By the Currawong's Call by Welton B. Marsland

Author:Welton B. Marsland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Australia Pty Ltd

Chapter 6

Munt were paying Dinbratten back for winning the flag the previous year. It was the first “big” game of the local football season, the last Saturday in April, Dinbratten hosting Munt in a hard and vicious rematch of the previous final. Munt were determined to be victorious this time, Dinbratten were equally determined to stop them. Matthew doubted he’d ever watched a game so hard-fought, even among the city teams back in Melbourne. The Rats’ star forward, Lachie Jackson, kicked six goals, even with one eye swollen shut for most of the game. But the battle was ultimately in vain, Munt took laurels, finishing two goals up on the home team at the last bell. A scuffle broke out on the final whistle, players and spectators alike rolling in the mud in front of the goals at the oval’s church-end. Matthew watched from the scrub-end, gaze never leaving the figure of Jonah, wading into the fray, picking other men up by the scruff of their necks and unceremoniously hauling them out of the fight.

Matthew smiled.

***

The two musicians playing at the Victoria Hotel that night chose slower, more sombre songs than they might otherwise have played on a Saturday evening. Even though the Dinbratten team and most of their staunchest supporters drank at the other hotel, the Commercial, the mood all through town after such an important loss was keenly felt. Added to this, there were several players and fans from Munt drinking in the Victoria that night, and self-respecting Ratty musicians weren’t going to give them the satisfaction of enjoying triumphant music.

Breaking from his team mates, Lachie Jackson chose to have his post-game drinks in the Vic with Jonah and Matthew. He’d had a letter, an expression of interest, from a team in the city, and wanted to pick Matthew’s brain about Melbourne. The poor kid was knackered, his swollen black eye distorting his normally pleasing features, and he was clearly finding it hard to work up much enthusiasm, even for the envelope peeping out of his breast pocket.

Because Lachie was in the Vic, Miss Daly and Miss Price were as well, sitting at a table that afforded them the best view of the burly lad and drinking Mrs Strauss’ signature lemonade. Passing by them at one point on his way to the facilities, Matthew overheard their conversation was about the trade unions and the many strikes of recent times. Mentally, he reassessed the opinion he’d held of the young ladies since his first meeting with them.

Jonah, gracefully wending through other patrons whilst carrying three pints of ale, set drinks on the table, took his seat and told Matthew and Lachie not to notice the man at the bar.

Matthew and Lachie immediately looked, of course.

At first, Matthew could only see Kitty Alson and her parents, Bert and heavily pregnant Nelly, on their way out; Kitty gazing longingly in Jonah’s direction, her father telling mother and daughter both to watch where they walked. Once the small group had moved through,

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