The Sunburnt Country (9 page)

DANIEL
had asked Gemma to book an appointment with Jonelle regarding her bank loan. He’d already put it off long enough, trying to give her time after Ryan, but he couldn’t wait forever. He’d tried to call her but he just hadn’t been able to get past the first ring. It was bad enough that he had to discuss this with her at all. She was supposed to be meeting him in his office any minute but he half expected her not to turn up. She seemed good at burying her head in the sand. Not once had she mentioned anything about her debt, even though she must have known he’d have to deal with it eventually.

Not that he wanted to be dealing with it. He’d never had a problem like this in the city, but he didn’t see any of his city clients outside of bank hours. He’d also never been attracted to them, well, not this much, anyway. But business was business, that’s what his dad always said. John took pride in his hard-edged, meticulous work ethic. He’d even told Dan that his brother, Cam, would never amount to much, thanks to their mum’s mollycoddling. John told Dan he was better off living with him and that he’d end up much more successful. Dan didn’t know if this had turned out to be true or not. He had no idea where his brother was these days.

‘Don’t go picking at that scab,’ his father had said when a teenage Dan had asked him whether he could catch up with Cam. ‘Your mum would have turned him against us. They don’t need us and we don’t need them.’

When he first left with his father he’d tried to stay in contact with Cam but it got harder, so much harder. John froze him out any time he found out Dan had been to see Cam at school. His father had a way of making him feel like he’d cheated on him. He could make Dan feel so guilty. Only now, thinking back, did he realise just how weak-minded he’d been. Or maybe he’d just been young.

His mobile rang, he answered it when he saw it was his mate from Perth. ‘Hey, Josh.’

‘Dan. Skinned any roos yet?’ Josh teased. His voice was as smooth as his pick-up lines.

‘Not yet, but there’s still time.’

‘So how are you handling it? Ready to come back yet? Shit, you couldn’t pay me enough money to go out there. What the hell is it like?’

‘Different. Lots of dust, flies, land for miles but the scenery is pretty amazing.’ Instantly he thought of Jonelle.

‘Yeah, well, hurry up, hey. Marcus is flat out training for this running thing and Scott’s got sick kids, so I’m flying solo. You know I hate going out on my own.’

‘Are the kids okay?’

‘Yeah, it’s just the flu but Scott can’t get away and I don’t want it.’ Josh didn’t like kids much. Too noisy and snotty for him. But Dan loved hanging out with them.

There was a knock at his office door. ‘Hey, Josh, look, I’ve gotta go. I’ve got a meeting. I’ll give you a call later.’

‘No worries, mate. Take it easy out there.’

Putting his phone down he called out, ‘Come in.’ Jonelle’s face appeared around the door, her hair falling in gentle waves. He swallowed long and hard.

‘Hey.’ Without asking she plonked herself in the chair opposite. She smelt like grease and her hands were stained with dirt. Her face had a smear across one cheek. He tried hard not to smile. Others wore make-up, Jonelle wore grease, but she wore it so well. It was hard to be work-focused when she could evoke so many crazy feelings in him. Excitement, humour, fascination, and when she blinked those long pale eyelashes it caused a strange burning feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Dan gathered his thoughts. ‘Thanks for coming in, Jonelle. As you’re probably aware, I need to discuss the default on your loan.’

‘I figured.’

He waited for her to say a little more, but that was all she gave him. ‘Jonelle, how did you get into this mess in the first place? I can’t see how you could have such a large loan still outstanding on such a small business. Realistically I can’t understand how you could still owe your initial loan and be defaulting . . .’

Jonelle sighed, leaning back in her chair. Her fingers sat laced at her waist. ‘I had a problem with some out-of-town arsehole not paying up on an account, and it was a big bill. Picture a couple of massive trucks, full new tyres, oils etcetera. It wasn’t just me he took for a ride. And of course I couldn’t afford to take him to court, I was already skint. So dickheads like him get away with it. Anyway, stupid me didn’t have insurance on loss of income and now add to that the drought, so most of the district owes me money.’

‘I see.’

‘Well, when I took on the business, Coot had never had insurance either. He was oldschool, and there was a slight bit of miscommunication so I didn’t know about the insurance . . .’

‘Slight’s probably an understatement.’

‘Yeah, but I can’t go back and fix it so I’m just trying to do the best I can.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘And then there’s the drought.’ Jonelle continued with a shrug of her shoulders. ‘Everyone is doing it tough and in a place like this, you have to give people a break. I help out the best I can.’

‘Jonelle, that’s not really the best way to run a business.’ It felt like his dad had just spoken through him. He couldn’t even believe what he was saying. What he really wanted to say was that he found her compassion and loyalty endearing.

‘It’s the only way I know.’

Dan took a deep breath. ‘So, what would you like to happen, Jonelle?’ he asked, as he tried not to get lost in her eyes.

‘Well, I’d like to keep running my business, to keep providing for my town, and to wait out the drought and then I can go on as usual.’

‘I can tell you it doesn’t always work that easily.’

She leant forward, her face softening. ‘Look, is there any way I can get an extension? Another six months? I just need more time, please.’

If she were anyone else, he would have just said no, especially if he was to have the bank’s interests at heart. But he was struggling with Jonelle. He had to fight to speak, and for the first time in his career he wanted to go against everything his father and his job had taught him. ‘I’m afraid we can’t.’ God, the words were like sharp gravel up his throat. It wasn’t the worst part either. The look of betrayal, anger and then despair that shot across her face made him uncomfortable.

‘Why not? I’m not asking for a lot. Just time. This drought has to break. Six months, it’s all I’m asking for,’ she pleaded. ‘Please, Daniel.’

Dan’s teeth were clenched together so tight that his jaw was starting to throb. ‘I’m sorry, Jonelle. I would if I could.’

She shot him an unconvinced look that made him feel like a big fat liar. The throbbing in his jaw intensified.

‘So, it’s like that.’ She stood up abruptly, squared her shoulders and left his office without a backwards glance.

‘But I . . . ’ He hadn’t finished but Jonelle was already out the door. He wanted to see if he could help her, maybe offer some advice, but the look she shot him said she wouldn’t have listened anyway. Not to him, not now.

‘I guess that will do for now,’ he said to himself.

He’d never experienced something so uncomfortable before. He felt like he’d just stabbed his best friend in the back. Dan didn’t know how people could work like this in a small town. No wonder the last bloke quit.

His phone rang, and he answered, glad for the distraction.

‘Daniel, it’s head office for you on line one.’

‘Thanks, Jean.’ He pressed line one and answered.

The next ten minutes were taken up discussing a letter that had been served to some people at the end of January during their review. With the reports Dan had sent in to head office on the state of the drought, the bank was now keen to take action. The farm could never recover from this level of debt – it was time to foreclose. Dealing with foreclosure on businesses was something Dan was used to.

He hung up the phone and sat there for a few moments. He glanced at his day planner, touching the date. He should have been thinking about the poor farmers about to receive notice that they would be losing their farm, but something else filled his mind. Today was his mother’s birthday, and not just any birthday. Today she was turning fifty. Daniel had a sudden urge to know how she was, what she was doing, whether she was celebrating with Cam. After John and Dan moved out, his mum used to call and try to talk to him, then one day the calls stopped. It was like she just gave up and moved on. It cut deeper than the divorce.

He couldn’t even imagine how she would look now. Would her hair be grey? How long had it been since he’d last seen her? Seven years? Maybe ten? He’d seen glimpses of her when he’d seen Cam at his sports events and she’d always smiled and waved, but never approached him. She was obviously happier without him.

He picked up the phone and dialled the one mobile number he knew by heart. It answered after a few short rings.

‘John Tyler speaking.’ The voice was strong and noble.

‘Afternoon, John.’

‘Daniel. How are things down in . . . ?’

‘Bundara.’

‘Yes, Bundara.’

‘All right so far. Such a huge area has been affected by the drought and I’ve just been on the phone regarding a client we want to take action against. I think they were hoping the old guy would sell up, but he’s not going to make it easy on us.’

‘Some of them never do, Daniel. They don’t realise it’s the bank’s money and they just want to keep taking and not repaying. Nothing is free in this life. Or it shouldn’t be, anyway.’

‘I know.’

‘Have you been working on your application for that business banking relationship manager position I told you about?’

‘Not yet. It’s been hard settling in here.’

‘You don’t need to be settling in, son. And nothing needs to be hard. You are there to do a job, not make friends. Now, you’d better get started on that application soon. I hear applications close early January. Send it to me if you want me to look over it, or if you need any help. This job will look great on your résumé.’

‘Thanks, John. I’ll do that. Anyway, while I’ve got you, I was just wondering . . . um . . . did you notice today’s date?’

‘What about it?’

‘Mum’s birthday. She’s turning fifty today. Have you heard from her of late?’ She’d only been twenty-one when Daniel was born; he’d be thirty next year.

‘No. Why would I? She didn’t want us, remember?’ His voice turned gruff, just like it always did when Dan brought up his mum or Cam. It was almost fifteen years since the divorce, but still Dan could barely mention his mum’s name without getting this sort of response from his father. Dan had always tried to be so understanding, but John didn’t make it easy. His dad was a man who held a grudge and he was proving it could last a lifetime.

‘It was just a thought. Forget I even raised it. How’re the budget meetings going?’ he asked, steering his father back into safe territory. For the next ten minutes they discussed the details of John’s job. Dan went along with it to keep his dad happy. After all, John was all he had left now. Who else did Dan have to make proud?

THE
tin walls of the workshop creaked as they contracted in the cool night air but the noise was drowned out by the sound of Jonny replacing the radiator hose in old Mr Fredrick’s Volvo. Sometimes she liked to put on the radio, a bit of talkback to keep her company, and it was best later at night with more music programmed. She had the large sliding door open, letting in the breeze, along with some moths that hung around the shed lights.

‘Hey, haven’t you finished up yet?’

Jonny lifted her head out from under the bonnet to find Renae standing near the open door. She had her multicoloured cotton strapless frock on – dressy without being too fancy for Bundara. ‘No. Probably got another hour or so to go.’

‘Damn it. No chance of talking you into coming to the pub?’

‘Afraid not. I got a bit behind this week with everything that’s happened.’

‘But the whole gang’s there. Zaccy, Gemma, Rick, Nadia and Diff. We’re gonna organise a get-together next weekend at the pool. You know, a way to get everyone together after Coop’s . . . incident. Kind of like a men’s shed talk thingo.’

‘It sounds great, Nae. Count me in and put me down to help out if they need it. But I really gotta get this done. I lost a lot of time yesterday cleaning up at Ryan’s.’

‘Well, funnily enough, I thought you’d say something like that. Lucky I brought you these, then.’ Renae pulled a six-pack of beer from behind her back.

‘Oh, Nae. You’re a legend.’ Jonny took one of the Carlton Dry stubbies, delighted to feel how cold it was, and cracked off the top.

Renae put the beers on top of a stack of tyres. ‘Well, I’d offer to stay and help . . .’

‘But we all know how that would turn out,’ laughed Jonny. The last time Renae had offered to help she wouldn’t touch the grease or oil, she’d refused to lift
anything
that was dirty or heavy and then she’d complained the whole time that it was boring. Yet put her in a garden with a pair of gloves and it was a different story. What Nae could do with plants was amazing.

‘Yes, we sure do. Well, if you do finish up early, drop by the pub, yeah?’

‘Righto. Thanks for the coldies,’ Jonny called.

After Renae had disappeared into the night, Jonny took the new hose and clamp over to the Volvo and set to work. Forty minutes later, she was disturbed again. Luckily, she had just finished on the Volvo.

‘Hey, Jonelle,’ said Daniel, his voice reaching her over an old Elvis song on the radio.

She almost choked on her beer. She’d never expected to see Daniel, let alone this late. It was almost nine o’clock. He was wearing running shorts, fancy running shoes and a black singlet. ‘Hello,’ she said slowly and maybe a little gruffly, still feeling miffed that she’d been summonsed to see him at the bank earlier that day and then denied a simple extension. She’d been made to feel like a naughty kid in the principal’s office and had then been sent packing with a massive detention. She’d tried to put his refusal for an extension out of her mind. She wasn’t ready to face what that meant right now.

‘Sorry. I was restless so I went for a run around town and just happened to see your light on. Are you still working?’ he asked. Her overalls were splashed with radiator water.

‘Ah, yeah. Just finished.’ She considered offering him a beer, but then thought better of it. It went against every country fibre of her body. Jonny leaned back against the Volvo to pull her overalls off over her boots. She’d been thinking of speaking to him about her idea at the bank, but that was before he’d been an arse. Personally she’d like nothing better than not to ask this favour of him but Ryan meant everything to her. She just had to suck it up. ‘Actually, I’m glad you’re here.’ Now they were words she never thought she’d say. ‘There’s something I wanted to ask you.’ Instead of thinking about her own problems she’d steered her thoughts to helping Ryan and she kept coming back to the same conclusion. Dan. She’d been stewing over this for days now. How to ask Dan for help. It was going to be like swallowing pins.

‘Really? Me too.’

Jonny straightened up her singlet and adjusted her cotton shorts. She didn’t wear much under the overalls in this heat. Daniel looked quite flushed too, especially when she caught him watching her. Jonny ground her teeth together, angry at the skip in her heartbeat.

‘What did you want?’ she asked.

‘Oh, um, I was just wondering if you’d been back to Ryan’s. I left my . . .’

Jonny pointed to the side of the shed where an old freezer sat pushed up against the wall. On top of it sat his black briefcase.

‘Brilliant, thank you.’ He looked relieved as he walked over to grab it. ‘How come you have a freezer in a mechanic’s shop?’

Jonny walked over and lifted up the lid. Inside it was packed with meat in labelled plastic bags. Porterhouse, sausages, rump, mince.

‘Do you like to barbecue a lot or something?’ he asked.

‘No more than the next person. But some of the farmers who can’t afford to pay me sometimes cut up a cow or sheep as payment.’

Dan’s mouth dropped open. ‘You’re kidding me?’

‘No. Do you know how much meat is worth a kilo? You’re looking at around thirty bucks for a good porterhouse, and these guys can get it cut up cheap. It’s a way they feel they can pay me. Everyone needs to eat.’

‘But your freezer is full.’

Jonny shrugged. ‘I just haven’t taken it out to the farm yet.’

‘Does this happen a lot?’ he asked her.

‘If people want to pay me in food, like the old days, I see no problem with that. Better than not getting anything.’ How could Jonny refuse the people she’d known her whole life, especially when she knew they had no money? It took some guts for them to offer what they could give.

‘Maybe you shouldn’t do the work?’ he stressed.

Jonny could feel the hairs on her neck raise like the hackles on a dog. Now she knew why she disliked him. ‘You don’t get it, do you, Dan? If I don’t fix their truck, then they can’t shift their grain or cart water for their sheep, which then die and they end up further down shit creek. I know these people. Don’t you try to help out your friends? When they get the money, they’ll pay up in full.’

‘And meanwhile you fall further behind with the bank. How are you going to find the money, Jonelle?’

‘We just have to wait. It’s how it works out here.’ Jonny screwed up her face and shrugged. Oh how his smooth, handsome features irritated her so.

Dan shook his head then paused as something caught his eye behind the Volvo.

‘Whose is that?’ he asked, already heading towards the car in the back corner.

Jonny followed behind and sighed, glad of the change in conversation. Then she actually smiled. She couldn’t help herself. Just seeing her racing car brought her immense joy. She loved everything about it. This second Torana was painted blue and had
Jonny’s Mechanical
printed down each side. Nothing like self-promotion. On the top of the gutted race car was a square of tin with the number seventy-three painted on it. She always raced with that number; it had been Coot’s number originally. She still had the black-and-white picture in her room of him, young and strapping, standing beside his car. They just wore boots and normal overalls in those days. Now it was all fireproof underwear, neck braces, gloves, balaclavas and racing boots.

‘It’s mine,’ she said proudly. How could she stay angry with someone who got excited by the sight of her cars?

Daniel’s eyes bulged. ‘Really?’

She nodded. ‘Have you ever been to a speedway meeting?’

‘No. I used to go to the V8s all the time but never to a speedway. Is there a track around here?’

‘In Narrogin. It’s a bit of a drive but it’s worth it.’ Coot had got her into racing when she first began her apprenticeship with him. Said it was a great way for her to finetune her car knowledge, and he hadn’t been wrong. Coot had pulled out a metal case and showed her all his old racing photos. Now she was addicted to the adrenaline and the mateship that came with it.

She watched Daniel run his hand along the bonnet and touch the pins that held it on. The corner of the fibreglass was cracked from her last race, where she’d rubbed against another car. Daniel moved on, sticking his head inside the open window and admiring all the gauges. He felt the thick straps on the five-point racing harness and grinned. He spotted the radiator in the back where the rear seats would have been.

‘This is so amazing. I thought your other Torana was cool, but a race car! Sweet. How long have you been racing?’

‘Um, around ten years, on and off.’

‘So what do they call these cars?’ he asked as he did the full lap.

‘Production sedans. It’s almost a step up from street stocks. We can have bar work around the car.’ She pointed out the bars under the bumpers and down the side of the car. ‘And a few extra modifications to make them go faster.’

Daniel suddenly looked up at her. ‘It would be worth a fair bit, wouldn’t it?’ His hands rested on his hips. Jonny hated the way his shoulders and arms looked so . . . nice. She tried to focus.

‘This car cost me four grand,’ she said. ‘The insurance to race each year seems to go up and up, and then fuel . . . It’s not the cheapest of sports, but by far the most enjoyable.’ She smiled thinking just how much she loved the thrill of motorsport. But the excitement had faded from Daniel’s face.

‘How can you afford it?’ he asked.

‘Pardon?’ she asked.

‘How can you afford to be racing in your financial situation?’

Okay, now he was getting annoying again. ‘What are you on about?’

Daniel sighed and ran his hand through his hair. ‘Look, Jonelle. Your business is struggling, you aren’t keeping up at all, and you’re not doing yourself any favours by not charging the locals properly. Do you really think spending money on racing is a good idea?’

Now he’d hit a nerve. She walked up to him, her finger pointed. ‘How dare you come in here, into my workshop, and lecture me? You don’t know shit about me and my business. I don’t know you from a bar of soap and you think you can tell me how to live my life?’

Daniel’s jaw dropped. ‘It’s the bank’s money,’ was all he could say.

‘Well, you and the bank can take a flying leap for all I care. No one in this town wants you here, not some city snob who acts like a heartless robot,’ she seethed, breathing heavily.

‘Yeah, I kind of got that vibe from you,’ he said, as she turned away. ‘But I’m not heartless, Jonelle.’

She would have laughed if she wasn’t busy trying to control the anger and hurt simmering away.
One one thousand, two one thousand
.

‘What have you got against me, Jonelle? Tell me, because I’m just doing my job. If it’s not me, then it’ll be some other poor manager just around the corner having to do the same thing.’

Five one thousand . . .

‘You know I’m right,’ he added. ‘I’m just the poor schmuck who’s stuck telling you the truth. I can’t help it if you can’t see the blindingly obvious. Deep down you know it too, but you’re just too afraid to admit it.’

She stopped counting at eight. Daniel had a point, much as she hated to admit it. But if she could see it from his point of view, why couldn’t he see it from hers? Did he have any idea of just how much power he had over this whole town? He could make and break lives. Hadn’t he seen that already, with Coop? What could she do to get through to this guy?

‘Will you come somewhere with me?’ Jonny said, spinning around and startling him. ‘There’s something I want to show you.’

Dan’s brow creased. ‘I . . . I guess.’

She smiled, wondering if he thought she was going to take him to a back paddock and make him dig his own grave. The thought had crossed her mind.

‘Don’t worry. It won’t hurt. Follow me,’ she said, leading him out to the ute.

‘Shouldn’t you lock up?’ Dan asked.

‘Nah, this is Bundara. And anyway, we won’t be long.’ They drove through town, coming to a stop outside a small house. Jonny walked up to the front door. She checked Daniel was still behind her and then knocked.

‘Hey, Uncle Rex. It’s just me,’ she called, before letting herself in.

Daniel paused at the door.

‘Come on,’ she said, waving him through.

Inside they took a few steps down the narrow passageway to the small living room. Jonny bent down to pick up the mail and newspapers along the floor, putting them on top of the growing pile beside the big armchair. On the other side of the chair was a beer carton, half-full of empties.

‘Jonny,’ said her uncle with a smile. She bent down and gave him a kiss.

‘Did you have something for dinner?’ she asked, eyeing off the empty beer cans.

He pointed to the foam cup on the small dining table behind him.

‘Two minute noodles? Gee, Uncle Rex, you can do better than that.’ Jonny stepped to the side and waved at Daniel. ‘Uncle Rex, this is Daniel.’

‘G’day,’ said Rex as he shifted his beer so he could shake hands before his eyes gravitated back to his TV.

‘Come with me,’ she said to Daniel, leading him into the dining room. It was a cramped little house, perfect for a single old bloke. On one of the walls was Jonny’s family picture. As she pointed it out, Daniel took a step closer.

‘That was taken about seven years ago. Uncle Rex never married so he’s close to us kids.’

‘You have more brothers?’

‘Yep, this is Jonathan and Edward, or JB and Ted, as we call them.’

‘Good-looking family.’

She ignored his comment and pointed to the next photo on the wall. Framed in timber, the image showed lush green paddocks surrounding a homestead. ‘That was Crescent View. The original farm was split between the two brothers and Uncle Rex managed this all on his own.’ Jonny turned to Dan. ‘The bank took it off him last year.’

Daniel closed his eyes for a moment. ‘Jonelle, they would have had good reason to.’

‘Yeah, but that was his whole life,’ she said with hushed tones, even though her uncle was engrossed in his TV show. ‘And he was a bloody good farmer. Losing the farm didn’t have anything to do with him, either. He was ripped off by a dodgy bloke, the same arsehole who ripped me off. He sold him a truck and trailer that weren’t his to sell and Uncle Rex ended up out of pocket. He lost a lot of money taking it to court and in the end he gave up. He had to. It chewed up all his money and he still couldn’t make the con man pay. He lost his farm to a dickhead who’s probably still out there ripping off good folk like my uncle.’