Lawson's Bend Read online

  ‘No, she gave it to Stephen.’

  Henny sat in silence for a second or two to digest the information. ‘Huh. He told me that he had one of Mum’s paintings and said I was welcome to come over and look at it. Did she say why she gave it to him?’

  ‘Only that he liked it and the painting needed the right home. I guess she thought that was with Stephen. Anyway, there was a trickle-on effect. Her name was buzzed around and she sold several other paintings because of it. In light of what you told me, I suppose your mum was trying to honour him for saving you.’

  ‘Maybe she was. Well, I’ll definitely have to take him up on his offer and check it out,’ Henny said. ‘Um, so there’s something I wanted to run by you, and feel free to shoot me down and tell me I’m delusional.’

  Janey laughed. ‘Okay, I promise to call you out for being delusional.’

  ‘Did you see Harley at the memorial yesterday?’

  ‘I didn’t. The truth was that I had a million things to do and was running late. I arrived when the mayor was making his irksome speech and ran away as soon as they unveiled the statue. I looked for you in the crowd but I couldn’t spot you.’

  ‘That’s because I was on the other side of the stage, down by the water’s edge.’

  ‘Ah, that explains it. So what happened with Harley?’

  ‘I saw him before the speeches started and it was a bit odd. He told me that it isn’t safe for me to be here. He said that Lawson’s Bend isn’t my home anymore and I should leave for my own good.’

  ‘Oh for goodness sake—what on earth was he talking about?’

  Henny shrugged. ‘That’s just it, I don’t know. But it did leave me with a weird feeling. Stephen thinks that it’s nothing more than Harley being a little out-there but I don’t know.’

  ‘So, what—you think that’s there something more to his death?’

  ‘Maybe. I’m probably just reading things into it but, Aunty Janey, do you think that it’s possible?’

  ‘I’m not sure. But what I do know is that Harley was a very troubled young man and yet I still can’t see him taking his own life. Then again, can we ever really know what someone is thinking?’

  ‘So you would say it was out of character?’

  Janey thought for a moment before she replied. ‘There’s no way to know for sure but Harley loved that dog and I believe he’d have to have been in the depths of despair to leave him.’

  ***

  The next few days passed without incident, which was a good thing in Henny’s mind. She was kind of over death and surprises. She and Dover kept close to home and when they did go for a walk it was only up the track a little way and back again. She couldn’t face walking over to the quarry or the res. Aunty Janey had dropped in a couple of times to check on her and Stephen also turned up to let her know that Harley’s parents said that if she wanted to keep Dover he was hers with their blessing.

  The news had made her happier than she thought it would. Dover had only been in her life such a short time but they had bonded and he already had a piece of her heart.

  Henny spent some time going through her mother’s paintings and deciding which ones to turn into prints or greeting cards. And other than one quick trip to the supermarket and the police station she stayed put. She spoke to Senior Sergeant Nichols and was told that Harley’s death had been ruled accidental. It was just like Stephen had guessed, according to Nichols: he must have lost his footing on the high bank, knocked his head and fallen unconscious into the water.

  So that’s it, Henny told herself, Harley’s death was a tragic accident just like Mum’s. No one was to blame and those who were left just had to get on with living. She told herself to let it go and move on but no matter how hard she tried, the tiny idea that everyone might be wrong stayed within her, coming out most nights when Henny was somewhere between dreaming and waking.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Once again Henny found herself standing under the shade of a large gum tree in the Lawson’s Bend cemetery. The last weeks of summer were hot, dry and windy. The numbers of mourners were smaller than usual and, unlike her mother’s funeral, she knew just about everyone.

  Stephen was standing next to her. He’d offered to pick her up and she hadn’t refused; there was something about his calm presence that was comforting. Harley’s death had affected her but she knew that she wasn’t the only one. As Stephen had said, several of the guys had made it their business to watch out for Harley over the years. She looked over at Dan standing with Ethan and Leon, and even from this distance she could see that all three of them were distressed. They were standing in a line with an arm around each other, heads bowed, and Dan was wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. Aunt Janey was standing with Mr and Mrs Turner who were huddled together near the grave. Their sunglasses hid their expressions, but as Harley’s younger sister looked over her shoulder, Henny could see the raw pain in her eyes. It was a look she knew well.

  The ceremony was short, as if everyone, from the family to the minister, wanted to be gone from the place. She looked up at Stephen; he was silent and stoic, keeping his emotions in check. He glanced down and caught her looking at him.

  ‘Are you alright?’

  ‘Yeah, considering where we are,’ Henny replied quietly.

  Stephen nodded but stayed silent as he turned his attention back to the minister leading the final prayer. As the ceremony ended people began to stand up and make their way out.

  ‘I should speak to Aunt Janey and give my condolences to Harley’s family,’ Henny said to Stephen.

  ‘Yeah, me too. Come on.’

  Together they walked against the wave of people until they were near the Turners.

  ‘Aunt Janey,’ Henny said as she leant in and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

  ‘Hello, kiddo.’ Janey gave her a small smile and touched her arm before turning to Stephen. ‘It’s lovely to see you again, dear. Thank you for looking out for Henny and bringing her today.’

  ‘It’s a pleasure.’

  Janey looked him in the eye for a second too long before giving him another smile.

  Henny took a breath before walking over to the Turners.

  ‘I’m very sorry,’ Henny said, trying to find the right words and coming up short.

  Mrs Turner stepped forward and gave her a tight hug. ‘Thank you, Henny. Thank you for everything you did for Harley.’

  Tears began to prick at the back of her eyes. ‘I’m just sorry I didn’t get there in time.’

  Mrs Turner shook her head. ‘What you did was very brave and there was nothing else you could have done. We’ll never forget—never.’ She teetered on her feet a little and fell back against her husband.

  He caught her against him and held her up. ‘You’re right, love. I’ve got you.’

  Mrs Turner gave a slight nod. ‘I know, darling. I’m fine—we’ve just got to get through today,’ she said as she steadied herself and took a breath.

  ‘We will,’ Mr Turner said. ‘Come on, it’s time to go.’ He gave Henny a little nod as he guided his wife down the gravel path and towards the car park.

  Harley’s youngest sister stopped in front of Henny. She couldn’t remember her name, only that she was about four years below her at school. She had a pretty face and her tawny hair was pulled back in a messy bun. Henny could see the resemblance between her and Harley, including the same green eyes.

  ‘Hi, I’m Samantha—I’m not sure that you’d remember me from school,’ she said, taking Henny’s hand. ‘I just want to say thank you for trying to save my brother.’

  ‘You don’t have to thank me. I’m sorry that it ended this way.’

  ‘Me too.’ She was silent for a moment before she continued. ‘I also wanted to thank you for taking Harley’s dog. I was worried about what was going to happen to him.’

  ‘Dover and I are getting on well together—I have to admit I like the company and he seems to like me too. But if you want him back, I totally understand.�
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  ‘Oh no, no, that’s not what I was saying. I’m very happy that he’s found a good home. Unfortunately we just weren’t able to keep him. I’m allergic, and my sister is based in the city in a tiny flat. And Mum and Dad, well, they’re just not up to it at the moment.’

  ‘Well, don’t worry. Dover is doing great.’

  ‘I’m glad,’ Samantha said with a sad smile. ‘We’re having an afternoon tea back at the house if you and Stephen want to come.’ She looked over to where her parents were. ‘I’d better go. See you later.’

  ‘Bye,’ Henny said before turning to Stephen. ‘What do you think? Should we go?’

  ‘If you like,’ he replied.

  ‘You don’t seem too keen.’

  Stephen gave a shrug. ‘I just never know what to say. I always find wakes a bit awkward but if you want to go, we can.’

  ‘Are you going back to the house for tea, Aunt Janey?’ Henny asked as the three of them fell into step on the gravel path.

  ‘Yes, but you don’t have to, kiddo—don’t feel that it’s expected.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll make up my mind by the time we get to the car. Maybe we could see how Dan and the others are doing instead?’

  Stephen looked slightly relieved. ‘Yeah, that’s a good idea.’

  ‘Well, that’s settled then. I’d better be off because I think I’m needed. I’ll give you a call tonight,’ Janey said. She planted a kiss on Henny’s cheek and hurried after the Turners.

  Stephen glanced over his shoulder. ‘The others are over there,’ he said. ‘We could wait in the shade until they walk up.’

  They veered off the path towards the group of gum trees near the cemetery gates. There was a little wooden bench beneath the spreading boughs and Henny made for it.

  They sat and acknowledged the other mourners as they walked towards the gate. A soft, warm breeze blew through the gums. If it wasn’t for the location and the occasion, sitting here would be quite lovely, Henny thought. She could see Dan and Leon Chang walking up the path, followed by Ethan, Charlie and Gemma. There was someone walking behind Dan, but she coudn’t see who it was. Ahead of them was an older man with fading red hair that was beginning to go white around his temples. He caught sight of Henny and made his way over to them with determined strides.

  ‘Oh hell,’ Stephen muttered under his breath. ‘You remember Amber Tavish?’

  ‘Of course,’ Henny said as the image of Amber popped into her head. She’d had golden-brown hair, which suited her name, freckles across her nose and a big smile. Another classmate who had never made it out of the res alive.

  ‘Well, that’s her dad. He’s never moved past the drowning, not that I can blame him, but it’s torn his entire family apart.’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘Tavish is an angry man. He needs someone to blame for Amber’s death. And he accused several of us of letting her drown.’

  ‘But that’s not true,’ Henny said with surprise. ‘Everyone did what they could.’

  ‘I know. I’ve thought about it a lot. Amber was on the other side of the platform from us when it collapsed. I never saw her after we all hit the water. But as I said, Tavish needs someone to blame to make sense of what happened—whatever he says, try not to take it to heart.’

  Henny shot him a worried look as Stephen gave her hand a squeeze.

  ‘Drake,’ Andrew Tavish said in a deep voice.

  Henny didn’t know why but it reminded her of the deep growl that comes from the back of a dog’s throat just as its hackles rise.

  ‘Mr Tavish,’ Stephen replied. ‘You remember Henrietta Bolton, don’t you?’

  Tavish looked her up and down for a moment. ‘You shouldn’t have come back, girl. It’s safer away from this bloody place.’

  ‘So I’ve been told, Mr Tavish.’

  ‘Well, you should have listened. Harley knew all about it but no one would take any heed.’

  ‘Knew about what?’ Stephen asked.

  ‘That Killop Reservoir is cursed. It took Amber and the others and now Harley—it won’t stop until the rest of you are at the bottom of it as well. Mark my words, this won’t be the last time we’re all standing in this place.’ His eyes were bright and his face had reddened. He was working himself up and Henny was worried that he might have a turn.

  ‘It was an accident, not a curse,’ Stephen said evenly.

  ‘You’re wrong. One way or another you’ll be floating in that damn water too.’ He ran his hand over his face before he continued. ‘Why should my child be ten years dead while you, all of you, are alive?’

  ‘It’s a question we ask ourselves every day,’ Stephen said as he looked away. ‘But that’s the way it is and it’s what we all have to deal with.’

  ‘And what were you doing that night? Did you see her and do nothing?’ Tavish said with a sneer.

  Stephen took a breath. ‘We’ve been over this before, don’t you remember? Amber was on the opposite side of the platform. Once I fell in, I swear to you I never saw her again.’

  Henny moved a little closer to Stephen and laid her hand on his arm. ‘Mr Tavish, I can tell you exactly what Stephen did that night. He dragged me out of the water and saved my life and after he got me to the bank, he went back in to see if he could help anyone else. I’m very sorry about Amber. She was funny, bright and full of laughter—I liked her a lot and I think about all of those we lost that night every day.’

  Her words appeared to placate him a little and he lost some of his bluster. ‘It wasn’t fair. It’s not right. Children are our legacy to carry on—I was meant to go first, not her.’

  ‘You’re right—it wasn’t fair and I’m so very sorry, Mr Tavish.’

  He walked away without another word. Henny watched him go and noted that he appeared diminished, as if all that anger had been replaced with grief and a physical fragility. For the second time that day, Henny felt tears prick her eyes.

  ‘Thanks for that,’ Stephen said. ‘I’ve spoken to him so many times about not seeing Amber but it’s as if he doesn’t remember.’ He raised his hand and gave a slight wave as Dan and the others walked up.

  ‘You get another dose from mad old Tavish?’ Dan asked as he sauntered up. ‘Better you than me, mate.’

  ‘Is he always like that?’ Henny asked.

  ‘No. I mean, it’s always there but something like this,’ Ethan said, gesturing back towards the tidy rows of graves, ‘is enough to set him right off.’

  ‘Did the same thing happen at the memorial?’ Henny asked as she turned to look at Stephen. ‘I can’t remember seeing him there.’

  ‘No, he didn’t come. Rumour has it that he got himself nailed instead.’

  ‘Well, that’s one way to deal with it—talking from experience here,’ Dan quipped.

  ‘Anyway, life dealt him a double blow—first he lost his daughter and then the rest of his family. Oh no, I don’t mean like that,’ Stephen added quickly after seeing Henny’s stricken look. ‘What I mean is that Tavish was so wrapped up and consumed with grief that he pushed all his family aside. His wife, Mary, was reeling from the loss of Amber but she still had four other kids to look after.’

  ‘That’s right. I remember from school there was a sister a year older and twin boys a fair bit younger than us, right?’ Henny said as she tried to picture the faces.

  ‘Yeah, and there was also Poppy, the baby of the family. Sometimes grief can bring a family together but not in this case. Mary told my dad that she just couldn’t cope with trying to be there for the other kids and deal with her husband as well.’

  ‘So they split up?’ Henny asked

  Stephen nodded. ‘Yeah, about four years ago. Mary and the kids moved to a house on the other side of town and Tavish is in a little place not far from The White Stag.’

  ‘Which is generally where you’ll find him,’ Ethan added. ‘Look, I feel sorry for the guy but . . .’

  ‘He just couldn’t cut it,’ Dan finished. He turned around and called out t
o the couple who were slowly making their way towards the rest of the group. ‘Come on, Leon, time to go.’

  Henny glanced over and saw that Leon was holding the hand of a heavily pregnant woman with a short blonde pixie cut. It took Henny a moment to place the face.

  ‘Is that Kylie Patterson?’ she asked Stephen.

  ‘Sure is. She and Leon have been a thing ever since he pulled her out of the res. They got hitched a couple of years ago and are about to have their first baby.’

  ‘I didn’t know,’ Henny said with a smile. ‘That’s great—it really is.’

  Stephen gave her a grin. ‘Yeah, it is.’

  ‘Oh for God’s sake, don’t get mushy,’ Ethan said with a roll of his eyes.

  ‘Well, it is lovely. She wasn’t at the memorial though, was she?’ said Henny.

  Dan turned back. ‘She wasn’t feeling up to it so Leon went on his own. Didn’t you notice that he was on the phone the whole night and then cut out straight after dinner?’ He let out an exaggerated sigh as Leon walked up. ‘Ah, about bloody time—how are you going, Kylie?

  ‘My fault, it seems that I can’t walk as fast uphill as I used to,’ Kylie said with a laugh. ‘Hey, Henny, I’m glad that you’re back.’

  ‘Me too—and congratulations, by the way,’ Henny said.

  ‘Can we get out of here? I think I’ve had enough of graveyards to last me forever,’ Dan said.

  ‘Yeah, let’s go,’ Stephen said. He stood up and held out his hand to Henny, as if it was the most natural thing to do.

  And once again she took it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The Wren was busy but the group managed to nab the large table at the back, which offered a little more privacy. Henny cradled her coffee as the conversation buzzed around her.

  ‘I can’t believe this has happened,’ Leon said as he sat back in his chair. ‘I mean, I know that Harley was troubled but I never thought that he’d take his own life.’

  ‘But the police said it was an accident,’ Charlie countered. ‘No one said that it was suicide. Apparently he had been in the water for a few hours, so it was probably dark when he was walking, and he could have tripped on something.’