Red Dust Page 4

  'Bye, Mum,' Gemma put down the phone and shook her head, smiling. She sent an email to Ned explaining that she hadn't spoken to her father yet, then she had a shower, jumped into bed and picked up the book she was reading . . .

  Jack took another swig from his bottle of rum and gazed through the window of the shearers' quarters. A short time later he threw on some clothes and grabbed his torch. Opening his door quietly he listened. Not a sound – maybe tonight was a good bet to check out the widow's house. He made his way softly across the yard, talking quietly to the dogs who growled in return. Looking around he paused and listened again. Nothing. His hand rested on the doorknob, then Jack turned it slowly. The dogs started to bark excitedly. He abruptly stopped and let go of the knob, cursing, and made his way quietly back to the shearers' quarters. Lighting another cigarette he lay back thinking about how he could get into the house and have a look around. His mobile phone beeped with a text message.

  Chapter 6

  Gemma sat up with a start. What had woken her? The clock showed 12.20 am. Then she heard the phone. Who on earth could be ringing at this time of night?

  'Hello?'

  'Gem, it's Mum here, darling.'

  'Mum, what's wrong?'

  'Well, nothing to be too alarmed about, dear, but Dad has had a bit of a heart attack and we're in at the hospital. We thought you might like to come in.'

  'What?' Gemma gasped. 'Is he all right? Was it a bad one? I'm leaving now. Where are you?'

  'Now calm down, darling. It was only very mild and he's going to be fine. We're still in Pirie but we'll probably be off to Adelaide tomorrow or the next day.'

  'See you in an hour or so.'

  Gemma threw on some clothes, her mind in a whirl, and ran to the ute.

  Driving through the dark her mind kept wandering back to when she was a little girl and her dad was teaching her about stock and farming. She remembered his big hands, rough and cracked. The cracks were embedded with grease and dirt that no amount of scrubbing would get rid of, but those big hands were always gentle. She remembered him helping a lamb to get its first drink, speaking soothingly to the ewe while his hands carefully guided the lamb towards the ewe's udder. She remembered him picking up the fleeces off the sheep they were shearing, his hands all shiny with the lanolin from the wool. Shearing time was the only time her dad's hands were really soft. She remembered him gently rubbing her dry after swimming in the sea on a holiday they had when she was little.

  She pressed her foot down on the accelerator.

  Unexpectedly lights blinded her as she neared the crest of a hill. Swearing, she flashed her lights until the driver of the oncoming vehicle dipped his. Glancing in the rear-view mirror, Gemma saw a truck with a stock crate loaded behind it.

  As she reached the outskirts of town, Gemma took some deep breaths and tried to calm herself. She wished Adam was with her. She felt panicky, as if events were hurtling out of her control, just as she had the night he'd rushed her to the hospital, when she was bleeding while pregnant with their child. She could still hear the doctor telling them both he was sorry, but they had lost the baby. But as devastating as that had been, at least she had still had Adam. He had taken her in his arms and they had cried together. Now she was alone.

  I will not lose my dad, she thought. Not after everything that has happened. He'll be okay – he's got to be.

  She pulled into the car park of the hospital and, closing her eyes and leaning her head against the steering wheel, said a little prayer. Then she grabbed her purse and mobile phone, shoved them in the pocket of her jeans, locked the car and headed inside.

  The sterile smell made her feel ill. The fluorescent lights played havoc with her eyes that were used to darkness and the white lines of the road. Thankfully the casualty department was quiet. The nurse looked up and smiled as she entered.

  'Hello, Gemma, I've been expecting you. Don't worry – he's going to be fine.'

  Gemma looked at the nurse and blinked. The nurse laughed. 'Do I look that different from school? I guess I do with my hair pulled back like this.'

  'Paige? Paige Nicholls?' The night was beginning to feel surreal. 'I heard you were back. What are you doing here? Is he really okay?'

  Paige laughed. 'I work here, and yes, he really is okay.' Her voice sobered. 'I heard about Adam. I'm really sorry, Gem. You must have been through hell.'

  'I'm doing okay,' Gemma told her, 'and I'd love to talk, but I need to see my dad. Let's catch up later though, once all this has blown over.'

  'He's on the second floor in 32B. I'll wander up and give you my phone number before I get off work.'

  Gemma headed off in the direction that Paige had indicated and took the lift up to the second floor. When the doors opened, she saw her mother leaning tiredly against the wall of the corridor.

  'Mum,' said Gemma, almost running towards her. 'Where is he? Is he okay? What's going on?'

  'He's fine, Gem, don't panic.' Sarah took her arm and led her to a grey plastic couch near the lift. 'Before you rang he'd been having some angina pains and had decided to go to bed after taking some of his tablets. While we were on the phone the pain increased and he was having a little trouble breathing so he asked me to take him to the hospital. When we got here the doctor ran some tests and told us your father had had a mild heart attack. We're probably going to have to go to Adelaide for some more tests, but at the moment he's resting and he's feeling all right.'

  'Oh, Mum, I was so scared. So the doctor really thinks he's going to be fine?'

  'He should be as fit and strong as you can be once you've had a heart attack. He may have to have bypass surgery, but we won't know that till the tests have been done.'

  Gemma started to get up, then sat back down again and hugged her mother. 'What about you? Are you going all right?'

  Sarah nodded, but Gemma saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes before she swiftly rose from the couch. 'Coming?'

  Gemma stood and followed her down the corridor. When Sarah opened the door Gemma paused at the threshold, swallowing hard to control her emotions.

  When she entered the room her eyes flew straight to the bed where her father lay, his eyes closed and hands resting on his stomach. Gemma felt her throat contract when she looked at his hands, so familiar but in such alien surrounds. He had monitors on his chest and fingers, and they beeped quietly as she glanced at the green lines that measured his breathing and any movements made by his heart.

  'Hi, Dad,' Gemma said softly.

  His eyes opened and she was relieved to see that, although he looked tired and pale, his eyes still held their usual sparkle.

  'Hi, Gem. Didn't hit any roos on the way in?'

  Gemma smiled and moved across to sit on the bed. She picked up one of his hands. 'Not this time. They didn't have time to see me!'

  'Good. Now don't you go worrying yourself about me. Everything will be fine.'

  'I'm supposed to be the one telling you that,' Gemma said in jest. 'I guess you'll be up and about in no time. I won't even have time to get over to the farm and check the stock for you.'

  'Well, you might get to check them once or twice while I'm in Adelaide, but other than that you ain't getting your mitts on my land yet, missy!' Her father smiled to show he was teasing.

  'Well, don't worry about anything on the farm. Bulla, Garry and I can deal with it. Just you get better.'

  'Mmm,' said Jake as his eyes began to close again. Gemma settled into a chair on one side of his bed and her mother sat on the other side, each holding a hand.

  'Gemma, I need to talk to you about something.' Her father's tone was quiet but serious.

  Gemma looked across at him.

  'Is it really important, Dad? You really should be resting now.'

  There was a look of indecision on his face, battling with fatigue.

  'You and I need to have a long talk when I get back from the city, okay? Promise me you will make time.' The intensity of his words alarmed Gemma.

  'Of course, D
ad, whatever you want,' she said, looking at her mother with her eyebrows raised in query. But if Sarah knew what it was Jake wanted to talk to Gemma about, she gave no indication.

  As her dad drifted off to sleep, Gemma let the soft beeps of the monitors lull her into a doze.

  Gemma woke with a start as she heard rustling in the room. As her sleep-filled eyes focused, she remembered where she was and why. Her eyes flew to the bed but she relaxed as she heard the rhythmic breathing of her father. He was still asleep, as was her mum, who dozed with her head against Jake's shoulder. They had been married for thirty-five years and were as much in love now as the day they married. This must be hard for them both.

  A nurse was checking Jake's monitors and feeling his pulse. She smiled when she saw that Gemma was awake.

  'Hi,' she whispered.

  Gemma returned the smile sleepily. 'Hi, what's the time?'

  'About four thirty.'

  'If they wake up, could you let them know that I've just had to make a phone call and I'll be right back?'

  'Sure.'

  Gemma slipped from the room, pulling out her mobile phone as she went. Walking outside she smelled rain on the bitumen and heard the engine of the occasional passing car. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm, but relished the brisk air. It made her feel alive. Breathing deeply, she began to dial Bulla and Garry's number, then stopped. She would go to Jess's, get a coffee, have a shower and borrow some clothes. Then she'd be in a better condition to deal with things.

  The town glistened with overnight rain, the road wet beneath the wheels of her ute. Driving down the quiet tree-lined streets her eyes took in the small gardens. She'd often wondered how people could bear to live with their neighbours so close.

  As she entered the street where Jess lived, a white Toyota ute pulled out onto the main road. A farmhand heading out to work, Gemma assumed, her quick glance taking in the muddy bullbar and line of four large spotlights perched on the roof.

  She turned into Jess's driveway, surprised to see the light on. It was unlike Jess to be up this early. She got out of the ute and went to the door. She had just raised her hand to knock when the door flew open and there stood Jess in a flimsy green negligee. Her happy voice cut through the morning air: 'I knew you wouldn't be able to resist . . .' Jess's voice trailed off when she saw Gemma. 'Gem, what are you doing here? Are you okay? What's going on?'

  'Dad's had a heart attack,' Gemma choked out.

  Jess's hand flew to her mouth then she rushed forward to hug her friend. 'Oh Gem, is he all right?'

  'I think so, but – Jess, what is happening to my life? I'm so scared.'

  Jess didn't answer but hugged her again, then she looked at Gemma and laughed. 'Look at us, me in my lingerie and you – looking rather crumpled, I must say – in jeans and a jumper. I've got to get dressed or I'll freeze. I'll be two secs. You make the coffee.'

  A little while later the two of them were sitting at Jess's kitchen table with steaming cups of coffee.

  Gemma shook her head. 'Jess, I'm just not sure what's going to happen now. I can't think straight or even work out what step comes next. I feel so helpless.'

  'Give yourself a break, Gem,' Jess advised. 'It only happened, like, twelve hours ago. It'll take some time to get used to the idea. It's only threatening to overwhelm you now because you've had so much happen to you in the last little while. Just go with the flow and give yourself some time to adjust. Stop trying to control everything.' Gemma opened her mouth to speak but Jess held up her hand. 'I know, I know. This is how you handle things – but this is a situation you can't control. So breathe deep, and relax.'

  Gemma smiled. 'I'm glad I came to see you.'

  'Well of course you are. How often does someone meet you at the door looking the way I did? Now go have a shower and then get back to the hospital. I'll give you a key to the house and you can stop here tonight, get a decent sleep. Your mum can stay here too if she wants but I reckon they'll find a bed for her at the hospital if she wants to stay there.'

  Heading out into the wet streets again Gemma felt much better – stronger, which she needed to be for her mum and dad. Looking at the clock she saw it was nearly 6 am and if she didn't get in contact with Bulla and Garry soon they would be at work. Pulling over to the kerb, she dialled their number on her mobile phone.

  'What?' answered a grumpy voice.

  Gemma laughed out loud and said, 'Why are you

  so grumpy? It's a beautiful morning. There's been rain!'

  'Damn it, Gemma, you know what time it is, girl? Don't you ever sleep?' Bulla grumbled.

  'Yeah I do, but it's still a great morning.'

  'I'll tell ya after I've had me first cuppa. Whaddya want?'

  Gemma knew he was putting on an act. He'd probably been awake since before light. 'Got some bad news. I'm down in Pirie. Dad had a heart attack last night.'

  Bulla let fly with a curse.

  'He's okay – was only mild – but I'm going to need you or Gazza to go and check the stock over at Hayelle. I'll probably be home later today, maybe tomorrow. I'm going to stay here until they don't need me anymore. There's talk they'll be sending him down to the city today or tomorrow to have some more tests.'

  'Yeah, no worries, you just stay there for as long as you need to. Gaz and I'll handle everything out here. You just tell the old man to get better.'

  'Thanks, Bulla,' Gemma said quietly.

  Gemma bought a cup of coffee for herself and one for her mother from a sleepy-looking girl at a cafe outside the hospital.

  As she entered the ward one of the nurses said to her, 'You had a visitor while you were gone.' She held out a piece of paper.

  'Thanks,' said Gemma. Unfolding it, she saw it was from Paige.

  Dear Gemma,

  Sorry I missed you. I was hoping to have a chat. I've moved back to town for good now, so maybe when you have some time we could catch up over a meal or something. I've missed you since we left school. Hope we can get together soon.

  Love Paige

  Beneath her name Paige had written her phone number.

  Gemma thought back to the boarding school she, Jess and Paige had attended in Adelaide, and how their group of friends had promised never to lose touch. They had been friends since primary school – Paige, Jess, Kathy, Claire and her. She thought hard, trying to place where everyone was these days. The occasional Christmas card was about all the contact that Gemma had had with Paige and Kathy for years. The last she'd heard of Kathy she was travelling overseas. Kathy had always had the travel bug. As for Claire, Gemma would never forget the parting words of rage she had flung at her boyfriend before flying out the door of the restaurant.

  'You're nothing but a two-timing prick, Tim Milton. I can't believe I thought I loved you!' Claire had flung the photos of him and another woman at Tim as Gemma and Adam watched open-mouthed. She jumped into her small car and sped off down the road. Ten minutes later she was dead after colliding with a road train. Tim had committed suicide a year later, out of guilt.

  Gemma shook her head. Bugger the memories. Too many of them, and bad times always brought the worst ones back. She took the coffee in to Sarah.

  Both her parents were awake, and as she handed the coffee to her mum, Sarah asked Gemma if she'd call her brother and sister to let them know what had happened.

  'Sure, I'll go outside and give them a call now. What time will the doctor be here?'

  'Sometime after eight, I think, so we have a bit of time to wait.'

  'Okay, I'll make the calls. Then I need you to tell me what's happening on the farm, Dad, and if there's anything coming up that we need to know about.'

  Jake nodded his assent. Gemma thought he looked tired and grey today, but that was probably normal after a heart attack, she reasoned.

  Stepping outside she dialled her sister's number.

  'Hello?' Leisha sounded harassed and Gemma could hear the two girls, Zoë and Kate, arguing in the background. She smiled, imagining Leisha wi
th her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, phone tucked between her ear and shoulder, frantically trying to complete the million and one jobs she would have on the go at once.

  'Hi, it's me, is it a really bad time?'

  'No. But I've had enough of your two nieces. They've done nothing but argue all morning. Anyway, what's up with you?'

  Half an hour later, all the arrangements had been made. Leisha and the two girls would arrive by the beginning of next week, and their brother, Patrick, would be coming as soon as he could get to Brisbane and a flight. He would meet up with Jake and Sarah in Adelaide, then come out to give her a hand with Jake's farm, Hayelle, and Billbinya. He would be welcome company for a couple of weeks.