“I’m sure it won’t come to that.” Janette took a deep breath. “Cup of tea?”
“Please.” Raven sat down at the table, playing with her cell, wishing she could call Ben to be sure he was okay.
“Don’t worry, bad news travels fast,” said Janette as she set a cup of tea in front of Raven.
“Is it always like this?” Raven’s mind whirled through a sea of emotions flooding through her.
“Like what?”
“Waiting like this.”
“You’re always waiting on the ones you love when you’re a farmer’s wife.”
Raven nodded. It was what she was beginning to think would happen.
No wonder she cooks a lot.
There wasn’t much else to do. The internet wasn’t working well, but that was good because she could see herself constantly looking for updates about the fire to see if anything had gone wrong.
Raven shook her head. She was starting to feel sick having to wait like this. Was this her future waiting at this kitchen table for Ben?
Can I do this?
Raven lay awake in bed. Moonlight filtered in the room through the small window to the left, helping her to see a little. She looked up at the ceiling making out the movement of the fan going around. It moved the warm air making the heat tolerable. She kicked at the cotton sheet covering her, pushing it down in a tangled mess to the end of the bed. She wore a singlet and panties, and for the first time was beginning to wish there was an air conditioner to turn on.
She flung a hand out to her right and was about to say sorry when she remembered Ben wasn’t back yet. He was still out fighting the fire. Or as Janette hoped was the case, he might simply be staying out watching the area in case it flared up again.
Raven tilted her head back to look at the bedside clock. It was past midnight. She moved her arm back and forth, wishing that Ben was there. Out of habit, she picked up her phone lying near her. There was still no message or call from him. How she wished there was. Just a quick text to say he was all right. Even if he were fighting a fire, surely, he would have time to do that?
She rolled over, settling in the middle of the bed. When he came home, she wanted him to wake her.
Raven had reluctantly gone to bed. Janette left a plate of food in the fridge for Ben with a note on the table. Raven had stayed up a little longer, but she couldn’t stand watching any more of the late-night television or even another DVD. She didn’t want to sleep either. The waiting for more news was silently eating away at her.
Her mind swung between thoughts of hoping Ben was okay and wondering if she could tolerate this waiting and the loneliness of living on a farm. The heat lulled her into a restless sleep.
A slight movement of the bed woke her.
“Just me,” whispered Ben.
Ben wrapped his body against her. He smelled of smoke mixed with fresh soap, and his hair was a little damp.
“I missed you.” Raven turned to look at him. He kissed her. It was smoky, it was salty, and it reassured her that everything was well.
“I’m fine.”
Raven sensed the exhaustion in his voice. “The fire is out?”
“Yeah, just a few people staying there watching in case it flares up again.”
“Your mom mentioned something about that.” She nestled into him, enjoying his body wrapped around hers. “Much damage?”
“Brumbie lost his house and two of his sheds. One was left standing. Some of his sheep, too.”
“Fuck, that bad?”
“Yeah.”
“What started it?”
