The Sunburnt Country

by Palmer, Fiona

  *

  Driving into Bundara Dan saw the same old town sign, the same old barren paddocks and the same old wide main street. And then, finally, the same old blue workshop came into view. He felt like he had six hearts beating frantically in his body as anticipation rippled through him. He pulled up outside Jonelle’s place, holding the steering wheel hard and taking a few deep breaths.

  He strode to her main door and reached for the handle. His arm just about snapped when the door didn’t open. He’d been in such a state that he hadn’t noticed that the workshop was closed and that Jonelle’s ute wasn’t out the front in its usual spot. Scratching his arm, he noticed the faded sign that had fallen down inside the door. Closed due to unforeseen circumstances. ‘What the hell?’ Dan said.

  He stepped back towards his car and took in his surroundings. Leaves had piled up against the door and he realised no cars had been anywhere near the shed in quite a while.

  ‘What the hell?’ he said again.

  This was not how he had pictured it. She was supposed to be working on a car, and then she’d turn and light up when she saw him. ‘God damn it!’

  He couldn’t stand out there all day in the hot windy afternoon so he headed straight for the pub. Someone there was bound to know something. If not he’d call Zac and have to ruin the surprise.

  Inside the pub, it was as if he’d never left. The same guys were in for their afternoon beer. Dan couldn’t see Renae here either so he sat at the bar to chat to Dennis.

  ‘G’day, Dan. What brings you back to these parts? Is Peter not doing his job right?’

  Dan had to think who Peter was, but then he remembered he was the new permanent bank manager. ‘Um, no, nothing like that. Hey, I just went to Jonny’s workshop and it’s closed. What’s going on around here?’

  Den placed a glass of beer down for Dan, the foamy head spilling over the glass and onto the bar runner.

  ‘You didn’t hear? She’s gone out to the mines with young Ryan. Bloody inseparable, those two.’ Dennis winked. ‘They’ve been gone a while now,’ he added, as he headed down the bar to serve Harold.

  Dan dropped his head into his hands. Well, he certainly wasn’t expecting that. Gone to work on the mines with Ryan? In a way it was good that she’d finally realised she needed to change something and done it, but now he’d come all this way and she wasn’t here. And the way Dennis has said she’d gone with Ryan had him worried. How close had they actually become? Maybe they’d finally realised they had something more than friendship?

  What should he do? He didn’t want to see Zac now. What if Jonelle had moved on and Zac knew? Maybe that’s why he hadn’t contacted Dan much since he left Bundara. Zac had sent a few messages checking Dan had got back to the city okay and to let him know he and Renae were together but that was it. Dan’s stomach churned. Zac would think he was an idiot for quitting his job and driving all this way for Jonelle. Oh God, he felt like a fool. Did he really expect this to work out like a fairytale? Just to have it all go back as if he’d never left? Shit, he had to leave before anyone else saw him. He felt enough like a fool as it was. Damn it. He wondered if John could reverse his resignation. Maybe they hadn’t found a replacement yet. Picking up his beer he took big gulps. The sooner he could finish it and be out of here, out of Bundara, the better.

  Chapter 41

  AFTER locking up her donga Jonelle threw her bag into the ute and headed from the mine, a smile spread across her face. Okay, so the mine was all right, but nothing beat going home.

  She couldn’t wait to get back, to see Ryan back there as well. It wasn’t the same without him hanging out with them at the pub. And she felt like the third wheel when she went out with Zac and Renae. They actually called her the third wheel, too. Buggers.

  By the time Jonny reached Bundara it wasn’t far off lunchtime. With her mandatory drive past her abandoned workshop, which always resulted in a wave of sadness, she headed out to the farm.

  Even though it was still hot in the middle of February, her mum had insisted on making her famous lamb-shank pie. Just because it was one of Jonny’s favourites. Jonny wasn’t going to complain, she loved being spoilt by her mum. Plus she loved listening to the boys whinge about it.

  The familiar house came into view as she charged down the driveway, her foot heavy on the pedal in her eagerness.

  Grabbing her bag she headed to the house, smelling the scent of shank pie that wafted out the door. She let herself in, flung her bag down and went straight for the kitchen.

  Zac was at the table reading Saturday’s paper. He looked well kept with neat short hair and no stubble. He glanced up. ‘Oh, it’s only you,’ he said, going back to his paper. A second later he’d jumped out of his chair to accost her with a hug. ‘Just jokes. Good to see ya, sis.’ He held her at arms-length. ‘Nah, you don’t look any different,’ he teased.

  Jonny put her finger to her lips as she contemplated Zac. ‘Yeah, but you do.’ Jonny touched his head. ‘You’re looking a bit henpecked,’ she teased.

  ‘Oi, piss off,’ he said, pushing her hand away.

  ‘Ha ha. It’s nice to know Nae’s got you under her thumb.’

  Zac’s cheeks turned pink but he couldn’t deny he was still smitten with his new love.

  ‘How is my baby girl?’ said Sandra, coming from the kitchen in a blur of black. On her apron was a massive photo of Hugh Jackman with all his Wolverine muscles.

  ‘Hey, Mum,’ she muffled through her tight squeeze. ‘New apron?’

  ‘Do you like it?’ she said, standing back and touching one of Hugh’s arms. ‘Monique found it on Ebay. She knows how much I love my Hugh.’

  ‘Hmm, I’m sure Dad loves it too,’ she said sarcastically.

  Sandra pulled a face and went back to the kitchen. ‘Grab a seat, darling, lunch is just about ready. Dad’s in the office, can you go get him?’

  Jonny headed through the house, enjoying seeing everything in its place. She loved how reliable and familiar the family home was. She felt safe knowing that some things just didn’t change.

  ‘Hey, Dad.’ She walked into the office, the slate tiles cold under her now bare feet. Her dad was sitting at the desk with his big steel glasses on and still he strained to see the computer screen.

  ‘Hello, darling,’ he said, putting down the bit of paper in his hand and pushing back his chair. ‘Did you just get in? I didn’t hear the dogs barking.’

  ‘Probably cause they knew it was me.’ She hugged her dad. ‘Mum said lunch is ready.’

  He put his glasses on the desk. ‘Great, I need a break from the books.’

  Her dad’s hand was without a bandage and for the first time she could see the redness and scars that remained on his hand. But she didn’t take a close look. Dad was a no-fuss man and he hated the attention. It was the manly way of not showing any pain or discomfort, proving they’re not weak. She had always felt safe and protected beside her strong father all these years.

  ‘What’s for lunch? It smells like shank pie,’ said Charlie as they arrived at the dining table.

  ‘Of course. What did you expect with your royal highness arriving home? I think maybe I should do some fly-in fly-out work. I might get my favourite meals too,’ said Zac, with a sour look on his face.

  Jonny ruffed up his hair. ‘Nah, you still wouldn’t,’ she teased.

  Sandra brought out the first large bowl, the shank bone sticking out from the pastry at the top, and placed it in front of Zac, who smiled at being served first. ‘Now quit your whingeing,’ said Sandra, as she headed back for another.

  ‘I really don’t like that apron,’ said Charlie, when Sandra emerged with the second pie.

  ‘I know, dear. But my Hugh is here to stay.’

  Jonny sniggered.

  ‘So, you coming to the pub tonight? We’re having a little get-together,’ said Zac, after punching a hole in the pastry with his spoon and watching the steam rise.

  ‘Yep, wouldn’t miss it.’ Jonny had been hanging o
ut for it since Ryan had called with the plan. He had Sienna coming as well, as she was in town for counselling sessions.

  Sandra put Jonny’s bowl down.

  ‘Thanks, Mum. It looks fantastic.’

  With her mouth watering, Jonny dug straight in.

  Jonny spent the rest of the day relaxing and catching up on some sleep – much to Zac’s horror. He started calling her JB, as that’s all he ever did when he got home, too.

  By seven she started to get ready for the pub and was so excited to be back in her favourite shorts and army singlet. It was like finally being back in her skin. She brushed her blonde hair out, amazed at its length, and decided to leave it out for a change.

  ‘You ready, princess?’ called Zac from the hallway.

  She ducked out of her room. ‘Yep. Shall we go together?’

  ‘Um . . .’ Zac put his hand on his hip. ‘Actually, I’ll probably stay at Nae’s so you’ll need your own ride.’

  ‘Oh, right. I see. Like that, is it?’ she teased. She ran up to him and wrapped an arm around his waist. ‘Let’s go. I’ll follow you. See ya, Ma and Pa,’ she yelled back into the house before they shut the door.

  Outside she slipped her thongs on while Zac waited. ‘I’m glad you and Nae are still hitting it off. Is it serious . . . like really serious?’

  Zac shrugged sheepishly. He shuffled his thonged feet. ‘We’re happy. But yeah, it’s the real deal. I think it has been for a while now.’

  ‘Right. So, like, marriage?’

  ‘Whoa, steady on,’ he said, holding up his hands.

  Zac’s body was shading her eyes from the last of the setting sun but she kept her eyes on his. He’d made a commotion but she could tell he’d thought about it already. ‘No pressure, just wondering, you know.’

  He shrugged again. ‘Maybe one day,’ he admitted with a smirk. ‘What about you? Snagged some fella at the mine yet?’

  ‘I wish.’

  ‘What? No good ones, or none that will have you?’ he said lightheartedly.

  Jonny stared at the setting sun, letting it burn yellow dots into her retinas until they started to hurt. But still it didn’t distract her from her thoughts. She was still hung up on Daniel and she wasn’t going to share that with Zac. But as it turned out, she didn’t have to.

  ‘You still got bank boy on your mind, hey?’

  Jonny turned her gaze to Zac. ‘Am I that obvious?’

  ‘Only to me, sis.’ He smiled, but it wasn’t a sympathetic smile, it was huge and vibrant, like he thought the whole thing was funny.

  ‘Have you heard from Dan?’ she asked, before chewing on her thumbnail.

  Zac scrunched his brow. ‘Nup. Only once when he first got back to Perth.’

  Yeah, that’d be right, she thought. It’s what she’d expected, right? What Ryan had said all along.

  Zac headed off to his ute, which was parked beside hers. He was usually a bit more understanding. But it had been six weeks, was that supposed to be long enough to get over someone?

  Jonny climbed into her ute as the cloud of dust stirred by Zac’s ute moved towards her. As she drove to the pub she tried to rationalise her thoughts but try as she might it was still way to soon to forget Dan. It probably didn’t help that she still had his photo on her phone and it was what she looked at every night before bed. Sometimes it brought tears of loneliness, sometimes smiles. And sometimes she wondered if it was unhealthy: was she just making it harder on herself? At the pub, she parked in between Zac’s ute and Ryan’s.

  In the pub her friends were settling in at a table. Renae jumped up, running to give Jonny a hug.

  ‘Hey, my friend. I missed you.’

  ‘You too, Nae.’ Renae smelt divine and was dressed in a cute denim skirt and a glittery singlet, which she was sure Zac would appreciate as it emphasised her twin assets.

  ‘Come and grab a seat. I’ll get you a drink. Bourbon?’

  ‘Yes, please. Thanks.’ Jonny saw Ryan and gave him a huge smile as she walked closer. ‘Hey, Coop. How’s the extended break been?’ she asked, bending down to wrap an arm around his neck.

  ‘Bloody awesome,’ he said with a grin.

  ‘Hi, Jonelle,’ said Sienna, who was sitting beside Ryan.

  ‘Hey, Sienna, how’s it going?’ Jonny took the vacant seat beside her.

  Nae put Jonny’s drink down and Jonny scooped it up, taking a big gulp before replying to Sienna’s question about the mines.

  ‘Have you worked on a dump truck yet?’

  ‘Um, just a service,’ she said.

  ‘Did you get to drive it?’ asked Nae.

  She nodded. ‘Yeah, but only to shift it from the shed. Was pretty cool.’

  ‘And I get to drive them all the time,’ said Ryan.

  The conversation continued on about the mine and stuff that had happened in town.

  ‘I’m getting drinks, who’s up?’ Jonny asked. It was nice to be able to relax with her mates and not have to work the next day.

  At the bar she ordered and spared a thought for Rick as she gazed at his numberplate hanging up on the wall near the bar. They’d dubbed it Merrit’s Corner in honour of Rick. He would have loved it, especially as that was the most popular spot in the pub.

  She missed him, and wondered how Gemma was recovering. Renae had said she was back at the bank and Jonny planned to drop in for a visit and see how she was. They had invited her tonight but she had a photography class in the next town. Good to know she had found something she enjoyed doing. ‘Four bourbons and two beers, please, Dennis,’ she said, reaching for her wallet.

  After the next round was finished Zac and Renae stood up. ‘Well, we have a date with the TV,’ Zac said, with a wink.

  ‘What? Now you’re sounding like a married couple,’ said Ryan, while Jonny just cringed at Zac’s euphemism.

  ‘Well, I have to go, too. I have an early start in the morning,’ said Sienna. ‘Thanks for inviting me.’ She waved goodbye and headed up to her room at the pub.

  ‘Well, I’m not ready to stop the party,’ said Ryan. ‘Wanna come back to my place for a nightcap, Jonny? Just like old times. I have Star Wars.’

  ‘Okay, seeing as the party is ruined thanks to Zac, why not?’ She flicked the back of Zac’s head for good measure and headed out to her ute.

  ‘It smells like rain,’ said Jonelle, tilting her head up to the sky.

  ‘Don’t be daft, woman. Someone tell her she’s dreaming,’ chuckled Zac, as he and Renae strolled off arm in arm to her house. ‘It’s probably Nacho with his sprinkler on his precious plants. See ya, sis. Have fun and enjoy. Ya deserve it.’

  ‘Catch ya tomorrow, Jonny. Call me when you’re up and I’ll come around for a cuppa.’

  ‘Will do, Nae. See ya,’ she shot back, getting into her ute.

  She glanced at the sky as she followed Ryan out to his farm. She couldn’t see anything but a glow where the full moon should be. Were they rain clouds? If only, she thought.

  When they arrived there was a dual cab ute out the front. She wondered if Mr C had bought a new one.

  She followed Ryan up the old path using the light from the back door to guide them, the smell of rain teasing her still. Maybe Mrs C just watered the garden this afternoon, she thought.

  ‘Hey, did your dad get a new ute?’ she said, as Ryan held open his door for her and she stepped inside.

  ‘No, that’s mine,’ said a voice from inside.

  Jonny stumbled in shock. Just that voice alone had shot her pulse racing like a near-miss accident. She had dreamed of that velvety voice for so long now. She looked up in a dreamy haze. There was Daniel Tyler, his cheeky smile and gorgeous eyes. Was this for real?

  ‘Jonny,’ said Ryan. ‘Have you met my new roommate?’

  Her mouth couldn’t form a reply. She was like an oxygen-starved fish.

  Ryan laughed and put his hands in his pockets. ‘Well, I might head off to bed and leave you two to catch up.’ He had a glowing grin on his face. ‘I may even watch
a very loud movie,’ he added with a smirk.

  Jonny didn’t even notice him head off down the hallway. She couldn’t take her eyes off Dan in case he disappeared.

  ‘Hey, Jonelle. How are you?’

  He was real? What was he doing here? She wanted to check she was still in Ryan’s house but was scared if she looked away he’d disappear. Had Dennis given her a double shot at the pub?

  ‘You look a bit confused,’ he said, stepping closer.

  Oh, she remembered his heady scent. She wobbled as it swept over her. Here he stood: bare feet, jeans and a white singlet. He looked browner and his arm muscles were more defined. God, he was better than she remembered. A shadow of stubble was rare on him, but so very sexy.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ It was the first of many questions. Was this a visit? Was he here for her? She held her breath.

  ‘Why do you think?’ he said, closing the gap between them and touching her hair. ‘Your hair looks gorgeous out. But I miss the swish of your ponytail, and those dirty overalls.’

  Her knees began to wobble as she reminded herself to breathe. He was so close she could feel his breath against her face. ‘Are you here for long?’ She had to get the words out, to find out what his intentions were before she passed out from wanting him to touch her.

  ‘I’ve moved in with Ryan, is that permanent enough?’

  She was struggling to keep track of her thoughts as his lips inched closer.

  ‘Is that all right with you? Is it okay that I’m back?’ For a moment his face filled with uncertainty and he moved back a fraction.

  ‘Are you here for me?’ she squeaked uncertainly.

  ‘Do you know how hard it is to be away from the woman you love?’ he murmured.

  Jonelle closed the distance, snaked her hands around his hard body and held him tight before she collapsed. ‘Oh my God, really? You love me? Oh Dan, I’ve missed you so much. More than I ever thought was possible.’ She clung to him, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against her chest. ‘I love you too.’

  Dan’s arms tightened around her waist and held her close as she nuzzled into his neck. It felt like he was breathing her in.