The Sunburnt Country

by Palmer, Fiona

  When Jonny came up for air, she pushed her sunnies onto her head before finding Rick and dunking him under again. ‘You little turd.’

  Jonny turned towards the laughter behind her, just as Zac fell into the pool. ‘You think that’s funny, Dan?’ she said, reaching out to dunk him. But he grabbed her hands, foiling her attempt. Water dripped from his hair, his smile was cheeky and he still had hold of her hands under the water. Zac started splashing water into their faces so Daniel moved in behind Jonny, using her as a shield by grabbing her tightly around her waist and holding her against his chest.

  ‘Dan, out here we don’t use our women to protect us,’ Zac said, laughing.

  But Jonny liked being plastered against Daniel. He was warm and strong. Twisting out of his grasp, she turned to face him. She put her hands on his neck and ran them down to his shoulders. Daniel’s jaw tensed, and then she pushed him under. Before he could come back up, she swam to the safety of Rick and Zac. Ken swam by, nudging Gemma. ‘How come you don’t drown with all those holes?’ he teased. Gemma poked out her pierced tongue. She had about six earrings in each ear and a small piercing in her nose, but they didn’t look tacky on Gemma’s dainty face.

  They messed around in the water for a little longer. Soon it was time for the competition. Ryan held out a hand and pulled Jonny from the pool.

  ‘You and Dan seem to be getting on okay?’ he said, his gaze intense and his brow furrowed.

  Jonny shrugged; she was surprised that Ryan would notice something like that. ‘Yeah, he’s okay.’ Ryan mulled over her comment but didn’t push her further. After getting their towels, they headed to the diving board. On the way, Ryan tapped the shoulder of a fair-skinned lady with short brown pixie hair.

  ‘Sienna. Hey, I’d like you to meet my best mate, Jonny.’

  ‘Hi,’ said Sienna, turning to face them, her eyes large and friendly.

  ‘Sienna is a counsellor and provides the district with a free service that’s government funded. I’ve been catching up with her these last few days since I’ve been home. I didn’t even know the service existed before. I really hope today helps more people find out about it.’

  Ryan was comfortable around Sienna and Jonny could tell he had shared much of his story with her. It was nice to know he was able to speak to someone. Even if it wasn’t Jonny.

  ‘Hi, Sienna. Nice to meet you.’ She didn’t look like a shrink, wearing just a cotton dress over her bathers. But then Jonny had never met one before. She’d assumed they were all older people.

  ‘You too, Jonny. Ryan speaks so highly of you.’

  Jonny glanced at Ryan. ‘Do you really?’ she teased. He shook his head, pretending Sienna didn’t know what she was talking about.

  ‘You seem quite young to be a counsellor, I hope you don’t mind me saying.’

  Sienna smiled. ‘No, that’s fine. I just knew early on that’s what I wanted to do. My cousin took his life and it was horrible for everyone, and being farmers there wasn’t much help available for us. I swore I would devote my life to helping others, preventing things like my cousin’s death, and so here I am.’

  ‘Wow, that’s amazing. We’re so lucky to have you.’ It was great for Ryan to have professional help at home. Jonny turned to Ryan. ‘So, how often do you meet?’ she asked curiously.

  ‘Well, it’s every day until Sienna thinks I’m sane enough.’ He laughed.

  ‘Ryan! You are sane – you’re doing so well.’ Sienna looked at Ryan proudly. ‘You’re lucky you have such close friends and family.’ She took a step back. ‘Well, I’d better go. Apparently I’m a judge in this comp.’ She pulled a face.

  ‘Just go for the biggest splash,’ said Jonny, before Sienna gave a nod and disappeared into the crowd that was gathering at the diving end of the pool.

  Jonny turned to Ryan, grabbing his arm. ‘She seems really nice.’

  ‘Yeah, she’s great. Really easygoing.’

  ‘So it’s helping? You know, is it all good?’ Jonny couldn’t think of a better way to ask if Ryan was okay.

  ‘I guess.’ he said. ‘I feel okay, but she said these things take time . . .’

  ‘Like you could go backwards?’

  ‘I don’t know, maybe. I hope not. But she’s helping a lot with my Alana issues. I think that was the starting point for my breakdown.’ Jonny would have bet her workshop that Alana had been the starting point.

  She studied Ryan and for the first time she realised that he seemed calmer. As if he knew he would be over Alana soon, that the pain she had caused wouldn’t ferment inside him forever. No longer lurking in the corner of his mind, souring his life with her deceit.

  ‘That’s great, Ryan. Just keep moving forward.’

  ‘Come on, Coop. We’re getting called up,’ said Zac, busting in, grabbing Ryan’s arm and pulling him back through the crowd.

  Daniel gave her a wink, before following the guys.

  ‘This is going to be interesting,’ said Gemma.

  Renae appeared as well. ‘Oh, thank God you’re here, Jonny. For a minute I thought you’d decided not to come.’ Renae wrapped her arms around Jonny’s shoulders. ‘Zac told me about your crash. I’m so sorry. I know how much you love your car,’ she said.

  ‘It’s not a complete write-off. I’ll fix it one day or build a new one. When I manage to rob a bank,’ she joked. ‘So where’ve you been?’

  Renae cupped her hand over her mouth and whispered into her ear. ‘Waxing my legs. How bad is that?’

  Jonny laughed. ‘Isn’t that what they say, that a mechanic’s car never gets serviced or a plumber’s own plumbing never gets done, or a beautician’s legs are . . . ?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  Gemma threw her arm out in front of them. ‘Hey, look – Rick’s up first.’ Gemma jumped up and down. ‘Go babe!’

  Rick walked out on the board, jumped a few times and then bounced on his bum before tipping over to land with a giant slap as his belly hit the water.

  ‘Ooh, that’s gotta hurt,’ said Renae, scrunching up her face.

  Jonny saw Sienna hold up a bit of paper with a seven on it. Alongside her, Pete, the pool manager, held up a four. ‘Piss-poor effort,’ he shouted.

  The crowd erupted with laughter.

  Daniel was next, holding his knee as he launched off the board, hitting the water like a cannonball. Jonny’s skin caught the tiny droplets from the splash. When it was Ryan’s turn he did a sommersault, which was a crowd favourite. The eventual winner was Tuck, who ran the roadhouse and had the most body mass. He had wet the spectators both times. His huge belly was red from slapping against the water.

  Then, while everyone was still paying attention, Pete introduced Sienna and she went on to talk about her service. ‘It’s free, so just ring me up, my number is in the local paper, it’s all private and confidential and you can see me about anything. Nothing is too big or too small. You don’t have to be depressed to visit me, sometimes you might just need to off-load about the drought or your kids, anything. I’m here to listen. Please, don’t be a stranger.’

  By five, the event was wrapped up and the pool closed for the day. ‘Hey, you lot wanna come back home and we’ll continue this pool party at our house?’ asked Ken. He had a pool – nothing fancy, but it was wet – and it was still hot. ‘All right, Dad! Great plan,’ said Rick, who went to tell Ryan and the others.

  Daniel went with Zac to swing by the pub for some drinks, while Jonny and Renae caught a lift with Ryan. Ken’s place was right behind his butcher’s shop.

  ‘Hi, Sue. Hope you don’t mind that Ken invited us here,’ said Jonny as they walked around to the Merrits’ large back patio.

  Sue smiled, her hands on her narrow hips. ‘You know you’re welcome any time, Jonny. Hi, Nae,’ she said giving her a hug. ‘Just make yourselves at home. I’ll go get some dip and bickies organised. Nathan!’ she shouted. ‘Can you scoop out the the pool before everyone goes swimming, please?’

  Rick’s older brother, Nathan, sa
t in the afternoon light, sunning his bare chest. Nathan wasn’t interested in being a butcher. He left that to Rick. Nathan had taken up a position with the shire instead, aiming to become the grader driver.

  ‘Come on, Nathan, chop chop,’ teased Renae. Nathan flipped a finger, but then smiled and hauled himself from his deckchair.

  ‘How come you weren’t at the pool today?’ asked Ryan, as he laid his wet towel over the brick wall that divided the patio area from the lawn and the pool.

  ‘Mum wanted the paving finished off out the front,’ said Nathan, before heading to the small pool shed.

  ‘Got to earn his keep. He’s living here for a steal as it is,’ said Sue, putting a bowl of chips on the outdoor table. ‘Help yourselves, guys.’

  As Ryan reached for a few chips, Sue put her hand on his arm. ‘How’ve you been, Ryan?’ Sue was like Ken, so caring and always helping out on various committees when she wasn’t flat out helping to run the butcher’s shop. ‘You gave us all a scare, you know.’

  Ryan nodded. ‘I’m doing all right, thanks, Sue. Everyone has been so great.’

  She patted his arm. ‘That’s good to hear.’

  ‘Hey, here’s where the party’s at,’ said Zac, as he came around the corner with a carton of beer under his arm.

  Daniel was also carrying a carton, and Rick and Gemma followed behind him, holding hands as usual.

  Sue sighed and shook her head. ‘So where’s your father, Rick? Did you leave him to drown in the pool?’

  ‘Nah, he was walking. Should be here any minute. There was no room for him in my ute and I wasn’t kicking Gemma out.’

  Zac pulled a face. ‘Oh, young love,’ he teased.

  ‘Well, at least I have a girlfriend,’ Rick taunted, and everyone laughed.

  Zac frowned until Renae spoke up. ‘Aw, don’t worry, Zac. Come on, I’ll help you put the beer away.’

  Daniel smiled at Jonny as he stepped past, following Zac and Renae to the fridge. His hair was still damp and spiky at the top, while his shorts hung low off his hips.

  ‘Well, I’m hot,’ Jonny announced. ‘I’m going for a dip.’ While most of her heat was caused by the sun, there was no denying that some of it was Dan-related.

  Ryan followed her to the pool, tiptoeing over the cream pavers that were hot underfoot. Jonny gave a war cry and dived into the pool.

  Nathan and Ryan both splashed in after her but swam back to sit by the steps to chat. Someone turned on some tunes and the outside speakers rocked out ‘Hangover’ by Taio Cruz.

  Daniel stepped into the pool beside Ryan, and sat on a step with a beer in his hand. ‘Man, this is the life,’ he said, after he’d been introduced to Nathan.

  ‘You got that right,’ agreed Ryan.

  ‘So, Jonny, Jonny. What’s been happening with you these days?’ asked Nathan, leaning back to get closer to her. It wasn’t coincidental that the position showed off his muscled chest.

  Jonny chuckled. She couldn’t help it. Nathan had tickets on himself but was otherwise harmless. He had a big heart like his dad.

  Daniel sat forward and sipped his beer. The afternoon light was disappearing as they sat wrinkling in the pool. Jonny could see the tension in Daniel’s jaw. Was he jealous? For a moment, just a fleeting one, she wondered whether she should play along with Nathan. Would she get more of a reaction from Daniel?

  ‘Jesus, Nath,’ Zac said, blowing any chance of that. ‘She’s too old for you. When are you gonna stop trying? You don’t date women five years your senior!’

  ‘And why not? I don’t see a problem. Do you?’ he said, turning to Jonny.

  Jonny cupped his face with her wet hands and leaned towards him. ‘No, I don’t see a problem with it, Nathan,’ she said seductively. ‘Only thing is, you’re not my type.’ And then she gave him a gentle slap on his cheek before reaching for her beer.

  ‘Come on,’ he cried. ‘I’m everyone’s type.’

  Ryan and Zac laughed as they climbed out of the pool. ‘Hey, we’re going to play some darts. Good luck, Nath,’ said Ryan.

  Renae came into the pool area as they headed out. ‘Nath, can I change the music? Where’s your iPod?’

  ‘Oi, what’s wrong with the music?’ He turned to Jonny. ‘I must away,’ he said, before giving her a wink and dashing out of the pool. Renae and Nathan argued about music all the way back to the house.

  Jonny smiled at Daniel. She sank under the water, enjoying the feel of the liquid against her face. Then she swam to the end. ‘You know, when I was a kid I could hold my breath for ages. I bet I can’t now,’ she said to Daniel.

  He moved through the water to stand beside her. ‘Okay, then. Let’s go up and back underwater and see who can go further.’

  Jonny stared him squarely in the eyes. ‘You’re on, Daniel.’

  With some deep breaths, they both ducked under and pushed off the end of the pool. Under the water they raced, their hands crashing together occasionally. They both turned and pushed off the wall in the shallow end, straining against the water to make it back. They hit the back wall together, bursting out of the water, gasping for air. Jonny laughed. ‘A draw, then!’

  Dan was still sucking in deep breaths, his chest heaving beside hers. ‘I guess I can live with a draw,’ he said, reaching across to tuck back a wet strand of hair that had strayed across her face.

  Jonny sucked at her bottom lip, her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t find any words, instead she just watched Daniel as he closed the gap between them. She should have moved back, just like she should have pulled her hand away from his at the speedway, but she didn’t feel like fighting it. Her heart raced as his hand brushed her cheek ever so slightly and then slipped behind her head, bringing her up to meet his lips.

  She closed her eyes. His mouth warm and gentle, stoking the fire under her skin. Her palms came up to rest against his wet, smooth chest, his heartbeat pounding under his firm muscles. Daniel’s fingers gripped her waist, holding her closer. The touch of his hands against her bare skin set off sparks inside her, like a flame to gunpowder. Her hands automatically slid up around his neck as her body crushed against his. Dan’s tongue brushed against her top lip and Jonny was a long way past caring about anything but his soft lips. She parted her own lips and a cascade of tremors rippled through her as his tongue explored her mouth. Her body felt heavy as she clung to him, drowning in the kiss that was like no other. Her fingers slid through his wet hair. Skin against skin, the water was no barrier between them.

  A back door opened and slammed shut. Jonny jumped back as if stung by a wasp. Her tongue still tingling, her lips tender. Dan stood there, his hands outstretched as if she were still in his arms. He looked confused. Jonny was confused too. Hell, she thought. He wasn’t supposed to be that amazing. It had been a while since she’d kissed a guy or had a boyfriend. Not since she was doing her apprenticeship, but none of them had felt anything like that. So bright, sizzling hot, like the end of the welder or the burning tip of a sparkler. As her chest thumped, Jonny wondered why life could be so cruel – to make her have such an amazing moment with the wrong guy.

  She closed her eyes for a second, hung her head and began to climb out of the pool. Before she took the last step, she glanced back to Dan. Why did he have such an effect on her? Was he sent here as some kind of test or tease? She was no fool. It would never work between them.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, before heading out the gate to the safety of the patio, leaving Daniel alone in the pool, confused and mystified.

  ‘Hey you, wanna beer?’ asked Nae on her way back to the pool.

  ‘Thanks, I could really use one.’

  ‘You okay?’

  Jonny didn’t feel okay, her insides were like live wires wriggling around ready to zap her. She couldn’t make sense of her own feelings, let alone share them with Renae. Not yet, at least. And besides, Nae would take this news like a rattle gun to a wheel nut and Jonny’d never get a moment of peace. ‘Yeah, I’m good. Just a bit sun-fri
ed, I think. What’s Zac up to?’ she said, happy to be distracted as Nae started telling a story about Zac and the pack of cards he’d just found. Thank God.

  Chapter 24

  MONDAY mornings sucked. Dan stared at his watch. Only five minutes had passed since the last time he’d looked. Damn it. He was trying hard to work, but the weekend had thrown him. So much life, the excitement of the speedway and then the pool, the kiss. It made today feel like a death sentence.

  But he was a professional; he knew how to block out distractions and keep his mind focused on his work. Well, that was until Jonelle had come along. Now she crept into every thought. And it wasn’t just his mind she seemed to occupy. This morning he’d shared an iced coffee in the tiny kitchen with Jean and Gemma and before long Jonny’s name was mentioned. One minute they were talking about the bomb diving competition and next Gemma was asking about Jonny’s crash at the speedway. Her name alone sent his body into strange fits.

  ‘You saw the crash, didn’t you, Daniel?’ Gemma asked. The party at Ken’s place had really helped Gemma to relax around him. After a few drinks she’d admitted to liking the social side of him better than the work one. She had also come out of her shell, stirring trouble with the boys and kicking their butts at poker. Not that Dan’s brain had been on the game. It was still lingering over the feel of Jonelle’s wet body and her warm lips, his eyes always focusing on her instead of on the terrible hand of cards he held.

  ‘Um, yeah,’ he’d said, his mind snapped from his reverie by Gemma repeating her question. ‘She spun into the wall. We had to push the car onto the trailer. She was fine, just a bit of whiplash.’

  ‘Oh, thank goodness,’ said Jean. ‘She’s one strong girl, that one, but I think we all tend to forget how fragile she can be.’

  Dan had made some excuse to retreat to his office, Jean’s words rattling around in his head.

  He’d seen a snippet of Jonelle’s fragile side in the pool after he’d kissed her. He hadn’t planned on kissing her – well, maybe subconsciously he’d planned it many times – but everything just seemed right. Her hair dripping and her body shimmering. And she’d been willing. He’d seen the desire. She didn’t fight him, not until they’d been interrupted and she’d backed away from him. That’s when he’d seen the fragile look in her eyes. She was attracted to him; he felt that connection but that didn’t mean she liked him. He didn’t have to be a mind reader to know why she’d run. They came from different worlds so there was no point starting something that would only end. There was no future for them, and she knew he was only in town for a short time. Why would she want to get involved? Heck, even he hadn’t wanted to start anything, but look how well that had turned out. Jonelle was already under his skin and her brother was fast becoming a close mate. And his work was suffering. Dan could hear his father’s speech on work ethics. ‘To get to the top you’ve got to be ruthless.’