Her Outback Home, page 3
Davey is the son, and Hannah’s brother.
‘Hannah is your daughter?’ He quickly made the connection.
‘Yes.’
‘She’s very knowledgeable.’
‘She sure is. If there’s anything you want to know about the Gorge or the local environment or wildlife, she can tell ya.’ Robert paused, held the post mix siphon over the half full glass of Coke. ‘Have you met Hannah yet?’
Jackson shook his head.
‘Hannah!’ Robert yelled. ‘When you’re finished, come over here.’
Bloody Dad. Of all the people she didn’t want to talk to, it was that group and him. It would be all shades of awkward, she knew it. Plus, his rejection still stung. She drew out the talk with the elderly couple who were planning their hike the next day.
‘Best idea is to head along the Gorge track and stop at maybe the first two spots.’ She pointed to the map. ‘And then return. See how you feel. Many people walk out each day sometimes just to see one site. It’s easier that way and if you have the time, it’s a pleasurable way to see the Gorge.’ They nodded their thanks and turned towards the bar.
Big breath, Hannah.
Plastering a smile to her face, she took one step towards the group who now stood drinking the cocktails her father had prepared for them, but a hand to her lower arm stopped her in her tracks.
‘Do you know the scientific names of all the animals?’ asked the little boy who’d fed the kangaroos earlier.
Hannah relaxed. ‘Well, I know a lot, but perhaps not all of them.’
‘What’s another one?’
‘Here’s a good one – Strigiformes. Do you know that one?’
He shook his head and a long lock of dark hair covered his eyes.
‘Owl,’ she replied as his mother approached. ‘You should think about doing our night safari. It’s on each evening and we’ll often see echidnas and marsupial gliders and Strigiformes. He might enjoy it,’ she spoke to the mother but nodded in the kid’s direction.
The man from the pub strode across and stood beside her so she smiled at the mother and son in good-bye and heard the boy begging his mother to do the tour.
‘Your dad is waiting to introduce us. My name is Jackson.’ Along with a loaded grin, he offered his hand to shake. His gaze bore down deep into her and her insides churned but she arranged her face into a smile.
Jackson didn’t let on that they’d previously met, and neither would she. An implicit deal was made. But she couldn’t ignore the sinking humiliation that this guy had rejected her for his mother. She didn’t like the feeling one bit.
Hannah accepted the handshake and noticed his skin was cool and smooth. Geez, she hoped her hands weren’t dirty. She pulled away first and then in an awkward gesture wiped her palm down her jeans before they moved to join the group.
‘Here she is.’ Dad patted her heavily on the back and spoke too loud. ‘Our resident expert. If there is anything you want to know ‘round here, Hannah’s the girl.’
Six pairs of eyes watched her but didn’t speak. Seconds passed until each offered their hand in greeting.
‘Ryder.’
‘Roger. We met earlier.’
‘Janessa.’
‘Hudson.’
‘Monroe.’
‘Lovely to meet you all. How’re you settling in? Find the en suite, okay?’ She looked at Roger.
He nodded. ‘I did, thank you. Quite an ingenious idea. Provide an en suite that is an addition to the cabin. Tell me about the design of that.’ He directed the question to her father who elaborated on the style of canvas tent and the requirement for a bathroom to be stand-alone but next to the sleeping arrangements.
‘And you only have a handful of cabins with the en suite?’ Jackson asked.
‘That’s right. There’s a range of accommodation options available…’ Hannah was about to launch into the variety provided when the woman interrupted.
‘But don’t most guests want a bathroom?’
‘No. Actually, most travellers are here for the outback experience, not a hotel. So, they are happy to camp with their families. Others prefer not to lug around equipment and wish to avoid erecting a tent. They’re also prepared to share facilities.’ She dared them to contradict her.
‘Have you had a chance to look around yet? There is so much on offer. Hannah can show you tomorrow, right, Hannah?’ her father volunteered.
Her eyebrows rose in question. Hell, no. ‘It isn’t that hard,’ she said instead. ‘The roads are clearly marked and the map we provided upon check-in tells you everything you need to know.’
‘No, that would be great.’
Bloody Jackson. His voice suited him perfectly. Light and breezy, pale maybe. Not weak but strength hiding in tenderness?
Really?
‘Yes, let’s do that first thing in the morning. We have a helicopter tour booked for mid-morning, so after breakfast say?’ He offered her a broad all-teeth smile. Those teeth were pearly white.
‘Settled then,’ Dad said. ‘If you’d like you can try your luck at dawn with the platypus. Hannah knows just where to look.’
‘Yes, we might have time to spy an ornithorhynchus anatinus.’ And yes, she was a smart arse.
The group nodded, confused.
‘Helicopter tour. What else have you got planned for your stay?’ Her tummy did somersaults, and she wished it would stop. This group unsettled her, and she wanted to know why. Well, perhaps it was just their fearless leader.
‘What about the Gorge walk? Have you planned that yet?’ Dad asked. ‘That is a must.’
‘Sounds incredible,’ Jackson agreed. ‘We haven’t thought about that yet.’
‘You’ve travelled all this way and haven’t planned a gorge walk? Most people only come here for the hike. It’s its own tourist attraction.’ She couldn’t keep the incredulity out of her voice.
Jackson stared, and the group exchanged glances. Her father looked like he wanted to jump in at any moment. And damn it, he did.
‘Hannah will take you. She takes private tours, on request only, out to the Gorge and along the top, round trip. It’s the most amazing walk you’ll ever experience, particularly with a guide who knows her stuff.’
‘You’re just the go-to-girl out here, aren’t you?’ Jackson smirked and this time his ocean-blue eyes lit up. He was teasing, but she didn’t find it funny.
‘Most people don’t require a guide. It isn’t a hard walk. The tracks are marked and it’s easy to find your way. I’m sure you don’t need me.’
‘Yeah, I think we’re good,’ one of the other men said. His chest might have puffed out a little.
‘Do you carry gear?’ one of the girls asked.
‘Um, no. That’s up to you. Pack light I say.’
‘No, that would be fabulous,’ Jackson again.
Really?
‘We’d appreciate a local giving us the lowdown. It’ll be much more efficient and less work for us. We’re on a research trip.’
Research trip? They were conservationists? Scientists? These ones must have spent most of their time in the lab.
‘Researching what?’
Someone tapped her father on the shoulder and called him away. Davey was flat out behind the bar and she needed to give him a hand.
‘A potential new development.’
Hannah’s stomach performed a funny flip. ‘What sort of development? I haven’t heard of anything?’
‘Private development. A new and improved resort with accommodation and adventure options.’
‘What? Where exactly? We’re the closest accommodation to the Gorge.’ The pitch of her voice rose.
‘Yes, and that’s brilliant. A real selling point. Here would be great. There is so much potential. This is our first choice but if not, perhaps next door or down the road.’
Hannah’s hands went to her hips. Her voice lowered. ‘What are you talking about? Does Dad know about this?’
‘No. But he will.’
She leaned in close to him, paused and closed her eyes. Man, he smelled good. She was momentarily stalled by his city smell that hadn’t yet evaporated. It was like soap on clean skin made moist by sorbolene cream with a hint of woody aftershave. Opening her eyes, she looked closely. His chin was free of even the slightest hint of facial hair. So clear she could see the follicles.
To their left, Davey collected empty glasses. They clinked as he stuffed them one into the other. His lips were moving with speed and when he had a tower reaching up to his chin, he paused and commenced to hum in a melodic and calming manner. Hannah always enjoyed the sound but the crowd around him stopped and stared. Some looked fearful, others amused.
‘What is he doing?’ Ryder asked.
Hannah bit her lip. She wanted to continue this conversation, needed to find out more. Get all the detail from these people and what they were doing and planning. But Davey was lost in his own imaginary and harmless world. With great reluctance, she walked away from Jackson and lightly placed her hand on Davey’s back. It brought him out of his trance and back to reality. He offered his usual bright smile and immediately broke out into lyrics.
I wanna dance with somebody, somebody who loves me.
He did a little foot shuffle and got on with collecting the dirty glasses. When Hannah turned back, ready to pick up where she’d left off, the group had gone.
CHAPTER 5
Davey jumped out of the front seat of the ute and rushed over to the helicopter where it sat on the tarmac. Its blades were already twirling.
Jackson flung open his backseat door and chased after him. Davey had almost reached the chopper when Jackson slapped him on the back, placed one hand to his neck and forced him to bend at the waist. Davey was supple under his hands and complied. Jackson let out a breath of relief. He didn’t want to see anyone decapitated today.
A third man, standing under the blades, laughed, and gestured for them to move to the left and away from the chopper and the dust swirls dancing in the air.
‘I’m Simon. Thanks for taking care of Davey here, but he’s been ‘round these beasts since he was a little ’un. He knows how to look after himself. Plus, at his height there’s no chance of chopping off that noggin.’ Clearly Simon was the pilot and he ruffled Davey’s hair which now stood at all angles.
Shit. ‘Sorry, Davey, I panicked seeing you run toward the helicopter. I didn’t realise.’Hannah arrived with the rest of the group and stood next to Davey.
‘It’s okay, Jackson. Thank you,’ Davey said and smiled in his direction, not the least bit disturbed that a stranger had tried to rush him away from non-existent danger.
Sweet kid. Again, like his brother, Sam. A sudden rush of homesickness came over Jackson, but he quickly squashed it.
Hannah smiled too, in an amused, what are you doing, sort of way. He shrugged. ‘I didn’t realise you knew each other.’
‘Of course, we do.’ Simon leaned over and kissed Hannah’s cheek.
Simon was an older indigenous man with a greying beard. He wore his Akubra well, and was covered from top to toe with long-sleeved shirt and pants. That’s what I should be wearing, Jackson thought, as he swatted away the millionth fly already that morning. They were dressed for the cool, not the heat. He’d learn.
‘This is a great day’s business. I can’t thank you folks enough. You’ve ordered the deluxe flight and that’s made this old fella’s day.’
‘Do you get a lot of business? Tourists wanting flights over the Gorge?’ Janessa asked.
He nodded. ‘Yeah, guess so. Varies a lot. Lot more during winter and,’ he paused to laugh, ‘if there are busloads of the Asian tourists out. They ain’t doing no walking on the tracks. They want to fly above. And hey, why not? They’re fabulous travellers.’ Simon rubbed the tips of his fingers together and smiled.
‘We’re doing both,’ Monroe pointed out.
‘That’s awesome. The real experience. Both are fantastic and from my point of view, necessary because both provide different vantages. From up here,’ he pointed toward the sky, ‘the vastness of the Gorge and surrounds will take your breath away. On the track, you’ll notice the minor details that are just as awe inspiring.’
‘Have you always lived out here?’ Hudson asked.
Davey jumped in to answer. ‘Nah, he was a cattle rancher on the chopper!’
‘Yeah, that’s right isn’t it, Davey? Learned to fly on the cattle stations in outback Northern Territory. Now that was a blast. Chasing after herds of cows from the sky is lots of fun. Technically trickly too sometimes. Need to get real low to encourage ’em to move but not so low I’m touching the ground.’
‘How’d you end up here?’ Jackson asked.
‘Born and bred from around here. So I saved and saved and came back. Wanted to keep flying so bought me own chopper and set up this business. The red tape, man,’ he shook his head, ‘but it’s worth it.’
Jackson couldn’t help himself. ‘Well, we might be able to help your business in the future. We’re looking at improving local accommodation into more attractive options for tourists.’ He looked at Hannah who’d folded her arms across her chest. ‘I mean the Asian market is a good example. I guarantee they do not stay at the bush resort. Do they Hannah?’
She remained tight-lipped.
‘Davey?’ It was unfair but he knew he’d get a straight answer from the kid.
‘Nah, never. They want fancy!’
He was sure he saw Hannah control a jiggling foot. She obviously wanted to give her brother a fair kick in the shins.
‘Exactly. Imagine those busloads of tourists who come out here. The money they could generate if they stayed. If they had a nice cabin…’
‘With a bathroom,’ Janessa interjected.
‘Yes. With facilities, and a gift shop because they love buying souvenirs. Plus a restaurant because they don’t cook on holidays. They want to buy their meals,’ Monroe added.
‘They can get all that at our resort.’
‘Really?’ Jackson challenged. ‘Because they aren’t staying. So, if they’re satisfied with the available facilities, why aren’t they?”
She stared him down but didn’t respond.
A discussion for later.
‘Simon, your business could expand with more visitors to this area.’ The fixed smile had dropped from the man’s face. He was backed into a corner. But he could see sense, couldn’t he? Jackson wanted the support of locals, and Simon was perfect.
‘I’m not just a tour guide,’ he said. ‘My choppers help out in emergencies. Significant weather events and injured hikers and stuff.’
Jackson sagged. Simon felt the need to defend himself and his business. That wasn’t his intention.
‘So, you have more than one chopper?’ Ryder asked.
Simon turned behind him and pointed. ‘Yeah, another one, there in the shed. I have a team of pilots but it’s not their full-time job…’ His words petered off realising he was veering back into dangerous territory. Simon stared at Hannah, but Jackson didn’t understand the exchange.
‘Let’s get moving. You guys are in for a treat,’ Simon clapped his hands together.
‘You guys are in for a treat,’ Davey repeated.
‘Do you like to fly Davey?’ Roger asked.
‘Oh, yeah. Love to fly.’
‘Why don’t you join us?’ Hudson suggested looping an arm around his shoulders.
‘That’s impossible,’ Hannah intervened. ‘The chopper can only take six and there’s six of you. Davey, you’ll have to sit this one out.’
‘Bummer. Davey sit out.’
Simon commenced his instruction talk and safety guide. Jackson listened intently while his team checked their phones. He elbowed Ryder in the arm to gain his attention.
Ready, they moved forward.
‘Have a great trip,’ Hannah said. ‘We’ll be here to pick you up when you return.’
Jackson glared at her and lifted his sunnies.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Dad’s orders,’ and she gave them a formal salute.
Davey’s wave was more friendly.
Hannah watched the group emerge from the helicopter after the flight.
It was always the same. The rosy cheeks as if they’d been exerting themselves, and the flushed expressions and broad smiles. She’d seen the transformation a million times. People underestimated the Gorge. And it always delivered.
She waited in the car as each member of the group shook hands with Simon and when he moved back to the chopper, he gave her a wave.
Would Simon’s business improve with a luxury resort? She hadn’t stopped thinking about that since she’d dropped the group off this morning. She knew times were tough for everyone in outback Queensland, but he did all right, didn’t he? Maybe she and Dad could have a chinwag with him about other ways to help out?
Jackson jumped straight into the front seat. ‘That. Was. Incredible.’
‘You sound surprised. What did you expect?’
He shrugged. ‘Big rock formations. But that was something else. The colours, the range, the depth, the vastness.’
Hannah nodded, amused, but also impressed. There was a tiny part of her that had wondered if the Gorge might not work its magic on Jackson. The man was focused; focused on his fancy resort so much, that she wasn’t convinced he actually saw what was already here.
The others climbed in the van making similar exclamations.
‘If I was an artist, I’d paint a picture of the Gorge. Imagine the colours you could achieve,’ Roger exclaimed.
The group cracked into laughter.
Roger was affronted. ‘What? You belligerents. You take one hundred photos and post them to social media instead. That’s a crap form of expression, especially when you’re in it!’ He sat back silent.
‘When you do the walk, you’ll see the aboriginal paintings and artwork. It isn’t artwork of the Gorge itself, of course. But of their way of life. How they lived. It’s incredible.’ Hannah caught Roger’s eye and he nodded in acknowledgement.
The passengers fell silent. ‘You understand that’s the point, don’t you?’ She half-turned to Jackson. ‘The Gorge is a natural wonder. It’s special and historic and to be treasured. It isn’t a manmade construct where people pay an entrance fee and traipse up and down and ruin it with their human traffic, litter and graffiti.’
