THE FIRST streaks of light filtering through the trees signaled the start of a new day. The thin morning mist quickly evaporated. The two riders wearily emerged from the scrub. The small clearing they rode into looked to be the same size as the barn back at the Rosedale.
Jessica hadn’t slept for over twenty-four hours. Her shoulders slumped, her eyelids were closing, and her blonde hair easily lost its bounce from the unseasonal heavy due from the previous night. She lifted her hand to signal a halt.
“Why have we stopped?” asked Lightening moving his attention away from their surrounds.
Jessica looked his way. Her eyelids were fully shut. Her entire body started to tremble when she attempted to dismount. The moment her foot touched the ground she knew she had succumbed to fatigue. Crumpling to the ground, she coiled into a fetal position. The horse didn’t seem too concerned over the human ball for she already busied herself munching the green grass.
“You sleep, I’ll make breakfast,” whispered Lightening Dawn.
He walked briskly over to a clump of dried twigs, gathered an arm full before marching to the center of the clearing where he quickly constructed a makeshift camp. Rummaging through his swag, he pulled out a small metal tin. Lightening Dawn glanced at Jessica before running through the scrub towards the slow-moving stream, empty tin in hand. In less than a minute, he returned holding the tin can full of water. The handful of dry leaves he grabbed from the ground he placed in the readied fire. He struck a match. The dried twigs were quickly burning. A minimal amount of smoke wafted into the stagnant air. Lightening Dawn placed the old Billy tin full of water onto the fire before scurrying off into the bush for a second time. When he returned, both his hands were full of blackberries. He dropped the berries into the warming water inside the Billy. Next, he dropped three coffee beans into a dented mug, poured in hot water and smelt the aroma. Using the second mug, he repeated the procedure. Reaching into his swag, he pulled out a wrapped cloth. Carefully unwrapping the material, he uncovered four chicken eggs. One by one he placed the eggs into the bubbling water. He walked over to Jessica. Squatting, he placed a coffee mug under her nose. She opened her eyes.
“When did you make the coffee? She groaned.
“Just finished,” Lightening announced.
“How long did I sleep?” Jessica questioned, struggling to a sitting position.
“You’ve been asleep for about thirty minutes. The eggs are ready. So are the berries.”
“Where did you get the berries?” Rubbing her eyes, Jessica swiped her hair from her face.
Lightening Dawn pointed to the slow-moving stream. Jessica focused on a blackberry bush growing out of the low bank. Flowers covered the dense bush. A ton of berries looked ready to be picked. Shaking off the tired feeling Jessica broke out into a grin. She used both hands to reach out for the mug. Eagerly sipping the tar coloured brew, she sat watching Lightening sprint back to the small fire to rescue the breakfast.
Together they shelled the hard-boiled eggs and ate the berries out of the tin of warm water. When Jessica finished the last drop of coffee Lightening Dawn dropped three more coffee beans into her mug and refilled it. In minutes, she felt refreshed.
After finishing the breakfast, the campfire embers were buried in dirt. In forty minutes, they were back on their horses, following the trail left by the bushrangers.
“The three men don’t seem too concerned about being tracked,” Lightening informed, pointing to the trampled bush. “In fact, they seem to be getting more careless.”
“Maybe the bushrangers thought they made a fool proof escape.” Jessica pointed to the sky. “Let’s hope we catch up to them before the storm hits.”
Lightening looked skywards. For a good minute he studied the clouds.
“Three o’clock tomorrow afternoon the storm will arrive.”
“Are you positive about the accurate prediction?” questioned Jessica.
“I’m almost certain. For years, I’ve been studying the wind and the clouds. I thought the knowledge I gain might help me snare a job protecting sheep or cattle on a station somewhere. One day I walked onto the Rosedale property. I’ve been there ever since.”
Jessica carefully watched Lightening Dawn’s dark eyes. Her thoughts were running wild. The man’s magnetism reached out, gripping her spirit. A knot formed in her stomach. At first, she tried to ignore the feeling. The knot didn’t relent. If anything it grew tighter. She frowned. Surely it couldn’t be love pangs. She tried to force her mind into thinking of other things. She looked at the sky to study the clouds. Lightening’s face was all she saw.
“This is a great trail we’re following. We have to get moving if we want to catch the bushrangers today.”
Jessica peeled her gaze from the sky. She caught Lightening Dawn looking at her through lustful eyes. To hide the fact he quickly turned his head away to study the ground. Jessica too looked somewhere else. She hoped by not looking at the man riding next to her the knot in the pit of her stomach might quickly fade and be no more than a distant memory in which she could have a quiet chuckle the next time she found herself alone. Before she knew it, Jessica had let her guard down. She stared at Lightening. Unblinking he stared back.
For the next two hours, Lightening and Jessica chatted. He taught her about tracking and what to look for if she were ever hungry.
‘Lightening Dawn you’re the best teacher, full of bush wisdom and knowledge,’ Jessica thought.
By the time they dismounted Jessica felt the utmost respect for the aboriginal man named Lightening Dawn. He was always quick to reassure, unlike her dead husband who downgraded her countless times. He forever ordered her back into line. Before she said, ‘I do’ at the altar he’d been the perfect gentleman. She never once saw a sign he wanted the power over people or that he was money hungry.
To give the horses a well-deserved break Jessica and Lightening started leading their horses through the bush. Even though walking felt painful Jessica welcomed the exercise. They skirted around several snakes basking in the mid-morning sun before picking up the trail again. Lightening even allowed her to take the lead some of the way. The speed in which his only pupil learnt impressed him.
“Go to the top of the class,” he chuckled.
Jessica gently punched the man in the arm. He swept her off her feet and turned in circles. They laughed at each other over the one line statement. When they stopped, they chuckled at the sudden silence.
The hot, dry, humid morning made Jessica and Lightening sweat under their riding gear and wide-brimmed hats.
By midday, the sun started sapping their strength.
Lightening Dawn called a sudden halt. They’d broken through the scrub into a small clearing and stumbled upon the remains of a small campfire. Lightening checked it for warmth. The embers were cold. The broken tips of the tree branches around the area looked fresh. A few small branches still oozed sap. Lightening gently touched the sticky substance in an attempt to ascertain the number of hours since the branches had been broken.
“The three men we’ve been tracking camped here no later than last night,” he reported confidently.
“There must be water close by,” whispered Jessica wiping the sweat from her brow. “First rule of survival, rest near water.”
Lightening pointed at the slope of the land beyond the edge of the clearing. They climbed the small hill and looked through the scrub at the small waterhole. Several stray cows were standing in the water, cooling their hooves.
“The bushrangers can certainly pick the perfect place to set up camp; middle of the bush, no one around for miles. This spot is safer than a bank.”
“Care for a swim?”
“I’d love to. The only problem is I have nothing to change into,” replied Jessica.
Lightening Dawn threw his shirt to the sun. The physique of the man shocked Jessica. Tall, strong, physically fit well-defined shoulders and boasting a deep chest, every muscle in his body seemed to stretch his shiny black ski
n to its limit. She was still trying to gain control of her thoughts when she saw him drop his pants and walk naked into the water.
Standing chest deep in water Lightening called. “Come in, cool down.”
Jessica signaled to Lightening Dawn he should turn away to respect her modesty. After all, they were business associates, not bed partners.
Lightening Dawn faced the opposite side of the waterhole. The moment he heard faint splashing, he faced the naked woman. He watched her dive beneath the surface before coming up treading water at arm’s length.
They swam, dived and played hide and seek in the water. The swim had lasted slightly longer than five minutes before Jessica started to shiver from the cold.
“It’s freezing in this water. Turn around while I walk out,” Jessica stammered.
Lightening faced the bushes at the far side of the waterhole. When he heard light splashing, he found it impossible to fight the temptation. He turned in time to see Jessica stepping from the water. The glare of the sun highlighted each strand of her long blonde hair. Water dripping from the golden ends trickled down to the nook in her back. Jessica’s hour glass figure excited Lightening. Jessica turned in time to see the man marching out of the water. He looked more than ready to have her.
“Lightening Dawn I asked you to respect my privacy which includes keeping your head turned.”
“You said we were an equal.”
“Only in a business partnership,” screamed Jessica.
Images of Lightening attacking her in the middle of the Australian bush flashed into her thoughts. Hell, the man could do anything to her. Who’d ever know? After having his way he could cut her throat before heading back to the Rosedale. If anyone asked a question of him who owned the sheep station he could simply say he inherited it.
“I need you to get back into the water.”
Lightening didn’t seem to understand Jessica’s frantic words. He towered over her. Looking directly into Jessica’s eyes Lightening Dawn swept her in close. No light could be detected between them. Feeling his dominant strength, Jessica appeared to be powerless to do anything. Swallowing her fear, she tried to keep control by thinking of a solution to her dilemma. The only people in screaming distance were the three bushrangers. She certainly didn’t want them on the scene to quadruple her problem. One uncontrollable man full of testosterone was more than enough.
Jessica unsuccessfully tried to wriggle free of Lightening’s powerful arms.
“I want you,” he insisted in a strong, deep masculine voice.
A sheep, when cornered by a pack of wild dogs, surrenders its life. Jessica started to seriously think the idea might be her only option. After all, it worked against the bushranger. Maybe if she was lucky, the act might work again. The longer she thought about it, the stronger the notion grew. Allow him to have his way and pray he’d let her live. She’d lost out big time in getting her guns and the blue diamond ring back, putting her trust in a man she barely knew. For the mistake, her memory will be the only way to ever see them or the Rosedale again. Tears fell from her eyes. Her life was the only thing left. That looked to be in serious jeopardy.
Jessica stared at the man through narrowed slits. ‘We need to talk about what you’re doing, is wrong!’
Her statement never left her mind.
She could feel Lightening’s wild emotions the moment their lips welded. The hot fiery passion flowing through the man’s body seemed overwhelming. Every one of his muscles tensed. She knew he already committed himself to have her. Slowly she pulled her lips away. Gathering every ounce of strength, she could summon she managed to push him off.
The man back stepped.
Jessica stared directly into his eyes. His pupils were wide, dancing sporadically, staring back.
“We need to talk,” she whispered, finally getting her thoughts into words.
Lightening Dawn turned his back, dressed and marched off into the scrub.
“Where are you going?”
The man didn’t answer. He pushed aside the scrub and vanished.
Jessica dressed, picked her way through the bush, tracking the man. She found him sitting on the far side of the waterhole staring up at the sky. She made her shadow hover over the man’s face.
“Storm is building.”
Jessica looked up at the sky. “You might be right,” she said confirming his three words.
“What are you here for?”
“I want to talk to you,” growled Jessica firmly.
“No need to talk. White skin people talk too much.”
“You don’t talk enough.”
“Sit; look at the sky and the bush.”
Jessica sat. Her eyes followed his outstretched finger. He pointed at the sky, the trees, and the surrounding area.
“What do you see?” he asked.
“I see exactly what you see, the Australian bush, wildlife, and the sky.”
“I don’t see what you see. I feel the scrub, the trees, the sky and the animals. I am part of the bush.”
“Is that how you can predict the weather?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me something. Due to the fact you believe you feel the living bush and are part of the living surrounds; is it the reason why you’re so good at tracking?”
“Yes.”
Jessica touched Lightening Dawn on the arm.
“I’m going walk-a-bout,” he sulked, standing.
“Right now?” she questioned.
“Yes.”
“You can’t leave me here in the middle of the bush.”
“Talk is over.”
“Before you go I want to say something.”
“Talk finished.”
Jumping to her feet, Jessica pushed her hands onto her hips. “Don’t you turn your back on me, mister. I have something to say. I expect you to have the decency to listen.”
Lightening Dawn faced her square on.
“Can we sit?”
“No, I’m more comfortable standing.”
“Why? Is it so you can walk off when you’ve heard enough?”
Lightening Dawn sat crossed-legged and straight-backed, looking up into Jessica’s eyes.
“Thank you,” she said, sitting. “First, I want to say you are an amazing masculine man. Second, when you were kissing me, I felt something I have never felt before in a man. I know I didn’t have enough strength to fight you off. You felt me trying and let me go. I pegged you to be a rapist, a murderer or both. I was wrong.”
Lightening opened his mouth to talk. Jessica wagged her finger under his nose.
“I haven’t finished speaking,” she barked. “Your charisma draws me to you. One day in the future I can imagine being your wife. I must stress not yet. It’s too soon. My husband died not long ago. I alone dug his grave. I hate him for what he did. Can you understand it’s too soon? I can’t bring myself to make love to you. Maybe one day in the future I will. If the day comes, I will decide, not you.”
Lightening Dawn walked off, giving Jessica a far-a-way look.
Tears fell from Jessica’s eyes. They flowed down over her cheeks. She angrily swiped them away using the back of her hand.
“Please don’t go,” yelled Jessica.
Lightening Dawn brushed aside the scrub. Only for a moment did she see him hesitate.
Jessica called after him. “Gip said we are a family. I thought maybe there could be a chance you and I might have a future. Not now.”
Lightening emerged from the scrub and marched to where Jessica sat sobbing. Hovering over her he didn’t look happy.
“I am what you, white folk call, embarrassed. I expected to lay you down. I wanted to call you my woman.”
“You have a strange way of asking me to marry you.”
“Being my woman to me is a great honor. You do understand the meaning of the word?”
“Explain to me what it means to you.”
“I will never do you wrong or allow anything or anyone to hurt you or upset you. I will go
so far as to say I’ll lay down my life to protect you.”
Jessica swallowed the lump in her throat. For the first time, she didn’t know what to say.
“You refused. I go walk-a-bout.”
“How long before you return?”
“Never,” he quoted, marching into the bush.
“Please don’t go I need you,” cried Jessica.
If he heard or not, this time, the man didn’t hesitate. Pushing through the scrub, he disappeared.
Jessica cleared her throat. In one deep breathe she screamed her words at the bush.
“Lightening Dawn, if you go, don’t come back. I’ll find the bushrangers myself. When I’m done, Gip, her brothers and I will be a family. You will be a distant memory; the same as my dead husband.”
CHAPTER SEVEN