The Bridesmaid's Wedding

by Margaret Way

  heat and red dust of the spinifex plains, such a huge part of the desert landscape.

  Near the rust red eroded summit of Moorak with its small caves and series of small cliffs like a pyramid grew a beautiful ghost gum, its stark white trunk and bright

  green feathery crown standing out boldly against the glowing, opal blue sky. It had been growing proudly out of the sheer rock of the ancient bastion for as long as

  Ally could remember. A sight to fire the imagination.

  When she reached her destination, Ally parked the jeep in the only protection sher could find, a grove of gnarled little trees with precious few leaves to hide their

  extraordinary skeletons. It wouldn’t be long before they succumbed to the arid conditions. Gnarled rnulgas were a symbol of drought but good winter rains had fallen

  and better yet the far tropical north was expecting a rainy Christmas. When the monsoonal rains filled the great rivers of the north, life-giving water flooded down

  through an inland system to the Channel Country a thousand and more miles away. If the rains were really flooding they could reach to the very centre of the continent

  and into the vast basin of Lake Eyre, the largest salt lake on the continent, which filled maybe twice every century.

  Ally reached out a hand to a leaf but it crumbled at her touch, releasing a strangely attractive scent, like dried herbs. Overhead coasted falcons and hawks forever

  on the lookout for prey. Ally reached back into the jeep and poured herself an iced coffee from the thermos. The big heat of midday was over, shadows were lengthening

  but the sun never lost its power. It was important never to become dehydrated. She drank slowly, revelling in her surroundings. The peace and quiet was extraordinary, like being insid an Outback cathedral.

  How different it was being home. Home where she looked into the eyes of her beloved. This was where she grew up. This was what held her in place. She had seen

  enough of the outside world to know this was where she belonged. To know what was important to her. She had faced herself, confronted her needs. It came down to two

  choices. She could work hard and perhaps become famous in the career she had embarked upon or she could find her way back to being the only woman in Rafe’s

  life. That might prove harder than winning at leading role in a Ngaire Bell film, she thought wryly. They’d had such a wonderful relationship. Beyond the physical. The

  spiritiual, the emotional. She wanted that again. She wanted Rafe’s full trust. She was ready in her mid-twenties to make a full commitment. To life. To family. She’d seen quite a few of her friends, fellow actors, women lawyers, busy P.R. consultants, career-oriented women becoming very reflective once they reached their thirties. There was a certain fear they might be going to miss out on their role was women. As wives and mothers. They knew they probably couldn’t have it all like a man.

  Nothing meant anything without Rafe. Ally’s vision of herself as a highly successful career woman had burned out. Shes saw it very clearly now. Rebuilding her once rnarvellous relationship with him was her major priority. She was happy to forgo a career. It wasn’t a very real sacrifice, either. It was her choice. Her way of settling the biggest issue of her life.

  Feeling happier and more at peace, Ally returned to the jeep, turning it in a half circle before driving off through the tangle of cane grass. With the approaching sunset the smouldering blue of the sky was being invaded with billowing clouds of colour, rose, pink, amethyst and gold. Hundreds of birds flashed across the sky, going into the long smooth glides that landed them in the lignum swamps. Dawn and sunset in the Outback were magical times. Ally was watching a large squadron of brolgas flying in Y formation just ahead of her when she became aware the jeep was overheating. Wisps of smoke-were issuing from the bonnet. Her eyes flew to the temperature gauge. The needle was moving steadily into the danger zone. How could that be? She always checked the radiator for water. Number One rule. The jeep like all other station vehicles underwent routine checks.

  “Oh, hell!” she muttered to herself, distracted enough to hit a fairly large half-hidden bough that flicked over and up into the air. A little awkwardly she climbed out,

  cursing her injured wrist, she managed to lift the bonnet without too much trouble then she began to make her inspection inside.

  Damn! The radiator hose was coming away. She would have to tighten the clips holding it. Not much of a problem. A few minutes later she was on her way, realising she wouldn’t reach home in daylight. Cheryl was bound to tell Ted when he came in. Both would be worried. Ted would most likely drive out to check if everything was all right. At least Cheryl knew where she was heading. She never left the homestead without leaving general directions. With her arm in a cast she had to be more careful than usual, more considerate of other people.

  Ten minutes on with the burning red sun sinking towards the grape blue horizon she was forced to stop again. Not only had the hose come away again it was obvious the clips simply weren’t going to hold it. The whole thing would have to be renewed.

  “What now?” she asked the darkening bush. She wasn’t frightened. There was nothing in the bush to hurt her. No wild animals, only innocent wild creatures. It

  grew cold at night, but she had at rug. She could throw it around her. There was a small bar of chocolate, a large red apple, the rest of the iced coffee. She could get a

  fire going. News she hadn’t returned would travel fast. If they couldn’ t find her in the pitch black, blackness so acute it couldn’t be imagined, someone would come for

  her at first light.

  Ted saw the helicopter coming in, bright yellow with the Cameron logo an interlocking GC within a dark blue circle. He figured it had to be Grant calling in on his way home, probably to finalise dates for a Kimbara muster, but it turned out to be Rafe. He had the chopper set down before Ted reached the airstrip.

  “Now this is a real surprise.” Ted beamed, swinging out of his sturdy Nissan. “I thought it was Grant fixin’ up for the muster.”

  The two men shook hands. “Grant’s got his hands full right at the moment Ted, but he’ll be contacting you soon. I was over at the McGrath place helping out with a problem when a new pile of mail came in. Quite a bit for Brod. Some of it Iexpect you can take care of. I collected ours and yours in advance. I’ll say hello to Ally if you’ll run me up to the house, then I’m off home. I prefer not to fly the chopper in the dark.”

  They found Cheryl waiting in an attitude of anxiety on the verandah of the homestead. “I expect it’s nothing to worry about but Ally’s not back. yet,” she called to them the minute they stepped out into the drive.

  “So where did she go?” Rafe felt like swearing, his gaze checking the sky. Ally sure needed watching.

  “She always tells me her plans.” Immediately, Cheryl was on the defensive. “A few jobs needed doing this morning, Rafe, what with Miss Fiona arriving with her friend. Making up beds and such like. Ally likes to get out every day. She loves the sunset.” “So where did she says she was goin’, luv?” Ted interrupted patiently.

  “Northwest. Out Moorak way, I’d say. I’rn just sitting here waiting for her to get home.”

  “Best go fetch her,” said Ted, proceeding to turn back to the Nissan. “Why the hell Ally wants to rattle around in that jeep I don’t know.” He let out a great sigh. “I would definitely class Ally as a mighty independent woman.”

  Rafe made a quick decision, based on his intense involvement. “If you lend me the Nissan, Ted, I’ll go check if she’s on the way back. She wouldn’t jneed to leave it too much it longer or,she’ll be driving horne in the dark.”

  “With one good arm,“Ted said, clearly unhappy about that.

  “The keys, Ted.” Rafe held out his hand, not pushing his authority but it was instantly clear.

  None of them dared think. Ally might have had an accident.

  “Let me get some food in case you get stuck, Rafe,” Cheryl called
“I won‘t be a millute.”

  “Fine.” Rafe turned to Ted who obviously shared his concern. “I’ll either see her corning in or she’s had a breakdown of some kind. That’s always on the cards.

  Either way I’ll find her. If we don’t make it back by nightfall you might give Grant a call. Explain what’shappened. It won’t be the first time we’ve:spent a night in the bush. You might meet up with us first light.”

  “Count on it, Rafe. I told Birdy to check the jeep.” Ted sounded upset and worried. “Seein’ Ally’s always takin’ it out.”

  “She’d have trouble changing a tyre,” Rafe regsponded a little grimly. “Don’t worry, Ted. It’s hardly your fault. I know how stubborn Ally can be. I’ll find her.” He looked a little impatiently towards the house as Cheryl came flying out carrying what looked like a picnic hamper.

  “In case you need it,” she called as Ted moved quickly to help her. “Food and drink. Won’t hurt if Ally’s on her way in.”

  We should be so lucky, Rafe thought.

  Thirty minutes out. No sight of her or the jeep. He had taken a rough track of sorts now he left it, the Nissan bouncing through tall yellow grass and over clumps of spinifex and fallen ‘mulga, He was starting to concede they might have to organise an all-out search for her at dawn. Maybe she had run out of water? Maybe she was thirsty and headed for a creek? wouldn’t make Moorak in the light. The sun was already sinking in a great fiery ball. Dusk would be short, a momentary amethyst veil, the vast red earth, the interlocking network of waterways, the crumbling hills, the entire landscape would be

  blocked out as night fell.

  Unbidden but never far from his mind came all the old horror stories. This was killer country if you didn’t know it. But Ally did. That gave him great hope. Ally wasn’t likely to lose herself in the bush. She would stay by her vehicle even if she ran out of petrol or water or the vehicle broke down.

  In the enveloping dusky light he could see the near pyramid form of Moorak. The best course at this point was to head towards it as quickly as common sense allowed. Again unbidden images of Ally. Face down on the red earth. Ally with her head wedged against the steering wheel, the bonnet of the jeep plunged into a crevice that had suddenly opened up for want of water. She wasn’t strong enough yet to do the things she did. And yet, wasn’t that the way of the bush where everyone was so active.

  Stamping down hard on his panic, Rafe began to sound the Nissan’s horn, the successive blasts almost painfully loud in the darkening desert. He would have to slowdown. He could hit something, put his own vehicle at risk. At least Ally wouldn’.t be scared like as city woman would be. He’d seen tourists scared out of their wits after they’d been rescued from the waterless wilderness. With good reason.

  A kilometre closer with the vehicle’s headlights raying out across a night-time scene of aridity‘ and desolation, contorted shrubs and gnarled branches like gigantic bonsai, he heard something.

  “Ally!” The deep frown lines etched into his forehead evened out. That was the jeep’s horn, answering him. “Keep it going, Ally.” He dared to hope she was all right. “Slowly now,” he told himself when he was desperate to let the engine rip. This was no smooth city road or even an Outback track full of potholes. This was the unrelenting wilderness. A dying desert oak reared up in the headlights, its twisted upflung branches giving the appearance of a nightmare scarecrow.

  He swore beneath his breath, bounced round it, his ears tuned to the S.O.S. of the jeep. “I’m coming, Ally. Trust me. Everything is going to be fine.”

  But was it? Would the woman he loved with all his heart be forever out of reach. She had told him, in a weakened moment, she wanted to be back in his life. He seemed at that moment he would take her at any price. The Nissan bounced across the mulga plains, riding high across clumps of spinifex and tough twisted fallen branches then dipping sickeningly into” narrow crevices and dry shallow gullies.

  When Rafe finally caught sight of her she was standing in his headlights, her right arm supporting the injured arm withthe cast. God, had she hurt herself? There appeared to be nothing wrong with the jeep.

  “Ally?” he bellowed, tremendous waves of love and relief giving way to a crazy anger. Hell, she was even looking back at him like “Isn’t this fun?”

  It was no surprise then as he gathered her tightly into his s arms she laughed aloud, filled with an irresistible happiness he had found her. “You’d better believe this,

  Rafe Cameron, I knew you’d come for me.”

  “Did you, now?” He couldn’t possibly, take it so casually. “I suppose you realise you’ve had us all terribly worried?”

  Immediately she was apologetic. “l’m sorry. Truly sony. But it’s not my fault, Rafe.” She pointed to the jeep. “The radiator hose went.”

  “What a damned nuisance,” he muttered shortly. “Isn’t Birdy in charge of maintenance?”

  Ally flew to Birdyis defence. “Actually he did check it out.” Now that Rafe was here, she felt like a kid at a party, no doubt helped along by that nip of brandy.

  “Isn’t this super stuff?” she said blithely, deliberately echoing words she had used so often as a child. “We’re going to have to spend a night in the bush together.”

  But Rafe’s emotions were too close to the surface.

  “What makes you sure I won’t attempt to drive back. I made it out here, didn’t I?” He was aware he was somewhat curt.

  “Indeed.you did.” She stroked his arm. “My hero. Don’t be angry, Rafe,” she begged “All’s well that ends well. I’m not hurt. Itwas my first real chance to commune with the bush at night in years. Look, the stars are coming out.” She lifted her curly head. “Millions and millions of them. You never see a sky like that in the city.”

  He clicked his tongue, looking around them. “We could do with a few streetligihts all the same.” They were standing in a very small pool of light given off by the Nissan’s headlights.

  “We are going to stay aren’t we, Rafie?”

  Her voice, such an instrument of pleasure was pitched low. She never called him Rafie except to tease and taunt. He understood that thoroughly. He looked down

  at her, seeing she. was wearing. a little denim shirt with short sleeves and a matching full skirt, buttoned down the front. She was wearing sneakers on her-feet. “You’re

  cold,” he said suddenly, sounding angry. “You’ve got a rug in the jeep. You should have put it round you.”

  “I won’t need the rug now. I’ve got you.” She held his stare.

  Abruptly he broke away, going to the jeep, and pulled the rug off the front seat. At least she had the sense to use it. “Here, Ally, this isn’t funny. Put it on.”

  She did so immediately, her tone wry. “Aah, we’re going to be businesslike, are we?”

  “What were you expecting, a party?”

  “A party would be marvellous.” She stared back up at the blossoming stars. “A party for two. You haven’t got any food with you by any chance? I’m starving. All I’ve had is can apple and a small piece of chocolate.”

  “Well I can’t say cutting back will do you any good. Yes, I’ve got food. Cheryl put it in. We’ll have to make camp for the night. Were you going to stay here?”

  Ally nodded. “I wasn’t going to move until you came for me. I’m psychic where you’re concerned.”

  “Oh, yes, Ally, you’ve. got all the answers,” he groaned. “Get in the Nissan. I’ll have to find a better camp site than this. You know damned well how the temperature falls at night.”

  “So we’re going to need to sleep together for body heat.”

  Her hair fell in a dark cloud all around her face. Her green eyes glittered like a cat’s caught in the light. “Full of fun, aren’t you?”

  She took his arm, hugged it, trying desperately to communicate her deep sincerity for all her covering banter. “Oh, I’m just so happy you’re here, Rafe.”

  “Good.” He turned her gently but firmly. “Let’s move
. Think we can make it back to Moorak?”

  “Sure.” She walked with him to the Nissan.

  “We might be able to find ourselves a small cave’.”

  “As long as you don’t mind sharing it with half a dozen rock wallabies.”

  “Not tonight.” He helped her into the passenger seat. “Any Wallaby that lives there will have to move on.”

  They were moving slowing across the rugged terrain.

  Ally startedto laugh again. “I’m in such a good rnood.”

  “I can see that. Sure you haven’t been getting into the medicinal brandy?” he asked dryly.

  A fresh bubble of laughter. “I did have a small nip to ward off the cold. I was born in the bush but I still can’t get accustomed to the chill of the desert nights. It’s so unexpected after the scorching days. What are you doing on Kimbara, anyway?”

  “You mean you didn’t divine the reason along with the fact I was coming? I collected a bit of mail at McGrath’s. Brod’s and ours. I decided to deliver it on the way home.”

  “I hope you intended popping up to the house to see me?”

  “I was going to pay you a visit, yes. No mail for youl.”

  “I got mine,” she said.

  “Who from?”

  “Oh, Bart Morcombe.” She spoke casually. “He sent a script.”

  “Which you read?”

  “In one long sitting. It’s very good. There’s a part for Fee if she’s interested. Not big but it’s important they get the casting right. Heck, what was that?” she cried as the vehicle rocked on its side.

  “A blasted boulder,” he muttered. “It’s a good thing we’re nearly there.”