. Her name was rarely mentioned these days, but the sadness was still there, written in dark eyes. No sign of the young couple had been found, as though they had disappeared from the face of the earth.

  Angelina accompanied Mel to social functions, always wearing a sample of her gorgeous gowns, and the interest they created kept increasing customers. Mel often arranged picnics for the two of them, and they were totally relaxed in each other’s company now.

  Mel recalled the momentous breakthrough as they were returning from another enjoyable picnic. Angelina actually placed her hand over his and said softly “My family has never really thanked you for all you’ve done for us, Mel. And I, most of all, owe you a debt of gratitude.”

  Mel turned a puzzled face to her. “You don’t owe me, dear girl.”

  Angelina smiled a sad smile. “It’s a bit late in coming, I grant you that, but my parents talk of you like a God or something. You helped us through a very difficult time in our lives.”

  Mel felt just a bit bewildered, and turned his hand over to enfold her small one. “You’d better remind me of what I did. I can’t recall.”

  “You went out of your way to find Alan Fletcher for us. We needed that closure.”

  Mel released her hand to put his arm around her shoulders. It was the first time he had attempted closeness. “It seemed to me at that time I was the bearer of bad news for your family. I hated to see you so sad. It broke my heart.”

  Angelina leaned towards him and nestled her head on his shoulder. “Did you really think that way? We were concerned about those events which took so much of your valuable time. You were just amazing in your support. And after tragedy in your own life, you stood tall and strong for us.”

  Mel was silent. What did they know of his past, he wondered.

  Angelina broke the silence. She pulled away from him and placed her hand on his bare arm. “I’m sorry Mel. I guess I’m speaking out of turn. We know life hasn’t been kind to you; I see it in your eyes now and then, but you are always so calm and positive about things.”

  Mel was tingling all over. The touch of her hand had set off a strange reaction. “It’s kind of you to say that, and I do try hard to remain calm. It hasn’t always been easy…”

  It seemed the right thing to do; Mel pulled the buggy to a halt in the shade of a tree, and slowly, painfully told Angelina the whole story; who he was and about the rage he’d learned to control. To his surprise he found both he and Angelina were holding hands, facing each other with tears in their eyes.

  “If you feel I’m unworthy of your company, perhaps we should…”

  To his astonishment she leaned towards him and placed a kiss on his trembling lips. “It is I who should feel unworthy, Mel. You are the son of a king! You are royalty. I’m just a farmers’ daughter.”

  “Never could you be ‘just’ anything. You are a most amazing woman, and possibly the most beautiful creature on this earth. And I’d do anything for you. You only have to ask.”

  She was in his arms, her hands behind his head, pulling him in for a heated kiss, and he had no resistance.

  He pulled away reluctantly. “Angelina, in this land I’m a slave. Nothing else, just a slave. I don’t talk about it, but the truth is there.”

  “And there is no need to talk about it. It’s something that should never have happened.” She leaned in again to steal another kiss, then whispered “but if it hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t be together now. And I can’t imagine my life without you.”

  Enfolded in each other’s arms they stayed quiet, caught up in the joy of each other.

  “Are you two planning on coming home?” The voice came from a very dusty young man seated on an equally dusty horse beside Mel’s buggy.

  They pulled apart guiltily, then smiled at Leonardo, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. “You caught us out, you young rascal,” Mel growled at him, a twinkle in his eyes.

  “Papa said I should look for you in case you had trouble. It’s almost sunset, and he was concerned. But he has nothing to be concerned about, if you ask me. Now come along, lovebirds.”

  Mel liked the sound of that.

  Angelina had accepted Mel’s proposal of marriage, and their coming wedding was the talk of the town. Mel was the happiest, luckiest man ever, he was sure.

  John had finally taken his leave. He’d gruffly told Mel that the store, ‘his store’ was operating better than he’d ever imagined, so he had no need now to ‘hang around’. He’d seen his father happy at last.

  “Anyhow, I have other things to do, and nothing exciting is happening here to amuse me.” He’d smiled at Mel then. “We were a good team, the three of us. We bought those low-life robbers to justice, and had great fun on the way. And now, Mr. Mel Milo, you are the toast of the town. Did you ever think, when you arrived as a Kanaka, that your life would be like this?”

  Mel’s face softened. “Never did I imagine I
could be this lucky. And once Angelina is my wife, I need nothing more. And Joe, now back at Jumbuck Downs, has taken that wife he was avoiding, and has a baby on the way. William has expanded his holding and Joe has a job and his own horse, and sometimes goes droving for months. We have all fulfilled ourselves, even you, John. You seem more accepting now of your destiny.”

  John gave Mel a warning look. “I’ll still be keeping my eyes on you, Mr. Milo, and don’t forget it. We’ll meet again, one day.”

  “I’m sure we will,” Mel said softly.

  The General Store had grown. The original dwelling had been taken over by the store, and a new semi-attached house stood behind it. Angelina and Mel had planned the residence, and brought new furniture and carpet for their love-nest.

  The wedding was the event of the year. Angelina and Bella had chosen the fabric for the wedding dress, and made it up themselves. The lace was exquisite, trimmed with seed pearls and glass beads that sparkled like diamonds.

  The day of the wedding dawned bright and clear. Angelina had not slept well, and Bella was concerned.

  “What is troubling you, my angel? Today should be the happiest day of your life. You are about to marry a successful man, and one who loves you dearly. So why do you look so unhappy?”

  Angelina dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. “I always thought Mia would be my bridesmaid, and share this joyous occasion. But she’s gone, and I probably will never see her again. It’s just so sad.” She choked back a sob.

  “Don’t let it ruin your day, child. There’s nothing we can do about Mia. She doesn’t want anything to do with her family and it breaks my heart, but today is your day. We must eliminate those dark circles under your eyes, get that sparkle back, and let you be the most beautiful bride ever. We’ll make Mel Milo so proud of you today.”