A Cross of Stars: An epic Australian saga of love and betrayal by Patricia Shaw

Author:Patricia Shaw [Shaw, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780755389520
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2011-10-26T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Spinner was thinking of taking a wife, but there were complications. He had chosen Dixie, a smart young gin who worked as a laundress over at old Jock’s place, and she was thrilled at the prospect. There weren’t too many men of her tribe who had steady, respectable jobs as stockmen. The problem arose when they had to decide where to live.

He couldn’t bring Dixie back to Springfield. There were no quarters for black women, and the Springfield mob had long deserted their riverside camp, so she couldn’t join them.

‘You’ll have to come and live here,’ Dixie told him.

That would be a wrench for Spinner. This station was his home; he loved Springfield, knew every inch of it. But by this time he also loved Dixie, he was mad for her, so he allowed her to make enquiries.

The next time he rode over to visit, Dixie ran out to greet him with exciting news. ‘You’ve got the job. The missus says she doesn’t want to lose me, so you can work here as a stockman. She’ll arrange it with your Mr Victor. And guess what? She said we can have the old shearer’s hut out past the stables to live in! The other girls are helping me to clean it up and make it nice! We’ll have our own home.’

That was stupendous news. Spinner was delighted. And flattered to think that the missus – Mrs Crossley, old Jock’s widowed daughter – would help them. He would be able to raise a family in a proper house. He would be better off than most of the white stockmen who lived in dormitory-style men’s quarters, finding women where they could because married quarters for whites were kept to the minimum. To Spinner, the shearer’s hut was a step up in the world, a godsend; he’d be living the way he’d always wanted, just like a white family. He wouldn’t have to resort to camping with his own mob down by the river once he took a wife.

He was glad they’d gone.

Everything was arranged. Everyone at Springfield knew that Spinner was leaving to get married, and while they teased him unmercifully, he knew they were happy for him.

But then he changed his mind. He refused to leave Springfield.

Dixie was upset and bewildered. Mrs Crossley was sorry for her. She sent a note to Victor asking him what was wrong, but Victor replied that he had no idea. He couldn’t get any sense out of Spinner, except that he did still love Dixie, and yes, he still wanted to marry her, but he didn’t want to leave this property.

Amused, Victor put it down to old clannish ties, maybe a sort of homesickness, and told them not to worry. Spinner would get over it and make the break one of these days. A little patience was required for the time being.

But Spinner had remembered the kids, Bobbo, Jagga and Doombie, and his promise to Moobuluk. His promise to watch out for them, to listen about and report any word of them.

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