his own daughter would have been about this age now if she had lived. He hoped that if she was in a similar situation someone would have been kind to her. She began to stir and he placed her head on a pillow. He continued to hold her hand and talk quietly and soothingly to her. When she finally regained consciousness she looked about her in stark terror.
‘It’s all right my dear there is no need to be afraid. We found you on the road; you are very safe with us. ‘Helmut reassured her.
At the mention of the word us she looked about to see who else was there. ‘Don’t be frightened, it is only Too Gum and me. He gave you some medicine that has helped to revive you. Do you think you could sit up and drink something?’
He put his arms gently under hers and eased her up and positioned the pillow between her and the wheel of the wagon. ‘Now lean back, try and drink this.’
Too Gum handed her a mug of hot tea with what Helmut suspected had a little drop of something added to it. She sipped the tea and felt the warmth flow through her.
‘You are both very kind, I am so sorry to be a bother to you.’
‘It would be a sad world if we couldn’t extend the hand of human kindness to those in need and I assure you it is no bother. Are you hungry? I know for a fact that Too Gum makes the best rabbit stew I have ever eaten.’
She nodded her head, ‘Yes please, I am a little hungry.’ It was at this stage that the tears began to flow. Not in a great fit of crying but just gently rolling down her cheeks. Helmut was searching in his pocket for a handkerchief when Too Gum handed him a spotlessly clean white one. She was making no effort at all to wipe the tears herself. Helmut leaned forward and with a gentleness that even he didn’t know he possessed he wiped her eyes then her cheeks Then as if she was a small child he held the handkerchief to her nose and told her to blow. Not a word was spoken while this was being done.
‘Now don’t cry any more. I am sure that Too Gum,s stew does not need any more liquid.’
Her bottom lip was trembling and the tears were threatening to come again when he handed her a plate of stew and thinly sliced bread such as a lady would eat.
‘Thank you Too Gum, it smells delicious.’
As if to get in on the act Moss came forward and sat down beside her and laid his paw on her knee. ‘Oh you are beautiful.’ She said, and stroked his ears.
‘He is also very crafty and no doubt hopes that if he looks pleading enough you will leave him some.’
She gave a watery smile. Helmut was glad that at least she must be feeling a little better. He had the strangest desire to hold her tight in his arms and let her cry her heart out. In case she should read his thoughts he got up and pretended to stoke the fire. There being no need to do this as it was burning well. She ate heartily of the stew and drank two cups of tea, and then she lent back and let out a long sigh.
Helmut looked at her and sensing her weariness he said, ‘It will be dawn soon so I suggest that we all try and get some sleep. You are not to worry about a thing just lay down and rest. Sleep is a great healer; we will talk in the morning.’
She adjusted the pillow and lay down even though the ground was hard and she had never slept in the open before she felt that she just wanted to sleep and sleep and never wake again. Within five minutes she was sound asleep. Helmut walked over and covered her with another blanket which left him without any at all so he got onto the back of the wagon amongst the sacks of grain and motioned to the dogs to join him. It wouldn’t be the first time he had slept out in the open with only the dogs for warmth. He lay there thinking that he would never be able to sleep when the next thing he knew he awoke to the smell of something cooking over the open fire.
He pushed the dogs off and rubbed his eyes and for a few seconds he just lay there. Then he sat bolt upright. Where is she he thought? As if Too Gum could read his thoughts he gestured to him to be quiet and pointed down to the wheel where she was still sleeping. Quietly so as not to awaken her he got down and went to the river for a wash. What on earth was he going to do with her he wondered? In the cold light of dawn he realized he had a problem on his hands. First things first though, he thought I will eat breakfast and then try and work something out but goodness knows what. He sat down to eat and Too Gum handed him a plate with freshly caught trout cooked to perfection with some kind of seasoning that he had never tasted before. Also fresh toast dripping with butter and a mug of hot tea. And to think I didn’t want to bring this Chinaman along. He has not only gone and caught the fish but cleaned it and cooked it before I awoke. I am beginning to think I may have got the best part of this bargain.
All these thoughts were pushed from his mind as the woman awoke. She was stiff and sore with lying on the ground and she desperately needed to go to the toilet.
‘Good morning I hope you slept well. ‘Helmut smiled at her.
‘Yes thank you, very well indeed. Would you happen to know where my bag is? I would like to use my brush and comb I must look a fright.’
‘Your things here lady, I find on the road this morning, you must have dropped it.’ Too Gum placed the bag down beside her. She opened it and took out her toilet things.
‘The river is not too far away if you would like to freshen up before you eat.’ Helmut said aware that she was looking around not sure of what to do. ‘Come with me and I will show you.’
Oh no he is not coming too, she thought. Perceiving her need of privacy he said, ‘Just follow that track and it will lead right to the waters edge.’
Fifteen minutes later she had washed in the ice cold water. Even in the middle of summer the water was still cold. She brushed her long dark almost black hair and tied it back the best that she could without the aid of a mirror. Then she walked back to the camp.
‘Sit down and eat.’ Helmut said.
‘I really think I should try and explain my being here.’
‘Yes we will have to talk but first you must eat.’
There was no way he could tell her that he had felt that there was no flesh on her bones when he had picked her up the night before. That he had wanted to hold and protect her. I am forty-two years old he told himself. Old enough to be her father. What am I doing thinking like this. He felt he had tarnished the memory of Helga. He had never looked at another woman since the day she had died and here he wanted to hold in his arms this girl and yes compared to him she was but a girl.
She ate heartily of the breakfast that Too Gum had prepared and then she took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. ‘Now I think you are owed an explanation. When I first saw you yesterday I intended to take the coach to Dunedin, but I was early and so I decided to go for a walk first. I had a lot of things on my mind and I thought a good walk would help me sort things out. I walked and walked without realizing where I was going and then suddenly becoming aware of the time I realized I had taken the wrong turning and I was lost. I had seen you pass by earlier presumably on your way home and I assumed that there must be something down this road and I carried on. Then it became night and I was desperately afraid to even sit down and rest. Then I saw your camp fire, but that is all I remember.’
‘You saw me yesterday on the road. Why didn’t you stop me then, where was this anyway I never saw you.’
‘I told you I was afraid, I am a woman on my own. I hid in some trees until you had gone past, knowing now that you are a gentleman I wish I had stopped you.’
‘Too
