To Reason Why

By Amy Lecouteur

To Reason Why is a complete fictitious story . It is based in Yorkshire and Australia. Archibald and Margaret Benson-Smythe inherited an Estate of over a thousand acres which had been in the family for over four hundred years. This they intended that their three sons. Benjamin, James and Charles should carry on after their deaths. Benjamin called Ben inherited as the eldest son but was a bully and a hypocrite and had no intention of having his two brothers to work with him, consequently they made their own way in life James emigrated to Australia with his new wife . Charles started a wool mill and as the two of them became more and more successful Ben became more and more jealous of them He schemes up a plan to have James murdered. But does his scheme back fire. Ben's long suffering wife Jane of twelve years and produced six children turns the tables on him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jan 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481780667

Amy Lecouteur

To Reason Why is Amy's fifth novel and is a completely fictitious novel where as her previous four The Brook Runs Free Book one and two (War Changes Everything) Bitter Triangles and To Marry for Love Money or Lust. Are true stories based around a hill in Shropshire called the Wrekin. She has also written and illustrated a children's book for her friend Brenda in memory of Brenda's late husband Sam who was a chimney sweep for many years, It is called The Tale of the Chimney Sweep.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

To a New Land

James Benson- Smythe had two brothers. Charles was two years younger and he was very much like James. They stood at least six foot tall and had very dark hair and they were very good looking handsome men. Their brother Ben was two years older and not so tall he had light brown hair and if he felt inferior to his younger brothers no one knew why but for some reason he did not get on with them he seemed to be so jealous of everything that they did and bitterly resented them.

James and Charles were great brotherly mates and enjoyed their love for the outdoors. Horse riding and competing in all sorts of sports they would accompany their father Archibald who taught them fishing in the river which ran through his Estate and shooting on the moors and around his land he was always hoping to catch a fox if it was too near the sheep and was waiting to steal a young lamb or two. A hare or pheasants and rabbits were taken back to the kitchen for cook to deal with. They only shot deer at certain times of the year and then only for a cull of the old or sick and any young stags not wanted in the herd they would be culled and they would then be sold to the butchers in York. Their father had great respect for the countryside and hoped his boys would follow in his foot steps. He owned two thousand and more acres. Some of which was tenant farmed some forestry and moor land. There were a few cottages let to others some of which worked on the Estate rent free.

Archibald’s and his wife Margaret’s home was called Windsdale Hall but it was always known as the Big House. Ten or more bedrooms they also had electricity and water closets. His staff respected him and he respected them and this was how he hoped his sons would follow in his foot steps. The hall had been in the Benson-Smythe family for generations over four hundred years and Archibald and his wife Margaret had continued to carry on as their predecessors had done before them caring for the paintings, the silver, china and all that had been handed down to them and on the whole they lived a rich and rewarding life. They employed a cook and other domestic staff

All this was here for his sons to inherit. Ben being the oldest of the three would be entitled to inherit as next of kin but their father hoped that all three of them would carry on as he and their ancestors had done before them. But he was a bit worried about Ben’s attitude towards him and his wife Margaret. He could see Ben being of a different nature to his brothers. Ben seemed to have no time for them or interested in farming the land. He rarely joined them for the game shoots such as the grouse shooting on August the twelfth every year or the pheasant shoots this had been a tradition of land owners for many years and it brought them together socially and was enjoyed by so many especially the tenant farmers on Archibald’s Estate. Ben knew that all this would be his on the death of his father and really fancied himself but some of his friends had a lot to be desired, Ben like to gamble playing poker into the early hours much to his mother’s indignation she was quite worried and confided with her husband but he did not seem as worried as she was. His attitude was that he considered that Ben would settle down and accept his responsibilities when he was no longer there.

God I hope so but she could never see her other two sons getting on and working along side with Ben.

James had over heard his older brother Ben saying to their mother Margaret.

"I am the heir to father’s estate and all his land and I intend to farm it and rule over it as I see fit and I can not see any room here for those brothers of mine.

But does not your father intend that all three of you should share and work the estate after his death you know that there is over two thousand acres and more and don’t you think that you will need James and Charles to help you cope with it all

To hell with what my father wants I will inherit as the eldest son and I will run the estate as I see fit and not as you or the family assumes that it will be run. There will be no place for those two brothers of mine they will have to go their own way and make a living for them selves. This is the year 1901 and with the coming of the steam engine I can see great potential for the future in farming.

I do not think that your father will approve Ben

My father will be dead and so therefore he have no say in the matter and neither will you

Tell me what have you got planned for me?

I have already decided that you will be moved into a cottage on the Estate

But Ben this is my home. I have been in this house since your Father and I got married so many years ago

It will not be when Father dies. It will be mine don’t worry Mother you will be alright no harm will come to you?

James now twenty two years old knew that his father’s health was deteriorating but as yet he was no where near deaths door. James had seen the change creeping over the older man he no longer rode his horse at the crack of dawn, he now made excuses, sending his sons to the wool, sheep and cattle sales. Ben did not go to these he left that to James and Charles. Being as he had taken little interest in the farming side of the Estate he felt that his two brothers could go and stand in the auction rooms and mix with other farmers which Ben considered was beneath him. He knew as the eldest son that he would inherit the Estate and as such he had no intention of getting his hands dirty by loading and unloading sheep and cattle. In fact he had very little interest in farming.

I am too old and tired; their father would laugh, you young ones have more grit than what I now have

James and his brother Ben who was two years older had never been close friends Ben was a bully not only with his younger brothers but with boys who had attended the same school. The farm workers on the estate despised the young master. He will be a bugger to work for if he ever takes the reins. He is not a bit like his brothers we will not mind working with them

James had taken notice and made up his own mind as to what to do and that was to get as far away from his brother as soon as he could. It had sounded crazy at the time. When James had heard of the possibilities of buying land in Australia, he went ahead and made inquiries.

A farm of five hundred acres was for sale just out side of Melbourne a place called Bendigo. The information stated that it had reasonable abode the price five hundred pounds. James went ahead and looked into it, he talked to his parents about his dreams and ideas, he had shared his dreams and desires with a girl called Charlotte while riding out on the moors and she had been as excited and enthusiastic as he was to go and face a new country despite her parent’s reservations.

Charlotte was the daughter of a Yorkshire banker she had been brought up in the city of York. She had a good education and had been brought up to be a lady. Charlotte had rebelled. She had no wish to sit and entertain or spend the afternoons working embroidery. Musical concerts in the evenings were not for her, She would sit as it was expected of her but was so bored and quietly resented having to conform to her mother’s wishes which was to be a lady. If she was lucky enough to find a rich husband because this is what would be expected of her, instead she loved to ride her horse her father had reluctantly bought for her but as doting fathers do he had given in and bought her a lovely steed. Charlotte loved to ride on the open Yorkshire moors, the wind in her hair forcing her horse to gallop on despite the risk of falling from the horse. She rode with local hunt and loved it especially if they had a kill. She refused to ride side saddle which her mother considered most unlady like. It was not the Victorian thing to do; was for women to show ones legs even if on a horse or not You are a lady of society her mother had complained.

Riding on the moors was how Charlotte had come to meet the rugged handsome man. As a young woman of eighteen just finished being educated she had fallen madly in love with this son of the land owner of Windsdale Hall and so had he with her. They had met when ever possible, to ride on the moors summer and winter alike.

You will catch your death Her mother had complained but Charlotte took no heed. The wind could blow its damnedest across the moors from the East. Charlotte would ride hoping to see her lover if only for a moment or two she would return home, her cheeks on her face glowing red from the icy blasts and she would feel so invigorated.

Her two older sisters and one brother had accepted their parent’s wishes, but not Charlotte her Sisters would probably marry into a family so that they could still lead a ladies life as they were accustomed to. Her brother had gone into business along side his father and would probably be quite a rich and a respected man.

Charlotte’s father had seen to the arrangements of the sale of the farm in Australia and James father gave him some money as part of his inheritance to help with cost and the stocking of it. Much to the anger of his brother Ben who complained what a stupid idea that James was thinking of doing and that it would be only a matter of months before they came back broke and he firmly stipulated that when they did come back James would not get a penny more from his father as the rest was for him and his other brother Charles. Charlotte’s father had also given them some money to help them make a start of their new life.

The young couple had gone ahead and had married. It had been quite a society wedding.

You will behave as a lady when you are mistress of your own home Her Mother had instructed her. You will be in charge of servants and you must dress the part as far as I can see you have not packed enough dresses or proper house shoes

I know mother I promise. I will do shopping in Melbourne when we arrive. I have been led to believe that there are some very good dress shops in Melbourne and I see no point in paying to ship things which I can buy when we arrive

Well promise me that you will, what you have packed so far will certainly not be enough

I will be fine James will take good care of me.

The newly weds had set sail from South Hampton in March of that year 1901. Thank goodness for Charlotte that she was not sea sick as she noticed that James was more concerned for the animals that were sailing with them and were some where loaded down below deck. They were taking some good samples of sheep and a few chickens as well as a couple of Welsh sheep dogs a bitch and a dog which James had insisted were a must. They were not alone most of the other passengers were also sailing to start a new life in Australia as the news papers had printed that it was to be a land of opportunity.

It is too primitive and wild out there Her mother complained but James and Charlotte had made up their minds. It would be a challenge and as James had argued

We can always come back to England

That is if you live to come back Her mother had grumbled. What about all those snakes, flies and spiders that we read about. Oh my dear what will you be taking on But they had gone ahead despite her inhibitions and her worry Charlotte promise that she would write back home and let the family know that they had arrived safely. While on board she had filled her diary with lots of detail so that she would have plenty to tell them in her first letter.

CHAPTER TWO

Oh So Hot

Charlotte sat wiping her face and wrists with a dainty lace trimmed embroidered handkerchief.

This dammed heat She moaned.

A blue bottle fly bussed around the room.

Tammy She shouted. Tammy come and kill this dammed fly or the meat will walk off the plates

Tammy did you hear me Charlotte shouted only louder this time.

Yes Mam I coming

Tammy was Charlotte’s house keeper dark skinned and overweight for her height. She came to Charlotte’s rescue with a large fly swatter and dealt a death blow to the bussing insect.

She passed the fly swatter to her mistress. Tammy spoke quite good English despite being from an original Aborigine back ground

Here keep this by your chair Mam; you might have need of it. As fast as you kill one another flies in to take its place She said sarcastically

The master will be in for a break Mam, shall I bring in the rest of the dishes? Meat was a precious commodity and was kept back because of the flies until they were ready to eat.

Of course bring them in but only when the master is ready. I am hungry and I am sure the master will be and he will not want to waste time for his meal to be served Impudent woman" Charlotte muttered as Tammy left the room. Oh why oh why had she agreed to come to Australia. She wondered if she would ever come to like anything about living here in this outback God forsaken country. Why did it have to be her James? The man she loved so intensely who was determined to tame this barren and wild land. But tame it he was determined to, he now had a thousand sheep on five hundred acres of land and had already started rearing cattle but only a few he would rear more as and when he could afford to. At the moment there was a good deal of money to be made from sheep farming they did not need such lush pasture as cattle.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard him enter the kitchen from the shearing shed. He commented to Tammy that the dinner did smell good" It was obvious that he was hungry. James was always considerate to any one who worked for them and he considered that a little praise did not cost money and he was always civil to his workers out side and in so consequently they were hard working and loyal to him in return.

James took two strides towards the kitchen sink, the beads of sweat dripping from his half naked body. He was in much need to get to a water tap. After sponging himself down he rubbed himself down with a piece of poorly woven toweling.

The rest of the sheep shearers had their food delivered from the kitchen by young boys employed to help Tammy. some were part Aborigine and had become crossed with some of the first white settlers who had been sent there in the convict ships. These men were desperate for a woman’s love and when they were able to, some had abducted young aborigine girls and had them work for them. To these girls this was a new experience. As the white man started to make new lives for them selves and were able to feed and bed the girls. The girls were quite happy and eager to learn the white man’s way of life and to forget the aborigine’s customs, much to the shame of their fore fathers. The workers would wash them selves down in water from the horse troughs along side the shearing sheds. They would fill a tin bath from the horse trough or if they were very hungry they did not bother until they had eaten and finished the days work.

Are you alright James asked as he walked in to join his wife for a meal this was in a smaller room just set off from the kitchen but it gave them a bit of privacy for their every day meals. They only used the big dining room when they were entertaining visitors.

No I am not it is so hot. So very dammed hot Charlotte complained

"What are you complaining about woman you should come out into the shearing sheds and then you just might have some thing to moan about. I can not understand why you are moaning and complaining. You have a ladies life, why you have even got water laid on in