Free Haunted Creek by Ann Cliff Page A

to be used for religious purposes,’ the reverend went on. ‘The Victorian government in their wisdom has kept religious instruction out of the school curriculum. And so I would like to suggest that you, as a new community of souls, might make a further effort. You might work together to build your own little church, to bring civilization and religion to Wattle Tree and to keep the forces of darkness at bay.’
    Rose looked round uneasily. On such a bright morning the forces of darkness were not worrying her but she knew what he meant. She had sensed that the eucy men carried a darkness with them. What dreadful past had made them what they were? The bush was very dark at night. Would a church make a difference? Human effort seemed so small and powerless in this huge landscape , so maybe religion would be a comfort. Perhaps anything that brought people together would make them feel safer.
    The vicar was developing his theme. ‘Then you might have marriages and christenings in your church, to bring your children into the light. There will be builders and carpenters among you, who can direct the work.’ The men looked at each other and Rose could almost hear them thinking about all the work they had to do on their own blocks. ‘Of course, some generous landowner will need to donate the land.’ Some of the possible generous landowners shuffled their feet.
    Judging by the number of small children at the service, Freda would have a full class of infants next year. ‘Yes,’ she said quietly when Rose remarked on it afterwards. ‘The settlers all seem to have plenty of children to help with the work.’
    Freda invited Rose and Luke to share their meal after the service. ‘I want to hear what progress you’ve been making,’ Freda said in her schoolmistress voice and Luke grinned.
    ‘Yes, ma’am,’ he said, with a mock bow. ‘I’m doing my best, you know. I’m very proud of our chicken house – sheer luxury for chooks.’
    While they ate cold beef and potatoes, Rose was asked to tell the Jensens what she had been doing. ‘I bought some pullets from a farmer down towards Tangil,’ she explained. ‘We’ve also got some young chicks hatched out by our old hens. A bag of grain lasts them quite a while – they scratch about in the bush for insects.’ She was quietly proud of the healthy little poultry flock.
    ‘How do you sell them?’ Erik turned to her with intense blue eyes and Rose had to look away quickly, pulling against a powerful magnet, or so it felt. She had to fight the melting feeling whenever he looked at her. This was very wrong in a married woman.
    Rose told them she’d bought two wicker baskets and packed the eggs with dried fern to keep them from cracking. She had orders from the All Nations and the Wattle Tree store and was building up a list of customers. Erik smiled his approval with a beautiful warmth and Rose caught Luke frowning at him.
    Luke chatted easily to the Jensens apart from this and it was clear how much he liked company; he was not cut out for a solitary life in the bush. Erik said little, smiled at Luke’s jokes and listened attentively to everything that was said.
    After lunch they all went on a tour of the farm, but by then Luke seemed less than happy. He leaned on a gate with his hands in his pockets and it was left to Rose to ask the right questions.
    ‘Look, these trees are ring barked,’ Erik told them. ‘We take off a section of bark all round the tree and it dies.’ He seemed pleased by her interest. ‘Once the trees are dead, there’s more moisture in the ground for crops and more light.’ The skeleton trees looked ugly, but the crops were growing well.
    ‘We could do this, Luke!’ Rose said eagerly. ‘We could growcrops or grass and then the trees could be cut down later, when you have the time.’ Luke nodded, but said nothing. Wasn’t he interested ? Rose touched his arm but he ignored her.
    There were sheep in one paddock, black-faced Suffolk ewes. Erik