AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay,” he replied slowly. That little crease was back between his eyebrows, the endearing one that made Kee want to go up and run her thumb over his forehead until it disappeared. “There are a lot of things that need doing around the lodge that don’t require too much training.” He tipped his head back as he considered the question, revealing the strong, tanned length of his throat. Kee swallowed compulsively. “Skylar might need help with her garden,” he mused, then his eyes refocused and gained a sparkle as an idea came to him. “Have you ever driven a ride-on lawnmower?”
“No. But that doesn't sound too difficult.”
“It’s not. They’re easy as pie, you should be fine with a bit of basic training. Benni can even ride along with you.”
“Can you show me now?” Kee was suddenly filled with enthusiasm. Something to keep her mind off her problems, something to keep her busy while she waited, would be a good thing. A bit of an adventure, as Benni like to say.
“Sure. I’ve got time before dinner. Grab your hat and your shoes. Come on Benni, I’ll help you put your shoes on.”
The lethargy that’d threatened to swallow Kee whole drained from her body. This was good, a way to pay this family back for all their help. She went into the bedroom to put on her shoes and grabbed her hat, and by the time she returned, Wazza and Benni were waiting impatiently by the door.
The heat hit them like a physical blow as they ventured outside, even though it was late afternoon, and she was glad of the hat Wazza had loaned her to keep the sun off her face.
“I’ll have to pass it by Daniella, of course,” Wazza said, as he swung Benni down the two front steps onto the gravel path. “But if she gives the okay, you can start first thing in the morning.”
“Of course.” Kee couldn’t see why Daniella would disagree. “I’d like to help Skylar in her garden, as well. I used to do some gardening with my dad when I was younger.”
“Great.” Wazza led them down past the billabong, showing Kee which sections needed to be mowed. It’d never occurred to her that this lush, green lawn wasn’t just a natural feature. Which was stupid, really. Because, of course, it was part of the well-manicured, glossy, shine that the resort radiated. Benni pottered along behind them, chattering to herself, and picking up anything that interested her.
“The lawnmower is housed in a small shed at the bottom of the orchard. We call it the yellow devil because it can be a bit temperamental at times. But don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it soon.” He gave a lopsided grin.
“Right.” Kee didn’t let his words sour her good mood. It would be fine. She could handle anything. Even something called the yellow devil.
“I’ll show you where it’s kept.”
Making sure that Benni was close behind them, Kee followed Wazza around the side of the lodge and into the kitchen garden. The garden shed was well hidden behind a row of trees that Skylar had told her were Kakadu plums. Which was interesting, because while Kee had heard of them, she never realized they could be cultivated in a normal garden. Skylar had some very interesting ideas about what you could and should eat. It was something Kee would like to learn more about. They wound their way between the trees, Kee ducking to miss some of the branches. She threw a quick glance over her shoulder and saw that Benni was trailing close behind. She’d found a large stick that she was using to draw a line in the dirt and was humming to herself.
Wazza pulled open a sizable roller door in one end of the shed, which, now that she looked at it, was of similar size to a double garage. A gust of scorching air hit them in the face as they stepped inside. It was hotter in here, if that was even possible. A trickle of sweat ran between her shoulder blades.
“It’s over here.” Wazza pointed to a bulky shape looming in the shadows.
“Wow. It’s…bigger than I expected.” The machine looked a little intimidating, greasy and dusty, with four wheels and a seat perched up high on top, it was driven by a steering wheel, and reminded her of a tiny tractor. But she wasn’t going to back down now. She could do this. It was just an overgrown lawnmower, not a ten-tonne semi-trailer.
Wazza showed her how to use the step and then swing up into the seat. He pointed out the starter button, and outlined a few basic protocols on how to mow the grass—up and down the hill toward the billabong, not side to side across the slope. It was called the yellow devil because it smoked like the devil, was often temperamental, sometimes hard to start, and sometimes refused to turn off. But it was as tough as nails, and just kept going and going, which was why Steve wouldn’t get rid of it.
Kee nodded, taking in everything he said, trying to remember it all.
Suddenly, she lifted her head. Where was Benni? She couldn’t see her in the shed. She must be still outside, poking at the trees with a stick. Kee’s shoulders relaxed. That child couldn’t get enough of this place.
But Kee couldn’t rid herself of that itch at the back of her neck. “I’m just going to check on Benni,” she said, jumping lightly down from the lawnmower.
Stepping outside, she squinted into the orchard, back the way they’d come. “Benni,” she called. There was no answer. And no sign of her daughter. A few quick strides took her farther outside. “Benni, where are you?” Still no answer. Her heart rate picked up. She tried to see between the low shrubs that partially hid the billabong from view. Would she have gone that way? Benni had been wearing her purple T-shirt with Minnie Mouse on the front; she loved that T-shirt. The bright color should stand out amongst the browns and dull green of the eucalypts.
Wazza appeared at elbow. “What’s wrong?”
“Benni’s not here.” Her voice took on a high-pitched squeak.
“Well, she can’t have gone far.” Wazza didn’t sound particularly worried. His seeming lack of concern made her heart beat even faster. He didn’t understand. Benni never wandered away. She was a good girl and did she was told.
“You don’t get it. She knows not to leave my sight. I drummed it into her over and over.” Well, she thought she had. Perhaps she’d given her too much credit, because Benni was still only little. Too little to be wandering around a cattle station on her own.
“She’s a smart kid, she’ll be fine,” Wazza replied, taking a few steps so he could look around the other side of the shed.
“She’s only four years old,” Kee snapped. She didn’t care if she sounded desperate and angry, because she was. “How can you downplay this? We need to find her. I need to find her. You’re not her mother. You don’t care about her, like I do.” Kee put her hands on her hat and spun around on the spot, calling out in desperation, “Benni. Benni, where are you? Answer me.” Oh God, what if she’d gone down to the billabong? What if she was drowning in the water right now?
“She can’t swim,” Kee groaned. “What if she fell into the water?”
The thought terrified her, because Kee couldn’t swim, either. How would she rescue her little girl if she was in the water? She had to check.
