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We circled around looking again at the smoke. Even though I kept one eye on it, I was distracted. By Craig. In the saddle he was a drink of cool water, and I was thirsty as hell. Dressed in faded jeans that looked soft to the touch, with a rip at the knee and an old Metallica tee, he was hardly the epitome of style, but those jeans hugged his thick thighs and muscular arse and the tee pulled tight across his shoulders, his pecs and biceps bulging under the fabric. His white straw hat was ridiculous, but so classically Craig’s “I don’t give a fuck” attitude that it suited him perfectly. Every part of him was fit and firm and like I wanted Ally, I wanted him too. The picture he cast up there in the saddle was irresistible. His natural ability as a horseman was on show, and I drank in his easy gait. Holding the reins loosely in his right hand, he used subtle shifts in his weight and movements of his feet to guide Daisy, and she responded immediately.
With a click of his tongue, he set off, then looked over his shoulder, grinning at me. “You comin’ or you gonna sit there staring?”
“Calm your tits.” I grinned right back at him and nudged Spook to catch up.
We returned to the homestead at a trot and went straight to the stable to get the gear off the horses and let them into the paddock. I looked out, watching the smoke, and seeing the change in direction of the wind.
Then there were car tyres spinning. Dirt and gravel being kicked up. Ally screamed for Scottie, panic in her voice.
My heart stopped. Then it thudded, strong and fast. Craig was already running towards them as my legs unlocked and I sprinted. I cleared the fence in two bounds, and caught Craig as he stumbled, hauling him with me. I expected to see an accident that would have Scottie fighting for his life, or worse. But all I could see in the distance was a dust cloud.
I still didn’t stop running, skidding to a halt only when I was beside her. Craig was close behind me.
Ally was shaking. Sobs wracked her body.
“Ally?” I grasped her arms and hauled her to me. She came willingly, burying her face in my chest. “What’s going on?”
“Macca’s out there.” Her voice wobbled and she held onto me tighter. “He’s not with Waru, and Waru’s not answering. The wind shifted and now he’s out there alone and directly in the path of the fire.”
“Christ.” I dared not utter what I feared. Scottie would be lucky to make it in time. Unless he was driving like a bat outta hell, we’d be recovering Macca’s body. But I had a feeling Scottie wouldn’t be giving up easily. He’d risk his neck for every one of us, but there was something that told me he’d go the extra mile for Macca. Usually he was buttoned up tight, but there’d been a spring in his step and a tiny smile on his face ever since Macca had retuned. I suspected that Scottie’s feelings went far deeper than them being just mates. Macca too though—he looked at Scottie like he’d created the blue of the sky and the red of the dirt just for him. The kid was filled with wide-eyed wonder for every detail of the station, but he practically worshipped the ground Scottie walked on. Some of the looks they shared when they didn’t think anyone was watching had me half believing that every ounce of sweetness and adoration they harboured for each other translated into fire between the sheets.
Now it was a waiting game to see if Scottie would reach him in time. I prayed he would, because the alternative—Scottie losing him, this station losing him—was unfathomable.
An hour had passed. Each second seemed interminable, every tick going slower than the last.
“Jesus Christ, I hope he’s got him.” Ally paced, her boots thudding against the timber floors of the homestead. Ordinarily Ma would have clipped her across the back of the head for wearing boots inside. This time it was the least of our concerns.
She dialled the satellite phone again. No answer.
Hanging up, she slammed her fist on the kitchen bench and wiped tears away again. Yindi was beside herself, huddled between Ma and Nan, rocking as she sat waiting for Waru to come home safe. Den and Jono were pouring over old maps, spread out on the table, calculating distances, wind direction and measuring water supplies. If the wind turned again and the fire headed towards the homestead, we likely wouldn’t have anything to save it with. Water was already scarce. Fighting a fire—any fire—would make it run out quick smart.
Ally dialled again and she laugh-cried. “Oh my God, Waru, it’s good to hear your voice. Where are you? Are you safe?”
I couldn’t hear what was being said on the line, but Ally was nodding at Yindi. The older women comforted each other, Yindi covering her mouth and silently sobbing. Ally wiped the tears streaking down her cheeks with the heel of her hand and whispered, “Get to them. Please.”
She hung up and, with shaking hands, dialled the satellite phone we’d given Pete. Again. There was still no answer. Nothing. Scottie had left without one, so we had no way of contacting him, and we were all still on edge. Dialling again and again, swearing under her breath every time there was no answer, Craig gently prised it from her hand as she was about to slam the phone against the bench. “Where the fuck is he?” she shouted. “He can’t be dead!”
Craig hit redial and closed his eyes, as if begging our guest to pick up. I didn’t know how he did it, but the ringing stopped and a muffled voice came over the line, so quiet we could barely hear him. Ally screeched, “We need to find him.”
“I got to him, Ally. I got him.” Scottie sounded shaken to the core, his voice unsteady, and full of emotion.
“Oh, thank God.” She went lax against Craig. “We’ve been trying to call, but he didn’t answer.”
“What about Waru?” Scottie asked.
“He’s okay. He should be there any second.”
“All right. I’m bringing him home. I’ll speak to you soon.” The line clicked off and I stepped forward, running my fingers through her hair. Craig looked like he’d aged a decade in ninety minutes. I didn’t blame him; I was feeling it too. There could have been a very different outcome to that call, one that I didn’t want to contemplate. Craig hugged Ally tight and I squeezed his shoulder before leaning down to kiss Ally’s head. Craig’s smile was relieved, and I noticed the shake in his hands as he ran one through his hair.
“That was far too bloody close for comfort. You young ones will be the death of me.” Nan’s comment broke the tension and was exactly what we needed to get smiles on all our faces. This should be a celebration—one to match the relief we were all filled with.
Ma got up and went outside, arm in arm with Yindi. Nan followed and we took the cue too, going to wait for the trio outside. We didn’t spot them coming, unable to make out the two columns of dust being kicked up by the vehicles against the haze of grassfire smoke. The acrid stench in the grey-brown air would hang around for days unless the desert winds blew it away—but that was the last thing we wanted. Wind would only fan the flames and even though the fire had passed us, we weren’t out of the woods yet. The cattle were close by so we could get to them, but even if we were there for them, we wouldn’t be able to do much. The lack of water meant we were little more than sitting ducks, completely at Mother Nature’s mercy.
Waru pulled up to the homestead first and Yindi sprinted to him, jumping into his arms and touching every inch of his face and chest. They stood there, wrapped in each other for long moments. When Scottie parked a few feet away, all eyes shifted to him and Macca. Scottie got out and dashed around to the passenger side and my gut clenched. Was Macca okay? Surely Scottie would have said something if he wasn’t. Jono could have had the chopper ready to go so we could get him to help quicker. Instead, Scottie helped him out and pulled him in his arms, kissing him gently. Forehead to forehead, they whispered and both men smiled, never letting go. My heart beat hard, expanding and spreading a warmth through my chest. Happiness for my boss—my friend—filled me to overflowing, and I pulled Ally close, hugging her as she wiped her face from her still-falling tears.
Craig had stepped forward, his spine ramrod straight, a scowl on his face. Scottie saw him and subtly shifted Macca, stepping in front of him to bodily shield him from the others. Disgust radiated off Craig, his lip curled up and his eyes a cold, hard brown. Scottie didn’t back down, raising his chin and straightening his shoulders in defiance. It was as if two roosters were facing off against each other right before a cock fight. Sizing each other up. The air crackled with tension, a dangerous electrical current sparking between them.
“Seriously? We’re not gonna say anything?” Craig spat out. I closed my eyes. I knew what he was going to say, and all the fight deserted me. My body shut down, curling in on itself to protect my heart from his eviscerating words. “Look, I’m as glad as anyone that you’re back, but mate, you’re a fuckin’ poofter?”
