The Echo Of Youth

Chapter Three

Elsie leans against the veranda post.
Her eyes fixed on the horizon, and the pink and orange clouds that are swirling together.

"I've always envied the sunsets out here." She says as I lean against the other post.

"I'm going to miss em." I reply, trying to recollect all the other sunsets I'd viewed.

"This war," Elsie began, "no one gets that it's about to steal absolutely everyone, some in flesh, some in soul."

I turn to her, I fold my arms across my chest and tilt my hat up.
"I just want to be someone, something other than the Taylor twin from Echo Valley station. I want to be a hero, fight for my country and prove that I am a worthy Australian son."

Elsie laughs. She laughs heartily and as if I'm so naive she can hardly bare it.
"That's the most uneducated thing you've ever said to me Clancy Taylor." She shakes her head, her black boots stepping into the red dust, making a trail all the way to the stables.

I follow.
With a slight anger brewing.
I follow.

"What do you mean uneducated?" I ask, as she swings her leg over Brock's bare back.

"You're far from no one Clancy Taylor, you don't have to prove anything, you're going to war to relieve yourself from the bore of Kununurra, you like the idea of being a hero, but not everyone is going to come home a hero, some aren't even going to come home at all. Echo Valley Station is your home, it's our home, treasure it Clancy, be proud." She smiles down at me before bolting out of the stables.

I clamber up onto Dusty, my head still trying to process the words she's just said.
"Wait! Elsie!" I call out, cracking the whip and sending Dusty into a fast pace run.
-

I catch up to her and the two of us gallop across the paddocks, competing against each other with grins from ear to ear. Leaping over fallen trees and flowing creeks. Sending clouds of dust into the evening atmosphere.

We relieve our bodies from the harsh saddles and slip onto the grassy bank of our lost creek, surrounded by boab trees and thick shrub. Our laughing voices skim across the water and our childish souls dance in the lush grass on the waters edge.

"You and Mum are the only people that know I'm leaving." Elsie says softly, pulling off her boots.

"What's your father going to say?" I ask, picking at the clover beneath me.

"I don't care, this is I want to do, I'm my own person, I'm making my own path." Elsie explains.

She always captivates me with her complex mind and simple beauty.

She's always so sure.
So proud.
So perfect.

"Pull off my boots please." I smile softly as I unbutton my shirt.

"Where are you going?" She asks, ripping the elastic sided boot from my foot.

"Swimming, you coming?" I wink before diving into the deep water. I rise to the surface and see Elsie struggling to remove the top layer of button up dress.

"I hate this thing." She curses. I climb out of the water and my fingers rest on the first set of buttons.

We fall silent.
My heart begins to race as I fumble with the second lot.
Elsie's hands press against my chest, her ocean colour eyes stare up at me through her thick eyelashes.
The dress pools at her feet, her thin under layer floating in the wind.

"I'm going to miss you." She whispers, tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks.

"Is going to miss you too." I draw her into my chest and rest my cheek on the top of her head. We stay like that for a good five minutes, our hearts pounding in sync.

I swear, the world fell away in those moments.
It's just us.
Just us and the running creek beside us.

Elsie's smooth hands rest upon my cheeks, a terrified look falls over my face and I pull away. I drop my hands from her sides and my back to her, my eyes on the ground and my mind in a frenzy.

"Clancy." Her voice is husky, but delicate.

"Elsie." Mine is more rough.

"Promise me, you'll come home." She wipes her eyes but tears still fall.

I spin back around to her, take her face in my hands and kiss her.

Fire burns in my stomach and butterflies tickle my lips. Her hands run through my hair as we kiss.

We pull away, out of breath but so in love. The relief lifts from our shoulders but the stench of war lingers in our noses.

"I don't want to go." I lean my forehead against hers.

"Me either." She mutters, her hands once again roaming my body.

"Elsie, c'mon," I say, pushing her hands down, reluctantly. "I can't do this to Hamish."

"But you'll do it for me won't you? I don't love him Clancy and he doesn't love me, he's kissed Sara Joseph more times than I can count." She whispers.

I curl my lips in as I watch her innocent face get lost in emotion.

"I don't want to loose you." I mutter.

"You never will." She replies, kissing me softly. She pulls away and grins.

"Come in the water." She squeals as we splash into the creek.

The cool water swirls around our warm bodies, making our hearts beat faster.

She throws her hair back and her hands rest on my shoulder as she laughs. I smile at her purity and press my lips against hers. She wraps her arms around my neck and I hold her body steady.

"Who would've thought this would happen today?" Elsie giggles, her eyes lock with mine.

"I've been waiting for a bloody long time, my darling resplendent Elsie." I reply.

"That's a mighty big word my dearest, most infuriating Clancy." Elsie kisses me again.

We count the stars as they appear in the clear September night sky. We tell stories of our lost childhood and our fears for this adventure to come.
For the first time, living is the best it has ever been before.