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FIVE
"It's time to pay what you owe," Stan said, knowing his cousins had his back.
"But I still haven't got all of my land grant from the Governor, and my family is arriving soon. After they've settled in and the Governor gives me what he owes," whined Peel. Not Sir Thomas Peel, just plain old Mr Thomas Peel, who had long since lost any of the respect that would have earned him even an ordinary title like Mr.
"Five years we've worked for you, Peel, and now we want what we're owed. Five years of pay, and forty acres each. As promised, in the contracts we signed back in England. Everyone else left, while the four of us stood by you. Englishmen and their families went crying to the Governor to be let out of their contracts, but we're Scotsmen, and Scots always keep their word. We've done everything you asked, and these are our terms. If we can't have the acres you promised back in England, we shall have these instead." Stan held out the hand drawn map Wystan had copied from Peel's own plans. The plans the Governor had sent him, along with the grant of these lands. It might not be the entire estate Peel had been promised, but it was more than ten times the size of the paltry hundred and sixty acres Stan was asking for. "Now write a letter to the Governor, telling him you're giving us these lands under the term of our contract, for if we have to pay a visit to the Governor without that letter, we will be forced to tell him you are in breach of contract, and I've heard the prison at Van Diemen's Land is a harsh place for any man, let alone one who is accustomed to having servants. Then what will your family do when they arrive? For the Governor will surely take your lands as forfeit..."
"Enough!" Peel cried. Indeed, there appeared to be an actual tear in the corner of his eye. "You shall have your letter, and your lands. Though others might not be so honest, I, too, am a man of my word."
Less than an hour later, all four Steels piled into a boat to sail up the coast to Fremantle, where they'd take the river to Perth and the Governor's office. There, they would trade Peel's letter and the map for the titles to their own freehold land. Land they would return to, once they'd bought some supplies, enough to see them through until harvest in the summer. Maybe next year, or the year after, they'd build another cottage or three, instead of cramming into the one tiny stone cottage that had been their quarters for five years. Now, it would be home.
"And you are?" the Governor's secretary asked.
"Mr Steel," Stan said, pulling Peel's letter from his coat. "I'm here about..."
"The plans for the new mill, of course," the secretary said smoothly, rising to offer his hand to Stan. "The Governor would be delighted to lay the foundation stone."
"Uh, no, not the mill. We're here about a land grant down near the Murray River."
The secretary didn't seem to understand. "But...the mill. The Governor said you would be in today and to make sure I told you he is in favour of the new mill, just in time for the next harvest."
Stan shook his head. "I think you must have me mixed up with someone else. I'm not building a mill."
The secretary flipped feverishly through the papers on his desk. "But you are Mr William Steel, are you not?"
Stan's heart froze. William Steel was here, and not in the Americas?
He forced himself to smile. "Oh, no, William Steel is my cousin. I'm Stanley Steel." More like a second cousin, but so were Wystan, Harlow and Grant, and they were family.
"Which would make the lovely Miss Carline Steel your cousin, too, more's the pity. Quite a ravishing piece of goods, that one. I bet your cousin gets a dozen offers a day for her hand, and likely more." The secretary winked. "I bet he's holding out for an offer from one of the big landholders out at York, so he can sell her for the right price."
Carline was here, too? And likely to be sold to the highest bidder as a bride? God, did William have no shame? So much for Stan having to prove himself worthy of her. William Steel wasn't worthy to be her brother if he meant to sell her to some rich old man.
No. He could not let this happen. Not to Carline.
Stan forced out another smile. "A pity there aren't enough pretty women in the colony to be brides for us all. But time and tide wait for no man, so if you'd be so kind...we've reached an agreement with Mr Thomas Peel about some farming land along the Murray River, and we'd like to see the titles granted in our names, if you please..."
"Of course, of course."
In fairly short order, Stanley, Grant, Wystan and Harlow became landowners. They thanked the secretary and hurried out of the office.
"What's the rush?" Harlow asked.
"Didn't you hear the man? William Steel will be here shortly, and Carline is here in the colony with him, to be married off to whichever wealthy landowner he deems most worthy." Stanley waved the sheaf of papers at his cousin. "I mean to ambush him, and make sure the worthy man who wins her is me."
"Isn't he the man who struck you with his riding crop, and threatened to flog you for looking at her?" Wystan asked.
All three men stared at him in surprise.
Wystan shrugged. "What? I've lost my wife, not my wits. Unlike you, Stan, if you think the man who threatened your life for looking at his sister will let you marry her."
Perhaps Wystan was right. But he would never forgive himself if he didn't try. Five years of hard work to win this estate had to be worth something. He only hoped it would be enough to win Carline's hand.
