The Sunburnt Country

by Palmer, Fiona

  ‘I’m okay,’ she whispered to Dan. Grateful that he took his hand away before Ryan could see it. She’d spotted him earlier coming out of the hall with his parents.

  Rick’s coffin now sat in the back of a mate’s work ute, which was covered in footy stickers and Bundy rum flags. The tray had been covered with long pale wheat heads and contrasting red roses. Someone had hung Rick’s footy jumper and butcher’s apron from the back window. Jonny smiled through her tears. Rick would have loved what they’d done and it just showed how well people knew him.

  Following the coffin was Gemma, and Jonny felt her heart break for her. It was so much for an eighteen-year-old to have to deal with.

  ‘I see Nae,’ said Zac. They got closer to the grieving family and Jonny waved to Renae, who came straight over. Jonny hugged her tight. She couldn’t think of a single thing to say so she said what she felt. ‘I love you,’ she whispered.

  ‘Thanks, my sweet. I love you too,’ replied Renae.

  Dan caught Renae’s eye and said a throaty, ‘I’m sorry.’ He even leaned in and gave her a hug, which surprised Jonny. Dan hadn’t seemed the emotional, touchy feely type, but his hug was genuine and sweet.

  ‘Come, I’ll walk with you,’ said Zac, as he cuddled Renae into his side and kissed the top of her head.

  Jonny watched her brother walking with her best friend and wondered again when they’d become so close. Did they even know how good they were together? Renae’s little frame slotted into Zac’s larger one, his hand on the open back of her lace dress and his concern for her so strong. He really was a gentle soul. As cocky and funny as Zac was, his heart was pure and sweet.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Dan asked as he touched Jonelle’s arm. He moved to face her. Even in the heat her body tingled with goosebumps. Toe to toe they stood. It seemed unbearably distant. She would have given anything for him to hold her and make the world disappear, even for a few minutes. If he held me through the night, would my nightmares stop? she wondered.

  Dan touched her cheek, grazing it with his knuckles and she found herself holding her breath. She wanted to taste him again, to feel his lips on her skin. He could take her away from all this pain in just one kiss, she was sure of it.

  ‘So much going on in those green eyes of yours. What are you thinking?’

  Closing her eyes, she tried to focus. She had to be strong. With a deep breath she said, ‘Nothing. Come on. We’d better go.’ With all her strength, she stepped away from him, like a barge ripping its moorings.

  As they walked back to the bank, car after car followed the ute carrying Rick’s coffin out to the cemetery.

  ‘Need a ride, little lady?’ asked Ryan out his ute window as he pulled up alongside them.

  ‘Would love one, thanks.’ Jonny turned to Dan who was standing by the door of the bank. ‘See you later.’ She raised her hand in a wave and turned but she really wanted to hold him close, especially when he was watching her with such intensity. But Ryan would go ballistic.

  ‘Thanks, Jonelle.’ She heard his heartfelt words whispered tenderly as she climbed in with Ryan. It took every ounce of strength she had not to turn and seek out his handsome face.

  But Dan was soon forgotten at the cemetery as Ryan held her close and they watched Rick’s dark coffin find its resting place in the earth where he would forever be a part of Bundara.

  Chapter 28

  ‘NOT bad for an outback town, hey?’ said Zac.

  It was the Saturday after the funeral. Dan sat at the lookout beside Zac with a cold beer in his hand. It was an impressive view atop the only hill for miles. The bareness and isolation really hit home and the sky had never looked so big to Dan. It just went on forever in one hundred shades of blue. Clouds were scattered here and there, lit up by the setting sun. The contrast of the sky against the sunburnt earth in vibrant reds and browns, studded with tiny yellow bursts of dry weeds, was stark. The colours were dramatic, and so much brighter than any magazine or TV show could ever capture. Dan felt like a speck under such a massive sky.

  ‘Yeah. I must admit Bundara is growing on me – or maybe it’s the people, you know? I’m not really sure.’

  ‘Maybe it’s just my sister,’ said Zac with a snigger.

  ‘Say what?’ Dan glanced at him, trying to keep a straight face. The glint in Zac’s eyes dared Dan to try to deny it. Dan shrugged. ‘Yeah, she’s all right.’

  ‘You dog. I had a feeling.’ Zac laughed and then cut it short. ‘How serious is it?’ His eyebrows were arched.

  Dan wasn’t sure what to say. He certainly wasn’t going to mention the strong feelings that swept over him every time he thought about her or the desire that rattled his body when she looked at him. So he went with the truth, of sorts. ‘We’re just mates. I like her. She’s different in a great way, but I leave three weeks after Christmas.’

  ‘Shit, that’s soon. I was just getting used to you being around. Always nice to have a new face and fresh conversation. You know, I don’t think I’ll be the only one to miss you.’

  Dan cleared his throat. ‘I doubt anyone would miss me around here. I’m still the baddie who ruined Ray Stevens’ life.’

  ‘You know damn well I meant Jonny. I know my sister. I’ve got eyes and you two have been spending a lot of time together.’

  ‘Only because we’re helping Ryan out. And she tends to tag along when you and I catch up.’

  ‘Yes, quite the coincidence, isn’t it.’

  Zac was smirking at him like a bloody clown and it was driving him nuts.

  ‘Don’t worry, she’s already made it clear we’re not to go there. No point when I’m going back to the city in three weeks,’ he exaggerated. ‘And you know Jonelle, stubborn as they come – she’d never leave here unless it was in a box.’

  Zac chuckled. ‘Yeah, you got that right. But could you ever see yourself staying here? Why don’t you take on the bank job permanently?’

  ‘Ha, no, I don’t think I could do it. This job is heaps easier in the city where you don’t actually know the people. If this drought keeps up, the bank is going to take more land back and I don’t want to be the one doing that. And besides, my life is in the city. I have plans, I have a promotion I’m working towards.’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ said Zac. ‘So your job’s really important to you, then?’

  ‘Isn’t yours?’ Dan asked, avoiding a real answer.

  Zac nodded as he watched a crow hopping along the ground near a large gum tree. Dan could tell Zac was thinking about his farm. He had such passion for it. Dan shook off his worries. It was stupid to try to compare jobs – they were worlds apart.

  They sipped their beers and brushed away flies. ‘You know, I didn’t believe there could ever be so many flies.’

  ‘Yeah, they take a bit of getting used to. ’Cause it’s so dry, they love us even more. But they’re better than the mozzies. And you share your beer with them,’ said Zac, laughing as he pointed to Dan’s stubbie.

  ‘The little bastard.’ Dan swirled the rest of his beer, then tipped out the dregs.

  Zac’s phone beeped and he fished it out of his shirt pocket. ‘Best thing about this spot is I get full bars on my phone,’ he said. ‘Ha, speak of the devil. It’s Jonny, wondering if I’ve seen you.’ Zac gave Dan a wink. ‘Who’s a lucky boy?’

  ‘What’s she want me for?’

  Zac replied to Jonny’s message and promptly received another. ‘She requires you at six-thirty at her workshop. Hmm. You sure you’re not hooking up with my sister?’ Zac’s eyebrows shot up.

  ‘Of course not. I’m just as stumped as you are. But seeing her is better than staying home alone tonight or, worse, with you.’ Dan smiled and tapped his finger on his chin. ‘Anyway, you can talk. You looked very cosy with Renae the other day.’

  For once Zac had no comeback. Instead he actually blushed. ‘Hey, we’re just mates, too. Always have been. Nae and Jonny used to give me the shits when they were younger.’

  ‘Yeah, but you’re not kids any
more. Renae is gorgeous, so if you’re not interested maybe I could make a move,’ Dan teased.

  ‘Hey, no. You’re not her type. She likes them a little rough around the edges.’

  ‘Hmm, I figured.’ They both smiled. Neither said anything else. They didn’t have to. They weren’t women.

  ‘Even though you’re heading back to the city, you know you’re always welcome back here. Don’t be a stranger.’

  ‘Sure,’ replied Dan. But he didn’t think he’d ever come back to visit. People and places come and go in life, and Dan couldn’t see Bundara in his future. It was never a part of his life plan.

  ‘So next time I come to Perth, can I count on you to show me around?’ asked Zac.

  Dan stared out over Bundara while he thought about Zac’s question. He wondered what his mate Josh would make of Zac. Josh was someone who would have refused this posting in the middle of Woop Woop because he would miss his coffee and his gym. Josh had only called him once since he’d been away, but that was Josh. Adjustable. The moment Dan was back, they’d pick up as if he’d never left. Dan wondered if his city world could handle a country boy intrusion. Zac was good value and it was hard not to like him. He didn’t judge or turn his nose up at anyone. Not like Josh, who was very particular about who he socialised with or dated. Dan cracked a smile. But besides that, Josh had his back, and had done since they’d left school together. But Dan liked Zac’s casual accepting way. It was a trait Dan hoped would rub off on him. He tried to picture them all catching up at a local bar and surprised himself at how much he enjoyed the thought. Zac would probably end up befriending the whole bloody bar. And maybe, just maybe, he’d be able to keep tabs on Jonelle, too. Even now, the thought of saying goodbye to her terrified him.

  Zac tapped his fingers on the bonnet of the ute. He was still waiting for his answer.

  ‘Of course. That’d be awesome. Do you get to the city much?’

  Zac shrugged. ‘Maybe three times a year. Depends on what’s happening with the farm. You don’t see a lot of city folk out in the real country but us bush folk all head to the city. We’re adaptable,’ Zac teased. ‘What’s your address? I’ll look you up one day.’

  Dan recited his address and Zac stored it in his phone. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘We’d better go. You’ve got a hot date, remember?’

  Back at his house, Dan got changed – more than once, in fact, since he wasn’t sure what he was heading into. Maybe Jonelle had changed her mind and he was about to get lucky, or maybe she wanted help with her business, or some more advice about Ryan’s situation. Yeah, that would be it. She wanted his help with the books. He settled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. His were all fancy brand shirts and for once he wished he had some more casual ones like Zac’s with band names or tractor company logos on them. Last week Zac had come out with a shirt on that had ‘I’m a farmer. I work for the bank’ written on the back. Zac could laugh at anything, and even Dan had to laugh at that one.

  Dan put on his thongs, locked the house and drove over to Jonny’s workshop.

  He walked in and found the shed had been cleaned – to a degree, anyway. Milk crates and car seats that had been attached to blocks of wood sat in a rough circle in the middle of the swept concrete. It struck him as slightly weird.

  ‘Hey, you came and you’re punctual. I like that.’ Jonelle smiled as she appeared through a door in the back of the shed. She looked fresh from the shower and smelt like a frangipani flower in the middle of the grease and dust of the shed.

  ‘Where did you come from? What’s out there?’ he asked.

  ‘My place. Wanna check it out?’ She opened the door and waited for Dan to join her.

  One minute Dan was in a grungy workshop, the next in Jonny’s homely bedroom. ‘Wow. You actually live here?’

  ‘Most of the time. Okay, maybe just during the week. I don’t have a washing machine so I go back to Mum’s on the weekend.’

  ‘And she does it for you?’

  Jonelle blushed. ‘Sometimes, if I get busy helping Dad on the farm. But this place is my little bit of peace and quiet. No brothers to interrupt.’ Jonelle gazed at the mismatched table and chairs in the room. ‘I spent a lot of time in here during my apprenticeship with Coot. We played a lot of poker and rummy. Canasta too. It holds a lot of memories. This was his home.’

  ‘You’re big on memories, aren’t you?’

  She turned to face him. ‘Of course. I had a great childhood and every awesome memory I have is here in Bundara.’ Her eyes flashed with so much happiness that it made Dan flinch with envy. She found delight in the smallest of things, from a simple photograph to an old car.

  ‘I don’t even have any family photos at my house,’ he blurted.

  ‘Well, Dan, I think you should fix that. How about a photo of the house where you grew up? I know you have great memories from there.’

  Dan stepped back as she shut the door. ‘You know, you’re right. I think my house is lacking in personality. Especially compared to your mum’s place.’

  Jonelle snorted. ‘Oh God. Mum goes a bit overboard. Don’t know why she needs every single photo of us on all the walls. No, you need a happy medium.’

  ‘Yo, Jonny. Where can I put the beer?’

  They turned to see Carlos arrive, sixpack in hand.

  ‘Gabby couldn’t help herself,’ he said, lifting a platter of dip and crackers.

  Jonelle took the platter from him. ‘Chuck the beer in the fridge.’ She pointed to the old fridge that had stickers and spray paint all over it. It blended in to the busy wall.

  ‘Here,’ she said, pushing the platter into Dan’s arms while she moved a milk crate into the centre of the circle to create a makeshift table.

  Dan was about to ask what was going on when two more faces showed up.

  ‘Hey, Diff and Richo. You guys remember Dan?’

  Richo shook Dan’s hand and Diff gave him a beer.

  ‘Good to see you again, mate,’ said Diff. ‘I’ve been off finding some truck work down south so been outta the loop a bit. Have to keep coming back to see my baby girl, though.’

  While Diff went into detail about his three-month-old daughter, Jason, Richo, another guy Dan didn’t know but had seen before and Judy, the ambulance officer, arrived. That’s when Dan twigged what this gathering was all about.

  Jonelle was by the fridge, wearing her trademark singlet and her legs delicious in a pair of denim shorts. ‘So this is a get-together for the crash?’ he asked quietly as he stepped in close after Diff joined the others.

  Her huge green eyes wavered. ‘Is that okay? I just thought you should be included. You were there and we’re all struggling. I thought it might help,’ she said rattling on, a touch of panic in her voice.

  Dan reached out. The feel of her bare skin sent a current through his hand. ‘It’s okay, Jonelle. I’m glad you thought of me.’ He felt her relax, but he didn’t want to let her go.

  Dan’s phone rang. ‘Sorry, it’s my dad. I’d better take it. He hardly calls.’ He headed into the office part of her workshop. He thought he could probably use the distance – it was rather heady standing next to Jonelle when she smelt so divine. ‘Hello, John.’

  ‘Daniel. How’s things, son? I haven’t heard from you in a while. You still going okay?’

  ‘Depends what you mean. At work or in my life?’ Dan held back the resentment.

  ‘Both, of course.’

  Dan wondered whether it was worth telling him about Rick and the crash, but he really couldn’t be bothered going into it over the phone, especially after his dad’s blasé reaction to Ryan’s suicide attempt. Then out of nowhere he found himself steering the conversation in an entirely different direction.

  ‘Hey, do you know if Mum or Cam are still at our old home?’ he asked.

  ‘No. Do you?’ John almost sounded accusatory. The anger was there, where it always was. His father was so bitter about his divorce, even after all these years. For that reason he’d never found anyone new. His
work had become his wife.

  Dan ran his hand over his head as he replied. ‘No.’ He heard a heavy sigh on the other end of the phone.

  ‘So how’s the job?’

  Dan looked up and caught Jonelle’s worried expression as she watched him through the door.

  ‘Is everything okay?’ she mouthed.

  ‘Um, look, John. I can’t really talk right now. I’ll have to call you back later.’

  John didn’t miss a beat; he got straight to the point. ‘I just rang to tell you they got your application and you did a great job on it. Well done. We should know in a few weeks, maybe more.’

  Dan rolled his eyes at John’s mention of ‘we’, as if he was also going for the job. ‘Oh, thanks.’

  ‘All right, then. Take care,’ said John.

  ‘See you.’ Dan ended the call, staring at the screen on his phone.

  ‘All good?’ asked Jonelle as he stepped back into the workshop.

  ‘I guess. It’s kind of the first time I’ve tried to brush off my dad. Normally it’s the other way around.’ He admired her soft skin with the tiniest freckles along the bridge of her nose.

  ‘And?’ she asked.

  ‘And it felt surprisingly good.’

  ‘You two gonna join us?’ shouted Carlos.

  Sharing a smile, they sat with the others, who were chatting about everyday things until Carlos started with his anecdotes.

  ‘Hey, Carlos,’ said Dan. ‘Tell us about the time you guys rescued tourists from an alligator.’

  The team all laughed and each of them helped retell the story in minute detail.