9
Ross
Just fixingmy eyes on Dan made me shudder in the best of ways. My reaction was swiftly followed by relief. He was okay. He was here. Movement to his left, and I spotted my brother. I quickly sent him a wry grin. Yeah, I was pretty damn relieved Craig was safe and here too.
“How you doing?” Dan’s question pulled my attention back to him. Concern and relief registered on his features. I knew the look all too well, as it reflected my own every time—in the past three weeks especially—when he’d been called out battling fires, to then return home safely.
“Good.” I nodded, raking my eyes over his exhausted form. While his clothes were clean, his skin was not. “You sure you’re okay to be here?”
He rolled his eyes as he stepped into my space, his one hand lifting to stroke my mum’s mare, Mable. “I’m hardly not going to be here, am I?”
My stomach flipped at that.
“Your dad would kick my arse if I let anything happen to his place, or more importantly, to your mum.”
The tingly feeling in my gut dissipated. Dan was here for my folks, my family. I knew that. And while I was grateful, the moment I’d allowed myself to consider that I was his focus was a foolish pursuit. He wasn’t interested, something I kept forgetting.
Instead, I shook my disappointment aside and allowed my gratitude that he was here for my parents to sink in and roll over me. He was such a good guy, regardless of his interest in me being nothing more than concern for a friend. I pulled a smile out and let it settle naturally on my face. “True,” I finally answered, probably a beat too late. “My old man on the way?”
He nodded, then stepped to the side to take the horse’s reins from me so I could focus on Charlie. “Hopefully he shouldn’t be long. We were lucky that last blaze got under control so quick.” He shook his head, and frustration and worry dipped his brows low.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“My mate Davey was sent down to Mallacoota.” He shook his head as my understanding registered. News about the small town has spread far and wide. Images of the blazing red sky had burned into my memory.Dante’s Infernoseemed epitomised in the images I’d seen. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the horror and fear the people of the town, and countless other people hit by the same burning wrath, experienced as the fires mercilessly wiped out their homes and took the lives of their loved ones.
I swallowed hard and reached out, my hand settling on Dan’s forearm. I squeezed, hoping the small gesture would at least let him know he wasn’t alone. I hated to ask, but I couldn’t not. “Is he okay?”
When he nodded, relief whooshed through me. I moved my hand away only to pause, my heart accelerating hard when he reached out and clamped his hand around my forearm. My small smile disappeared as question filled my eyes. My heart didn’t slow down its wild beat as his fingers slipped, never severing contact, until his hand shifted and his palm gripped mine.
It was his turn to squeeze and my turn to wonder what the hell was happening.
“Davey’s fine. Thank God,” he said, barely above a whisper. “It was scary stuff, and a part of me wishes I was heading down there to support him and so many others who’ve flown in.”
I blanched, my fingers constricting around his hand. As soon as I realised I gripped him, I attempted to ease away, but his firm hold prevented me.
“If I wasn’t needed here, I probably would.” His gaze remained on mine. His pupils danced, as if searching my own for something.
I managed to bob my head. “It must be hard staying back,” I said. “But look where you were today. Look where we are now.” While I hoped the preparation was a false alarm and came to nothing, the possibility it wouldn’t be made it difficult to think straight. “I’m glad you’re here.” Dan had a calmness to him that sometimes was at odds with his jokester personality. But whenever he was nearby, he had a way of enabling me to relax, especially if I’d had a crap of a day at work.
“Me too.” His voice remained low, his focus intent.
“You about done?” Craig’s voice had me tearing my focus and my hand away.
I cleared my throat and nodded at my bemused-looking brother. “Just about.” I wanted to wince at the weird pitch to my voice but held strong.
“Good.” His attention shifted to Dan. “When you’ve finished, help me hitch up the water tanker.”
“Will do,” Dan answered, his voice completely unaffected.
“I can finish off here if you want?” I cast a quick glance Dan’s way as I spoke.
He shook his head. “Let me help. We’ll get it done quicker.”
I agreed, knowing he was right. I’d already attached the trailer to Mum’s vehicle, so it would mean I could head back in and see what else needed doing.
Between the two of us, we made quick work of settling the horses. In that time, the smoke had thickened, even denser than it was at my place. The wind had shifted slightly, not helping the smoke clawing its way around the property and surrounds. I just hoped it wasn’t helping the fire along, and that the firies assigned to the burn were doing okay, keeping safe, and winning the fight.
“Stay safe, yeah?”
