In the Land of the Long White Cloud

you have in mind? Where do you want to go? Do you want to steal sheep again? They’ll hang you if they catch you this time! And they’ll put me in prison.”
    “It took them more than ten years to catch me,” he said in his defense.
    Gwyneira sighed. “Because you found that land and that pass. The ideal hiding place. They call it the McKenzie Highlands, by the way. It will probably still be called that when no one remembers who John Sideblossom or Gerald Warden ever were.”
    James grinned.
    “But you can’t seriously believe that we’ll find something like that again. You have to do your five years in prison, James. When you really are free, then we can figure something out. Besides, I couldn’t just up and leave here. The people here, the animals, the farm…James, it all depends on me. The whole farm. Gerald drinks more than he works, and when he does work, he just sees to the cattle a bit. But even that he’s entrusting more and more to Paul.”
    “And the boy isn’t particularly well liked,” James grumbled. “Fleurette told me a bit, as did the police officer in Lyttelton. I know just about all there is to know about the Canterbury Plains. My prison guard gets bored, and I’m the only one he gets to talk to all day.”
    Gwyneira smiled. She knew the officer in passing from social events and knew how much he liked to chat.
    “Paul is difficult, it’s true,” she admitted. “All the more reason people need me. At least right now. In five years everything will look different. By then Paul will almost be a legal adult and won’t listen to a word I have to say anymore. I don’t know that I want to live on a farm run by Paul. But maybe we could break off our own piece of land. After everything I’ve done for Kiward Station, I’m entitled to it.”
    “Not enough land to raise sheep,” James said morosely.
    Gwyneira shrugged. “But maybe enough to raise dogs or horses. Your Friday is famous, and my Cleo…well she’s still alive, though not for much longer. The farmers would fall over themselves for a dog you trained.”
    “But five years, Gwyn…”
    “Only four and a half!” Gwyneira curled up to him again. Five years seemed endless to her as well, but she could not picture any other solution. Under no circumstances would she flee into the highlands or live in a gold-mining camp.
    McKenzie sighed. “All right, fine, Gwyn. But you’ll have to leave it up to chance, then. Now that I’m free, I wouldn’t even think about going back to that cell of my own free will. If they don’t catch me, I’ll make my way to the goldfields. And believe me, Gwyn, I’ll find gold.”
    Gwyneira smiled. “Well, you found Fleurette. But don’t pull any tricks like you did with that Maori girl story in court ever again! I thought my heart was going to stop when you started talking about your great love.”
    James grinned at her. “What should I have done instead? Let them know I have a daughter? They won’t look for a Maori girl; they know very well they don’t stand a chance. Although Sideblossom suspects she has all the money.”
    Gwyneira frowned. “What money, James?”
    McKenzie grinned even wider. “Well, since the Wardens failed to come through in that respect, I permitted myself to give my daughter an ample dowry. All the money I made over the years with the sheep. Believe me, Gwyn, I was a rich man. I just hope Fleur will spend it wisely.”
    Gwyneira smiled. “That makes me feel better. I was afraid for her and Ruben. Ruben is a good fellow, but he has two left hands. Ruben as a gold prospector…that would be like you becoming a justice of the peace.”
    James gave her a punitive look. “Oh, I have a well-developed sense of justice, little miss! Why do you think they compared me to Robin Hood? I only stole from the moneybags, not the people who earned their living with their hands. Sure, my style is a little unconventional…”
    Gwyneira laughed. “Let’s just say you’re not a gentleman, nor am I a lady anymore, after everything I’ve done with you. But do you know what? I don’t care!”
    They kissed once more, and James pulled Gwyneira gently down into the hay, but then Helen interrupted them.
    “I hate to bother you two, but there were just people here from the police. I was terrified, but they were just asking around and didn’t seem interested in searching the farm. It’s just—the way it looks, it’s turning into a big commotion. The farmer barons have already heard