Red Sand Sunrise

by Fiona McArthur

  There was nothing to save him. ‘I don’t have a problem with women. I avoid them.’

  He had carved-from-rock facial features and hard grey eyes to match the evening sky. He didn’t look gay.

  ‘No little boyfriend hiding away?’

  His brows went up and then back down to expressionless. Implacable. Hmm. She leaned a little closer. ‘What happens when a woman doesn’t ignore you back?’

  ‘Nothing. Because I don’t notice.’

  She raised her brows and smiled. ‘Nasty.’

  ‘Reality.’

  The devil came out to play and Sienna wondered idly if it was her way of saying to a town that had forced her to live in it that she did things her way.

  She stepped up really close and rested her hand on the solid front of his shirt. Felt the muscles bunch under her fingers, enjoyed the thrill of that. The intensity of her own response surprised her. He was a very good-looking man.

  He glanced up and down the empty street again and she lowered her voice.

  ‘You and I know that’s just a theory. A smokescreen for the masses.’

  He reached out and his big fingers curled around and gripped her biceps. Lifted her body easily out of his space so there was a good foot of air between them and put her down.

  ‘What are you after, Dr Wilson?’

  She shrugged away his hands and resisted the urge to rub the finger­marks she’d bet were on her arms. But her belly was kicking like a mule. He’d shocked her with the movement, but she reckoned she could shock him too.

  ‘A night. Nothing more.’

  She could see the struggle. Phew. At least he was having one – she’d worried she was losing it for a moment there. This whole unexpected confrontation amused her. And inflamed her. He was a powerful man at the mercy of his uptight scruples. Not a lot of those around, and as far as she was concerned it was an aphrodisiac with a capital A.

  And he was so different from the polished and perfumed boys like Mark. What was there to lose? She’d be gone in a couple of months. Less than three, to be exact. She was a woman, footloose and fancy-free. And just a little lonely – and so, it seemed, was Sergeant McCabe.

  ‘An affair?’ His impersonal gaze travelled from the top of her hair to her high-heeled shoes and back again with a leisurely thoroughness that unexpectedly made her skin hot. ‘With you?’ Still no expression.

  She licked her suddenly dry lips. ‘Where would a policeman go to have a torrid little affair in this dust bowl?’

  This time he smiled but it was still at her – not with her. She wasn’t sure she liked being amusing to someone.

  ‘That’s not going to happen, though, because the whole town would know.’

  ‘I could slip into the police residence through the back door.’

  ‘I don’t do lying to people.’

  ‘Really? How do you get along?’

  ‘With celibacy. You should try it.’

  She shook her head. ‘Not interested in that.’

  ‘We’re very old-fashioned around here.’ He held her gaze. ‘But I’ve got an idea.’

  ‘What?’ She tried to read his expression, she really did, but he was giving nothing away. It was like trying to read a big rock wall and you kept looking because there were interesting hand-holds. Really interesting hand-holds.

  Then he said the unexpected. ‘How about you seduce me?’

  Goody. She stepped back in closer and he held up his hand.

  ‘Not with your body. With you.’ That amused but dismissive glance that infuriated her. ‘You could try to make me like you.’

  ‘I don’t care whether you like me.’

  The smile said that didn’t wash. She wasn’t sure how he conveyed the message that she had to play by his rules, but again – intriguing.

  ‘Well, I have to care. Or it’s not on.’

  Sienna sighed, thought about it and didn’t say no. ‘I’ve got nothing else to do after dark.’ They began to walk down the street towards her B&B. She could get to know him a little and her sideways look measured him. ‘So tell me about you. Who is Sergeant McCabe?’

  ‘I don’t talk about myself.’

  ‘Try it. I am actually interested.’ She shrugged as if to say she could hardly believe it herself. ‘You’re bitter, misogynistic, and buried in this sweaty armpit of the world. Alone. Why?’

  He looked down at her coolly. ‘I like this sweaty armpit of the world. I enjoy the harshness, the serenity, the primitive order of basic survival. Perhaps if you gave Red Sand a chance without expecting the worst the town might grow on you too.’

  She shook her head and scanned the immediate vicinity. ‘I am here as a means to an end. As soon as my job is done I am out of here.’

  ‘I’m not liking you.’

  ‘Tough.’ She batted her eyelashes at him. They’d come up to her gate. She should exit while she was still ahead. If she was ahead. How the hell did you make someone like you? She had no idea. It wasn’t something she’d ever wasted time on before. ‘Interesting talking to you. Maybe I’ll try harder tomorrow.’ She turned to go and glanced back over her shoulder. ‘Or not.’

  The next morning at breakfast she cornered Fran. ‘So where do the young people go to flirt and grope each other in the dark out here, Fran? It feels like everyone is watching everyone in this town.’

  Fran smiled and it was singularly sweet. She was too nice to be true, Sienna decided.

  ‘It only feels like that if you’re contemplating doing something you don’t want to advertise.’

  Sienna had always been impatient if the answer was coming too slowly. She gave up on Fran being any help.

  Fran picked up on it. She was nice, but not slow. ‘There’s the creek out the back of the pub, down by the river. Or the lake.’ Fran sighed. ‘I loved going out to the lake when my husband was courting me.’

  ‘A lake? Out here?’ Well, she guessed there must be a couple – seeing as how the damn people who had all the money owned Diamond Lake Station! ‘So how do I get to the lake?’

  ‘Just go back out to the edge of town, the Brisbane side, and you’ll see the sign.’ She looked a little dubious. ‘Not sure your car would make it, though – there’s a lot of ruts and sand.’

  Well, that was fine then. Sergeant McCabe could take her to the lake. Maybe she could go for a wander around lunchtime and tee up this afternoon’s sunset. She thanked Fran, picked up her bag and let herself out.

  At work a few minutes later, Eve knocked at the door and Sienna glanced up.

  ‘Well, I’m not interrupting because you haven’t started yet.’

  ‘Was that one of those “attack is the best form of defence” openers?’

  ‘Probably. Just letting you know Callie won’t be in today because Sylvia isn’t feeling well.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘And I’ll be out all day as I’m doing home visits in the ambulance.’

  ‘So I’ll be able to get lots done.’

  Eve smiled. ‘That you will, big sister. Bet you miss me.’ With that she was gone and Sienna assured herself she wasn’t that needy.

  At lunchtime Sienna glanced around the empty rooms as she left. Funny old day at work. Maybe it was more fun when Eve was there but she got a heck of a lot more work done when she wasn’t.

  She would finish this and get herself back to Melbourne where she belonged.

  Sienna spied Sergeant McCabe heading back to his little police station as she stepped out onto the street. She could just go home to her B&B and Fran would have cold pie waiting for her in the fridge (it seriously was not a B&B in the true sense of the term) or she could harass the good sergeant. She knew which promised to be more fun.

  She came up behind him. Though he didn’t turn, she knew he knew who was there. He had awareness all around. The thought made her smile.

  ‘I hear you have a nice little lake around here?’

  He turned to look at her. There was nothing to read in his face, as usual. ‘So?’

 
; ‘Apparently my toy car wouldn’t make it.’

  ‘No. Road’s very rough.’

  ‘Man of few words. That could get old.’

  There was a tiny hint of a smile lurking at the corner of that stern mouth and she’d bet it was against his better judgement. Sienna felt a ridiculous surge of satisfaction. Gotcha.

  ‘Excuse me, Sergeant. Would you have a vehicle that would make it an easy drive?’

  ‘Could have. Why?’

  ‘Apparently the sunset is very beautiful out there and I’m keen to find something beautiful in this place.’

  A little tinge of sarcasm. ‘I’d have thought that was the last thing you were looking for.’

  ‘I think you’re pretty.’

  ‘Don’t talk nonsense. Doesn’t suit you.’ Then he shrugged. ‘Guess I could. Around five. I haven’t been out there for a while. Save me having to open the gates.’

  ‘Gee, thanks.’

  ‘You don’t have to come.’

  ‘But that was the whole point of asking.’

  Four hours later Sienna bounced along beside Sergeant McCabe in the cab of a very ‘hardy’ four-wheel drive. What the hell was this guy’s name?

  ‘What is your first name?’

  ‘Thor.’

  She laughed out loud. ‘I can’t believe you said that!’

  ‘Lucius?’

  ‘Nup.’

  ‘Colin.’

  ‘Please, no.’

  He laughed this time. It was the first time she’d heard the sound. It was very short but incredibly satisfying to hear – a strange feeling for Sienna. ‘You surprise me . . . whatever your name is.’

  ‘Douglas.’

  ‘Douglas.’ She thought about that. Strong. Manly. Understated. Yep. That suited him.

  ‘I can do Douglas.’

  ‘Only if I let you.’

  It was her turn to laugh again. He amused her. Big time. And he turned her on something wicked.

  Then the lake came into view. Out of nowhere.

  ‘Now that’s unexpected.’ Everything was unexpected out here.

  She could hear the disbelief in his voice. ‘How is that unexpected? You knew there was a lake out here. Asked me to show you, in fact.’

  She refused to bite. ‘Smart alec. I meant I didn’t expect this.’ She pointed. It was huge. And gorgeous.

  He slowed as they pulled up at a picnic area complete with descriptive signage and rustic picnic table. She opened her door and climbed out as soon as he stopped. Sienna spread her arms out. She ignored whether he was getting out as she was drawn to the edge of the still water, where the roots of a huge white and brown spotted gum reached into the water like fingernails dipped in nail polish. She smiled at herself. She’d bet he wouldn’t get that image.

  Overhanging branches shadowed the foliage in the water with an echoed semicircle of tiny water succulents, and where the sun struck, the bronzed water lay still and silent, not telling tales yet redolent with history.

  He came up to stand beside her, raising his nicely muscled arm to point. ‘Normally this place is full of grey nomads camping in their vans. But the track is too rough for them at the moment, until the council grader comes in and fixes it.’

  ‘My little car would not have made it.’

  ‘No. Can you see the emus and black swans across the other side?’

  ‘Emus.’ She looked in the direction he’d indicated and saw a herd of grey-flecked fluffy emus treading with stately precision through the water. She flashed him a genuine smile. ‘I like emus.’

  ‘You would. The females are not maternal.’

  ‘Career emus, you mean?’

  That almost got a smile. He looked down at her and she was sure there was a twitch. ‘Hmm. Babies are brought up by the father emu for the first two years. Did you know that?’

  ‘Makes a lot of sense. I’m all for that. Probably the only way I’d ever have kids.’

  ‘You didn’t look like you had a maternal bone.’

  ‘None that I can find personally.’

  She’d made him smile but she didn’t feel warmed by it.

  ‘Then why are you an obstetrician?’

  Unexpectedly the truth came out. ‘My friend died having a baby. I wanted to stop that happening. Only way I could say sorry that I wasn’t there for her.’

  ‘I get that.’

  She looked at him, Mr ‘I feel guilty about something I’m not sharing with you’.

  ‘I guess you do,’ she said thoughtfully, then glanced back at the birds. ‘So I like emus.’

  ‘Nice to have found something you like from around here.’

  She batted her eyelashes at him. ‘Oh, come on. I like the lake.’ She glanced up at the giant gum. ‘I like this tree.’ She saw his mouth soften.

  She teased him. ‘You couldn’t call it a smile, but nearly. Admit it. I just scored a point.’

  The softening disappeared and she laughed at him, then turned and walked away along the edge of the lake. She could feel his gaze resting on her. Sienna not so innocently bent over and picked up a shiny leaf to show off her rear end. She heard him laugh and wandered back to him at the table. He just watched her.

  She smiled. ‘Let’s have a glass of wine.’

  ‘I’m driving.’

  ‘You’re allowed one glass. That won’t put you over the limit.’

  ‘No,’ he said, implacable. ‘Go ahead. I’ll watch.’

  ‘As always,’ she said coyly, making her way back to the car.

  He reached in behind her and his muscles bulged as he lifted out the basket she’d packed. It was almost worth the weight she’d struggled with back from the shop just to see that.

  ‘What the hell have you got in here?’

  ‘I had much difficulty stocking it from the local store. They seriously need a deli here.’

  Exasperated, he put it on the old wooden picnic table that had seen a lot of extreme weather down here by the lake. ‘Why would you possibly need a delicatessen out here?’

  ‘Choices. Just because we’re out in the armpit of the world doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have access to the choices those in the city have.’

  ‘Yes, it does – if you owned the shop you’d have to wait for some passing tourist to buy your stuff because nobody in town would touch it with a barge pole.’

  She started laying out the picnic basket. Tablecloth. Glasses. Bottle of white wine and some biscuits. Cheese. She unscrewed the lid and poured herself a wine. Sienna looked at him as she hovered over the second glass she’d put out. ‘You sure?’

  He looked at her as if he didn’t get it and shook his head. ‘Do you have to do something all the time? Can’t you just sit?’

  She glanced over her shoulder at him. ‘If you sit, you die. Or life passes you by.’

  ‘Not in my experience.’ As if he wished it would.

  She tilted her head at him with full attention before taking a sip. ‘And what is your experience, Sergeant McCabe?’

  ‘This and that.’

  She turned to face him fully and studied his lean features. The harsh lines at the side of his mouth. The saving wrinkles around his eyes that said sometimes he found life comical, though she’d seen precious little of that in him.

  ‘So I would say the army.’ She looked harder. ‘Inscrutable special forces or medic?’ He watched her, deadpan, as she went on. ‘Some tragedy that you blame yourself for has soured your life and you came out here in penance.’

  ‘That’s enough.’ He stood up, then abruptly turned back to her. ‘What about you?’ There was a bite to his response. ‘Lost your dad very young, did you? A couple of failed relationships? Decided to use men from there on in so they didn’t use you?’

  She shrugged, immune to this sort of response. ‘Pretty much. But then, I’m achieving what I want in life. Are you?’

  ‘Wouldn’t have picked you for a woman who wanted to do research in the outback.’

  She waved her hand dismissively. ‘This is temporary.’


  ‘I’m thinking everything is temporary for you.’

  She frowned at him. ‘Nothing wrong with temporary.’ She glanced around at the deserted lake. They were fencing when it seriously wasn’t necessary, but she had to admit it was amusing.

  ‘Listen. Why don’t we just slip in there behind those bushes and go at it hammer and tongs? Get this ridiculous attraction thing out of the way and then we can go our separate ways. I really don’t think this “friends first” thing is going to work.’

  ‘I’m not that kind of guy.’

  She sighed. ‘Pity.’ She’d tried and now she was just a little over it. Sienna turned back to the picnic basket she’d brought and peered inside. Held up a piece of cheese. ‘Cheddar? Would you like a biscuit with your water?’

  TWENTY-FIVE

  Callie looked at the two lines on the pregnancy test strip and sank onto the edge of the bath. It couldn’t be. With Kurt it had taken years to fall pregnant with Bethany; she’d been told it was unlikely she’d ever fall again. No wonder she hadn’t thought of it.

  The specialist had said it was her lack of eggs that had been the problem, and now one mad moment with Bennet and she was pregnant. The crazy idea had come to her last night when she’d been lying in bed and her belly had fluttered.

  Her father had been gone five months, so she was almost that far along. It seemed medical centres weren’t all Bennet could build.

  ‘Whoa. Whoa.’ She bent forwards as she puffed out the words.

  She was forty. It had to be something else. She dropped the stick in the bin and felt her breasts. Tender. But they’d been tender a couple of times a month for a few years now.

  Periods. Well, she was so irregular it had never really been a surprise if they were late or absent.

  Her hand slid down to her belly. There was a definite roundness she’d previously attributed to Eve’s love of after-dinner chocolate. Her mind flew to the young pregnant women who streamed in and out of the clinic. That was her now! Except she wasn’t young. And she didn’t have a husband.

  Whoa. The nausea came out of nowhere like a road train in the night as it whooshed up her throat and left her shuddering over the bowl. She really was pregnant. Or in shock. Or both.