Kent looked out the window as if he was trying to read a map in the clouds. "I had a crush on a girl when I was 16." He pointed in a westerly direction. "She lives one hundred and three kilometers from The Oasis."
Alyssa looked out the plane's window and raised an eyebrow. "That's a long way."
"I snuck out of our house one Friday night after dinner. I rode a motorbike all night to her house and woke her before the rooster crowed," said Kent.
"Surely you got into a lot of trouble."
"Some. Karen was her name. Her father didn't take too kindly to my presence. He was more shocked finding out that I had ridden across the outback on a dirt bike in the dark. He let me stay all day and fueled my bike on Sunday."
"What did your father say?"
Kent finished lining up the plane with the dirt road. "My father was okay about the whole thing. He did suggest I don't do it again. His reason was simple: it was too dangerous."
"And the girl?"
"She wore a smile all day, but that was it. After I left for home, she never talked to me again," said Kent.
"That's a shame."
"No, it's a good thing. If anything else happened then I might never have met you," he said.
Alyssa didn't know where to look. She was certainly tickled to the core that he had said such a nice thing. It had been a long time since someone had said anything positive about her. She decided in a heartbeat to probe deeper. She was bursting at the seams to find out how he might really feel about her.
"If you had a choice at confessing which was more beautiful, The Oasis or me, which one would you choose?"
Kent glanced sideways at her. His brow was deeply wrinkled. She suddenly felt cold. Goosebumps covered her arms and legs. Her words echoed around her mind. If she could make a wish, it would be to take back the words. What a mistake. How did she even contemplate asking such a stupid, childish question? She sighed and waited for the verbal abuse to start.
Kent checked the plane's instruments again and then glanced out of the window. He swiveled his head and looked Alyssa in the eyes. 'Here it comes,' she thought. 'I asked for it. I certainly pushed too hard and now I am about to pay for it.' Kent picked up her tightly curled fingers and gently uncurled each one. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, which sent a shiver into the middle of her back. She expected the feeling to pass in a couple of seconds, but it stayed.
"If I had to compare you to The Oasis, you'd win every time. The Oasis is the second most beautiful thing out here. There is no comparison between you and The Oasis."
Alyssa swallowed hard. She certainly wasn't expecting a reply as solid as that. "Are there any more secrets you want to share?" she asked. Her voice was a mere whisper. He had knocked the wind from her lungs, good and proper.
Without saying another word, Kent guided the plane downwards and leveled off at twenty-four meters. Alyssa spied an old house that looked deserted. Its fencing had been blown away in places and a large metal gate lay in the mud. Several minutes went by in silence.
"Alyssa, if you look ahead, The Oasis is about to come into view."
"You want to talk now?" She wondered what he was really thinking. Maybe he was playing games with her in order to win the bet; that stupid old bet. She looked sideways into Kent's eyes, willing him to open his mouth to tell her everything.
"I only talk when I have something important I want to say," said Kent.
Alyssa returned her gaze to the desert below and was gobsmacked at what she found. "It's fantastic," she whispered. "The area takes your breath away. It's unbelievable. How is it all possible?"
Slowly, she returned her gaze back to Kent's beaming face. She had wanted to test his honesty and had finally discovered a way to do so that couldn't be detected. "You never did explain the details to me on how your father found the place," she said.
"I have already mentioned my father didn't discover The Oasis, it was my great- grandfather who stumbled across it by accident."
Alyssa was impressed with Kent's honesty and seemingly endless patience. She sat next to him, wondering what it would take before he lost his cool.
"How The Oasis was formed, no one knows," continued Kent. "I've searched the internet for answers. I've asked the people at the school of flight. No one can shed light on my question. Some say a large meteorite millions of years ago hit the earth and left the oval- shaped hole. Others say a river formed The Oasis. No one can give me a straight answer.
"As you can see, every time it rains, the river leading into The Oasis cascades over the side and falls thirty meters to the river below. Water travels over all the sides of The Oasis, but the main entry point is the waterfall. When the river's flowing, she moves hard and fast. Don't ever be in the water when she's flowing. The river's not deep, but I rescue several cows every year from the river."
"Using your trusty rope that's clipped to your belt?" cut in Alyssa.
Kent fell silent.
"No wonder you carry it with you."
The plane circled the giant hole in the ground and dived down the waterfall. The plane leveled at an altitude that skimmed the trees.
"You can see why we always have plenty of water and green grass. Now you understand why the area is perfect for cows," he said.
Alyssa took in the amazing view. She looked over the entire fertile land. The grass was a rich dark green and cows were in abundance. There had to be at least a thousand head of cattle. She traced the course of the river with her finger and watched it disappear underground as the plane roared from one end to the other, then banked right and headed up river again.
"You have four houses close together?" she asked.
Kent nodded. "Mine is the newest looking one. I moved in three weeks ago. Each one of us had to build our own-Father's rules. My parents live in the two-story mansion with my older sister. The next house in line is my eldest brother's and his wife, then mine is on the end."
"It's a beautiful place," said Alyssa. "I can see why you don't want to leave, but how can you compare its beauty to me? The Oasis is in a category of its own."
Kent gave her a sideways glance. Their eyes locked. For a moment, she sensed the home was not built for Kent, but for her. She felt an electricity arch between them, but then he looked away. She felt disappointed that the moment had ended so abruptly.
*
Kent prepared to land the plane by lining up a dirt path that ran the entire length of the fast-flowing river.
"Where does the water go?" asked Alyssa, following the river with her eyes to a cliff face.
"It ducks into an underground tunnel," said Kent. "In the dry season about four years ago, I dived into the cave and waded in the waist-deep water for half an hour. Through my research, I found a map that showed me where the water ended."
The plane landed gracefully and came to a stop next to the river. Kent cut the engines and opened the door. The wind was from the north and the sun was warm.
"All the dams and every windmill between here and the other house we flew over have tapped into the underground river," observed Alyssa.
"You catch on quick," said Kent. "You're right, the river winds its way underground and ends at the sea near Darwin."
Alyssa frowned as she looked at him. "You haven't explained in detail how your family came across this place."
"Didn't I?"
"No. You avoided details of my question by changing the plane's course one degree."
"You're a very observant young lady," he said.
Alyssa raised her eyebrows. "I'm curious."
"And intelligent," added Kent. "I like that in a woman."
'One point for me,' she thought.
"Discovering The Oasis was all a big coincidence. My great-grandfather was conned into selling all he had back in England by his best mate, Jack. Free land in Australia was the story. They came out together dragging their families with them. When they reached Australia, they were laughed out of the small wooden governor's shack. My great-grandfa
ther conned the government of the time into giving him anything that he discovered right here. The rest speaks for itself."
"You have a fantastic family history," said Alyssa.
"I've said too much. Don't forget you're supposed to be here for work." Kent unbuckled his seat belt and stepped down from the plane. "Whatever you do, stay away from the river," he said. "She's moving the fastest I've ever seen after the recent storm."
Alyssa nodded and focused on a group of riders who were approaching the plane. She guessed that they had come from the house and were the welcoming committee. All were riding the best-looking horses she had ever seen. To her, the group looked like characters straight out of an old Western. She undid her seat belt and stepped down from the plane.
"The posse has arrived," she quipped.
Kent turned and flashed a look of thunder.
"I'm only kidding," she said.
Alyssa watched with interest as each rider pulled back on the reins of their horse and stepped onto the ground. The boots of every rider sank slightly in the softened mud.
"Welcome home."
Alyssa paid special attention to a big man wearing a cowboy hat, blue jeans and a blue button-up shirt as he stepped forward to shake Kent's hand. The man's stomach was relatively flat for his age. He took off his large hat and outstretched his hand. His thick gray hair was neat and tidy. His broad shoulders were square and his posture was straight. He stood, military- style, waiting to shake hands.
Kent extended his free hand toward his companion. "Father, this is the single package I informed you about, Miss Alyssa Fitzgerald. Alyssa, this is Mr. Earl Stanton."
"We meet at last, sir. It's urgent that I talk with you," said Alyssa.
Earl swiveled in his boots. As he faced Alyssa, she spied a picture of The Oasis tattooed on his forearm.
"I have some reservation about hiring a young lady from the city," he growled. "I was expecting at least one bloke."
"Father, as I explained, Alyssa was the only person to show up." Earl grunted.
"Earl, help the young lady feel welcome."
Alyssa looked for the owner of the voice. It was a tall, thin, middle-aged woman who was holding the reins of a brown mare at the back of the group. Her voice was warm and friendly, but firm. It was as though she had one over on Earl.
Earl's concrete expression broke out into a huge smile as he reached out his hand. Alyssa shook his hand and marveled at the big man's tender grip.
"Don't let my friendly grip puzzle you," he said as though he could read people's minds. The tall, thin woman stepped forward.
"I'm Mrs. Margaret Stanton," she said. "My husband is only joking. He really is a giant teddy bear." She cuddled into his side and Earl patted her shoulder several times.
Earl's chuckle changed into a full belly laugh. "Glad you could come," he said to Alyssa. "I need all the help I can get." The rest of the group rushed to Alyssa's side. Kent introduced each one of his family members in turn.
"Pleased to meet you," said a man.
He wore the widest smile Alyssa had ever seen. His blue eyes seemed to flash. He had to be Kent's older brother, she thought. He was of a similar build and wore the same clothing as his father, except for a black singlet. Each of the men had the same picture tattooed on their forearms.
"Enough greetings," bellowed Earl. "We've all work to do." He walked back to his horse, and the others followed. "Son, we'll see you at the house for dinner."
Kent nodded.
"Mr. Stanton, I must talk to you," called Alyssa as she watched the group ride off. Both Kent and Alyssa faced the one remaining rider.
"Good to have you home, brother," said Kent as a young man stepped forward.
"I'm Mitch, Kent's younger brother," he told Alyssa. "I'll be 25 next week."
"Pleased to meet you," said Alyssa.
Charlie had silently lifted the lid of the box and slithered out of the plane's cargo door to hide from the ruckus made by the arrival committee. He made his way towards the last remaining horse and curled around its foreleg. Mitch let the reins of his horse drop as he reached out his hand. He grabbed Alyssa's wrist, bent down and kissed her knuckles.
"Hey!" yelled Kent.
"I can tell he's been hanging around you," said Alyssa, laughing. She was touched by all the fuss and Kent's sudden outburst tickled her to the core. She felt like royalty and lapped it up.
Mitch's horse flinched and jerked his head around. Charlie lifted his head. The horse reared up and accidently bumped Alyssa towards the river. She rolled her ankle in the soft mud and landed on her back in cold, waist-deep water.
Alyssa shivered from the sudden cold and, as if she were having an out-of-body experience, she watched in horror as the water swirled and start to suck her down. She tried to steady herself by standing, but the force of the swiftly moving current was too strong. If she didn't stand right then, the river would sweep her off towards the mouth of the cave and into the underground tunnel Kent had described to her. She closed her eyes tightly and used all her strength to try to stand. She reached out her arms as if she were willing her body to float. Her hands broke the surface and they clutched at the air. To stay calm, she tried to remember the swimming style Kent had taught her and attempted a few feeble strokes.
Kent whirled around the moment he heard the splash. Alyssa suddenly surfaced, gasped for air and managed to lock her gaze on Kent's wide eyes. The water swirled about her and pulled her down for the second time.
'I feel incredibly calm,' she thought. 'Maybe this is what people go through when they were about to die.' The washing machine style river started her in a tumble spin. She pushed her hands out and the tumbling stopped. Her feet scraped the hard ground and she winced in pain as her ankle rolled again. Alyssa's head broke the surface and she quickly took a life- saving breath before the water again swallowed her whole.
Kent, where was that man and his magic rope trick, the master rodeo champion? 'I must be dreaming,' she thought. 'I must have fallen asleep lying on my bed and I'm dreaming. Yes, yes, this is all a dream. She smiled at the stupid dream. Deep down she knew she was about to wake and that she would be wrapped up in her bed linen.' She started to chuckle.
Her head surfaced again and she managed to take a deep breath. Then she let out a short, sharp scream. She looked back and saw Kent running.
'What a fast runner,' she thought. Then she frowned. "This is no dream," she mumbled, lifting her arm towards her hero. "Kent, Kent, save me. Why haven't you unbuckled your rope yet?" she yelled.
Alyssa swallowed a mouthful of cold water. She coughed and started to go under the water for the third time.
"I'm coming," Kent yelled. "Hold up your arm."
Alyssa did as she was told. She watched him unclip the rope from his belt and start the rope circling above his head, but the gap between them was widening. She saw him gather the rope and clip it back on his belt. The water covered her face and she slipped from view.
'What was he doing?' she yelled inside her head. 'So much for my cowboy hero.' Her thoughts drifted away and settled on Kaite. She felt sad that she hadn't made a phone call to her and wondered what she was doing.
She suddenly felt cold and her lungs started to ache. That alarmed her. She tried to think how long she could hold her breath. She had tried once and failed to count to ten before she had to breathe again. How long had it been? Seven or eight seconds, perhaps? She started to panic. Surely she could hold her breath for at least fifteen seconds. Her lungs felt as though they were going to burst. She exhaled a small amount of air as her left shoulder dug into the hard ground.
The water was deepening and the temperature was dropping. Alyssa could feel her body shivering faster as she was being pushed along at a breakneck speed. Life as she knew it was slipping away.
Alyssa barely felt the tug. She opened her eyes and was disappointed when she saw that the right leg of her new jeans were ripped open from the knee down to her ankle. Her hip scraped against a sharp rock a
nd ripped her pocket away, exposing her thigh. She felt pressure all around her, and then she felt the edge of a whirlpool.
The cave entrance must be close, she reasoned. Panic had gripped her tightly. She started to rotate her arms in a desperate freestyle swim attempt, but couldn't ascend to the surface. She could have kicked herself for not heeding her mother's warning about learning to swim, and suddenly she succumbed to fatigue.
She closed her eyes and knew the end was near. Kent's face flashed before her. Why had he not bothered to rescue her? Had he lied about everything? The spark she felt for him must have been fake. She made up her mind he was just the pilot and he had strung her along. He was just like all the other men that had crossed her path over the years. She felt sad that no one had ever discovered the perfect gift for her. After her death, she imagined Kent would be at the local pub laughing with his mates at her expense. Kaite had warned her to stay in the city, but she had decided not to listen.
Alyssa pushed the recurring image of Kent's face from her mind. Her parents and Katie's image was the ones she wanted to remember at the time of her death, not Kent's.
Alyssa felt something hard around her waist. She wanted to remove it, but was too weak. She felt lightheaded and was on the verge of unconsciousness. She wanted to scream, but couldn't manage the feat. Her head suddenly surfaced again. She opened her eyes and her chest automatically heaved for air. The object of concern was firmly wrapped around her waist. She looked down and saw tanned skin. She coughed out water and swiveled her head around. She gave a startled look through the narrowed slits of her eyes.
"Girl, I thought I'd join you in a swim. If you had given me more notice, I'd have put my shorts on."
"Kent," said Alyssa as she coughed up water. She could hardly believe it. If she was dead, then why was he in her thoughts? "What are you doing?"
"Don't you want to be rescued?"
"Does this mean I'm not dead?" she asked.
"Not even close. Like I told you before, nothing gets away from me."
The Great Gift (Contemporary Romance - Urban Life) Page 10