The Sunburnt Country (12 page)

He took the first lap easy until he got a feel for the track, and by the second lap he was getting game. Then he felt a tap to the back end of his car. He checked the rear-vision mirror and there was Zac, giving him a wave. Before he knew it, Zac had overtaken him.

‘Smart arse.’ Momentarily blinded by dust coming in the broken side window, Dan began to drift and straightened up just in time to miss a patch of shrubs. ‘Oh shit.’ Then he started to laugh. He’d never experienced anything so thrilling. Now he had Zac in his sights and he wasn’t letting him get away. He followed the back end of the Commodore, a speck of blue in the red dust. Luckily the visor was down on his helmet. He didn’t fancy choking.

A white panel caught his eye as another car whizzed past. It was the dented Torana. Was Jonelle driving it? It had to be her. He raced hard behind them but couldn’t catch the more practised two. He thought Zac had been quick but when he watched the Torana overtake the Commodore with ease it was hard not to be impressed.

After she had lapped him again he pulled out from the track and parked. A ute was there and on the back of the tray were two blokes, watching with beers in their hands. Zac’s father and brother, he guessed. Dan pulled off the helmet, coughed out some dust that had filtered through and left the helmet on the bonnet. He made his way over to the ute.

‘You must be the bank dude,’ said the younger guy. ‘I’m Ted.’

‘I’m Dan,’ he said, holding out his hand.

Ted helped Dan onto the back of the tray. He was only a few years older than Dan, and looked more serious than Zac, but they shared the same jawline. Ted smiled as he shook Dan’s manicured hand with his own large worn one. He was a fit guy, much like Zac but more filled out, and he could look imposing with his short brown hair clipped like a prison inmate’s and the full-sleeve tattoo on his arm.

When Dan turned around he could see the whole track and caught glimpses of Zac’s and Jonelle’s cars racing around.

‘Those two,’ laughed Zac’s dad. ‘Anyone would think they were racing for sheep stations.’ Then he turned to Dan, holding out a hand. ‘How are ya? I’m Charlie. Beer?’ Charlie had a jovial face with a salty beard and bushy eyebrows. His eyes were warm and friendly.

‘Sure, thanks.’

Charlie reached into the esky behind him, pulled out a beer and handed it to Dan.

‘Cheers.’ He took a mouthful and enjoyed the cool liquid in the warmth of the dusty afternoon. ‘So, does this happen often?’ he asked.

‘It used to. Now with Jonny running her own business and JB off at the mines, the cars just sit and collect spiders,’ said Charlie, as he rubbed his balding head. Dan noticed Charlie’s hands. They looked like worn tools, callused and scarred with dirt. His nails were short, stained black underneath.

‘Zac should give up. He’s only in the lead because he’s cheating,’ said Ted.

He was right. Zac was weaving all over the track so Jonelle couldn’t pass, but then he slipped wide a little and she poked the nose of the Torana up the inside. Zac brought his car back and with a crunch the cars came together, but Jonelle held steady until she began to speed ahead. She passed the finish line – two old drums painted with black and white checks, positioned on either side of the track.

‘Great. Now we don’t have to listen to him brag,’ laughed Ted as the two cars pulled up beside the Datsun, sending a dust cloud their way.

Zac and Jonny were grinning like kids as they walked over to the ute. Ted had beers waiting for them.

‘God, I’ve missed this,’ said Jonelle. ‘You haven’t got any better, though,’ she said to Zac.

‘I think my back tyre was going flat,’ he said, making everyone laugh.

‘I’d lose gracefully if I were you, son,’ said Charlie with a smirk.

Ted slapped his leg. ‘Okay, my turn. Who’s game?’

‘Me,’ said Zac, giving his beer to Jonelle and heading back to the car.Jonelle swapped places with Ted, standing between Dan and Charlie

She sure was something, all right
, Dan thought, as he watched her hair blow around her face, which was flushed from the sun. She smiled as Zac and Ted hit the track.
Her smile
, thought Dan, captivated.

‘Oh no. Look!’ she said, touching him to get his attention. Her fingers sent shockwaves up his arm. But no sooner had she touched him than she drew her fingers away. He didn’t care that Ted and Zac had just run off the track after colliding with a bang. He was too busy trying to figure out what it was about her that affected him so much.

After their prang, the boys pulled off the track near Jonny’s car, Zac’s bumper hanging off the back of his car. Charlie jumped down from the tray and pulled it off, then gave Zac a slap on the back.

‘Must be my turn to show you young whippersnappers how it’s done,’ Charlie said, with a glint in his eye.

‘I’ll race you, Dad,’ said Jonelle. ‘Can you hold this for me please, Dan?’ she asked, thrusting out her beer. Her bold gaze made his heart miss a beat. To have her smile at him like that as she said his name triggered all sorts of unspeakable thoughts.

Without a word, he took her beer and watched her jump down and head to her Torana.

‘Your dad’s racing?’ Dan said in disbelief as Zac and Ted joined him.

‘Yeah, of course. Who do you think built the track for us in the first place? Dad built us go-karts when we were really little, then we moved onto cars.’

Dan turned his gaze back towards the sheds, trying to hide the ache of jealousy that echoed through his chest. Charlie had four kids who he obviously adored and loved spending time with, and for once in his life Dan felt like he’d missed out on something special. As he swallowed the lump in his throat, he wished that his father could look at him the way that Charlie looked at his kids. But you got what you got. Dan was born in a different place, with different ideals and values. He couldn’t have this. His life was mapped out before him. As the dust swirled towards them from the passing cars, Dan smiled. He was happy just to enjoy this afternoon with some great country people.

I’M home. Can you visit?
Jonny had jumped on the spot when she got the text at three o’clock on Tuesday afternoon. Ryan was home!

Of course she could visit. She’d wrapped up the service on Gemma’s little Barina and stripped off her overalls in record time. She’d been that excited to see Ryan she’d almost forgotten to clean her hands. It wasn’t until she got in the ute, hanging onto the steering wheel, that she realised how dirty they were. They blended in with the black wheel. She’d raced to the sink, soaped her hands, washed them and then jumped back in the ute while drying her hands on her shorts.

Jonny pulled up outside the pub and gave the horn a few short blasts. Renae came out seconds later.

‘Hi ya. Thanks for picking me up,’ she said, climbing in. ‘I was going to bring some beers and then thought maybe that wasn’t a good idea.’ Renae gave her an uncertain smile. Her blonde hair was swept up into a messy bun, which looked perfect, and large gold hoops adorned her ears.

‘Yeah, best not, hey. He’s supposed to stay away from that stuff.’

‘Is Zac coming too?’ Renae asked.

It had always been the four of them. When they were younger, Renae and Jonny had hated ‘the boys’ – Ryan and Zac had always enjoyed tormenting them – but by their teenage years the four of them had formed a tight group.

‘He can’t get away from the farm cause they’re halfway through a new fence. But he’s going to try to see him tomorrow or Friday.’

They drove in silence for a while as they headed out of town. But it didn’t last long. It never did with Renae.

‘So,’ she said, turning to face Jonny. ‘I hear Dan came out to the farm on Sunday.’

Jonny frowned. ‘How did you hear that? No one left the farm except me and I never said anything.’

Renae smiled so wide she looked like she was going to burst.

‘Well, Zac told me on the phone yesterday —’

‘Really? What did Zac want?’ she asked curiously.

‘Oh, he just rang to see if I was rostered on at the pub, cause he wanted to know if there were many people there and if it was worth coming in. Anyway, can I get back to my story?’

Jonny waved Renae on as she drove along the simmering bitumen.

‘So, Zac told me about Sunday, said he’d had fun and that he nearly got you this time.’

‘I
caned
him,’ she protested. ‘Zac likes to exaggerate.’

Renae nodded. ‘But he looks so cute when he gets excited.’

‘Oh, please. You always did like the silly little puppies.’ Jonny glanced at her friend. Something was sounding alarm bells in Jonny’s mind. She thought back to how quickly Renae gave up on Daniel. She always got the hot guys. Was she really giving Dan up because she thought Jonny wanted him, or was it something else?

Renae ignored her comment. ‘Anyway, while I was at the shop I ran into Daniel. So I asked him how his weekend was, told him I’d heard he went out to Zac’s. Well, you should have seen his face light up! I mean, he’s good-looking, but when he really smiles, like when it goes right through him and into his eyes, he’s just gorgeous.’ Renae held her hands up in confusion. ‘What are you doing? Why haven’t you tapped that yet?’

‘I could say the same to you,’ Jonny said, laughing.

‘Okay, getting off the beaten track. So then he starts saying how amazing it was racing the cars and being with your family. That it was the most fun he’s had in a long time.’

‘He must live a sad life, if that’s the only fun he’s ever had,’ she replied. But really she was remembering how much fun it had been and that seeing Dan so excited by something they all loved said a lot. It just made it that much harder to keep him in the ‘don’t touch, don’t even go there’ box.

She had figured Dan was the boring workaholic type; fun was probably not in his fancy vocabulary. But he’d proved her wrong, even if it was just this once.

‘And he even mentioned you.’

Jonny flicked her gaze across the ute to Renae, hoping her interest didn’t register on her face. Renae would have a field day just knowing Jonny thought Dan was all right.

‘And . . .’

‘
We-e-e-lll
, he said he’d never seen anyone like you before. Said you were amazing to watch racing in your Torana. His exact words.
I
think he fancies you.’

‘Ha. Talk about jumping to conclusions.’

‘I’m serious.’

‘I doubt it. I’m always giving him grief.’ It was true. She really hadn’t gone out of her way to make him feel welcome. But there had been a connection between them, right from the start on the side of the road. And even out at the farm he’d almost seemed normal. She had to admit that Renae was right – when Dan smiled he was blindingly handsome.

‘Ah, here we are. Wonder how he’s going?’ Jonny said as they pulled in to Ryan’s driveway, glad of the opportunity to change the subject.

Renae started squeezing her hands together. ‘Um, Jonny, I’m really nervous about seeing Ryan. That’s okay, right? It’s just I’m not sure how to act around him and that just feels wrong. I mean, it’s Ryan, it’s just Ryan, right?’

Jonny turned off the ute and sighed at her friend. ‘Of course it’s just Ryan. It’s the same old Ryan. Don’t worry, Nae. I was feeling just like you, but once you see him, you’ll see that he’s still the same old doofus. It’ll be fine.’

‘So do we not mention anything about that day?’ Her eyes were huge with worry.

Jonny shrugged. ‘Only if it comes up. I don’t know, just be yourself.’

They climbed out of the ute and Ryan flung open the back door of the house before they could reach the handle.

‘Hi ya, ladies,’ said Ryan. He stood with a cocky grin, his hair poking up at odd angles and his shorts slung low on his hips.

Renae almost squealed as she jumped into his arms. ‘Coop, thank God,’ she said, hugging him tightly, and then the tears came rolling down her chin.

Ryan bent and kissed Renae’s head and whispered, ‘I know, I’m sorry.’

Renae smiled through her tears. ‘You’re forgiven, just this once.’ She hugged him again, as if to make sure he was really there.

‘Can we take this inside? It’s too hot and you’re letting in the flies,’ said Jonny, who pushed between them to hug Ryan before ushering everyone inside. Jonny walked into the kitchen and found only a couple of dishes in the sink.

‘Wow. The place still looks good. I’m impressed.’

‘Big thanks to you,’ he said as he nudged her shoulder. ‘I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Jonny. Especially in the computer room.’

‘Well, we’ve barely started in there. We just tied up the loose ends. Next comes the hard part of figuring out where to go from here. Are you up to doing an ad for the house? We could put it in the
Countryman,
Elders
and on the internet. I think that’ll get the ball rolling.’

Ryan pulled out a dining chair and motioned for them to sit. ‘I reckon it’s a plan.’

‘This house really is a bit big and pointless,’ said Renae, plonking down next to him. ‘I mean, it was all Alana’s doing and it will be good to be rid of her.’ Renae cringed at her choice of words. ‘I mean . . .’ Her face went pale and Ryan smiled.

‘Yeah, just stop digging your hole, Nae,’ laughed Jonny.

Ryan drummed his fingers on the wooden table. ‘But you’re right, Nae. The less reminders of Alana, the better.’

‘Yes, that’s what I meant. We can’t dwell on the past. What’s done is done. Just piss her off for good and begin a brighter future.’

‘You make my future sound great, Nae. But I don’t think it’s going to be anywhere close to bright.’

Jonny put her hand on Ryan’s arm. ‘Maybe it won’t be for a while, Ryan. Yeah, there are things that need sorting, for sure, but you’re not doing it alone. And no one said you couldn’t have some fun along the way. Shall we drop the yabby nets in? Have a feast tonight?’

‘If we can find some. At least it won’t cost us anything,’ he smiled.

‘I’m in. I’ll make my mum’s special yabby sauce, too.’ Nae jumped up and checked Ryan’s fridge for ingredients.

‘So how’s it really going?’ Jonny asked him quietly.

Ryan shrugged a shoulder. ‘Okay, I guess. Mum and Dad have been great through all of this. Mum’s happy to be back in her house and has been coming down to check on me, and Dad’s all keen to get back into the farm stuff. But at some stage we have to tackle the nasty bits.’

‘Don’t worry too much about that. I have Daniel helping and I’m positive there are ways to keep your farm. I know we can fix it.’

‘Such enthusiasm and faith, Jonelle Baxter. Half the time I reckon it’s you who keeps this town glued together.’

‘I wish. Come on. Let’s get the nets in.’

Out in the shed, Jonny put dog kibbles into a couple of stockings while Ryan put the nets on the ute. Renae sat nearby with her pen poised, ready to draft the ad for the house.

‘So, how about four bedrooms, two bathrooms, transportable, for sale. You collect.’

‘It’s a start. But how much do we sell it for?’ Ryan asked.

‘Well, it’s only two years old, so it won’t be too far off the original price.’

‘When we get home we’ll check online to see what’s selling, get a rough guide to what’s out there. But you’re going to have to start high and see how much interest you get. You want maximum dollars and I’m sure some city person will snap it up, or at least someone from an area not suffering from the drought.’ Renae tapped the pen against her lips in thought.

With a clang Ryan put the last net on the tray and they all climbed in. Jonny had already claimed the driver’s seat, which meant Ryan could open his own gates.

Both windows were wound down, and Jonny rested her elbow on the hot metal of the door as the breeze swept in.

‘Go to that dam, Jonny,’ Ryan directed. ‘I’ve been keeping the water in it for the last of my stud rams and to keep some yabbies. Hopefully when we get enough rain to fill my other dams, I’ll be able to restock. Not a bad little bit of pocket money selling them, especially with the overseas buyers.’

‘Hmm, it’s a shame you need water to keep them alive. You could have used that money now,’ said Renae.

Ryan chuckled before it turned into a full laugh. ‘Oh, Nae, that wouldn’t be anywhere near enough to get me out of the shit.’

‘Oh. What about selling your house, will that be enough?’

‘Well, if we can get near two hundred thousand for it, it’ll certainly go a long way to keeping the farm going. I can’t afford more sheep but the money could help get next year’s crop in. That’d be a start.’

‘You need another source of income,’ Jonny added.

‘Tell me about it,’ Ryan said. ‘I’ve heard of fellas starting crutching cradles as a side business, or going shearing, but not many sheep left around these parts so kinda rules those options out.’

In silence, they drove back towards the sheds, passing Debbie in the garden of Ryan’s old house. ‘What’s your mum up to in this heat?’

‘Well, I mentioned your idea of selling the house and they’ve taken it upon themselves to get the old one ready for me to move back into. I told them I’d just move back in with them, but Mum said that’s no good for a single bloke my age. And with their house just behind it, she reckons she’s close enough to keep an eye or two on me.’ Ryan rolled his eyes. ‘Besides, I still think she’s hoping I’ll find another wife and have some kids.’

‘Hey, it’s early days. You’re not over the hill just yet,’ Renae said, smiling. ‘And she’s right, the perfect woman for you is still out there somewhere. Just you wait and see. If not, we’ll put you on
Farmer Wants a Wife
,’ she said, with a cackle.

‘Thanks, Nae.’

Jonny turned around and went back to the old house. ‘Let’s give ya mum a hand. We have time to kill before pulling in the nets.’

Renae was keen but Ryan looked less than impressed. Three hours later, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, they sat around with Ryan’s parents in the fire hazard garden they’d all just tidied. Barry was watching over the cooking yabbies, adding extra garlic to the water as they boiled over on the portable gas burner. The rest of them sat on plastic chairs breaking apart the yabbies and peeling out the fleshy tails. Renae was chatting to Debbie about plants for the garden that would be cost-effective and hardy.

‘I can get heaps of cuttings off the school garden plants and with a bit of TLC they’ll look great.’

Jonny dipped the meat from the tail into the container of water, cleaning it before dunking it into Renae’s sauce. She glanced at Ryan, who was using his teeth to crack through the hard shell of a claw. He winked at her before sucking the meat out.

It was moments like these that Jonny lived for, sitting with friends enjoying the good life. She had never once thought of leaving Bundara. It had been hard enough leaving when she was doing her apprenticeship at TAFE, but now there was no reason for her to ever leave again and that’s the way she liked it. Everything she needed was here. Jonny watched the last of the sun disappear, its bright rays hitting a wisp of cloud and lighting it up like the sun did the moon. If only that cloud could multiply into a thousand black ones heavily loaded with rain that would spill their large bellies onto the dry earth. One day soon, the drought had to break.