Chapter Ten
Dodger couldn't believe how hot it was.
The grey long sleeve shirt he wore had now darkened several shades with sweat. The cloth was now caked onto his chest. It probably would need to be pried off when he went to bed later on tonight.
The only thing that kept him going was the thought of seeing her again. He didn't know what happened once that other girl slammed the door but he wanted to know.
He saw her making her way through the men, he noticed that she had skipped Markus today. His chest grew tight feeling like a jack in the box ready to be winded up the extra time. Desperately trying to make it out of its box and pop.
She was seven steps away from him. His arm began to shake like a nervous dog's.
"Brianne!" he said with a nervous smile. "Brianne its me, Dodge."
Instead of replying she lifted the spoon full of water up to his mouth. He took a large sip then pulled away. "thank you."
She dipped the spoon back into the bucket then went to go on her way. Laughing he grabbed her by the hips and dragged her backwards.
His smile now turned playful. "come on, can't you talk but two minutes with your good friend, Dodge."
"I wouldn't call meeting each other twice being good friends. Mr. Dawkins."
He frowned. "then your so-so friend, Dodge." he smiled. "come on. Brianne."
"Mr. Dawkins." she said sharply. "I do not recall giving you permission to call me by my first name."
He blinked. "well I'm sorry Miss. Kelly."
She nodded then continued on her way. Leaving Dodger more confused than a disoriented puppy dog.
He dug his shovel into the ground with such force it almost broke.
"Hey, Dodge."
He turned his head. "yeah Charlie." he said addressing the boy beside him.
"who's that, girl?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know." he frowned. "not anymore that is."
"what do you mean, Dodge?"
He stopped. "I mean, drop it Charlie."
His friend nodded. "fine."
He gave his head a slight shake then went back to digging.
What had he expected ? She was right they had only met twice and both times for a faulty ankle. He was more a nursemaid to her than anything else.
But than again he couldn't help but wonder where he went wrong.
Tears filled her eyes. She knew nothing about him but yet, doing that, was like saying goodbye to an old friend.
She could never explain what she felt with, Jack. She had just met him but yet she felt the need to get close to him.
If he were to take her into his arms tonight and kiss her, she knew she would kiss him right back.
She knelt down to a man who was standing in a holes level. She passed him the spoon with water then let him drink.
When he was done she moved on to the next man. She finished her first round in record time. Once she was done with the first round she had to go back for the second and then the third.
Sometimes she wished she got assigned to one of the freed settlers farms for domestic work like Mary. Where she wouldn't have to face the beating Australian sun or perverted men like the one who grabbed her the other day.
But it was better than the factories that she had to tell herself.
The hot sun soon hide behind the clouds replaced with a round white moon.
She almost wished Dodger would be there to carry her home again tonight.
"want to see the bruises
."
Her body tensed. Gingerly she touched her shoulder blade where a large pink scar remained.
She shuddered. She walked briskly through the Australian night trying to let no thoughts creep into her mind.
Tiredly Breanne opened the door to the small cabin. A three year old child babble greeted her followed by a baby's cry.
She rubbed her eye. "hello." she yawned.
A little boy raced towards her then engulfed her legs in a warm embrace. "Breewan!" he exclaimed.
She smiled then lifted the child up to her waist. "Did you have a good day, Scott?"
The child nodded in glee. "I played with the waby, Mrs. Hubert let me hold her and everythin."
Her lips curled up into a smile ticking her stomach. "did you hold her nice and good, little mavoureen?"
"Course I did, I did it the bests of all!"
She set the little boy down on the bed. "I'm going to go make some tae now, all right?"
"all right."
Tea and such treats were rare to have in Australia. But one of the other girls had managed to sneak some onto the boat a couple of months ago.
They were supposed to save it for special occasions but today Brianne needed all the help she could get.
She crouched down by the fire then put a pot to boil with the powder. The other three girls looked at her suspiscolly.
"make us some too, Breanne." Juliana a short stubby sixteen year old asked. On her knee she held her two year old child.
"Wouldn't dream of it otherwise."
"is everything all right?"
She nodded then bite her lip. "Just tired."
When the tea was ready she poured it into small wooden cups they had been given for drinking out of.
She sipped her tea in silence thinking about, Jack Dawson all the while.
There was a heavy knock on the door. The hinges buckled and moved.
"let us in." a male voice boomed.
Her eyes skimmed by the room for approval. Mary managed a nod. Slowly Brianne came to her feet and opened the door.
Chapter Eleven.
Dodger stared at the black Australian night sky. He soon became absorbed in it's beauty. In London he could never see the stars like this.
The other boys were dancing to the lively hum of a fiddle. But he didn't feel like dancing, he felt like thinking.
There was other fish in the sea. Why he had heard of men just going to the work factories and picking out a bride. The women in Australia were desperate to marry.
He could have the pick of the best , someone much prettier then Brianne Kelly.
But was there somebody more beautiful than her?
A sly looking man with slicked back red hair stood in the doorframe. A wicked looking grin came across the twenty something old's mouth.
"hello my fine lady." he bowed. "and how are you this fine evening?"
She let out a sigh of relief. Then smiled. "fine my gentleman."
He tipped his hat than invited himself into the cabin. His grin intensified once he saw Juliana and her son. "Miss. Juliana." he tipped his hat once more then blushed.
She replied with a warm and thoughtful smile.
"are any of you ladies in the mood for a party?" he asked now regaining his confidence. "a fine party indeed."
Juliana came to her feet resting one hand on her wide hip. "Where dose this party take place, Mr. O'Johnson?"
"You'll have to follow me."
All the women looked naturally intrigued. Gabriel another women spoke up. "But what about the children?"
"bring them with you!" he smiled. "the wee ones will enjoy it, right Brianne?"
"are you suggesting that I'm wee Mr. O'Johnson." she teased.
He bowed a look of horror came across his face. "you wee?" he gasped in fake horror. "why Miss. Kelly you're practically an auld maid at fifteen years old!"
Sarah scowled. The look in her eyes spelled everything.
Brianne smiled unlike her friend it didn't bother her when people misjudged her . "why I am getting up there in years aren't I?"
"I'll carry you to the party than."
Like Dodger…
She looked down at her feet and frowned. "I'll look after the little ones." she said. "It's past their bedtime."
"they can break curfew once and a while. Now if you don't come I really will have to carry you."
She thought Juliana was starting to look jealous at all the attention she was getting. She flashed her a reassuring smile than turned back to Mr. O'Johnson. "I'll go but don't you think you should be convincing your Juliana to come to your party?"
The man dropped to his knees. "please, will all you do the honour of coming to this party with me."
The women laughed and agreed. Soon they had their children dressed and rearing to go.
O'Johnson, led them to a small barn half a mile away. A lively fiddle could be heard accompanied by a slow accordion.
It had been ages since Brianne had attended a party. The last one being her wedding day.
The fiddle played a lively tune, but was dying to growing number of feet and hands stomping and clapping.
The bride and bridegroom stood in the middle of the floor. Their eyes met.
"shall we dance Mrs. Kelly?"
The small fourteen year old girl nodded.
Slowly his feet began to tap engaging in a lively reel. The tapping of his feet was soon joined by hers as they became one. Her skirts spun in the air as he gave her a gentle spin.
The men and women whooped and shouted for them to go faster. Soon her feet were challenging his. Too soon they gave up not bothering to play games.
He took her face in his hands then lay a kiss on her lips . But there was no spark…
"Miss. Kelly?"
She blinked, her eyes grew large.
Dodger knew he shouldn't have been roped into going to this party. But Charlie had been convincing, and he thought it would be just the thing he needed to get his mind off of Brianne.
"Miss. Kelly, what are you doing here?"
Her eyes darted to the floor. "I-" she turned around to the punch table then took a sip. "Getting a drink."
He turned her around then frowned. "If you don't like me just say it." he said. "I might not be as good as you, but I think-"
"I do like you." she said cutting him off mid-sentence. "But I can't…so please."
"why can't you like me?"
She sighed. "Because if I like you, then I'll-" she pressed her lips together. "I'll loose my heart."
"wha'cha mean?"
"I mean, I'll fall head over heals for you then somehow you'll end up hurting me. And it will be just like before." a plump tear slipped down her cheek.
He had the urge to wipe it away. But stayed strong. "I would never hurt you."
She turned away again. "that's what they all say." she murmured. "I can't loose my heart again I just-"
He pulled her into his body slowly he pressed his lips to hers. His lips caved into hers then released. Almost hesitantly she overlapped her lips onto his. Heat tickled his chest.
Slowly he pulled off. Her eyes stared blankly at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck then kissed him back.
She was a good kisser, but a little strong. He found himself fighting for domincince but played it like a face riveting game of tennis. His arms encircled her back, he found entrance into her mouth.
She let him have dominance. He was a little disappointed to end their game.
Finally she pulled off. She took a deep breath. "would you like to dance?"
He nodded.
Slowly he interlocked his hand with hers and led her to the dance floor.
Her feet began to tap in a lively jig. He found himself puzzled at the way she danced.
She stopped. "haven't you ever seen an Irish jig before, English boy?"
He shook his head then grinned. "how do you do it?"
"just try, it's easy there's no wrong way to do it."
Shyly he repeated the move he just saw her do. Soon their feet were challenging each other and they were laughing like two little kids.
He took her into his arms then laughed. "ah, Annie." he pressed his face into the nape of neck. "I think you've tired me out."
She wrapped her arm around his neck. "have I?"
He nodded. "lets sit down."
She smiled. Then let him lead her to a small table. His hand danced on her back drawing her in close.
They spent most of the night kissing, laughing, and dancing like fools.
She didn't care up his past and she prayed he didn't care about hers either.