Girl & the Ghost-Grey Mare by Rachael Treasure

Author:Rachael Treasure [Treasure, Rachael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781742534107
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia
Published: 2011-08-30T04:00:00+00:00

‘Beautiful trees,’ she sighed, remembering the soft greenness of Europe’s treetops rushing past beneath her. There were streets of cobbles, which would shine dappled after rain. Above rooftops she flew to Archie in France. She would find him stretched asleep on a canvas bed in a row of tents in a field. She would lie next to him to ease his horror and loneliness, pressing her body against his and placing an arm across his chest. He would awake filled with her. Loving and looking only for her. Those visits kept him alive.

She had travelled to him as he lay on the big steamship, tossed by angry seas, and touched him with healing in his dreams and fever. When he finally arrived home he rode his horse right up the steps and onto the verandah, straight to her.

They decided to marry under the red gum, and filled their life together with sunshine, geraniums, children and dogs amidst the difficulties of farming. One night, after many happy years, Archie had peacefully left as he slept beside Grandma. Flying upwards and out from his tired old body.

‘Don’t you miss him?’ I asked her one day.

‘No, dear. Not at all,’ she said. ‘Some nights I feel him fly down to see me.

He lies with me and touches my face. I can feel him with me, always.’

The old women who sit on her couch and drink her gin can’t understand. They have never been able to work out my grandmother’s happiness – life should be crueller to women. Widows shouldn’t feel so complete.

While I sit near them, frustrated by their jealousy and suspicion of my grandma, I notice the cup and saucer in my hand is beginning to rattle. Small angry storm clouds are forming over my cup and I can hear the sound of thunder rumbling.

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