Belinda Murrell: Bringing Australian History To Life | Page 23

EXTRACT knife behind his back. He had carved some letters on the mantelpiece. ‘I’m carving my name,’ he confessed, shamefaced. ‘Just in case we never come back. I wanted to leave my name as a record that we belong here and Oldbury belongs to us.’ Charlotte nodded, a lump in her throat. ‘Then you had better finish it,’ she suggested. ‘I’ll wait for you.’ When Charlotte, James and Louisa came downstairs, the men were loading Maugie’s basket on top of a bullock, opposite Mamma’s portable writing desk and a large hamper of earthenware crockery. Maugie roared with indignation. It was this roar that finally roused Mr Barton. He began banging on the locked door, yelling and swearing at the top of his voice. ‘We must make haste,’ Mamma urged the men. A loud crash came from upstairs. The children glanced back towards the house in fear. ‘Hurry up,’ whispered Charlotte, jiggling up and down. At last, the final parcel was strapped onto the rear bullock’s packsaddle. Bill the bullocky swung his long-handled whip over his head, cracking it sharply over the bullocks’ backs. ‘Walk on, boys,’ called Bill. The three bullocks started forward slowly in unison, directed by Bill’s verbal instructions and whip cracks. ‘We will be right behind you, Bill,’ said Mamma. ‘Right you are, ma’am,’ he replied, lifting his cabbage tree hat. As the bullocks moved out of the yard, the two men walking along their left side, Mamma hurried the children and Bridget towards the horses. Another loud crash came from the house. This one sounded closer. Louisa had just been lifted onto her grey pony and James mounted on his gelding when Mr Barton staggered onto the verandah, carrying a pistol. ‘I outwitted you, woman,’ jeered Mr Barton. ‘I smashed the door off its hinges.’ Mr Ash started forward but Mamma gestured to him to stay back. She grasped Samson by the collar, holding him by her side. ‘Mount your horses, girls,’ whispered Mamma, holding Ophelia and Clarie by the reins with her other hand. Charlotte and Emily scrambled up into their sidesaddles as quickly as they could, their eyes trained on their step-father and his gun. Mr Ash helped Bridget into her saddle with more difficulty, as she was not used to riding on horseback. ‘What d’you think you’re doing?’ bellowed Mr Barton, waving the pistol in the air. ‘We are leaving, George,’ explained Mamma gently. ‘You have succeeded in driving us from our home.’ Fleeing down a treacherous mountain path, can the Atkinsons safely reach the isolated stockman’s hut? And how will they survive the harsh winter? The River Charm is a thrilling adventure based on a true story of an inspirational Australian pioneer family. The River Charm is published by Random House Australia and is copyright © Belinda Murrell 2013. RRP $17.99 randomhouse.com.au/teachers 23