Waireka by Sheila Donald

Author:Sheila Donald [Donald, Sheila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction
Publisher: AE Books
Published: 2018-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

FRAMPTON

IT WAS BUT A FEW weeks later that the two couples and the children were ready to tackle the treacherous pass before the onset of winter. Eliza would have preferred more time to pack, but it was already late autumn and it wasn’t wise to cross the difficult pass in the winter months especially with young children and so there was little choice. She had hastily dug up a few precious cuttings from the herbs they had cultivated to bring along with them. They had been invaluable over the last few years as simple remedies for them all and it would take a while to grow mature plants once again. The most important thing for them all was to try and remain cheerful and determined for the long, laborious journey ahead of them. Eliza was at least relieved that she was leaving behind the clacking, gossiping tongues, as she imagined Robert was.

Although they had all heard tales about how treacherous the trek could be, nothing could quite prepare them for the narrow, rutted pathway that twisted its way upwards towards the summit and at times seemed an indeterminate step away. The horse Alister had purchased recently, following the death of the other, was younger and stronger than the last, but even he struggled at times to negotiate the steep track with a full cart load of possessions.

Charlotte and Annie were remarkably patient with the proceedings, even though their progress was slow. Eliza carried Annie in her arms for a portion of the time while Charlotte occupied a small seat beside her father on the front of the cart. But after a time, Elizabeth found the weight of the toddler overwhelming, and Robert, quick to notice, immediately said, “Eliza, you’re fair flagging there. You look done in, let Mary have the child for a bit while you climb up beside Alister and young Charlotte.”

Gratefully Eliza handed over little Annie to Mary who reluctantly took the small bundle from her. Eliza could almost sense the fearfulness in her eyes. Her own eyes met those of Robert briefly in the exchange. Then Alister lifted Eliza up on to the front of the cart beside him and Charlotte.

Mary had been riding alongside Robert the entire journey, not having the strength to negotiate the steep track at all. She looked done in as well although she had hardly ventured a step.

In the gathering gloom, spying a small shack just ahead of them, Eliza quickly realised how tired she must be from the relief she felt at seeing it.

“Isn’t that a small shack up ahead?” she asked.

Alister could just make out the shape of a small dwelling. They could see that it was none too large but would suffice if there was just enough room for the women and children to take shelter rather than sleeping out in the bush where they would be bothered by the hundreds of mosquitoes beginning to make their presence felt in the early evening light. The two men went on ahead to seek out the house owner.

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