Wild Lands Read Online Free PDF Page B

next to the kitchen. Her right eye was blurry and her head pained awfully. It had been three days since Lambeth had attacked her. Her mother had made soup and tied a bandage around her head that she changed once a day, but the cut was slow to heal. Her head spun as she sat up and took a sip of water. On the dirt floor lay a mirror, which her mother had left. Unwrapping the bloodstained bandage, Kate looked at the cut. The edges of the wound were an angry red.
    â€˜There you are. You’ll be up and about in no time.’ Madge passed her a piece of bread, grimacing at the injury. ‘Nasty that is, realnasty. Lucky your mother had some skill with the bandage. I’m not much good with things like that. You’ll have a fine scar, something to remember old Lambeth by, eh?’
    â€˜I still can’t see properly from this eye, Madge.’
    â€˜Well, the way the world is today a person is better suited to only seeing half of it anyway.’ She sat cross-legged on the pallet next to Kate’s and leant forward conspiratorially. ‘The Reverend was called away this morning. It seems one of the wives has got uppity. Mrs Markham, what used to oversee the hat makers –’
    â€˜I remember her.’
    â€˜Will you let a person tell a story? So, it seems her husband had enough of her shenanigans and was keen to be rid of her so he put a rope around her neck and tried to sell her at the markets. Seems she didn’t get one bid, she didn’t. Anyways, on account of that, Mr Markham called for the Reverend and that’s where he went to this morning, to their farm to give her a good thrashing.’
    â€˜That’s awful,’ Kate exclaimed.
    â€˜Aye, the poor man. They’ve been married for years, so you can imagine what she would have cost him in food and not one bid.’
    â€˜Madge?’ the Reverend called.
    The girl moved quickly. Quicker than Kate thought possible. The Reverend waited in the kitchen, pressing a handkerchief to his brow before folding the square of material and placing it carefully in his trouser pocket.
    â€˜Yes, Reverend, sir, I was just checking on Kate. She’s coming along she is, sir.’
    â€˜I’ve decided you’re to have Mrs Lambeth’s position.’
    Madge gave a little curtsey. ‘Thank you, Reverend.’
    â€˜Kate.’ He moved to the doorway, avoiding her gaze. ‘You’re to get up and start moving about. You’ll not heal yourself lying about all the day and I’ve not the space for invalids. And you’re to move into your mother’s room. Tonight. That’s not to say that you’re to stop your daily tasks. In the morning you will help Madge preparethe midday meal and tend the vegetable garden. In the afternoons you will work with the women making cabbage-tree hats. And you’ll continue to eat here in the kitchen.’ He pointed a stubby finger. ‘Children should be seen and not heard. And if there have been any unlawful wanderings as has been suggested, I would imagine that your recent injury will stymie such future thoughts.’ He turned to Madge. ‘I’m partial to potato soup and we’ll have the kangaroo cold this evening with a mustard sauce, and don’t forget the oysters. The household deals with Wills’ Groceries and Fine Produce, as you know. We’ve a standing order and he’ll also be expecting his weekly supply of hats for the store as well. Mr Wills’ man will be at Burwood Farm at three of the afternoon. He is known for trading with the natives but we can’t condemn the man for that if he provides us with sustenance to do the Lord’s work. Take six hats with you and don’t dally, girl, and you best take one of the convict women from the lean-to for safety’s sake. Mind you choose one who’s already filled her quota of hats.’ He turned to leave. ‘And in future you will discuss the week’s menu with Mrs