Belinda Murrell: Bringing Australian History To Life | Page 22

EXTRACT THE RIVER CHARM FRIGHTENED FOR THEIR LIVES, THE ATKINSON FAMILY IS ABOUT TO MAKE A DARING MOVE . . . ‘C harlotte, dearest,’ whispered Mamma, shaking her gently on the shoulder. ‘Charlotte, wake up.’ Mamma stood over her bed, black hair hanging down her back and a shawl thrown over her white nightgown. Mamma’s face looked pale and drawn in the flickering light of the candle. Charlotte glanced over to the other bed where Emily was still asleep, her nightcap tied tightly under her chin. ‘I am sorry to wake you,’ apologised Mamma. ‘But we must get ready to go. I need you and Emily to dress and help me. We can leave Louisa and James their bits. Charlotte worried that the noise might wake Mr Barton. Fortunately, his bedroom faced the front of the house. Charlotte shivered and wrapped her woollen shawl more tightly around her shoulders. Mr Ash, Charley and Bill the bullocky were now loading the trunks onto three red Devon bullocks by the light of several lanterns. The track to Budgong was too narrow and precipitous to drive a vehicle. The bullocks would be driven on foot by Bill and one of the convicts. Mamma flitted to and fro anxiously in the darkness, glancing back to the house, giving the men directions and ‘I’m carving my name,’ he confessed, shamefaced. ‘Just in case we never come back. I wanted to leave my name as a record that we belong here and Oldbury belongs to us.’ asleep until the very last moment.’ Charlotte yawned and nodded reluctantly, not wanting to leave her warm bed. Mamma woke Emily quietly and lit a candle for them to dress by. Charlotte shivered in the cold early morning air as she climbed out of bed and grabbed her shawl. The floorboards felt icy under her bare feet. The rest of the house was dark and quiet, except for the long, rumbling snores that came from Mr Barton’s room at the opposite end of the hall. The girls splashed their faces in the washbasin and dressed hurriedly in chemises, petticoats, dark riding habits, stockings and boots. Together, Mamma and the girls carried down the trunks to the rear courtyard. Charley and Mr Ash had saddled up a number of horses, including Ophelia and Clarie, and they were tethered outside the stable, stamping their hooves and jingling 22 randomhouse.com.au/teachers checking that all was packed to her satisfaction. The men loaded sacks of flour, potatoes, sugar and tea from the storehouse. The first two bullocks had already been loaded up with tents, bedding, Mamma’s medical chest and foodstuffs. Bridget carried a wicker hamper of provisions from the kitchen. Charley had captured a number of chickens, which were now imprisoned in a wicker hamper, squawking with disgust. The bullock at the rear bellowed mournfully. Samson ran among the bullocks and men, barking with excitement. It was impossible that Mr Barton had not heard the commotion. ‘Run and fetch Maugie, if you please, Emily,’ asked Mamma. ‘I have a pannier here for him. He’ll be snug in a nest of old clothes.’ Emily ran to obey, her brown ringlets tangled and tousled. ‘Charlotte, my dear, would you be so good as to wake Louisa and James and help them dress?’ asked Mamma. ‘We must get away as soon as possible. It is nearly dawn.’ The horizon to the east was streaked with a glimmer of crimson. The men fumbled with buckles and straps on the packsaddles in the dim light. A cock crowed. Charlotte ran upstairs, her heart thumping. The house seemed bare and cold and her footsteps echoed on the timber floorboards. In the middle bedroom, she woke James first, urging him to be quick and quiet. Then she went to Mamma’s room next door. Louisa was fast asleep in Mamma’s wide four-poster bed, tangled in the damp sheets, her thumb in her mouth. Charlotte leant over her youngest sister and breathed in the warm, milky scent of her skin. ‘Louisa,’ whispered Charlotte. ‘Poppet? It is time to wake up.’ Louisa rolled ݙ\