The two girls chuckled.
TJ walked in and saw her favourite scene. It always warmed her heart seeing the girls cuddled up to their father, with his big arms wrapped around them. She lowered herself stiffly to the floor and sat at his feet, enjoying the closeness of her family.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 34
Casey and Hannah-Jean were falling asleep in Ben's lap. TJ raised herself from the floor and groaned as she straightened. She shook the girls gently awake.
"Come on, Princess Hannah-Jean and Princess Casey, time for bed."
The girls helped each other up and Ben woke at the sudden fidgeting.
"Be in to tuck you in, in a minute," Ben called after them. He quietly whispered to TJ once the girls were gone, "How is Casey going with Gwendolyn's story?"
TJ lowered herself into Ben's lap and he put his arms around her.
"We’re nearly up to the camping trip."
"I saw her chuckling when she came into the lounge room, so I figured Mrs Pettigrew had just met her match, so to speak."
TJ and Ben laughed at the pun.
"I think she will be okay with the rest. Father is doing some big alterations in her heart."
Ben smiled. "She's only been here a couple of months, but it feels like she was born to us."
TJ adored the man she had married. "I love you, Mr Brekman."
"I love you, Mrs Brekman."
They kissed for a long time.
TJ and Ben wandered down to the girls hand in hand, to tuck them in for the night.
Hannah-Jean reached up to her mum from her bed and kissed her. "Night, awesome Mum."
"Night, sweetheart. I love you. Father is watching over you."
Hannah-Jean then reached for her dad. "Night, Daddy."
"Night, sweetie. Sleep tight. I love you." Ben switched off the light. Hannah-Jean snuggled into her pillow and fell contentedly asleep.
Casey was waiting her turn. As the two adults entered her room, she reached up for them both and whispered, "You have filled my life with love. I can't believe how lost and empty I was only months ago and how full I feel now. I love you both from the bottom of my heart."
Ben and TJ wiped away tears at their daughter's frank confession. "You’ve filled our lives too, Casey. Father knew we needed you." As they flicked off Casey's light, TJ and Ben said in unison, "Love you, Casey."
Casey snuggled her pillow, reached for Tabbie's Bible and tenderly caressed the cover. "Thank you, Mum. I love you so much."
*~*~*~*
Casey woke in the early hours of the morning feeling extremely hot; and throwing the covers off, she tried to let the cool outside air in to bring her temperature down, but as time went by she felt increasingly bilious and weakly called out in the dark.
"Mum!"
Hannah-Jean heard something and sat up in bed to listen, wondering whether she had been dreaming.
"Mum!" Casey weakly called again.
Hannah-Jean slipped out of bed and switched on the passage light, took one look at Casey and ran to get her mother.
TJ and Ben sat on Casey's bed, watching the red face of their daughter, TJ stroking Casey's hot head. Hannah-Jean entered the room, carrying a bowl of water and a towel.
"How are you feeling, sweetie?" TJ asked Casey, worried.
"I feel awful," she responded.
"Ben, can you call the doctor, please?" TJ requested.
"Sure, honey."
TJ and Hannah-Jean took turns in cooling her face with the wet towel and water. Ben appeared back in the doorway and sat next to Casey.
"Doctor’s on her way."
Fifteen minutes later, a knock came at the front door and Ben went to answer it. He let the doctor in and showed her to Casey's room and after checking Casey, she gave her an injection and put TJ's and Ben's minds at rest.
"It's a fever doing the rounds at the moment and she’s probably picked it up at school. I’ve given her an antibiotic shot and that should do the trick. If she isn't any better by morning, give me another call." The doctor closed her bag and made her way out of the house, followed by Ben.
"Thanks for being so prompt. We appreciate it."
She nodded, climbed back in her car and drove away.
Ben rejoined TJ and Hannah-Jean in Casey's room.
"You two go and get some sleep. Tomorrow is school and work; I’ll stay with Casey," TJ offered.
But Hannah-Jean and Ben wanted to stay.
"Go, you two. I will wake you if there is a problem!"
Reluctantly they left and went back to bed. TJ pulled up a chair next to Casey's bed and began to wipe the sweat from her face and keep her cool with the wet towel. Casey rolled onto her stomach to stop the cramps, while TJ gently rubbed her back. Before long, she was asleep and her temperature was starting to come down. TJ quietly prayed for her sick daughter as she sat in the half light. Casey was blooming in the Brekman family and under Father's care; He was teaching her so much in just a short time.
TJ sighed at the precious life that Father had entrusted to her and Ben while her thoughts haplessly drifted back to Gwendolyn and the abuse she had endured. TJ wondered why anyone would want to abuse and neglect helpless children. Casey, especially, was such a loving girl and a mother would have to be insane to give her away.
How many more precious children are enduring these horrors at the hands of people who should be caring for them? TJ pondered while staring at Casey’s peacefully sleeping form.
Then she suddenly remembered Jesus' exhortation.
"It would be better for someone to have a millstone tied around their necks and thrown into the sea, than to harm any of these little ones."
"The Saviour loves children," TJ spoke in a whisper, still rubbing Casey's back.
*~*~*~*
The house was quiet when TJ woke. Her neck and back were stiff from sleeping in the chair and bright daylight filled Casey's room. Casey smiled a healthy smile at TJ. She was back to her normal self.
"Ben and HJ have gone. They got themselves off. They didn't want to wake you."
TJ nodded a stiff affirmation. "How are you feeling, sweetie?" TJ asked tenderly.
"A lot better. Thank you."
TJ leaned into Casey's hug. "Well, I am going to get you some breakfast. You, my love, are confined to your bed for the day, okay?"
"Okay, Mum."
It wasn't long before TJ came back to Casey with a tray of breakfast and she hungrily devoured it.
Feeling refreshed, she peered over at TJ. "I don't suppose you could tell me more story... please?"
TJ smiled. "Who could resist that plea? I can see you are feeling a lot better." She pulled up her chair next to Casey, studied the ceiling for a moment, found her place again and began...
*~*~*~*
Chapter 35
"Bluey decided the family needed an escape into the great outdoors, to release some of the pent up stress they’d experienced since Gwendolyn had arrived. They figured it may be a good bonding time with her, also..."
*~*~*~*
"Oh yes, sweetheart, let's do it! TJ and Gwendolyn will love it," Hannah's eyes gleamed at the suggestion.
It had only been eighteen months since they were married and twenty months since they’d first met, when Bluey rescued Hannah and TJ from the blizzard bound summit of Mackinnon Pass in New Zealand. The thought of escaping into the peaceful outdoors and reliving their romantic adventure was so inviting and too alluring to bypass. A weekend at the beautiful Emerald Falls and Duck Lake sounded like just what they needed. TJ jumped up and down with excitement at the news of the planned hike.
Gwendolyn wasn't keen about traipsing through the bush and along remote rivers carrying a pack. She had never been camping and wasn't feeling too secure about sleeping in a tent.
Bluey carefully studied the Department of Conservation flyer that he’d picked it up on his way home from work. There had been a substantial amount of rain in the high country and Emerald Falls was flowing r
apidly, while Duck Lake had broken its banks and flooded out half the camping area. Bluey scanned the flyer fastidiously and stopped at a warning on the bottom. Some parts of the three hour walk track are flooded, but passable. Access is still open to Duck Lake with care.
Bluey handed the flyer to Hannah. "What do you think, honey?"
Hannah studied the flyer carefully. "It won't be any more difficult than anything we tackled on the Milford Track and we made it through there."
TJ was anxiously waiting for her parents to make a decision and Bluey could see TJ's excitement building.
"Okay then, let's do it."
TJ squealed in excitement and hugged Bluey.
But Gwendolyn threw her hands up. "Oh brother!" she said and stalked off.
*~*~*~*
By Friday night, the car had been completely loaded and an early start anticipated; but they’d overslept, leaving at 7am instead, after a prayer of protection. The two hour drive to the Emerald Falls parking area was laced with laughter and anticipation; but Gwendolyn just stared out the window, lost in a world of her own and not wanting to engage.
The parking area and the walk track soon came into view. Thick bush scenery stretched for miles, with the air warm and heavy with the scents of the early spring while the sky was deep blue, promising a perfectly fine weekend. Bluey parked the car and unloaded the camping packs, shouldering the majority of the weight himself and giving the lighter gear to the ladies. Hannah smiled to herself, remembering the last time they had used the packs all those months ago, on their epic journey into the Milford Track and how it had changed all of their lives–forever.
Bluey drew in the clean outdoor air and exhaled noisily. "Okay campers, are we ready?"
"No-o-o!" Gwendolyn moaned.
Hannah and TJ were more responsive.
"Come on, Gwendolyn, it'll be fun," TJ encouraged.
"Fun is tucked up in bed, with no wild beasts to bother me."
"There's nothing out here to bother you, Gwendolyn. Just try and enjoy it," Bluey exclaimed.
Bluey took the lead followed by TJ, then Gwendolyn and finally, Hannah. An hour into the hike they struck their first hurdle, as part of the track was flooded.
"Oh darn!" Gwendolyn exclaimed, "we’ll have to go back."
Bluey searched around and found a fallen tree trunk stretching across a narrow neck of the creek. "Over here. We can get across on the tree trunk."
"No fear, Daddyo, am I walking across that!" Gwendolyn complained.
"I thought you were tough, Gwendolyn; or are you all hot air?" Bluey chided, setting a deliberate challenge.
Gwendolyn eyed him, swallowed and walked up to the log and sidled across. Halfway over she lost her footing, slipped and screamed and as she started to fall. Bluey was over the log and had hold of her before she knew what was happening, breaking her fall.
"I know, I know. I had it. You didn't need to do that!" Gwendolyn complained, secretly thankful that Bluey had broken her fall, eyeing the big man with swirling emotions and timid uncertainty.
Something strange was happening in her heart and it frightened her.
Bluey helped her across the rest of the way and then she picked up her pack and waited for the others to come across, too. Bluey assisted TJ first.
"Thank you, Daddy," TJ's adoring eyes turned toward her father.
Then Bluey escorted his pride and joy over.
"Thank you, Daddy."
Hannah and Bluey laughed.
Little red robins peeped and chirped, fluttering in and out of the sodden bush. Brilliant flashes of fire red titillated their senses and their calls drifted along on the warm spring air. Dandelions bloomed in clumps and their happy faces waved in the gentle breeze, welcoming the intrepid walkers and beckoning them to search carefully for more hidden delights.
A sudden, strange noise met their ears and they all stopped to listen. Multiple and different bird calls were coming from the same place in an area of thick bush.
"That's a lyrebird. He mimics the birds around him to impress his female," Bluey said in a whisper.
"You don't need to mimic to impress me, darling," Hannah threw Bluey a cheeky smile.
Bluey could tell Hannah was relaxing; her sense of humour was back and in full swing. "I would walk the desert for you, my love," Bluey claimed.
Hannah reached up and wrapped her arms around the big man's neck and kissed him. She knew he’d walk the desert for her.
Gwendolyn was making retching noises.
"P-lease!"
They all laughed and continued walking.
By the time they’d finally walked the three hours to the top of Emerald Falls and found a camp site on the flooded Duck Lake shore, everyone was tired and ready to rest. The campsite was just above the falls and the water was thundering over the steep jagged drop, sending rising mist high into the air above them. The water raged through the centre of Duck Lake. Submerged rocks and logs caused the turbulent water to bend and twist over and around the underwater obstacles, setting up dangerous eddies that could suck anything on the surface underwater and hold it trapped down on the murky bottom, until all life had been squeezed out.
"Keep well away from the water, girls. If you get caught up in that current, you won't have much chance," Bluey warned.
Gwendolyn sat on a log and moaned about her sore feet, while Bluey buzzed around and excitedly set up the tent and built a fire. TJ was keen to explore while her parents finished organising sleeping bags and food.
"Let's look around a bit, Gwendolyn," TJ suggested.
"More walking?!" Gwendolyn complained. "Okay, okay, TJ."
"Keep away from the water, girls," Bluey reminded.
"We will," TJ called back.
"Don't go too far," Hannah called after TJ.
*~*~*~*
Casey stared at TJ for a long moment, her face drawn with concern. "I just know something bad is about to happen."
"Well, my love, you’re going to have to wait until I get us both a cup of tea. My throat is dry."
Casey gawked up at TJ and moaned. "Oh... Mum!"
TJ kissed Casey on her head. "Back in a minute."
*~*~*~*
Chapter 36
By the time TJ placed the two cups of hot tea onto a small carry table she’d brought in from the lounge room, Casey was nearly beside herself, wanting to know what’d happened. She peered up at TJ with pleading baby blues.
"Okay... don't turn those doleful eyes on me, miss," TJ teased.
Casey grinned and then took a sip of her tea, impatiently watching her mother over her cup.
TJ pondered the next part. "Gwendolyn and I wandered down river a bit..."
*~*~*~*
"Whoa, look how fast the river is flowing out there!" Gwendolyn exclaimed, pointing with her finger.
A tree with a thick trunk had grown horizontally out over the water, having been uprooted in a previous flood and had continued to grow where it landed. Getting onto the tree trunk was easy and it reached way out over the turbulent water. Gwendolyn made a beeline for it and I tried to dissuade her from climbing onto the unstable trunk, citing Dad's warning. She wasn't having any of it and climbed right out to the end. I think she was trying to save face with me by proving she could do it.
She was fine, until she wanted to get off the tree.
She turned, slipped and fell straight into the current, screaming as she fell.
I panicked and screamed in shocked horror.
Grandpa Bluey gaped over to where the screams had come from and Grandma Hannah pointed to Gwendolyn, as she raced past on the current and then disappeared underwater.
It took a moment for Bluey to realise what was happening.
He noted where Gwendolyn had disappeared, pulled off his boots and dove into the churning water and swam for where she was last seen. However, he found it difficult to stay in the current where he thought she would be. Fighting the current and calculating where the water would’ve possibly taken her, Bluey finall
y duck dove down and disappeared for long minutes.
Grandma Hannah grabbed me when I came racing back and held me so tight with fear. We watched in horror as our peaceful weekend was about to turn into another heartbreaking family fatality.
Eventually, Bluey surfaced and exhaled, blowing hard and gasping in air.
Then Gwendolyn grasped for the surface, coughing violently and clinging to Bluey's neck.
Hannah broke down and sobbed, dropping to the ground as she struggled to grasp the unbelievable sight. I took Mum in my arms and we both cried tears of shocked relief.
Bluey had Gwendolyn and they were both safe, but he struggled against the current as he swam in a zigzag, aiming close to the shore at our feet.
I wasn't prepared for what happened next and I will never forget it as long as I live.
Bluey shoved Gwendolyn up onto the bank, coughing hard. When she got her breath, she screamed at Bluey, tears running down her face.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST LET ME DIE? NO ONE LOVES ME. I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF DROWNED!"
Bluey dragged himself up onto the bank, swept Gwendolyn up in his arms and held her shivering, frightened frame tight. He spoke softly to her, "I love you, Gwendolyn, and I would give my life for you. That's how valuable you are to me and to us."
Gwendolyn struggled in his arms, then succumbed to the gentleness of his embrace while her walls crumbled at the big man's confession.
She broke and cried and cried and cried, held tightly in Bluey's tender arms. Her heaving shoulders convulsed under the emotional deluge, totally spent and with no more struggle left. The high, unstable protective walls she’d built around herself crashed to the ground, exposing a raw but severely wounded heart, leaving her exhausted from too many years of fighting just to survive.
Hannah grabbed a blanket and wrapped up the two shivering people while Bluey ambled over to the fire and sat down on a log, still holding Gwendolyn’s violently shuddering frame, with Hannah sitting on Bluey's right and me on Bluey's left, cuddling close and just staring at the fire dancing in the ring of stones Bluey had put together.