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Chapters (52)
  1. Cover
  2. Margaret Dickinson
  3. Dedication page
  4. Contents
  5. Part One
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Ten
  16. Eleven
  17. Twelve
  18. Thirteen
  19. Fourteen
  20. Fifteen
  21. Sixteen
  22. Part Two
  23. Seventeen
  24. Eighteen
  25. Nineteen
  26. Twenty
  27. Twenty-One
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. Twenty-Four
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Twenty-Six
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. Thirty-Nine
  46. Forty
  47. Forty-One
  48. Forty-Two
  49. Sow the Seed
  50. Note
  51. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  52. Copyright page

She felt the soft sigh on her cheek and was surprised to feel the touch of the woman’s lips brushing briefly against her forehead. ‘Oh, Katie love,’ Beth Eland murmured and then, more briskly, ‘I’ll just nip next door. Mebbe Grannie Harris has some old clothes her girls have grown out of . . .’

A few moments later Mrs Eland returned with her arms full of an odd assortment of clothing. Panting slightly, she dumped the bundle on her kitchen table and for a moment the anxious look in her brown eyes was lifted as she laughed. ‘Eh, Katie, Grannie Harris is such a hoarder. I reckon some of these clothes are Enid’s!’ Enid was Grannie Harris’s daughter and Rosie’s mother. Kate knew the garments must be years old!

Mrs Eland held up a shapeless dress. ‘It’s a bit big, but it might fit you. Fancy her keeping it all this time . . .’

They giggled together when Kate, a few moments later, stood before Mrs Eland, the long dress flapping around her ankles, the waistline somewhere around her slim, girlish hips. The older woman put her hand to her mouth as if to stifle her laughter. ‘It looks dreadful, Kate, but it’ll have to do. Ya can borrow my shawl and a pair of woollen stockings. You’ll look like a scarecrow, but at least it’ll get you home . . .’

The laughter faded for they both knew what awaited Kate then.

And now she was standing before her mother’s wrath.

‘I am waiting for an answer, Missy.’

‘I – came home on the beach and fell in the sea. I went to the Point.’

Her mother’s frown deepened and some instinct made the girl bend the truth a little and omit mentioning Danny’s mother. ‘Grannie Harris lent me these clothes,’ she finished, praying fervently that neither Mrs Eland nor even Danny would bring her own clothes back to Brumbys’ Farm when they were dry.

‘Ya’ll get ya’sen to bed this minute and no tea or supper.’

‘But Mam . . .’

‘I dun’t know what I’m going to do with you, Kate Hilton. You’ve grown so wilful and disobedient, ya’ll be the death of me. Mebbe your new school will mek you toe the line.’

Four

‘Kate? Kate, are you asleep?’

It was her stepfather whispering from the doorway. Kate lifted her head from under the bedclothes. ‘No, I’m not asleep, Dad.’

The door creaked as he pushed it wider open and stepped down the one step into her bedroom. He was carrying a glass of milk and a plate with a wedge of crusty bread spread thickly with fresh butter.

In the dimness of her bedroom – it was dusk outside her window now – he smiled down at her. ‘Your mother’s busy outside with the milking. Don’t you tell her I’ve brought you this, will you?’