8
Dan
This one hadn’t been toobad in the grand scheme of what was happening around our scorched country. I’d spent fifteen hours since last night helping to tackle this smaller blaze. The whole time, visibility had been barely three metres, and sweat had blurred my vision. Now, covered in soot, my protective gear sodden with sweat and charred bushland—which I’d since stripped off and thrown on some clean clothes—I was ready for a hot shower and bed, even though it was only early afternoon.
But there was no chance of that.
The fire in our neighbouring region had caused a stir, and there was increasing chatter of it spreading. Any other time, I’d be racing over to lend a hand. With the state on high alert, crews were heading out to wherever they were needed, some setting off for days at a time.
It was only Craig’s concern that had stopped me. I would have gone with him anyway to help his parents. They were the best of people, but when he’d said Ross was ahead of us and would be reaching his mum first, my heart had plummeted.
The thought of him facing a fire was enough to have me ignoring the layers of sweat and the exhaustion threatening the edges of my vision.
Adrenalin was a heady thing, and right now, I needed it to keep me vigilant and make sure the Fosters were okay, especially Ross.
“You all right over there?”
Craig’s question made me jump. So focussed on staring out at the passing bush and thoughts on my friend’s younger brother, it didn’t seem I was up for any additional multitasking.
It was a good job he’d offered to drive. I’d been the one to collect him midway through work today, so we were in my Hilux, but I figured his offer was more about him focusing on something else and trying not to worry too much about his parents.
He chuckled a little. “Be sure to grab yourself a Hydralyte. Get that head of yours clear.”
I grunted in response and reached over to the back seat and swiped the small cooler bag. Two drinks in hand, I opened the lid of one and passed it to Craig before opening my own and taking a deep gulp.
I grimaced at the taste, but Craig was right. I needed to stay hydrated to remain alert.
“So, all okay?” he asked again after placing his bottle in the cupholder.
“Just tired.” A jaw-cracking yawn followed, and I shook my head, trying to wake myself up. “You?”
He bobbed his head. “Will be. Just need to make sure Mum’s safe, try to secure their property as much as possible, then hope like hell the wind drops and this brewing fire pisses off and dies.”
“You and me both.” I paused before saying, “And Ross?”
“Hmm?” The arsehole’s lips twitched, and he didn’t exactly try to hide his reaction to my question.
“Shut it. Your brother, how far ahead is he? He knows what he’s doing, right?” Him not knowing didn’t sit comfortably. Obviously, Ross wasn’t a firie, but with his dad and brother active, he would have picked up enough, right?
Shit, we’d spent enough time together over the past few months, I should have checked.
The thought of his large brown eyes wide and panicked had me shifting uncomfortably and darting my attention to the speedometer. A few kilometres over the limit, and I couldn’t ask for more, no matter how much I wanted to.
“Not much more than us.” Craig indicated right, slowing briefly before pulling into the road and once more accelerating. “He’ll be fine. He knows how to prepare.” A snort broke free from Craig as he continued, “Seriously, we had monthly fire drills at home for at least two years. Eventually Mum was able to talk Dad down to twice a year.”
I grinned, relaxing a little. I’d forgotten Tom had done just that. I’d even been involved in a few of them.
“So did you go on that date Alec tried to set up for you?”
Frowning at the topic change, I glanced in his direction. “Nah. Didn’t feel like it.” The date he was talking about was meant to happen a couple of weeks ago, so Craig asking now was odd.
“No?”
I shook my head, and he knew exactly the reason why.
While I wanted the unspoken to happen, I was still a coward thinking about the what-ifs.
“Huh.” He indicated once more to turn right. I sat up a little, recognising we were only five minutes out from his parents’ place.
