'They more or less said they'd make a report and that'd be it. Sendin' a patrol car out here won't do any good. The firebug'll just hide til the cops've gone. f.u.c.k'n h.e.l.l, he strikes at night, he's got the best cover... darkness!' Karl added, fury rising in his voice.

'Reckon we gonna have to take matters into our own hands!'

'Reckon you're right, Dad.' Karl answered, looking over Dave's head at Digger.

'So what' d'ya reckon we should do?' Rex asked, looking around at the rest of them.

Nat, who had been leaning against the saw bench, took a deep breath. 'Well, ya know they're right with one thing, it seems like the a.r.s.ehole's targeting you Masons. With the exception of Wally Hansen, the fires've all been on your properties.'

'Nat's right. So can you'se think of anyone whose got it in for ya's? Someone ya's mighta p.i.s.sed off about somethin'?' Rex asked.

'Dunno, can't think of anyone,' Dave replied. 'Don't recall upsettin' anyone. Can you blokes?' he asked Karl and Digger.

They both shook their heads in bewilderment.

'Well, what're we gonna do about catchin' the p.r.i.c.k? We can't sit on our a.r.s.es about this. h.e.l.l, what'll he burn down next?' Dave continued.

Sam rubbed his chin. 'Well, the fires've all been 'round the same time of night; the one at my place was around midnight, the old s.h.i.thouse here, and now the shed, all around the same time.' He glanced around the group. 'What if we wait up till say, one o'clock, do a walk around every hour and check things?'

'Yeah, sounds like a good idea to me. What'dya think, Dig?' Karl asked, turning to look at him.' About all we can do, I s'pose. We're bein' woke up by fires anyway, so stayin' up isn't gonna make us any less tired than if we went to bed an' had to get up again!' Dig answered.

'Well, let's give it a try and see what happens.' Sam looked around for agreement.

'One more thing,' Karl added. 'We're gonna have to make sure the women don't hang 'round outside at night. I know they often like to sit out in the cool night air, but til we've nipped this in the bud, I don't think they should.'

'I agree with ya, mate, we dunno who this bloke is. h.e.l.l, he could do anythin', it's just not safe for 'em. No goin' out alone either for Kath or Tam? We all agree?' Digger looked around at them and they all nodded in agreement. He could tell by the look on Karl's face that he knew what he was implying. They hadn't told Dave about the car that had followed Ellie. There was enough stress for him with the fires.

'Ok, then it's settled. Between us we'll catch this mongrel and he'll never light another fire. I'll choke the b.a.s.t.a.r.d!' Karl stated.

'Right mate, we'll make tracks then.' Nat stood from leaning against the saw bench. 'Only a coupla weeks to Christmas and we're way behind on the farm. Give us a yell if we can help in any way though.'

They shook hands. Rex adding, 'Hope you'se get the b.a.s.t.a.r.d!'

Emmie, Win and Ellie were busy in the kitchen helping Hazel with the food preparations for Christmas.

Emmie always made the plum pudding. She would wrap it in a calico pudding cloth and hang it from a hook on the veranda until Christmas Day. Allowing the flavours to mature, and allowing the good drop, as Emmie called it, of sherry to ferment.

'I'm just nipping out to take these drinks and sandwiches to the men,' Hazel said to them. 'They've been down there going through the ashes since daylight. I'll be back in a jiff.'

They watched as Hazel disappeared through the back door.

'She's a good woman,' Emmie said, watching the housekeeper head out the door.

They chatted while they prepared the pudding and cake.

'Someone has to solve this. Whoever it is must hate us,' Emmie said. 'I'm worried about Dave, he's not resting well at night as it is and now with this worry on top of things, I'm concerned what all this will do to him.' Emmie's voice shook with emotion.

'Well, I'm sure our blokes will come up with a plan and the police will surely do something too.' Ellie stirred the cake mixture vigorously. 'Goodness me, this is now the fourth fire, and by far the worst, so they'll have to do something!' She beat the cake mix even harder.

'Here, let me do that.' Win reached to take the bowl from Ellie. 'You're going to wear a hole in the bottom of the bowl the way you're going.'

Ellie stopped stirring, spoon held in mid- air, then grinned. 'Sorry, I got a bit carried away. I'm just so d.a.m.n angry!' She looked at her mother. 'Maybe we should get the doctor out to check Dad over, Mum?'

'Yes, it wouldn't hurt,' Win agreed.

'I did suggest that to him, but you know your father, stubborn to the core, he is. Still, I don't like his colour. I'll ring the doctor and have a chat to him, just to ease my mind.'

'Well, that's the cake ready. Open the oven please, Ellie.' Win stood, proudly holding the Christmas cake ready to go in the oven.

Hazel waddled back in. 'Dave told me to tell you all that they've hatched a plan and they'll catch the firebug in no time,' she told them.

'There you go, Mum, what did I just say?' Ellie put an arm around her mother and hugged her, dropping a kiss on her silvery head.

With the cake baking in the oven and the pudding hanging from its hook on the veranda, they now had some time to relax.

'Well, another good pudding done!' Hazel said, wiping her hands on her ap.r.o.n.

'Yes, and I'm sure there's a decent drop of sherry in it too,' laughed Win.

'And a jolly good drop in the cake too,' Ellie added. 'Smell that lovely aroma.'

The delicious aroma of the fruitcake baking in the oven was now wafting through the kitchen.

They all laughed. Emmie was well known for her good drops of sherry.

'Well, now it's our turn.' Emmie put four gla.s.ses on the table and plonked the sherry bottle down beside them. 'C'mon, girls, a jolly good drop for us too; Lord knows we need it!'

CHAPTER SEVEN.

Word about the fire at Kia-Ora rapidly spread through the valley, the headlines in the paper and the photo of this latest fire shocked them all. The locals started to worry if the firebug would target them next. With the exception of the first fire at the Hansen's, the fires had all been at one of the Mason's properties. There had now been four unexplained fires and questions were being asked as to who the firebug could be. The topic of conversation in every household was all about the fires.

The men kept a close watch on their properties. Every night they were out doing the rounds of all the sheds and surrounding paddocks, but not once did they find anything or even catch a glimpse of anyone. It was hard going, up until after midnight every night, then grabbing a few hours' sleep before up again at dawn and tackling the long days in the orchard.

They met with other locals over a beer at Sars, the local pub, and discussed the fires and tossed around names, but again, they always came to the same conclusion... it was a b.l.o.o.d.y frustrating mystery.

All they could do was wait and watch!

It was now a week since the fire at Kia-Ora and the Christmas dance was due to be held on the coming Sat.u.r.day night. After that, it would be one more week until Christmas.

Kathy and Tammi were really looking forward to the annual event. Emmie had worked tirelessly at the sewing machine.

'Grandma, I love this dress you've made for me.' Tammie twirled around in front of the mirror, admiring the soft lemon shade that enhanced her golden tan. 'What about you, Kath? That red is gorgeous on you!'

Kathy was turning this way and that, inspecting herself carefully in the mirror. The deep red of her dress contrasted beautifully with her glossy dark hair. She turned and gave Emmie a kiss.

'Grandma, I'm so happy. Thank you, thank you... thank you!'

Emmie smiled affectionately at her. 'Well, I know there's a couple of young chaps from around here who have eyes for my beautiful granddaughters. I want you both to look lovely.'

Kathy and Tammi were thrilled to bits. Emmie had spent a lot of time making the dresses for the girls and their cousin Eileen, and it pleased her no end that they were so happy with them.

They changed into their jeans and T-shirts, and hung their dresses up ready for the coming dance. Kathy looked at hers and thoughts of Eddie came into her mind. She wondered what it would be like to be whirling around the dance floor in his arms. Her thoughts drifted to the afternoon she had spent with him and she wondered if he would try to contact her. He did say he would like to see her again, but she wondered how they could do that when her family was so against him. Maybe he thought the same because she hadn't seen him since.

With a slight start, she realised Emmie had been speaking to her.

'Katherine dear, you're a million miles away,' Emmie smiled. 'I was just offering you girls some advice.'

'I'm sorry, Grandma, I was daydreaming,' Kathy said sheepishly, forcing thoughts of Eddie to the back of her mind. 'What's the advice?'

'I just wanted to say that it is best to stay away from that Dot McLaron. I heard you girls talking about her the other day and it didn't sound good at all.' Emmie patted Kathy's hand. 'She's a bit of a flibberty gibbet and likes to make mischief. So do your best to ignore her nonsense and just enjoy the dance.' She gave them both a kiss on their cheeks and left them to themselves.

'She's such a dear old thing, I love her so much,' Kathy said, watching her grandmother.

'Me too,' Tammi replied. 'By the way, what were you daydreaming about just now?'

Kathy looked at Tammi and shrugged her shoulders. 'Nothing... nothing important...'

'C'mon who is it?'

'Tam, it was nothing, just daydreaming about the dance, really.' She could hardly tell Tammi it was about Eddie Chancellor; she would never understand.

Tammi looked at her sister for a moment and let the subject drop.

'She's got a secret and I'm gonna find out what it is!' she thought. If there was something to find out, then Tammi would do just that!

'C'mon, come sit outside for a bit, talk about the dance some more and Christmas.'

Kathy agreed and they went out to the shady veranda. Centaur Road was visible from where they were sitting.

Eddie Chancellor was on his way home. He slowed as he drew near Kia-Ora and glanced in, hoping to catch a glimpse of Kathy.

Kathy tried not to show any reaction. She knew Tammi would pick up on it so she let her eyes follow him as he went pa.s.sed. Her heart was going much faster than it should.

'Dot was in that heap with him the other day,' Tammi commented.' I saw them when I was down at Flynn's Store.

Flynn's was the local shop in Lavington. The little store sold everything from grocery items to fish and chips.

'Yes, I heard they hang out a lot,' Kathy answered, trying to keep her voice normal.

'She'd go after anything in pants! You know, she'd be quite attractive if she sc.r.a.ped off some of that makeup she cakes on her face.' Tammi screwed up her nose, giggling.

'Mmm, I wonder if Eddie will be at the dance,' Kathy replied, secretly hoping he would be. Not that she'd get the opportunity to speak to him, let alone dance with him, but Eddie would at least see her in her gorgeous red dress.

'h.e.l.l! I hope not. There's sure to be a fight if he's there,' exclaimed Tammi.

'You know, Tam, it's not always his fault. Other blokes pick fights you know, not just Eddie... Also, you can't deny he is a s.p.u.n.k,' Kathy added a tad sheepishly.

Tam looked thoughtfully at her sister. 'Well, I've never given that a thought,' she said, tilting her head to the side and looking at Kathy through narrowed eyes.

Finally, Sat.u.r.day night arrived: the night for the much antic.i.p.ated Christmas dance. So far, there hadn't been another fire. The men had discussed how they would handle the nightly watch on their properties and several of the locals who had decided not to go offered to do it for them.

Everyone wanted the dance to go ahead. The threat of the firebug hung over their heads, but cancelling the dance would not prevent a fire. They were determined to not let the crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d spoil it for them.

Eileen was in her room. She had just finished getting dressed for the dance.

'I think I'll pa.s.s in this little number!' She was talking aloud, not realizing her mother was standing in the doorway watching her.

'Eileen, you look absolutely beautiful!' Dawn admired her. 'That dress grandma made is lovely on you; that shade of green is perfect with your colour.'

Eileen did look beautiful, tall and slim with her blonde hair curling softly to her shoulders. She turned to look at her mother.

'You really think so, Mum?' Being the tomboy she was, Eileen was more comfortable in jeans and shirts. 'Is my makeup ok?'

'You look really gorgeous. Now come along, we don't want to be late and I want to make sure all the decorations are right before the hall fills up.'

Jeff and Dawn did the decorations in the hall every year. They always put a lot of effort into it and did a remarkable job.

'I'm a bit worried about old Harry, Mum. He refuses to leave his place up there and with this firebug running 'round the place...'

Dawn cut Eileen off mid-sentence. 'Don't worry, dear, Mr Johnson will be keeping an eye on things here for us and I'm sure he will look in on Harry too. Now come on, we really must go. Jeff is already in the car waiting for us.'

Down the road in the Mason household, everyone was dressed and ready for the big night.

Laura had come over and got ready with the girls. Her grandparents weren't going to the dance this year. Wally had offered to keep the watch at Kia-Ora. Ted and Hazel were staying home and the blokes didn't want Ted to be alone. He wasn't a young man and Wally kindly offered to help.

'Well, I must say you girls look pretty as a picture,' Karl told them as they entered the lounge room.

'They certainly do,' agreed Digger. 'And Win! Look at you, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!' She was wearing a lovely powder blue organza dress that brushed her calves when she moved. She looked lovely.

Digger made a sweeping bow, grabbed Win around the waist and spun her around the lounge room. Giggling, she laughed into his face. 'Fred Astaire, eat your heart out!' She kissed him lovingly on the cheek.

Karl scrubbed up well himself; he looked very dapper in his navy blue pinstripe suit and white shirt.

Next to join the festive group was Emmie, Ellie and Francis. Emmie looked elegant in a navy blue and white floral dress. She wore a string of pearls around her throat, with matching earrings and a brooch pinned on her shoulder.