Marion Lennox - A Child In Need

‘See that mountain up there?’ He’d had more than he needed of this emotional heart-pull. What a way to start a new life! ‘Harry, look at the mountain,’ he told him. He raised his voice. ‘Now!’

He could still get through to him. Harry stopped sobbing for long enough to stare up to where Mount Borrowah towered over the town.

‘That’s where I live,’ Nick said flatly-definitely. ‘I’m sorry, mate, but visiting me’s impossible.’ He softened then, just a little. ‘But it was great to meet you. You be good for Wendy, now.’

And he turned away before he could see the child’s face crumple into despair.

Then followed the police debriefing. Hours of it, with question after question. What had happened? What threats had been made? Nick and Shanni were interviewed together and separately, and by the time they were finished Nick conceded that the local police force knew their stuff. They’d get a solid conviction.

It was a major crime, he thought ruefully. Damn. There’d now been one major crime in Bay Beach but he couldn’t be involved as magistrate because he was a witness. The committal proceedings would be heard somewhere else.

Which left him still with fishing licences and farm disputes to look forward to. Terrific!

Finally, with interviews complete and after knocking back offers of counselling and psychological help, he emerged to find the police inspector waiting to greet him in his new capacity as magistrate.

‘Mr Daniels.’ His hand was gripped in a massive paw. ‘Welcome to Bay Beach. I’m sorry your arrival turned into such a mess. This place isn’t always so exciting.’

Great. He made himself say something polite and noncommittal while behind him, Shanni emerged from her own interview room. There were a dozen or so people waiting. They’d been silent as Nick had talked to the inspector but now they surged forward, engulfing Shanni in a sea of hugs and laughter and relief. When they finally released her, Nick was introduced to what must have been almost the entire population of the town.

Shanni looked exhausted. Since Nick’s mention of the mountain to Harry, she’d been decidedly cool, but she was still in control enough to stay polite.

‘Nick, these are my parents. This is my brother, Rob-he’s a senior constable here. Mary’s my sister and she’s your clerk of courts. Here’s Sam, Hatty, Will and Louise-they’re all my younger brothers and sisters. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Merle…Uncle Simon-he’s the one with the car yard. Uncle Simon, I want you to write a letter for me. Everybody, this is Nick Daniels, the town’s new magistrate. He lives up on Borrowah Mountain. I don’t think!’

They didn’t understand that, but Nick was surged on, regardless, and his hand was wrung until it felt as if it would drop off.

‘We’re so grateful you were here to take care of our Shanni,’ Shanni’s grandmother quavered and, to Nick’s astonishment, Shanni’s brothers and sisters hooted with laughter. He must have looked stunned, because Guy McDonald, Shanni’s father, noticed.

‘Don’t look like that, Nick.’ The elderly farmer clapped Nick on the shoulder. ‘I’m sure you did well, boy, but we know Shanni isn’t a shrinking violet. All last night, when the rest of the town were worrying themselves sick about their kindergarten teacher, Shanni’s mother and I were wondering whether the kid would get out of there alive.’

‘I was never going to shoot him,’ Shanni said, affronted.

‘No, dear, but you could have talked him into shooting himself,’ her mother said comfortably. ‘And when Rob rang and asked what Louise took for night-time hay fever…’

‘You mean…you don’t get hay fever?’ Nick demanded, staggered.

‘Louise does,’ Shanni said blithely. ‘Didn’t I sneeze well? When Louise has hay fever she blows us away, and the medicine she takes at night knocks her out so hard she snores the roof off.’

‘I do not!’ Louise glared.

‘Do, too.’ There was general laughter, and then the police station door burst open. A large young man came striding in, looking deeply anxious. He seemed every inch a farmer-open, weathered face with eyes creased by the sun, moleskins, flannelette shirt, wide-brimmed hat… It only needed a straw sticking out of the side of his mouth to complete the picture.

The man was in no mood for interruptions-or introductions. He was looking for his woman.

‘Shanni!’ He walked straight to Shanni, gathered her into his arms and he held her as if there was no tomorrow. And she submitted to his embrace as if she belonged there.

Which made Nick feel…weird? But there was nothing he could do but watch and listen.

‘Shanni, love,’ the stranger was saying, ‘I took cattle over to the sales at Warrbook and I’ve only just got back to hear this. Hell! Love, are you okay? I’ll kill the…’

‘Hush.’ She was being raised right off her feet as she was hugged. As she smiled down into the stranger’s eyes, Nick was aware of a sharp stab of something that might have been jealousy.

No. Ridiculous thought. There was nothing to be jealous of here, for heaven’s sake.

‘I’m fine,’ Shanni was saying, struggling to find her feet. She motioned to Nick. ‘Nick, this is John Blainey. John, Nick’s our new magistrate. He was taken hostage, too.’

‘And you looked after my girl.’ Nick’s hand was seized and wrung again until his wrist felt broken. ‘You got her out of there. I owe you…’

‘I think you’ll find Shanni got herself out of there,’ Nick said wryly. ‘I just babysat.’

The man stared-and then he grinned. ‘You can still joke. That’s fantastic.’ He turned and held Shanni tight again. ‘That does it, sweetheart. We’ll get married. I know I don’t have the house built yet, but if you think I’m going to let you run yourself into danger again…’

‘By teaching kindergarten?’

‘By doing anything without me,’ John said stolidly. ‘I know how to protect my own, and I’ll protect you.’

He needed to get out of here, Nick decided. As, obviously, did the rest of Shanni’s family. They were all watching the happy couple with expressions ranging from resigned to nauseous.

‘I’m off to collect my car,’ Nick said, and Rob stepped forward with an expression that said he’d be glad to help-in fact he’d be glad to get out of there as fast as Nick wanted.

‘I’ll give you a lift.’

But Shanni was breaking away, turning within John’s hold.

‘Nick, thank you.’

‘For running you into danger? For scaring Len into the kindergarten?’

‘Oh, I’ve forgiven you for that,’ she said blithely, and grinned at his pained expression. ‘I know it wasn’t your fault. I said it because I like to see lawyers wriggle, so I’m not even going to sue. But thank you anyway.’

‘It’s me who should be thanking you.’

‘Yep,’ she said happily and grinned. ‘And Louise. It was her tablets did the trick. But for Harry…’

‘I didn’t do anything.’

‘You did,’ she said urgently. ‘He hugged you. And you still can do something. You still can help. I know you said that stupid thing about the mountain but you were stressed. If we can keep that connection up…’

‘I’m not prepared to do that,’ he said flatly, and she stared.

‘Why ever not?’

‘I told you. I don’t like kids.’

‘You don’t like Harry?’

‘Shanni, I have a new job here that’s going to take all my time,’ he said desperately, and she smiled.

‘Right. Magistrate at Bay Beach. Full-time job.’

‘Don’t badger the man, Shanni,’ her mother said mildly. ‘He’s only just walked into the town. Give him at least a few days before you start involving him in any of your save the world missions.’