The Farmer's Wife by Rachael Treasure

Author:Rachael Treasure
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2013-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-four

Rebecca awoke with a new energy. She pushed aside all thoughts of the pain that wracked her body from the night before. She barely paid any heed to her image in the mirror. She knew that the woman there with the fat lip and swollen brow was a woman of her past. Today was a new day. The relief of knowing Charlie’s energy had dissipated and he had gone from the place soothed her. There was no panic at being left alone on the farm, as she had thought there might be.

She knew deep down she was being falsely brave and her choices would lead her down a path that would be exceedingly difficult, but today she had the chance to make a new start.

In the shower, the cuts had stung, along with the reality of her situation, but she was determined to wash away all the grubby feelings she had about the ugly scenes of her life before this day. She towel-dried her hair and took the time to wind it into two pretty braids. She tried to smile reassurance to the image in the foggy mirror, telling herself she would never, ever allow herself to be in a situation like that with a man again.

Then she pulled on clean work clothes, knotting her shirt at the front of her jeans, cowgirl style. Ben wandered sleepily into her room, dragging his teddy bear behind him, the pup trotting along at his heels. She knew he wouldn’t ask, ‘Where’s Dad?’ The boys were used to Dad not being in the house.

‘What are we doing today, Mummy?’ he asked, clambering up onto the high cast-iron bed and snuggling under the quilt. The pup sniffed gingerly about the room.

‘Um.’ Rebecca thought for a minute, then said, ‘No school for starters. Not today. We’re thinking up a name for our new Kelpie and taking her outside to do a wee, then doing a bit of sheep work, then we’re off to see Archie. Then we’ll see what the rest of the day brings.’

She turned to him, and when he saw the state of her face, a look of fascination briefly came to him, then a frown of concern settled on his brow.

‘Mummy! What happened? Did you fall off the ute?’

She touched her fingertips to her face and smiled, rolling her eyes. ‘No. Mummy had an accident in the kitchen. You know what I’m like, splashing water out of the sink. My socks got all slippery and I came a cropper. Silly Mummy. Now come on, let’s get this day happening.’ It was only then she felt the first sting of tears that she held within, but instead of succumbing, she took Ben by the hand, cuddled the puppy close and guided them down the stairs and out to sit on the verandah for a moment and watch the sun bring the new day alive.

In the blustering winter wind, as the sun rose prettily above the Waters Meeting mountains, Rebecca pushed her shell-shocked feeling away and instead tried to focus on right now.

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