Ed slowed. The kangaroo blended so well with the surrounding bush, she wouldn’t have spotted it during the day. It watched the car and when they had almost reached it, it hopped out in front of them. Ed slammed on the brakes and swore as the kangaroo bounded off into the bush on the other side of the road.
Tess gasped. “Why did it do that?”
“Who knows?” Ed increased his speed again. “That’s why I slowed so much; they do stupid things.”
Tess’s heart pounded. Then the road in front of them got brighter and brighter. Ed winced. “Road train. Brace yourself.”
Before she could ask what he meant, a truck overtook them, shaking the van, and Ed fought to keep it on the road. The truck had to be forty metres long or more. Enormous. Finally it passed, and they were left in the dark again.
She let out her breath.
Ed chuckled. “Another tick for your road trip checklist.”
“I think I would have preferred to skip that one.”
“We’d be right if we weren’t going so slowly. They’re so big ’roos don’t bother them.”
Tess’s skin prickled, and the sweat had nothing to do with the residual heat outside. She wanted to tell Ed to pull over, or turn around and head back to Meekatharra, but she was conscious he had to be home for his brother’s wedding. He was doing her the favour by letting her tag along while she figured out what to do next. She kept her mouth shut and pointed out two more kangaroos, which kept still as they drove past. She gritted her teeth. Ed had said the roadhouse was two hours ahead, but at the speed they were going, would it be longer? Ed jacked on the brakes and this time it was a cow in the middle of the road. He pressed the horn, which was a pathetic high-pitched toot and the cow trundled into the bush.
“Why is there a cow in the middle of the road?”
“There are cattle stations in the area. Probably escaped when a fence was down.”
He didn’t seem perturbed, but every muscle in Tess’s body was tense. She prayed they would stop soon.
Her prayers were answered five minutes later when a mob of kangaroos bounded across the road. One of them brushed the car as Ed braked and Tess shrieked.
Ed swore. “All right. That’s enough. I’ll pull over at the next rest stop if you can handle roughing it for a night.”
Her concerns about sleeping near Ed were insignificant compared to her fear of the animals. She’d thought she only had to be worried about snakes and spiders killing her. “It’s fine.” She’d spent the previous night next to a dumpster, so anything would be better.
A few kilometres later, he pulled into a gravel rest stop. A yellow bin was centred on the side, but other than that it was empty. Thank goodness she’d used the bathroom before they’d left Meekatharra. Ed parked upwind of the bin and switched off the engine. Its quiet tick was the only sound, and as he flicked off the headlights they were plunged into darkness. Ed opened his door, but no light came on. He laughed. “That would figure.” A moment later, his phone torch illuminated the area. “Let me check if the light in the back works.”
Tess undid her seatbelt and stretched while Ed slid the door open. No light. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about her modesty if she changed into a clean T-shirt.
“Can you hold my phone while I make the bed?” Ed handed it to her and transformed the back into a bed, spreading out the sleeping bag and quilt, and placing the pillows at opposite ends of the bed so they would lie head to toe. “That might be the best.” His smile made her nerves disappear. Then he shut the privacy curtains around the windows.
She returned his phone, and he placed it on the centre of the bed as he dragged out the ten-litre bottle of water. He poured himself a cup and cleaned his teeth. Tess dug into her bag and pulled out the toothbrush she’d bought in Geraldton and her phone. It lit up with a bunch of notifications. She froze. She’d forgotten to turn it back off after Mount Magnet. Only one person would call her. Sure enough, message after message telling her she’d missed a call from Tan Lewis. With a shaky finger, she switched off the phone.
“Everything all right?” Ed asked, concern on his face.
“It’s fine.” She tucked the phone back into her bag. “Nothing urgent. I’ll call them when I get to Retribution Bay.” She finished cleaning her teeth and then splashed some water on her face. It was much cooler now, but she didn’t want to sleep in the clothes she’d been wearing for over twenty-four hours. She retrieved the spare clothes she’d bought.
Another road train roared past, but the bushes between the rest stop and the road blocked some of its light.
Ed had no hang-ups as he stripped off his T-shirt and changed into another one. He was an attractive man. She blinked at the inappropriate thought. He was her rescuer. She wouldn’t see him again after they reached their destination. She wouldn’t drag him further into her mess.
Ed glanced at her, saw her clothes in her hands. “Tell me when you’re done.” He turned his back.
Such consideration. Her mother had warned her Australian men were unrefined, but she’d never met Ed. Tess changed. “I’m done.” She closed her backpack and placed it on the passenger seat.
“Great. Sleeping bag or quilt?”
The idea of the sleeping bag made her feel claustrophobic. “Quilt.”
He gestured. “After you.”
As she climbed in, he closed the back door and circled the van as if to check everything was all right. Tess settled under the quilt, pulling it up to her chin as he got in.
