In the Land of the Long White Cloud

shearers, who viewed themselves as the most valuable of the farmworkers. The big farms outdid each other with prizes for the best shearing groups, offered first-class catering,and threw parties for completing the work. The piecework shearers did nothing but swing the knife: the farms’ shepherds undertook the herding there and back, including gathering the animals to be sheared in the first place. Only Howard O’Keefe could not keep up. He had little help, which consisted entirely of young, inexperienced Maori from Helen’s school; as a result, the sheep shearers had to help gather the sheep and then assign them to paddocks after the shearing to make room in the shearing sheds. Howard, however, paid only for the shearing itself and not for the rest of the work. He had also lowered their wages the year before since the quality of the fleece was not sufficiently high and he partially blamed this on the shearers. Today he was paying for that.
    “You’ll have to see if you can find help in Haldon,” George said, shrugging. “The workers would be cheaper in Lyttelton, but half of them come from big cities and have never seen a sheep in their lives. By the time you’ve taught enough people what to do, summer will be over. And you’d better hurry. The Wardens will also be asking around in Haldon. But they at least have their usual number of farmworkers and all of them know how to shear. Sure they’ll need three or four times longer to finish with the shearing, but Mrs. Warden will manage.” Helen had suggested going herself to ask for helpers among the Maori. That was the best solution since many experienced shepherds were available because of Tonga’s tribe’s strike against the Wardens. Howard grumbled because he had not had the idea himself, but he did not say anything when Helen set off for the village. He was going to ride to Haldon—but he needed money first.
    He rummaged through the third kitchen cabinet, breaking two cups and a plate in the process. Frustrated, he threw all the dishes in the last wall cupboard straight to the ground. Just chipped teacups anyway…but ho! Wait, there was something here. Howard eagerly removed the loose board on the rear wall of the cupboard. Well, all right, three dollars. Now content, he stuck the money in his pocket. But what else was Helen hiding here? Did she have any secrets?
    Howard cast a glance at Ruben’s drawing and the lock of hair; then he shoved them aside. Sentimental rubbish! But there—letters.Howard reached deep into the hiding place and pulled out a packet of neatly bound letters.
    He needed some light so that he could make out the script…damn it, it was so dark in this hut!
    Howard carried the letters over to the table and held them under the paraffin lamp. Now, finally, he recognized the sender:
    Ruben O’Keefe, O’Kay Warehouse, Main Street, Queenstown, Otago
    He had him! And her! He had been right all along—Helen had been in contact with that ill-bred son of his all along. She had been deceiving him for five years. Well, she’d get what she deserved when she returned home!
    Curiosity overcame Howard. What was Ruben doing in Queenstown? Howard hoped he was in rags—and didn’t doubt that he was. Very few prospectors became wealthy, and Ruben certainly wasn’t very capable. He eagerly ripped open the most recent letter.
    Dear Mother
,
    It is my great joy to inform you of the birth of your first granddaughter. Little Elaine Florence first opened her eyes to the world on the twelfth of October. It was an easy birth, and Fleurette is doing well. The baby is so small and delicate that I can hardly believe that such a tiny thing can be not only alive but healthy. The midwife assures us that everything is completely fine, and if the volume Elaine achieves when screaming is any indication, I think it safe to assume she’ll be taking after my beloved wife in strength of personality as much as delicacy of features. Little Stephen is completely enchanted by his sister and never tires of rocking her in her cradle. Fleurette is afraid he’s going to rock the cradle all the way over, but Elaine seems to like the motion and only sings more happily the more wildly he rocks her
.
    There is only good news to report on the business. O’Kay Warehouse is flourishing, including and especially the women’s clothing department. Fleurette was right to push for it back then. Queenstown keeps growing as a town, and the female population is steadily