Page 40 of Dawn Skies (Stormcloud Station)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

AFTER BACKING THE four-wheel-drive as close as he could get without hitting the trunks of a large stand of trees, Wazza shut off the engine with a sigh. It’d been a long drive, over six hours on gravel roads all the way. After stopping three times to let Benni go pee, and twice more to have a drink and a snack—that child liked to eat, or maybe it was more likely boredom—they’d finally arrived at Gilbert River. He’d driven over the rocky ford and then chosen to go a few hundred meters farther downriver before he found a spot that looked suitable to set up their camp. The sun was getting low on the horizon, but they still had a good hour or more of daylight left.

“This looks good,” he said, stretching his arms behind his head. There was an expanse of flat ground in a clearing above the riverbed, free of rocks and debris directly ahead—it looked like it’d been cleared for this exact purpose by previous campers. Overhanging branches of three large gum trees laced together to form an almost impenetrable canopy above, lending them shade, and even more importantly, seclusion.

“There’s no water in the river,” Kee replied, leaning forward to peer through the windshield, eyeing the river skeptically.

“A lot of rivers are dry at this time of the year. But there might be a couple of deeper pools that still hold water farther down. We can take a walk later, after dinner, if you like.”

“Sounds great.” Kee was making a good show of keeping her spirits up, probably for Benni’s sake, but he could see the stress of the day etched into the lines around her eyes.

They both turned to look around at exactly the same moment, to see if Benni had woken up and their heads banged lightly together. Benni had fallen asleep about an hour ago, and she looked so cute and innocent, with her head propped on the backrest, her mouth slightly open, and Dolly still firmly clasped in the crook of her elbow. Kee had mentioned that after she’d told Benni they were leaving Stormcloud this morning, Benni had spent a long time picking out her clothes, changing her T-shirt four times before she’d finally decided the one with the unicorn on the front was the best one to wear on this new instalment of their journey. From Kee’s facial expression, Wazza had known that she’d been driven to distraction by her child’s indecision. But Wazza guessed that perhaps it was Benni’s way of waging some sort of control over her life. The apple-green unicorn T-shirt only made Benni look even younger and more innocent than ever. As their heads clashed, Kee stared at him for a second and gave an embarrassed giggle, before turning back to face the front, rubbing the spot on her temple where they’d come together. He caught a glimpse of the bandage on the other side of her head and was grateful she hadn’t been hurt worse when Bruno had shoved her to the ground. She’d been an appreciative patient as he’d cleaned the wound and applied the bandage after lunch, giving him a brave smile, even as he dabbed the dried blood away. Which was a good thing, because it’d stopped his mind from wandering onto images of him beating the snot out of Bruno for hurting her.

“I guess we should start setting up camp while we still have some light?” It came out as a question, but he could hear the edge of accusation in her tone. She was still a little piqued at Wazza’s presumption, filling her car with the things he thought she needed. Kee had been speechless after she discovered all the new camping gear in the back of her vehicle. It was at their first stop, right after they’d eaten a late lunch, devouring Skylar’s delicious quiches and sandwiches. Kee had opened the rear door and stared, dumbfounded for many long seconds, documenting all the equipment that’d somehow miraculously appeared in her vehicle. Then she’d narrowed her eyes, raven brows winging down in a frown, and shot him a look.

“Wazza, can I talk to you for a second?” Her dark eyes had gone a dangerous shade of inky black. “Over here.” She beckoned him with a crook of her little finger, then watched intently as he got up, dusted the non-existent dirt off his jeans and sauntered over with what he hoped was a good dose of cowboy nonchalance.

“Yes?” He said, going for casual indifference. He didn’t care if she was mad at him, which she probably was if the clench of her jaw was anything to go by. And such a gorgeous jaw it was, giving her face an almost heart-shaped appearance. His gaze traced the soft lines of her face and he almost forgot she was mad at him.

“What’s all this?” She waved a hand dramatically over everything stowed in the back.

“Things you needed to make your life on the run a lot easier.”

“We did fine sleeping in the back of the car,” she snapped.

“I know you did,” he shot back evenly.

She made a huffing noise and rolled her eyes. “Men. You always think you know best.”

He merely shrugged. He didn’t want an argument. All he wanted was for her to accept his gift with good grace. He knew she would’ve bought all this if she could afford it. But she was such a novice at surviving in the outback, she didn’t even realize how much these things, like a tent, extra water, extra fuel, could make living on the run easier, or could even save your life.

“I’m going to pay you back for this,” she said, studying the pile of supplies.

“You don’t need to do that, I—”

“I am going to pay you back for all of this,” she’d said in such a low voice that it made him think it might be perilous for his health if he continued to argue.

“Fine.” He’d held his hands up in surrender.

Kee hadn’t said much for the next hour in the car, just glared out the window, until Benni had to stop for a pee. After she’d taken Benni behind a tree to do her business and then left her drinking from a bottle of water in the shade, she’d pulled Wazza aside.

“I know you’re only trying to help,” she said, holding up a hand to ward off any comments until she’d finished. “And I know you said I need to accept help because I’m bad at it. Maybe that’s true. But I also don’t like being told what to do by a man. I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime. So, can you please back off?” Her dark-brown eyes had flashed with determination, rosebud mouth pursed into a thin line.

“Yes, I can do that,” he’d replied, and they’d got back into the car and kept driving. She was clearly upset, and he didn’t like to see her that way. But she had a point. He’d imposed his judgement on her; decided what she did and didn’t need and then acted without asking, thinking he was doing her a favor. If it’d been the other way around and someone had interfered in his life in an unwarranted way, he was sure he’d probably have acted similarly. Possibly with a lot less restraint and dignity than Kee had. He spent a long time pondering exactly what Kee had had to put up with from her ex-husband. She was clearly struggling to regain some self-respect and independence. Perhaps it was time to find out more of what’d gone on in her marriage, so he could understand where she was coming from. He decided to ask her next time they had a few moments to themselves.

Wazza opened his door and stepped out at the same time Kee did on the other side of the vehicle. The heat hit him hard after the cool of the air-conditioning in the cabin. Drawing in a deep breath of desert air, he slapped his hat on his head and went around to pull open the rear door.

Kee appeared with Benni on her hip a few moments later, still rubbing sleepy eyes. The pair watched as he pulled equipment out and dumped it in a pile next to a large tree trunk.

“That tent says it’s for two people,” Kee said, leaning over and poking the bag.

“I’ll sleep outside. It’ll be fine, I’m used to it. There’s a spare tarpaulin in the back I can use to keep me off the ground.” Wazza had never intended to sleep inside a tent with Kee, even if it’d been big enough for all three of them. That was a sure road to long nights of no sleep as he lay there thinking about her, mere inches away. Stopping himself from reaching out to touch her. Ever since he’d kissed Kee, he could think of nothing else when she came close. He wasn’t sure even having Benni sleeping next to them would be enough deterrent to rid him of his lustful thoughts.

“If you’re sure.” She was frowning at him, but there might’ve been a hint of relief in her voice.

“I’m sure,” he replied.

They got to work. He showed her how to erect the tent, which was very simple, a few poles and a flick of the wrist, and it was up. Kee would’ve been happy to leave it like that, but he insisted she peg it down, as well. You never knew when the wind might pick up in the middle of the night. Benni wanted to help, so he got the hammer and wrapped his hand around hers—engulfing her tiny hand in his enormous one—and they hammered in a few pegs together. Then he talked Kee through setting up the small gas stove and they pulled out Skylar’s hamper of food.

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