Haiz....

Different Beat'


The mornings were now cold and foggy and India had taken to wearing Matt's big coat, hat and gloves when she went out to feed the calves. The mountains, rearing majestically behind the old house were wreathed in mist, usually only showing themselves by noon, when the sun had burned away the fog and revealed the world.

By noon of course India had already been out on the motor-bike, checking the lambs, moving stock and inspecting fences. Striding back into the dark and still chilly house at lunchtime, tossing gloves and coat into the box on the veranda, she usually had to brace herself to endure the equally chilly looks and barbed comments from her future mother-in-law. For Fay was a country woman who firmly believed a woman's place was in the home. Let the men go traipsing around outside in the dust and dirt, hardening their hands and toughening their skin in the wind and weather; women needed to tend to the housework, prepare a hot midday meal and ensure things in the homestead ran smoothly.

Watching in amazement India's insistence on going out and doing farm work dismayed and shocked the older woman, who complained dourly to her friends at bingo and church. What would happen when babies came along? What then? You can't run around with a baby in tow driving tractors and what not.

Matt was fine with it though. He reassured his mother that India was great on the farm and in the house (and in the bed, but he didn't say that) and told her that girls these days didn't always want to be in the house and if it made her happy to help him and his Dad out in the paddock, he wasn't gonna stop her! Giving a cheerful shout of laughter he had gone back to crutching his sheep, confident his bride-to-be was all a man could wish for.

India was aware however of Fay's growing disapproval and lately was coming to dread the return to the house and the other woman's brooding presence, her terse comments and negative vibes. She had started to wonder how living there would be once she and Matt were married, wondered whether they would be better trying to build a house of their own? But money was tight, even though the long drought was supposedly over and she didn't think Matt would go along with that idea.

Clad in apron, Fay now bustled into the dining room.

"Ah, there you are. The men will be in soon. Wanting their dinner. Could you come and help dish up please? They'll be hungry." Turning on her heel she departed briskly without waiting for an answer.

India swallowed back the reply that she too had worked all morning, she wanted her dinner! Dutifully she went in and helped pile platefuls of mashed potato, beef casserole and vegetables which would fill the men up until 3.30pm, whereby they would appear and consume vast quantities of cakes, sandwiches and steaming mugs of tea.

During lunch (dinner as it was called in the country) Matt asked India what she had done that morning. Proudly, she told him she had been up to the 500 acre and found some sheep and lambs caught in a tree break. After rescuing them she had gone further and fixed a hole in the fence where the neighbor's sheep were obviously getting through. Conversation turned to lice and the avoidance and treatment thereof. Fay showed her disapproval by pursing her lips and banging plates around.

"There's things to be done inside this afternoon," she finally commented dourly. Sorting cupboards and so forth. And we have to start cleaning the patio if you want to have your wedding there at Easter!"

The men were silent. India had to think before she spoke carefully.

"Well, I just have to finish sweeping the wool"

"Or maybe there'll just be no wedding!" Tears forced themselves to Fay's eyes and she stood up and rushed from the room.

The men shifted uneasily in their seats. Matt looked at India. His Dad cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Not good when women get upset. Come'n lass, lets see if we can work things out."

Fay's soft sobs could be heard coming down the passage. Outside the chooks clucked distantly and a lamb bleated nearby. India raised her chin, dark eyes glistening with her own unshed tears.

"I will help in the house. But I also have to be able to do outside stuff as well or I'll go mad. I can't help it."

Matt covered her hand with his own thickened one.

"Of course, darling. We've been through this before. Dad, you'll have to talk to mum. Explain again that India's life will be split between her farming interests and her duties inside. She is not the same as mum, she.well, she dances to a different beat, that's all."

Matt flushed. Not given to flowery images, his phrasing was a bit surprising. It seemed to strike a chord with his Dad however, who brightened.

"Aye, that's it lad. That's it. Dances to a different beat. I like that."

He lumbered to his feet and went off chuckling to talk to Fay. A low murmuring could be heard and the sobs eased to intermittent snuffling.

India looked adoringly at her future husband.

"Oh Matt. Thank you. You're such a, such a babe!"

The smacking of her kiss drowned out any further noises from up the passage.