Free Mary's Guardian by Carol Preston

to think of Mary as a woman, though she clearly was. Even now in her tattered clothes he was aware of the curves of her body. He’d felt stirred at the whiteness of her ankles when she’d fallen trying to catch the roo rat. He often caught himself lately looking at the pink softness of her lips as she spoke; the small dimple in her cheek; the curve of her neck as she dragged her hair high on her head and tried to pin it there, when the heat was unbearable. ‘I’ll talk to Richard Johnson about it right away, if you agree to be married, that is,’ he finally said. ‘He’d be pleased. He’s always going on at Sunday services about marriage being the way forward for the colony.’
    ‘So you’d marry me for the Reverend’s sake, would you?’
    ‘That’s not what I meant,’ he stuttered.
    ‘Oh, for goodness sake, Will. Of course I’ll marry you.’ She jumped back a little and slapped his chest playfully. ‘But I’m not sure about going out to Parra…matta. What about the natives? They’ve been attackin’ people lately. Two more men just got speared by ’em, so I heard.’
    ‘The natives are only acting in revenge for the killing of their own. Hostility is sure to build up unless prisoner, and soldiers, treat the natives with care. Governor Phillip has said it over and over.’
    ‘Well, I heard he’s pretty mad about this last killing. I think he’s ready to retaliate.’
    ‘All the more reason to move further out. There are fewer whites out there and they’re focused on getting the farms going. They’ll take less notice of the blacks. Besides, we need to get out where we can get better food. I was with young John Rogers when he died last week of scurvy. It’s not pretty, Mary. His gums were bleeding and his teeth were falling out. His body had just wasted away. Horrible it was, to see a young man like that.’
    ‘All right, Will. Let’s do it. You speak to the Reverend, eh?’
    ‘About getting married?’ His face lit up.
    ‘Of course, getting married, you daft man.’ She waited, looking deeply into his eyes.
    William waited too. He so wanted to drag her into his arms and show his love for her. But there was still some fear that she would be repulsed by any ardor he might show. She had been badly treated by men. She had made it clear from very early that she abhorred their misuse of women’s bodies, their disregard for a woman’s feelings. He studied her eyes, saw the tears again flood into the corners and spill onto her golden lashes. He moved toward her slowly, watching the welcoming warmth in her expression now. He felt her body relax and fall forward, sinking into his arms as he wrapped them around her. Once locked together, she raised her face to him and their kiss followed naturally and deeply. He stroked her curls with one hand, rubbed his fingers around her neck, and as their lips drew apart she nestled her head under his chin. The quiet bush land enveloped them. William became aware of the sharp, pleasant smell of the gum leaves that fluttered lightly above their heads. He felt clean and fresh and very safe. He sensed the softness of her; let it thrill him.
    ‘I really do love you, my girl,’ he whispered.
    ‘Yes, Will,’ she responded, her voice muffled in his shirt. ‘I know you do. And I love you, too. I always will.’ She grinned up at him, her cheekiness returning. ‘I think I always have.’

Chapter Five
    William and Mary were married on the first day of June. Mary washed one of her two sets of clothes and scrubbed her skin and hair till they shone. She stood beside William at the front of the wedding tent trying hard to take in what Reverend Richard Johnson was saying. Though she’d heard it all before, she could still hardly believe that it was William and her now in this spot. She stole a glance sideways and saw the wide smile on his face. Like the cat that swallowed the canary, she thought to herself and almost giggled. Anyone would think he’d been chasing her