“No, nor did we. We thought she’d gotten carried away with research and lost track of time. A trait of the inquisitive mind.” Hamish stood with his hands in his pockets surveying the area, trying to see things the way Billie would have.
“Mom gets lost in her work sometimes, but I think something’s happened to her.” Alex crouched down and rubbed Maggie’s ears. “We’ll find her, won’t we, girl?”
“Right, go for it then and if you need me, I’ll be back there.” He started to leave then paused. “Um, if you find out anything, can you let me know? I’m a bit worried myself now.”
“Certainly. After we’ve had a look we need to go and see the Historical Society anyway. Perhaps she had car trouble and got a lift back to the motel. I know she was going to go and interview a couple of the old employees. They might be able to shed some light on her movements too. Don’t want to get too panicky yet because she’s known for getting absorbed by her work. If we have no luck it’ll be the police station next.”
“Right.” He paused. “I do remember she said something about bringing those old folks out for photos and did I mind if she did. Haven’t see hide nor hair of them though, never gave it much of a thought, to be honest.” He ambled away, glancing once over his shoulder before disappearing through a door.
“Where to first, Hamish?”
“How about upstairs? We can see if there’s any indication of her being there and if nothing else we can see things through her eyes, try to figure out what she was looking for. Then perhaps a walk around the lake and a peek into the forest before we head into town. I want to get there before five if we’re to speak to this person at the historical society and see if we can find out who your mother had lined up to interview. Every little scrap of information we can find will help us locate her, I’m sure of it.”
Chapter 17
Singleton 1940
She made her way back to the house. She needed to engage in some sleuthing to get her bearings. Carter met her at the door.
“Who is most likely to be heading into town this morning? I believe there are parts to be picked up for the tractor.”
He pinched his lips and frowned before he pointed her in the direction of the kitchen. “Mr. Hughes, Miss. You usually ask him to do pick-up and deliveries. Nothing has changed as far as I know.” He cleared his throat and then left her.
“Right, silly me.” She hurried past the stairs toward the back of the house, finding the kitchen more by the delicious smells wafting down the hallway than anything else.
“You after lunch already, Miss Wilhelmina? Be a bit longer, I’m afraid.” A rosy-faced woman stood over the stove, stirring a large pot.
“No, actually I’m looking for Mr. Hughes.”
“He’s already down at the shed, Miss. The master made noises about a trip to town and he still has to take the sickle blades off the tractor to take in. I think you’ll find him in the machinery shed fiddling while he waits for your orders.”
“Thank you.”
She hurried out the back door, conscious of the quizzical expression on the cook’s face. They must all know she’d fallen and hurt her head and were probably worried about her strange behaviour. How long she could keep that up was anyone’s guess. She marched out past the washing line, past the cordoned off vegetable garden area to the farm sheds outside the fenced house yard.
“Mr. Hughes, are you in here?” She wandered around the machines calling out hoping he’d show himself so she could sort out the mornings job.
“Under here, Miss.” She stepped over to a green machine. A pair of legs poked out from a vintage lawn mower attachment.
“Ah, Mr. Hughes. I was told you’re on your way to Singleton to drop off the sickle blades and pick up something Papa has ordered.”
“Yes, Miss. That’s right. Now what was it you wanted picking up?”
She paused. “Oh, I’m sure the shop keeper will know what it is, something to do with some sort of machinery. I really can’t remember what it was offhand, but if it has our name on it, bring it back.”
“Right you are, then, Miss. While I have your attention, the master said if I saw you, would you please organise to bring in the yearlings from the bottom paddock later today. He said you wanted to check them over for the upcoming sales. He said he doesn’t have time, Miss and since you’re the one who makes the decision, he’d leave it up to you.”
“Fine. I don’t suppose you could give me a hand when you come back, could you, Mr. Hughes? What with the knock to my head yesterday, I still don’t feel quite right.” She smiled as he shuffled his body out from under the tractor and stared up at her from his position on the ground.
“I guess I could do that, Miss. How about I find you when I get back from town, then?” He pulled a rag from his pocket and wiped the grease from his hands.
“Perfect. Thank you, Mr. Hughes.” Taking a deep breath, she left the shed. Hadn’t that gone well? She’d dodged a bullet there. Now to work out her next move.
Once she was back inside the house, she sat at her writing desk reading over the letter she’d written in response to the invitation that had arrived that morning. From what she could understand, it would mean a train trip to Sydney. Would it be the
