The Sunburnt Country

by Palmer, Fiona

  Dan’s phone rang. Thankful for the interruption, he picked it up.

  ‘Daniel, I have Raymond Stevens on the phone for you. Can I put him through?’

  ‘Sure. Thanks, Jean.’

  Dan put the phone on hold while he searched for his paperwork on Raymond. He quickly flicked through the file but he didn’t really need to. There was no way he’d forget the farmers he was in the process of shutting down.

  ‘Mr Stevens, how are you?’

  ‘Okay under the circumstances I guess, Daniel,’ said Raymond, his voice weary, like his sixty-five-year-old body. ‘My wife said you wanted to talk to me?’

  ‘Yes. I just wanted to let you know that after your review at the start of this year when you were . . .’ Dan paused as he thought of a nice way to put it.

  ‘When I got served notice that I had to pay up?’ Raymond added.

  ‘Yes, the Deed of Extension and Repayment notice. Look, Raymond, we know that there’s no way you can pay the amount by the date on the letter, not with the drought. The bank is prepared to act and I just wanted to let you know that you should begin to prepare yourselves for the sale.’

  ‘Yeah, we kinda figured.’ Raymond sounded choked up and Dan’s guts twisted with guilt. It wasn’t him trying to sell this poor bloke’s land. No, that green light had come from some faceless person further up in the bank. But Dan was holding the knife while the bigwigs pushed it in. He was hoping Raymond would try to sell up on his own so the bank wouldn’t have to follow through, and he wouldn’t have to feel like such a villain.

  ‘We don’t want to leave our land, Daniel. It’s been in our family for generations and there’s nowhere else we want to go. It’s all we know.’ Raymond paused. ‘We wish there was some miracle coming our way, but there’s just no money around, and our kids can’t help us out with this kind of money. So you’re just going to have to take it from us.’

  Dan winced at the words. ‘I understand, Mr Stevens. I’m very sorry,’ he added, but he was sure it wouldn’t have made the old man feel any better.

  And with that Raymond hung up.

  Dan leant back in his chair, his body tense, his stomach heavy. Some days he really hated his job.

  For the next hour, he worked like a man possessed as he tried to forget about Raymond. Lucky this was the only ‘we are taking over your land’ call he’d had to make today. When he finally checked his watch, after his belly grumbled, it was just after twelve o’clock.

  ‘I’m off to grab some lunch, Gemma. Won’t be long,’ he said as he walked out of the office, his shoulders heavy.

  He entered the late November heat. It hit him like a wet sock. Instantly sweat broke out on his forehead. It was such a harsh heat, and the breeze was the only relief, even if it blew dust in his eyes.

  He went straight to Gabby’s shop, hanging out for one of the fresh chicken rolls she made every Monday.

  ‘Morning, Gabby,’ he said the moment he saw her ripping the covers off the old magazines for returns.

  ‘Hey, Daniel. You’re looking frazzled. Busy morning?’

  ‘Hmm, you could say that.’ He smiled weakly.

  He headed towards the fridge that held the fresh-made food, and there was Jonelle pulling out a roll.

  ‘Great minds think alike,’ he said, catching the door and reaching in for the last one. Seeing her improved his mood dramatically.

  Jonelle took a step back, as if he were contagious. He’d been afraid of how she’d react when they saw each other again, and now he had his answer.

  ‘H-hi, Dan,’ she stammered.

  After a moment’s awkward silence Dan said, ‘Well, I’d better get back to work.’ He felt like an idiot. They used to talk so easily, and by kissing her he’d set them back so far. He missed her strong, assured voice.

  With a sigh, he gave her an attempt at a smile and turned to leave like a beaten dog.

  ‘Um, Dan?’

  He held his breath, turned, and saw her uncertain face.

  ‘I was actually planning on coming to see you today.’ Jonelle fished around in her pocket and pulled out a bit of paper. She twisted it around her fingers as if unsure about handing it over.

  ‘What is it?’ he asked. She gestured for him to open it. Her eyes never left the paper.

  It turned out to be a twenty thousand dollar cheque written out to Jonelle Baxter.

  ‘You can put that in my account. It should help with the repayments,’ she said, closing her eyes.

  ‘Yes, it will, but where —’ Too late. She had already turned, cutting him off, and headed for the checkout.

  He followed her, standing behind her as she paid for her lunch.

  ‘Oh, are you still right to come out to Ryan’s on Thursday night?’ she said, talking over her shoulder.

  She was nibbling her lower lip, waiting for his reply. Surely she knew what that nervous look did to him? He swallowed hard, and managed a croaky ‘Yes.’

  ‘So I’ll pick you up at six? Mrs C is having a seafood fry-up.’

  ‘Sounds great.’ He had found his voice and was rewarded with one of Jonelle’s smiles, the one she gave when she was relieved.

  Dan paid for his lunch and together they walked out of the shop. At the bank, they parted ways. ‘See you in a few days,’ said Jonelle as she crossed the road, heading towards her workshop.

  ‘See ya.’ Dan watched her, his hand against the bank door. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail and she wore the sexiest pair of denim shorts, not to mention her ever-present boots. Even workboots were sexy on Jonelle, because they were just so her. He loved how she was her own person, without a care in the world for what anyone else might think. He tore his eyes away from her strong, straight walk and pushed through the bank door. Her cheque was still in his hand and he passed it over to Jean. ‘Can you put that into Jonelle’s business account? Thanks.’ She took it with a silent nod. Dan continued on to his office and was relieved that Jonelle had managed to find some money, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough. If things didn’t pick up soon, the workshop would no longer be hers.

  By the afternoon, his morning phone call to Raymond had come back to bite him on the arse. He’d finished work, gone home to change and headed to the pub for a drink. It was quite busy, with about five fellas at the bar. Dan went and sat on the empty stool in the middle of a few blokes he’d seen around and ordered a beer from Dennis.

  ‘What do you want?’ Dennis barked, his usual cheeriness gone. Dan failed to notice his hostility.

  ‘I’ll have a Scotch and Coke, thanks,’ Dan replied. A beer just wasn’t going to be enough after the day he’d had.

  Dan glanced to the guy next to him and smiled. ‘How’re you going?’

  The man with the twitchy left eye glared at him, picked up his beer and moved off to the front bar. Then before he knew it the whole pub was giving him the evil eye, everyone picking up their drinks and moving to the front bar.

  Dan caught Dennis’s attention. ‘Do I smell or something?’ he asked.

  Dennis shook his head. ‘They’ve all heard about what you’ve done to poor Ray and Cecilia Stevens. You’re not very popular at the moment.’

  Dan just about choked on his Scotch. How could the whole town know about that already? ‘I had no control over it, Dennis. I’m not the one taking their land.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re not, but folks around here don’t see it like that. They see a great man from our community whose family has been involved in this town for generations, and you are the guy who’s pulled the trigger. Right now they’re all hurting.’

  ‘I can’t do anything to stop it, Dennis. It’s just my job. The bank has no other option.’

  ‘Yeah, I know. And so do most of these people, but still they don’t have to like it, or you. Give us time. We might come around eventually.’

  But Dan didn’t have time. He was only here for another month. Not quite five weeks, to be exact. Just after Christmas he’d be gone. Strange how short a time it felt now. When he firs
t got here the two months ahead felt like six. Now five weeks was so short. And he didn’t want to spend these weeks with Jonelle and Zac angry at him, too. He hoped they would understand.

  Draining the rest of his Scotch, he stood up. ‘Think I might just go home. Cheers, Dennis.’

  The welcoming town of Bundara had shown him another side. He had to admire how they rallied behind their mates and how close-knit they all were. It would be nice to know that people had your back, no matter what. As he walked home he couldn’t help wondering whether Zac and Jonelle would feel the same. Would they want to lynch him as well? And he was just beginning to get Jonelle on side.

  Chapter 25

  JONNY picked up Dan at six o’clock on Thursday in her ute. She’d been dreading it after the way the locals had been talking about him. Everyone was saying he was just a city blow-in who knew nothing of their town and its people, a man who could change their lives with a flick of his pen and then head on back to the big city unscathed. Jonny heard every ungenerous word that was being said about Dan, but somewhere deep in her heart she begged to differ. There was no denying his actions, but she’d seen another side to him too – at the speedway, not to mention in the pool. It wasn’t as black and white as people were making out, as much as she was having difficulty accepting that herself.

  They were five minutes into the trip and there had been no chitchat. Jonny was too nervous. Dan’s aftershave was a heady scent that was affecting her brain. She was trying to keep things simple between them, and had dressed casual in jeans and one of her blue work shirts, the ones her mum had embroidered with Jonny’s Mechanical above the chest pocket. She was trying to be less attractive to Dan, hopefully to stop him looking at her with that gaze that cut right to her core. It made it hard to keep her thoughts straight. She was also petrified he’d bring up the kiss she was trying so hard to forget. With the news about the Stevens passing through town as fast as a shooting star, Jonny had another reason to keep Dan in the ‘no go’ box.

  But she wasn’t one to hide from a difficult situation. If living in a small town had taught her anything, it was that you couldn’t avoid people or issues.

  ‘Dan, I want to clear the air,’ she said. ‘In the pool —’ No, that wasn’t the way to start. Vividly she pictured his lips and remembered the way he tasted. ‘I mean, you understand why nothing can happen. Why it won’t ever work.’ She kept her eyes on the road, not daring to glance his way.

  He remained silent, and she blundered on.

  ‘I’m not the kind of person who goes into things half-heartedly and I’m not going to start something that has no future. Right now you aren’t too popular round here. Ray and Cecilia are such wonderful people.’ God, she was making a mess of this, jumping all over the place. ‘And besides, you know it wouldn’t end well . . . right?’

  ‘Yes, I understand.’ He paused for a moment before continuing. ‘I know I’ll be gone soon but . . . that kiss was worth the risk.’

  Now she looked at him. A cheeky smile spread across his face. He didn’t regret it one bit. Neither did she, but she wouldn’t let him know that. She couldn’t take back a kiss so perfect. It would stay in her memory forever as being just that. Perfect.

  She was glad he understood and now that it was clear, she felt she was safe. ‘Friends?’

  ‘Absolutely. Much better than when you hated me when I first arrived.’

  ‘Hey, I didn’t hate you. I disliked you. Big difference. I do hate your job, though.’

  ‘Well, some days, so do I.’

  ‘I just don’t know how you could do that to Ray.’

  ‘If you must know, I didn’t do a thing. The letter was sent to him long before I pulled into town. Now I’m just the one who’s stuck in the firing line. If it’s any consolation, I don’t feel too good about the whole thing either, but it’s out of my hands. No wonder the last bloke quit,’ he said, mumbling the last part.

  Jonny just nodded, stewing over her own words. Greg, the previous bank manager, had been in the community for years, and having to do the bank’s dirty work had hit him hard. She couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be to tell your friends that the bank was sending them ‘the letter’.

  For the rest of the trip they sat in silence and when they arrived at Ryan’s a surprise awaited her.

  ‘Come in, come in,’ said Ryan, opening the door. Jonny gave him a hug and wondered what was different about him. She couldn’t put her finger on it. He led them to the kitchen. She gave a big wave to his parents, who were flitting around in the background making drinks and snacks. ‘Jonny, you remember Sienna?’

  Sienna put down her wine glass and said hello before Ryan introduced her to Dan.

  ‘It’s just amazing what you guys are doing for Ryan,’ Sienna said to Jonelle.

  ‘Ah, it’s nothing. Have you come to help?’ Jonny was itching to find out why she was here.

  ‘Well, I hope so. I mean, Ryan and I have been talking a lot and he’s asked me for ideas —’

  ‘And she’s worked out a solution. I think it’ll work. I just want to know what you reckon, Dan,’ said Ryan, butting in.

  ‘Me?’

  ‘Go on, Sienna. Tell them your idea.’ Ryan gazed at her as if she were the latest shiny yellow New Holland header.

  Sienna blushed a little. Luckily she was wearing a soft cream top and not something bright. ‘Well, I suggested that Ryan work at a mine. He’s got his truck licence and is a natural with machinery, being a farm boy. My brother slipped right in to a job on the mines and I know he can help out with getting Ryan a well-paid job. He’s working on a new mine that’s getting started not far from our farm and I know they’re chasing workers. If Ryan can get a job, then while he’s away earning a steady income his parents could run the farm, keep it ticking over.’

  ‘Yeah, and when I’m home I can help out,’ added Ryan.

  ‘And I’m sure between Barry and me we can handle the farm,’ added Debbie, as they all headed towards the table to join her and Barry. ‘We’ve done it before and we can do it again. It won’t have to be for long. Ryan’s income should be enough to help fill in the gaps and keep the bills off our back, right, Dan?’ she asked.

  ‘Wow. You’ve all really thought this through.’ Dan leaned forward. ‘I think you should actually get a job first, so then we’ll have a figure to work with.’ Dan glanced at Ryan. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘Yeah, Coop,’ added Jonny. ‘Do you think you could really leave the farm?’ Jonny felt horrified for him at the thought of leaving.

  ‘I don’t have a choice, Jonny. No, I don’t want to leave, but there’s no other option and I refuse to give up on this place. Sometimes change happens whether you like it or not.’ He shrugged. ‘Sienna reckons I’ll score a job easily and my entire wage can go towards the expenses. I won’t need much to live off.’ Ryan was so excited and Jonny finally realised what was different about him. His hair was actually brushed. He must be feeling good.

  ‘And the house is practically sold,’ Barry said. ‘That city guy ended up buying it. Said he needed a house now and the waiting list to get one built is over eight months. We’re just waiting for settlement. This’ll be our last meal here. Ryan’s moving back to the old house so we can get this one ready.’

  Dan looked so relieved at the news. ‘Well, the way I see it, the money from the house will help with the most urgent expenses and your insurance, and then if you can back that up with a steady flow of money, Ryan, I think you’ll be just fine. The bank won’t be interested in you.’

  ‘Yeah, not like poor Ray,’ grumbled Barry.

  ‘Dad.’ Ryan shot Barry a glare. ‘I told you, none of that tonight.’

  Ryan turned back to Dan. ‘I think if I can stick it out for a few years, that’s if Mum and Dad are happy to run the farm in the meantime, then I can use my wage to put some sheep back on the farm and really set us up again.’

  ‘Ryan, don’t worry about your father and me. We don’t mind being back. We only got
off the farm so you could be your own boss without us hovering around. Your father didn’t want to be that doddery old man trying to tell you how to run the joint.’

  Ryan gave his mum a grateful smile. ‘Once we get a crop going, we might actually get back on track,’ Ryan said.

  ‘If the drought breaks,’ added Daniel softly. ‘I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade but you need to be prepared for the chance that this drought might continue.’

  ‘If it does, I’ll just have to work on the mines for longer,’ said Ryan, unfazed.

  Debbie stood up. ‘And we have plenty of fuel in us yet to keep it going while you’re away. Now, I’m going to make a start on dinner.’ Before she left the table, she rested her hand on Ryan’s shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze.

  Jonny had to look away. She blinked and swallowed the lump that threatened, and caught Dan watching her closely. She always got emotional when the people she loved were involved. She wondered if Dan was the same.

  Through dinner they talked about the mine job, and Sienna told them as much as she knew about it from her brother. ‘And I’m happy to help Ryan put together a great CV.’

  ‘Thanks, Sienna. That would be awesome,’ said Ryan.

  Jonny got up and went to the bathroom, but instead of returning to the table she found herself out in the cool night air on the back verandah. As she looked out across the darkened land, she felt a pang in her heart. For some reason she had a feeling that life as she knew it was about to take a turn and it all started with Ryan leaving. She couldn’t imagine living without Ryan. It just wasn’t right. How could he bring himself to leave the farm? Leaving Bundara was the last thing she’d ever contemplate. She wondered if it was the right thing for Ryan? Would it depress him being away from the land he loved? Would he cope? He did seem happy with the idea; after all, it would help save the farm. Like he said, he had no choice. She just hoped Ryan could live through this new change. Jonny didn’t know if she could. Life was just right the way it was, and Ryan leaving ruined all that. Her little bubble of a life was about to be burst.