Taking the crying Carolyn from him she started to walk towards the cafe. She lifted her daughter over her shoulder and patted her back. Almost at once the baby stopped crying.
Benjamin’s hand was quickly on the belt of her slacks again, slowing her, firmly guiding her back towards the vehicle. ‘No, no, woman. Not thataway!’ he growled.
No-one else was in sight and they were too distant from the roadhouse for Katherine to shout for help. No-one would hear her and again she was concerned for Carolyn.
Once she was back inside the cabin he closed the door and said, ‘Jist sit tight now. I’m gunna fuel up. If ya behave there’ll be no probs. Otherwise big trouble.’
He drove up to the diesel pump, a separate unit some distance from the other bowsers and the cafe. Benjamin waited until a large semi-trailer left so the Land Rover and trailer had the place to itself. Before getting out of the four-wheel drive he took out a small length of rope and tied Katherine’s wrists firmly around the metal ratchet for opening the front wind flaps. He put Carolyn down on the driver’s seat, head towards Katherine. Mother and child looked at each other. Katherine longed to pick her up and hold her close but was able only to lean as close as possible towards her and talk comfortingly. Carolyn just gurgled happily as if nothing was wrong.
It took only a short time for the utility and the drum on the tray to be filled. Benjamin drove away
from the pumps and parked some distance from the store and cafe. As he got out of the vehicle he gave Katherine a meaningful look but, without saying a word, took Carolyn in his arms and walked across to pay for the fuel. He returned with soft drinks, a large bag of nappy liners and a large carton of powdered milk that he put on the floor next to Katherine’s feet. He did not undo the rope holding her wrists against the metal.
Before starting the vehicle he stroked his hand down the back of her head. It was a gentle touch and the first physical contact.
Katherine shrunk away. ‘Don’t you dare touch me!’ she said through clenched teeth. ‘You bastard,’ she added defiantly. The hope that her message in the toilets would soon free her from this ongoing nightmare gave her courage.
He looked at her, his mouth twisting into a mixture of a snarl and a self-satisfied smile. After a meaningful pause and without breaking eye contact, he quietly said, ‘Touch ya? Dare ta touch ya. Like ya is, woman, I could touch ya where I wanted. But God told me ya’ll come to me. So I won’t an’ I ain’t in a hurry. Woman, ya’ll be begging me ta touch ya before the year’s out. Didden’ ya unnerstan’ me? Youse me wife now and I’m gunna keep ya, an’ bubs like if she’s me own child.’
Katherine shrank as far towards the passenger door that her bound wrists allowed.
Benjamin continued, ‘An’ this is me last warning: don’ ya call me names or else ya’ll get the back of me hand. So shuddup an’ behave.’
Katherine braced herself in case he struck her but he gently put Carolyn on her lap and untied one of the ropes holding her wrists. It was clear that she was to hold Carolyn with her free hand; she could not relax it in case her baby rolled on to the floor.
The dust streamed out behind them as they once more headed west along the Eyre Highway, avoiding the numerous potholes filled with fine dust and the trucks travelling in the opposite direction. Apart from the clatter of the occasional stone thrown up against the bodywork and the drone of the engine they travelled in silence. Carolyn slept comfortably in the crook of Katherine’s arm, blissfully unaware of the turmoil in her mother’s mind.
The country was no longer as flat as in South Australia and after a distance they came to a steep pass. From the top there were fine views of the ocean. Rows of creamy white sand dunes stretched along the coast into a misty distance. Katherine realised that, in spite of her trauma and fear, she was actually admiring the landscape and her mind seemed to be working on two planes. On the one hand she was desperately seeking a way to escape and protect both herself and her baby. On the other, she was partially accepting her predicament. She realised she was looking at the sort of scenery that Alec would have appreciated.
She turned to Benjamin. ‘My husband will be out of his mind with worry. I beg you, please stop and take me back.’
Benjamin stared ahead and drove on in silence as if he was deaf.
‘I’m begging you, for the sake of my baby! I’m married. I can’t be your wife.’ Her tears and begging left him unmoved. ‘What do you want of me? You can’t do this. It is unkind to me and I don’t think you are an unkind person. Please, let me go.’
Benjamin continued to drive without reply.
At the bottom of the pass Katherine saw a sign pointing south, advising tourists to visit an old telegraph station. She looked left but saw only the track leading through the stunted bushes as they drove steadily westwards. Katherine abandoned her attempts at persuasion. They continued following the setting sun until twilight faded to night and the narrow-set headlights made the bumps in the road look like small hills.
Fear, weariness and misery finally overcame Katherine.
Under the hypnotic drone of the engine she unwillingly started to doze, her chin on her chest.
* * *
Startled by the change in engine noise and gear shifts she sat up suddenly. Her right arm ached from holding the baby. She had no idea what time it was since she had no watch. Carolyn was restless It must be time for a feed.
They were turning right across some bumpy tracks, away from the wide main road and into a narrow track. It was very similar to the dog fence track on which she and Alec had been travelling when they broke down. Hardly visible from the main road and with no signposts indicating its presence, it was clear that it was a little-used route with which Benjamin was very familiar.
‘Where are we?’ Katherine asked.
For the first time since leaving the border Benjamin spoke. ‘Jist past Heartbreak Ridge.’
Katherine had no idea where that was, but she remained silent.
Benjamin continued, ‘Quarantine in Norseman. Not allowed ta bring bee products inta WA, so from ‘ere we gunna take a shortcut to me place, over the railway an’ home. We’ll make camp in an hour. It’s late so gunna be a short sleep. Same’s last night.’
‘My wrist hurts.’