The old man hesitates. Joe fears suddenly that he doesn’t remember Hester and the letter will come to naught. ‘Heathwood, ah yes, an old name around these parts. The Heathwoods have always been with me. There were a few of them, still a few around.’
‘Yes, well she gimme this letter to give to you.’ Joe takes Hester’s letter from his coat pocket and hands it to the doctor.
The physician places the envelope down in front of him, then realises Joe is still standing. ‘Sit, Joe, please.’
Joe sits facing the doctor and watches as he fusses with his eyeglasses and then turns his attention to the opening of Hester’s letter. He uses a silver and enamel paper-knife and his hands shake something terrible, so that he makes several attempts to insert the knife into the corner of the envelope. Joe notices how very old the physician is. He is feeling old himself and his back hurts from the long ride into town. Not too long for this world, that one, he thinks to himself, immediately feeling a little better.
After a while Nathaniel Merrick looks up and Joe sees that he is amused. ‘Well, well, boys will be boys, Joe Bergman. I can’t say anything’s changed in the fifty years I’ve been in practice.’ He looks up at the ceiling as if he is trying to recall something. ‘Oh, yes,’ he says, chuckling to himself, and recites:
‘When apples are red
and nuts are brown
skirts come up
and trousers down’
The old doctor doesn’t look to see if Joe is amused, it’s enough that he has remembered the rhyme. ‘She’s a fine-looking young filly as I recall. Bit narrow in the hips, though — she’ll need a midwife when her time comes.’
He places Hester’s letter to one side and reaches for a writing tablet before smiling at Joe. ‘Happy to oblige, Joe Bergman. There’s no sense in making unnecessary trouble for your lass.’ He reaches for his pen, briefly rubs his thumb and forefinger across the surface of the steel nib and then further tests its point with his thumb. Then he dips it into the ink-pot and says, ‘Meg, was it?’
Joe swallows and nods. ‘Meg Charlotte Bergman, doctor.’
The old physician begins to write, then pauses. ‘I seem to recall the name “Jessie” when I attended her?’
Joe has been primed by Hester in case this should happen. ‘It’s what we calls her, you know, her nickname, like.’
The doctor sighs and then continues writing, the steel nib of his pen scratching Joe’s lie across the width of the snowy white paper.
Joe is elated, but doesn’t show it, careful to keep his face without expression. ‘Thank you, doctor. Most grateful for yer help.’
Merrick chuckles. ‘I’m too old to make judgements, Joe Bergman. But if I was younger with a more inquisitive mind I’d say your wife is up to something, eh? A very clever letter, worthy of her old aunt.’ He thinks for a moment. ‘Agnes Heathwood — a fine-looking but most mischievous and interfering woman, always up to something. Clever and complicated as a cat’s cradle.’
Joe leaves for home that same evening, crossing the river and continuing on for two hours before making camp for the night to allow his horse to rest. Shortly before dawn he sets out again, knowing that they’ll have to set off for Narrandera in a few days to catch the train for Sydney.
They will have to leave Jessica behind to care for the selection and take their chances that no one will see her.
Joe wonders to himself how wise it is to tell her about Meg’s pregnancy to Jack Thomas, but he can think of no other explanation for their going to Sydney. He’s not silly enough to think his youngest daughter has gone ratty in the head. He wonders if he should stay behind and allow Hester and Meg to confront Jack with Dr Merrick’s letter.
Joe sighs heavily. Hester will know what to do, and anyway he is too tired these days to think for himself. Lately he’s been getting pains in the chest and down his left arm. He finds himself panting after the least exertion. ‘I’m losing me wits,’ he mutters to himself. ‘A man’s goin’ out backwards.’
Hester and Meg are excited when, on Joe’s return, they hear the news. ‘There’s no time to be lost, we must leave for Sydney in the morning,’ Hester declares.
‘Who’s gunna tell Jessie?’ Joe asks.
‘You should, Joe,’ Hester answers.
Joe looks down, examining his fingernails. ‘Nah, I don’t think so,’ he says softly, though he knows it is weak. ‘It’s women’s business.’
Hester gives a long-suffering sigh, though she is secretly pleased. More and more she is taking charge. ‘As usual I have to do the dirty work,’ she says mournfully to cover her satisfaction.
At tea that night, Hester breaks her silence to Jessica. ‘Jessica, we have some news,’ she announces.
Jessica jumps at the sound of her mother’s voice directed at her. So surprised is she to hear her name that her eyes glisten with tears of relief. ‘Yes, Mama,’ she manages in no more than a whisper.
‘Your father, Meg and I are going to Sydney tomorrow.’
Jessica wipes away her tears. ‘Sydney? But that’s where Jack is!’