THE FIRST rays of sunlight in the morning after the wedding night found Jessica and Lightening standing at the loft’s window wrapped in a blanket. Lightening Dawn placed his arms around Jessica’s waist. Morning glory looked perfect. Ribbons of orange stretched across the sky in a magnificent light show. A few white fluffy clouds were slowly drifting over the Rosedale. Jessica knew all too well the beautiful sunrise won’t last long, replaced by black ink coloured clouds in the not too distant future. She lifted her hands up to hug Lightening’s neck. He twisted her around to give his wife a kiss.
Lightening Dawn talked first.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too,” replied Jessica, exhaustion nipping at her heels. She barely felt the strength to keep her fingers interlocked behind his neck.
Lightening swept Jessica off her feet. The blanket they had wrapped around their naked bodies fell onto the floor. One more round of love making was yet to come.
Both heard the horse hooves at the same time. Lightening Dawn quickly placed Jessica back on her feet. Together they scanned the land. They spied Jones from the newly opened police station emerging from the scrub on a black stallion. He steered his horse through several stray sheep before making a bee-line for the homestead’s verandah. At the steps, he momentarily paused searching for human life. He shrugged before dismounting. After tying his horse’s reins to the verandah post, he climbed the stairs. Gip met him at the door.
“Where’s the owner of the homestead?” Jones asked, looking down his nose at the girl.
Gip curtsied and pointed to the barn.
Jones raised his hat to the girl before marching towards the barn.
Jessica gave Lightening Dawn a wink. “It’s show time.”
Both quickly dressed and climbed down the wooden ladder from the loft. The visitor met Jessica at the barn door.
“Good morning, Sir,” greeted Jessica.
“Morn,’ you’re up early.”
Jessica pushed her hands onto her hips, staring at the man.
“You’re kind of early for a visit yourself. Is this a business or social visit?”
“Business,” stated Police Officer Jones.
“I see,” snorted Jessica. “This sounds serious. If you came for a social visit, I’d have asked Gip to make fresh scones.”
“Who is Gip?”
“The young girl you met at the homestead.”
“You need not trouble the girl. By the way, you saw me coming?”
“Yes, we were in the barn. I wanted to make sure Lightening Dawn knew exactly what needed to be done today.”
Jones grunted. Cutting a glance over Jessica’s shoulder, he studied the interior of the barn at length.
“Are you searching for something in particular?” asked Jessica, trying to see what he might have been looking at.
“Girl, I’m on the trail of bushrangers. Nothing escapes my eyes.”
“Care to have a closer inspection?” asked Jessica.
Jones grunted again, stepping through the doorway. “A place for everything,” he recited.
“And everything in its place,” taunted Jessica finishing the verse. She faked a smile the moment Jones flashed a suspicious look.
Keeping up his stare, Jones stepped outside.
“Seeing how you’ve come to the Rosedale did you bring good news on my possessions?”
“No, I haven’t any news yet,” grunted Jones.
“Why have you come all this way?”
“Yesterday I stumbled upon what I think might be a fresh lead.”
“It looks like you might be receiving a bonus in your pay. Maybe even the promotion you mentioned.”
“I hope so. Miss Hayes I’d like to poke around a bit. I’ve been told by the local Ferrier if I followed the narrow trail from the town I’d end up here.”
“It’s good to see you were given the correct information.”
“You failed to mention you borrowed a horse from the man. He told me you kissed him to seal the deal.”
Jessica waved a hand in the air. “I thought nothing of it. I needed to get to the Rosedale. Seeing how I’d been robbed and didn’t have much money I thought the negotiation deserved a kiss. I didn’t know taking advantage of the man constituted a crime?”
“It doesn’t.”
“Police Officer Jones, I got what I wanted. I have since returned the horse. I’ve done nothing illegal. Did the young man tell you I paid him two shillings for the use of his horse?”
“No, he didn’t. When I see him again, we’ll have words.”
“The next time I see the man I’ll remember to apologize for my actions. I will pay him any money he thinks is still outstanding.”
“I’m sure he’ll thank you,” snickered Jones, again poking his head inside the barn.
“Are you sure I can’t show you around in more detail?” asked Jessica.
“On second thoughts, I think it’s a good idea,” hissed Jones in a rather distasteful tone.
Jones followed Jessica into the barn. He walked next to her as she gave the guided tour.
“This is the ground floor of the barn. I asked Lightening Dawn to place all the tools belonging to the Rosedale on the far wall from largest on the left to the smallest on the right. A neat touch, don’t you think?”
Jones snorted at the neatness before pointing at the floor above his head.
“What’s in the loft?”
Jessica played it cool. She certainly didn’t want the man to climb the ladder to have a look around. To her he wasn’t stupid, he was trouble.
“Hay for the sheep, maybe a few rats, a couple of spiders; care to take a look?”
“It’s quite okay. I see you have a few horses,” quizzed Jones, stepping into the first stall. He immediately studied the entire area from wall to wall.
Lightening Dawn descended the wooden ladder. Both he and Jessica watched the lawman’s antics. In several places, Jones pushed his shoulder against the wall. He even tapped a few times on the floor.
“I’m not sure what you’re looking for,” said Jessica. “If you shared your thoughts I might be able to help?”
“I keep the facts to myself. When I have solid evidence, I’ll make an arrest. Is there a reason why you have five horses?”
“We need them to round up the sheep,” answered Lightening Dawn.
“How can you ride more than one horse at a time?”
“Gip and her brothers help me bring the sheep into the holding pens in the shearing season.”
“I see,” snorted Jones, stepping out of the stall. “Miss Hayes, can we have a word in private?”
“Yes of course.” Jessica squared herself to Lightening Dawn. “You can start by throwing the hay out of the loft window to feed the sheep.”
He nodded before disappearing up the ladder to the loft.
“Miss Hayes, I have decided to confide in you, my one positive lead.”
“I thought you keep your ideas to yourself right up to the time of an arrest?”
“You’re exactly right.”
“I’m honored,” said Jessica. “You can trust me to keep your secret safe.”
Jones looked directly into her eyes before continuing.
“I came across two dead men. I’m led to believe one of the men might have been involved in a bank robbery. I was told his name was Barry. I don’t suppose you’ve seen anyone lurking about recently?”
“How recent?” Jessica asked.
“Three to four weeks.”
“What makes you so sure he’s still in the local area?”
“The trail started at the bank. There were three bushrangers involved in the robbery.”
“Three?” questioned Jessica.
“An eyewitness gave a great description. Two of the three bank robbers were indeed brothers. They escaped into the scrub. The third bushranger died during the robbery. I alone have been following their trail. It led me to an old man who made a temporary camp in the bush. He died close t
o Barry. Miss Hayes, I found the bodies not far from here.”
“I see.”
“The eyewitness stated in her report one of the bushrangers carried two guns. Both were silver with a horse etched in gold into the side of the handle. I believe they are the same ones stolen from you.”
“I hope you find the man,” blurted Jessica. “If you do, please get my two-silver-colt .45’s back. They belonged to my uncle.”
“I will catch him,” Jones assured confidently.
“I’m impressed,” added Jessica. “Your enthusiasm is outstanding. I don’t mean to place a seed of doubt in your mind when I tell you I haven’t seen anyone around here.”
“I don’t want to be too much trouble; may I speak to your overseer and your hired help?”
Jessica pushed two fingers into her mouth. The loud shrill of the whistle made Gip and her two brothers come running. Lightening Dawn climbed down the ladder from the loft. He hurriedly marched over.
Jones shook the hands of the three kids and only glared at Lightening Dawn before continuing his conversation.
“I have been informed the three of you have been busy?”
The boys and Gip nodded.
“We have, though there’s plenty of wood still to be chopped, not to mention the fence we have to fix,” added Lightening Dawn.
“Yes, I saw it when I arrived. I can tell by looking over the Rosedale you have been working hard. From the moment, I rode through the sheep I’ve been wondering why there’s a fresh mound in the middle of the paddock.”
“A dead sheep,” explained Jessica.
“It’s a strange place to bury a sheep.”
“He was too heavy to move and a bit on the nose.”
“I think I might take a closer look if you don’t mind?”
“Sure, go right ahead,” chirped Jessica.
Walking into the barn, she snatched up the long-handled shovel. Stepping outside into the sunlight she handed it over.
Jones marched across the land to examine the mound. He lifted the shovel into the air ready to thrust the blade into the dirt. Jessica saw him hesitate. He looked to be summing up if what she told him could be true.
Jessica strolled across the paddock. Lightening Dawn brought up the rear.
“Which one of you buried the sheep and how long ago?” asked Jones.
Lightening Dawn bucked up. “Two days ago. I woke at daybreak. I stepped out onto the verandah to view the station. I saw the sheep lying on the ground. I ran over and found he’d died a few hours earlier. I didn’t want to wake Miss. Hayes. I fetched the long-handled shovel and dug the hole. In fact, the shovel I used is the one you’re holding. Miss Hayes saw me digging. She came running over to investigate.”
“I checked the sheep to make sure he was dead before Lightening Dawn pushed the old ram into the hole.”
“Don’t you think it strange helping your overseer to complete such a menial task?”
“Mr. Dawn didn’t want to admit his shoulder felt stiff. I thought being, his boss; I’d give him a break by helping him fill in the hole. I can’t see a problem with my idea?”
Jones eyed Jessica through slits. “You don’t strike me to be much of a boss. Not tough enough for my liking. Tell me, did you consider taking the wool from the carcass before burying the animal?”
“I did,” answered Jessica. “I decided against the idea. I didn’t want to risk touching the wool in case it was diseased.”
“I can’t say for certain, and I’m no expert on sheep, I’d imagine the wool to have been too precious to bury in the ground.”
“In your opinion, what should I have done?”
“Find someone who knew about these matters; maybe one of your neighbours?”
“Mr. Dawn is expert enough for me. Besides, the longer a dead sheep is lying on top of the ground the easier it is to infect the rest of my flock. I didn’t want to take the chance.”
Jones pushed the shovel’s metal blade into the mound of dirt. He rolled his long-sleeved shirt up to his elbows and scratched his head to get off the subject. There’s nothing worse than an angry woman.
“I hope you understand I have to do this? It’s a police formality. All leads have to be assessed and acted upon, no matter how trivial.”
Jessica pouted. She stepped back and lifted her hands into the air.
“Police Officer Jones you’re a brave man. I certainly don’t want to smell the remains of a decomposing sheep.”
Jones set to work attacking the mound of dirt. Jessica and Lightening watched on; amazed at his eagerness to follow any whiff of a lead.
“Do you always get your man?” asked Jessica.
“So far I have. I’m aiming for an unblemished record.” Jones looked up from the dig. “No failures.”
“Good for you,” said Jessica.
The deeper the hole, the stronger the smell of rotting meat wafted out of the ground. The ram looked almost completely uncovered when Jones decided to pack it in. Holding his breath from the smell, he quickly covered the green slimy animal with dirt. The smell lingered in the air long after he handed Lightening Dawn the shovel.
Jones remarked in an official voice. “I’m satisfied you run a profitable homestead. Everything is above board. However, there is one remaining question I’m compelled to ask. It is somewhat of a personal nature. If you don’t want to answer, I won’t hold it against you.”
“Ask away,” said Jessica. “I’ve nothing to hide. If answering your questions helps to get my possessions back I’ll be more than happy to help in any way I can.”
Jones pointed to the pepper bush tree growing near the homestead.
“I’ve noticed someone has cut an arch out. I’m curious in finding out why?”
“That’s easy to explain,” Lightening interrupted. “I cut the arch. Every time Miss. Hayes went to sit under the pepper bush tree for a rest she needed to duck her head to enter. I thought it might be a good gesture if I cut the arch to make it easy for her.”
“Won’t the flies get in more easily?”
“They hate the smell of the pepper bush tree. They never venture in.”
“Thank you for clearing up my question. I never knew. For an overseer, it seems to me you’re going out of your way to please your boss?”
“Miss. Hayes has been good to me. I repay her by doing what I can.”
Jones walked to his horse. Before he mounted, he looked over his shoulder. “Miss. Hayes, thank you for showing me around the Rosedale.”
“If you locate the last remaining bushranger and find my guns I’d love to have them back,” said Jessica.
“What about the blue diamond ring?”
“If you were to find it I’d say you certainly need to be considered in moving up the police ranks.”
“Miss. Hayes, I will have you know I’ll never stop searching. I’m still puzzled over why you didn’t add the ring to the list of your stolen possessions? To me, you seem to only focus on the guns.”
“Police Officer Jones, I have already written the ring off. Saying that, I do live in hope, there is a slim chance you will unearth it. However, if you only find my guns I will be indebted to you.”
“A fair comment,” said Jones.
“I can smell scones cooking. You are more than welcome to stay to sample Gip’s cooking.”
Jones shot his hands into the air. “Thanks for the invite. I have to be getting back to the station. I want to read over my notes about the robbery in case I’ve overlooked anything. Lately, my thoughts are swaying towards the idea the bushranger known to us as Dan shot his brother and the third bushranger.”
“Why would he shoot his brother?”
Jones gave Jessica a haunting stare. “How did you know they might have been brothers?”
“You mentioned it earlier.”
“Did I?”
Jessica played his gambling hand. Her future as the Mrs. Dawn depended on the next few minutes. She looked directly into the eyes of the man.
“
Yes, you did.”
She watched him raise his hand to rub the stubble on his chin. He looked deep in thought. Possibly even searching through his mind bringing forth every word he spoke since they first met.
Jones grunted. “Yes, you may be right. Before riding to either Sydney or the Adelaide hills, Dan might have decided to keep the entire loot for himself. He could’ve quite easily have shot his two accomplices and the old man. He certainly has a lot of gold and money. He may never be caught.”
Jones tipped his wide-brimmed police hat at Jessica.
“I will not bother you again unless I have the guns in my hand.”
“Or the ring,” added Jessica.
Jones lifted his body weight onto the saddle. For a fraction of a second, Jessica saw him hesitate. She held her breath hoping he didn’t want to re-dig the mound of dirt instead of riding off. In a polite gesture, Jones dipped his hat at her for the second time, gave his horse a slight kick and rode off to find another clue.
“The visit went well,” whispered Lightening, stepping forward to be next to Jessica. “For a moment, I thought he might have us hanging at the end of a rope.”
Jessica wore a widening grin. She watched the dust cloud created by the lawman’s horse settle back to the ground before reaching to hold Lightening’s hand.
“I’ve just realized we have pulled off the perfect robbery. We left no evidence. We buried the only witness who could tell anyone about us. The lawman dug a hole to find out if the object in the ground might be the bushranger. To his surprise, he discovered a dead sheep. If he remotely suspected us he doesn’t anymore.”
Lightening Dawn nodded. He let go of Jessica’s hand only to place his arm around his wife’s waist. He gave her a long sweet kiss.
“The only thing left to do is spend our fortune wisely. The most important fact is we have to make sure no one ever knows we are married.”
“What of the ring?” Lightening asked.
“The story surrounding the legendary blue diamond can travel down our ancestry line for hundreds of years, beginning with the one forming in my womb.”