her with him forever.
They melted together as one, dancing in complete harmony that made him forget who she was and even disregard his unwieldy leg. If ever he wished for perfection, it was at this moment. She, who was faultless in every way, should have nothing less in the one who she chose for eternity. Reluctantly he led her off the dance floor, fingers entwined in his. There was something deep here between them, and yet he could not give in to it. He could not ask her the question he wanted to ask with all of his heart. They were different, classes apart, and society frowned on being unevenly matched. They would be isolated and she would be the one to feel the sting of being outcaste. As quick as his leg permitted he walked her back to their table. âI think we ort to call it a day. I am sure you want to get back home and see how everything is faring. For myself, I have finished my business here for the present.
Treasure could not understand his rush. She believed they were to spend the night in Melbourne, returning back to the valley in the morning. Now he seemed to want to get rid of her as fast as possible, and this stung her pride. Was she just another conquest for a bit of fun and then thrown out like the dish water? It seemed to her like she was. âOkay, Iâm with you, letâs get on with life and get back to the land of the living.â
This sounded so blunt that it was his turn to feel the sting.
Neither spoke much on their way back home, not that it was easy to speak anyway with the sound of the engine and the rush of wind. How free it felt, looking down on sparse billabongs and lonely homesteads. Occasionally children ran out in the late afternoon sun at the sound of a plane overhead, and waved. Treasure used a red and yellow scarf to wave back at them. It made her feel so happy that she laughed each time and was sorry when the journey ended.
Connor landed close to his hangar on the far side of the house. Treasure scrutinized his home, not having noticed it on the day of their departure. Now she took in a house not un-similar to her own with wide verandahs to shade from the summer heat. She noted a large tree with two old tires strung up on limbs either side. There was a chook house and run, with a barn and cow bale to the side. A large dam had ducks swimming, diving and generally enjoying an easy life.
âDo you like it?â Connor queried. âIt belonged to my uncle. I came here as a wild street kid of fifteen, who my mother found hard to control so she sent me here for her brother to tame.â He laughed as he remembered this. âAnd he did a good job on me with a few kicks in the pants and a lot of talking to. And then he decided I needed responsibility so he taught me to milk a cow with the promise of my own horse if I pulled my head in and behaved like a young man should. Well, I have to say he had a job on his hands, I fought him tooth and nail in the beginning.â Looking out over the pastures Connor remembered that great man who never gave up on him. âHe took me with him to buy my horse. I saw one that was wild like me and wanted it and no other. He tried to persuade me it wasnât a good choice, but bull headed as usual, I wanted that stallion.â Connor looked at Treasure, âI have a thick head at times, but praise God, and he has always watched over me and curbed my willfulness.â A large dark skinned woman came out of the house at that moment, calling Connor to bring his lady inside for a fresh glass of lemon drink.
âThatâs Matilda; she ran my uncle and now runs me. Her husband Roy is a real bushy; they live in the house over there.â He pointed to a small neat home down toward a group of ghost gums. Their grown kids come in, squat and stay sometimes with other family members, but they are no trouble, in fact, they have taught me a lot about living off the land.â They walked toward the house as he spoke, and on reaching the
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