Tessa and Sophie, on the hunt, for some reason. Chasing.
It’s not to be, Tessadonna! I’m happy in the service, in Queensland, away from your life and trappings, and I think I’d known that all along. The Stock Squad beckoned.
I reported for work the next day, avoiding all questions about my journey, except for Don. I told him the whole story and he just listened.
‘I think I’ve got it straight but I’m not sure you have, Bart. You’re the best detective I’ve ever encountered and here you’re telling me that, in the morning, you and she are desperately in love, you’re proposing, she’s accepting, you give her a ring, and elopement’s in the wind. Then a few hours later--- a few hours---she’s telling you the engagement’s off and to leave her country immediately. Tell me, detective, do you not think all that strange?’
‘Yes, sir, I do! I thought about that all around the world, but it happened. I was always out of my class, Don. It suddenly came to a head. People got to her.’
‘And she didn’t return the ring and it seems that she’s chasing you. Again, detective--- strange?’
‘Yes, but there it has ended. I’m finished with princesses and their friends. Done! Finito! I’m applying to rejoin the Stock Squad, even with a demotion.’
‘Denied! Get on with the work that’s waiting here.’
I asked for some personal leave without pay. Since La Maison Grunge had been discovered I needed other quarters and, since I wasn’t really fussy, found a new flat, a bit better, but nearby, and was moved in by the next day.
Then it was back to being a detective again but back with my Muslim friends. There I had to answer questions about where I’d been. They can be touchy and thought I’d been withdrawn from the assignment without explanation. I soothed them and continued to build bridges. My previously serene existence resumed.
But that couldn’t continue. There’d been budget cuts and the Police were short of staff so I was back on murders which, surprisingly, were few.
I was teamed with the big Italian detective Alberto Silva… Bert, just out of uniform and with a lot to learn. He’d been with me on Lily’s case for a while, until I got him tossed. A difficult subordinate. Things were cool.
We were assigned to a minor crime outside Brisbane, in what was really not our patch, which Bert constantly griped about. But Don was short of staff. We got nowhere, after many hours, and were returning to headquarters for a dinner break, when there was a general call for any available Police to call at an address near where we were. A domestic violence case was in progress.
Bert speeded up, but away from the scene. We were nearest and, while this would have normally been a Uniform job, we were near, there was a shortage of staff, and I directed him to respond. He did so with some Italian expletives.
When we reached the address we could hear women screaming and things being smashed.
Now, any copper will tell you that he dreads domestic violence cases. Many Police finished up as the victims when the participants turned on the Police.
There was something about this address, so I checked it on the car computer. Yep, it was the abode of the Cubans—the de Castros---as vicious a family of drug-dealers and generally bad people as lived in Brisbane.
I called for back-up but was advised that no back-up was available.
‘The instruction is to deal with the incident’ came over the radio.
Bert and I went to the car boot and donned bullet-proof vests and then checked our pistols. It had been a long time since I’d had a domestic and Bert, just out of uniform, should have known more about handling these things than I. But he lagged behind, taking guidance from me.
I knocked, calling ‘Police’ a few times and the screaming went silent.
Maria de Castro, the matriarch of this unsavoury family, opened the door, holding a big knife. She spotted our guns and took a swipe and my excitable colleague shot at her. She screamed and de Castros came from everywhere.
We ran for the car which Bert had helpfully parked on the street but blocking the driveway.
The family had knives and Maria was unhurt enough to start to swing hers at me as I charged for the nearest door….the passenger side. Bert went to the other side but dropped the keys. He was fumbling around for them in the dark, when a car emerged from the garage, reversing hard at our Police car. It rammed us amidships. It rammed me amidships. I think.
And that was all for a while, folks!
****
I was put under Police guard in hospital while I was being treated for a broken femur and other sundry injuries. I was out to it for a fair while.
The guard was because the de Castros, blaming me for all their misfortunes, put out a contract on me, a very, very rare event in Queensland and Australia. When Don called to inform me of my target status I reflected how unfair that was. Bert was the one who’d fired the shot, hitting Maria in her magnificent right breast. Her great build had saved her from greater injury, and damage, but she thought I’d done it and Bert certainly wasn’t going to put it around that it was he who was the shooter. He’d spotted the reversing car and dived out of the way. Thanks Bert!
I only had a few visitors because the Police guard also meant great secrecy. My brother Dennis came, and, surprisingly the Leslies, from The Gums, bringing back memories of Tessa. I did a lot of thinking, lying there, and knew that I was in love with her, despite all that had happened. Don had caused me to think.
Don, who knew me well, talked to me firmly again, and left me with a new approach to everything. I needed to talk to Tessa and to find out the truth. He was right—in love and getting married and then, a few hours later, being virtually expelled from her country. I knew Tess was not like that. Something had happened up on the balcony during the coronation…the sudden stir and Tessa trying to look over the balcony---for me, I was guessing now. I was thinking more calmly and clearly now. Strong pain cleared the brain.
But I couldn’t do much about it all now. I couldn’t walk. I was in danger from the de Castros and I didn’t know whether I’d be allowed back near Tessa.
So I decided to take it easy, learn to walk again and get over the surprise of a visit from Glorious Gloria Stenlake, of the Department of Foreign Affairs. We’d not reconnected, despite my best efforts, after Tessa left my life, post-snake.
I’d been dozing, and opened my eyes to see this wonderful person beside my bed. She leaned over and gave me a glorious Gloria kiss. I responded. So would you, mate!
We talked, the upshot being that she was unattached and was ‘more or less saving myself for you. I believe things with the Princess have cooled.’ She had her sources, I was thinking.
And just as I’d reached the decision to try to sort things out with Tessadonna.
‘She’s been over here looking for me. I’m not sure what’s happening, Gloria.’
‘Oh, damn! I should never have let you get away. Still, I’ll wait, Corrigan. I don’t mind being second-choice, truly.’
‘I’m honoured, lovely one, and flattered, but I have a way to go yet before I’m boarding a horse, a bicycle or anything or anyone else.’
She leaned over and kissed me again. ‘Got the message, Barton. I’ll be around. The ward sister has a couple of stubbies of beer for you. With love, from Gloria.’
I got the stubbies ok but Gloria never appeared again.
****
Slowly, oh ever so slowly, I began to be mobile. My leg hurt like hell. I was careful with the analgesics so I had pain.
I was treated by physios and gradually walked with full crutches, then elbow crutches, a crutch and then a walking stick. I wondered if I’d ever be truly mobile again, but the physios assured me I would be. I spent a lot of time in the pool.
Came the great day when Dennis arrived to take me home to our old place and some tender loving care from my sister-in-law. I hoped she could keep her hands off me, which had proved a slight problem in the past.
And she did. She was over me!
I was back in the saddle before long, helping Dennis around our old home property. Riding was ok but the mounting and dismounting, and walking, were problems. Before leaving the hospital I received a long lecture about the weakness of the injured leg and the great need for care, especially when putting weight on it to mount and dismount. Theoretically, the doctors said, the leg had been strengthened with a plate, but not yet. It needed time. I was being allowed out only on the condition of taking great care. I promised.
Dennis and I worked out a way of mounting, from the wrong side, so the weight was on my right leg, and then dismounting on the wrong side, but on two legs, sliding over the saddle and down. I had a good horse, called Brutus, who was disconcerted by all this at first but we soon came to an arrangement and life started to become normal and good again.
It was good to be back with my family again. The two kids were great and I spent a lot of time with them.
I did, however, reflect, from time to time, that my Policing in recent months had been close to nothing and I missed it. And I did constantly think of Tessa.
Dennis and Josie left the subject of Tessa well alone and for that I was grateful. I had my thinking to do alone.
After a few weeks, I had a call from Linda Leslie, inviting me to their place for a while. They missed me, she said. I accepted, but knew I was heading to Tessa country and the memories would be stronger than ever.
But I did ask Linda how she knew where I was, in hospital and now here. I was a protected person. She said that she’d rung Don, told him of the jillaroo school connection and he’d told her. So much for protecting my precious personage.
Dennis drove me over by way of Charleville and we stayed overnight at Mrs. Martin’s pub. She did talk of Tessa, constantly.
‘To think she was a princess?’ she said. Still is, I thought!
We escaped and Dennis left me at Jim and Linda’s and they left me to wander with my memories. And those memories were very strong and exceptionally fresh. I could remember and picture nearly every moment of my time with Tessadonna and the other jillaroos and I don’t know whether it did me good or bad.
I asked if they’d mind if I slept in the head stockman’s room near the stables, where I’d stayed during the jillaroo course. They both laughed and Jim got out his wallet and fished out a $50 note and passed it to Linda. They’d had a bet and she’d already prepared the room for me. More than prepared it. It had been painted, with a new shower and toilet attached, new curtains, bedclothes, the lot. A bigger bed, I thought. Why? Perhaps more room for my injured leg.
Considering I’d just walked in on these people a few years ago, and told them I was a cop and I was staying with them during the jillaroo course, we’d become very good friends.
We had a wonderful dinner and they didn’t mention Tessa once.
****
The Leslies had been upset to see how badly I limped and the next morning they spent a lot of time selecting a horse that wouldn’t give me trouble. I practised my new method of mounting and dismounting and, gradually, Captain accepted me and my strange ways. I was ok but they both insisted on holding my hand out into the bush. Along the way they told me of the various achievements of my jillaroo pupils. Some had gone onto properties, and one had married.
‘And, of course, you know all about Tessa,’ said Linda. ‘You, of all people.’
‘What do you folk know?’
‘That you went to her home and saw her crowned ruler of Bassenburg. Jim and I thought something might come of that visit, but it was not to be, regretfully. She calls us regularly. She’s not married or engaged so, perhaps you might still be the one, Barton?’
‘How often does she call? And what made you think I was ever the one.’
‘Nearly every Saturday night when she can. But she has many duties. We talk for a long time. You can speak to her tomorrow night, if you like. Patsy told us all about how you helped her and held her after the snake bit her. Even kissed her. The girls said there was definite chemistry between you two and there always had been. But nothing came of it apparently.’
‘I think I won’t talk to her, Linda. I’m supposed to be here in secret. The fewer people that know I’m here the better. It all comes from the car smash. No! You and Tess have your gossip, without me.’
They looked puzzled but didn’t pursue it.
It was a wonderful week with them. Tessa didn’t ring as Linda had thought so she must have had duties.
I was preparing to go back to Brisbane. They would drive me into Charleville and I’d fly to Brisbane and my new home. I still limped and my leg still hurt but some therapy back at the hospital would help.
On my last day I took a last ride out into the bush. I took food and water and was prepared to spend some hours out there. All during my visit I’d resisted going near the places of Tessa, but now I went. I’m a pretty good bushman but I had trouble finding where we were when Tessa had been bitten and where I’d held her, and kissed her.
I found a nice creek so I settled there to eat. Then it was time to go home and I’d be leaving the glorious bush. I found the place and even identified the tree where I’d sat nursing Tessadonna. I sat on Captain, lost in the memory, when I glimpsed a horseman moving on the other side of a belt of saplings.