Blaise drove back along the unsealed road toward Acacia Plains. Dust blew up behind him in a smoky-like cloud. He’d never realized how much it didn’t rain now he was here living in the country. In the city, the rain tended to be more of a nuisance more than anything. Of course, out here on the land, it could make or break people.
It was later in the day than expected, and he had planned on going back to the place he’d rented. Dusty had said she’d see him later. What annoyed him about the ambiguity was that it could translate to later being tonight, or tomorrow, or hell even Christmas at this rate. He’d never thought to ask her to commit to a time.
The quick drive in the combine at least gave him the empathy he needed to be unforgiving about her lack of commitment. He’d been open-minded coming here to the country to live, to trial having a relationship with Dusty. What he hadn’t quite been prepared for was that he was also having to develop a relationship to the farm as well.
Blaise looked ahead at the straight road. Eucalyptus trees lined either side, along with low-lying bushes he had no idea what their names were. He had a vague recollection Dusty had called them tea trees,Leptospermum. When they were moving a mob to a different paddock the other month, he’d sat in the passenger seat, and she’d named the species of trees and plants as if she were a botanist, and he’d been impressed. Long weedy dried grasses swayed as he passed. Even at his reduced speed, he couldn’t bring himself to drive fast on these dirt roads, not like the locals did.
A magpie flew across the road, followed by a few swallows which were considered pests. Blaise couldn’t believe how much he had learned, and how much he noticed around him even when he was driving. He enjoyed the change, and it gave him hope, reminding him he was adjusting. So often it felt like he wasn’t and that he knew nothing.
A banging noise started at the back of the ute. Blaise fought against the steering wheel to stop the car from veering toward the bank of the road. He automatically took his foot off the accelerator, and hearing Dusty’s voice resisted the urge to brake. There were sections of loose stone on this road and braking could send him into a skid into the nearest tree.
Blaise held his breath as the ute skidded a little, then slowed, the thumping got worse, before the ute finally stopped. He exhaled with relief. This was one time Blaise was glad he didn’t drive fast on these roads. Dusty did, which was fine, she’d grown up and could read them, and knew the conditions and how to adjust. All he saw was dirt and potholes.
He got out of the ute, barely noticing the heat of the afternoon.
What the hell was that?
His legs were a little like jelly as he walked around the back of the ute trying to see anything obvious that might’ve caused the noise and affected the steering. For a gut-wrenching moment, he thought something very bad might’ve happened to Ted or Molly. The dogs were sitting on the tray of the ute, chained safety, and looking rather bored.
“Glad you’re all right, boy.” Blaise patted Ted, happy the dog was fine. Molly barked at him as if telling him off for ignoring her. He smiled. “And you too, girl.”
He didn’t want to be the one to tell Dusty he’d killed Ted or Molly. That would surely end any chance of a future relationship with each other.
Knowing that Ted and Molly were fine, he focussed his attention on the ute. He’d been worried about damaging the ute knowing how tight money was for Dusty and her mom, and an accident in the ute would stress them financially.
The tailgate of the tray was secure which he thought might’ve been the cause. With no idea what he was looking for, he kept moving until he came to the front passenger side.
For Fuck’s sake. He sighed heavily. It was a flat tire.Of course.
This was when he wished he could call the local roadside service, the RAA. They did come out here, but he knew damn well he’d be laughed at if he called them for a flat tire. There was no way he was going to ask Dusty for help, she needed to finish reaping that paddock. He wasn’t about to be the one to delay her. Her mom, Claire, might be the person to ask, but then again, she was going into Wilkton this afternoon, so she wasn’t at the farmhouse right now.
Looks like it’s me and the ute.
He looked at the very flat tire.
Sure, he knew how to change them, he just wasn’t sure how to on this vehicle.
Welcome to country life, hey, he thought to himself as he searched through the ute looking for a jack.Learn as you go and hope for the best. That was exactly what he was doing now and rescheduling the afternoon’s plans. He wasn’t going to get the accounts done for the Bakers and Hancocks, after all. Let alone get to Bluey’s Mechanics long, overdue accounts. He wasn’t sure why, but he seemed to attract clients whose accounting was behind or in an utter mess.
The spare tire was under the tray, and he wasn’t sure how he was going to get that out.
He looked down at his suit.
Yeah, I gotta get better clothing.
Though he wasn’t sure what his clients would think now if he turned up in jeans and a shirt, or even if he wore some Wrangler or Rossi clothing the country folk dressed in. He’d been persisting in dressing in his city-style suits all year. It was the clothing he owned, and he wanted to look professional and make an impression. Not for the first time, he wondered what sort of impression he was really making.
Blaise managed to find the jack behind the passenger seat.There you are. One step done. He put it on the ground. Now, how the hell was he going to get the tire out?
“You any good at changing tires?” he asked the dogs. They’d both laid down in the back of the ute and had settled for a long nap. “Yeah, didn’t think so.”
At the back of the ute, Blaise squatted to try and work out how to get the tire out. Everything was thick with dust. He attempted to unscrew some bolts but they were seized with the dust.
Fuck it.
He got some tools out of the ute, and tried again, but nothing was budging.
Fuck.
