Flight to Coorah Creek Page 24

  She saw it then – the first flash of fear in his eyes. Fire! The thought of flames did to him what the idea of a crash landing could not. She could almost feel his flesh tighten in anticipation of the pain. She wished now she had said something about the scars on his body. Maybe she could have said or done something that would take that look from his eyes. Make it easier for him to face what might lie ahead. But it was too late now.

  ‘I need to know you are both prepared for this,’ she said quietly. ‘And I need to know you will look after Sister Luke.’

  Jess could feel the turmoil inside Adam and for a few seconds her feelings for him blotted out her pilot’s instincts. She reached out one hand and gently touched his arm. This time he didn’t push her away. Their eyes locked for a moment, then Adam nodded abruptly and climbed out of the co-pilot’s seat.

  Sister Luke’s eyes were shut. Her normally serene face was too pale as her lips moved in prayer. The fine-boned hands clutching her wooden cross were white. Adam’s heart clenched with concern for her. He dropped into a crouch beside her seat.

  ‘Sister Luke?’

  When she opened her eyes, she frowned. ‘Adam? What are you doing? You should be strapped in.’

  As if to accentuate her words, the plane began to bank quite sharply. As it did, it also started to drop. Adam grabbed the arm of the seat opposite Sister Luke and dragged himself in. He pulled the seat belt tight.

  ‘Jess says that as soon as the plane has come to a stop, we have to get out. There’s a lot of fuel in the tanks … and …’ his voice trailed off as the familiar fear tightened his throat. Not fear of dying. Fear of feeling the flames licking his skin. Fear of the terrible pain. Fear that he would want to die.

  ‘Adam.’ Sister Luke’s voice was soft. ‘I confess that I am terribly afraid. Would you hold my hand?’

  No one knew better than Sister Luke how he hated to be touched. She was the one who changed his bandages all those years ago. She knew the pain the gentlest touch had caused him then. She knew how hard it was for him to accept such a touch now. She held out her hand towards him. It was shaking. Adam reached out and enclosed her hand in his larger, stronger one. He was appalled at how frail she suddenly seemed.

  ‘Jess will take care of us,’ he said. ‘Trust her.’

  ‘I do.’

  Adam looked towards the front of the plane. Jessica’s body was taut with concentration, her head held high. He suddenly had an overwhelming feeling that he had left something important unsaid. And now, maybe he’d never get the chance to say it.

  ‘Brace yourselves,’ Jess called, without turning her head.

  Adam looked out of the window. The rocky red earth was racing up to meet them. They were going too fast! And where was the sand? If the plane dropped among those rocks it would be torn apart. And them with it.

  He felt Sister Luke’s fingers tighten around his. There was a flash of yellow sand beneath them and then the plane met the earth with a jarring thud. He heard Sister Luke cry out in pain. Then his whole world became a nightmare of noise and pain, the sound of tearing metal and the smell of hot fuel.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  ‘That was a really good meal,’ Jack said, as he picked up the first dripping dish and began to wipe it.

  ‘Well, thank you. I’m glad you liked it.’ Ellen smiled sideways at him. There were times she still found it hard to believe that this man seemed happy standing in her kitchen, wiping dishes. Or sitting on her big second-hand couch, with one of her kids pestering him for a story or yet another look at his cartoon tattoo. Yet he did. He acted as if every moment he spent with her and her kids was a privilege to be treasured. As if she was something to be treasured.

  Ellen ducked her head back to her dishes. Oh – but she was terrible at this. She had set out to … not seduce Jack. That was too big a step for her to take. But to at least make him see her differently. Realise that maybe she could be more than a friend. But he didn’t seem to be getting the message and she wasn’t sure how to go about making it clearer.

  Maybe it was because she was a couple of years older than him. Maybe it was because she was a mother. Maybe the way her husband had used – abused – her had left some mark that Jack could see. That made her unworthy of a man like him.

  She cast another sideways glance at Jack – and saw in his face the same thing that she had seen in her own face in the mirror an hour ago. As she had combed her hair, and debated whether it was going too far to put on a touch of make-up, she had seen nervousness. And uncertainty. And longing in her eyes. Now she saw it in his. She bent over her task again, draining the sink and picking up the glasses to put them away. She was very aware of Jack standing next to her. So big and strong. But not threatening. Never that. He was always gentle. Even with the drunks at The Mineside. He never bullied them. Not even when one of them tried to pick a fight. He just took them safely home. He cared about people and took care of them if they needed it. She loved that about him.

  She loved …

  The last glass slipped from her fingers and shattered in the sink.

  ‘Ellen – did you cut yourself?’ Jack reached out to take her hands.

  ‘No … I’m fine …’ she stammered as he carefully examined her hands, turning them over to be certain she hadn’t cut herself on the glass. Then slowly, ever so slowly he raised her hand, and pressed his lips into the soft palm.

  Ellen almost cried out with the joy of it.

  ‘Jack …’ she whispered.

  He looked at her and Ellen’s whole world contracted to just the two of them and the hands that now cradled hers with so much care. With so much …

  Jack slowly released her hand. ‘I think maybe you should let me clean up the glass.’

  ‘I can …’

  ‘It’s all right,’ he interrupted her. ‘Let me. My hands have seen much tougher work than that.’

  Those hands of his. Those tough, strong, gentle hands that had held her children on so many occasions. That had breathed life back into a tired old home. That helped so many people. Ellen wanted to reach out and touch those hands, but he had already turned away to deal with the broken glass. Ellen felt almost bereft.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, her voice not quite as steady as it should have been. She needed another minute or two to compose herself. ‘I should go over to the hospital and check on Andrea and Lachlan. They’ll probably be asleep, but …’

  ‘Of course you should. I’ll stay with the kids.’

  ‘Thanks. I won’t be long. And when I get back, we can have coffee.’

  ‘That would be nice.’

  Ellen almost fled the room. Her heart was pounding as she walked over to the hospital. She raised her hand to look at the place where Jack’s lips had touched her. Her skin still tingled with the kiss. How long was it since a man’s touch had brought her anything but pain? She raised her hand to press the palm against her cheek, as if by doing so she would feel his lips there. She felt like a schoolgirl again. A giddy, excited schoolgirl in the throes of first love.

  Jack had given that back to her.

  Her feet were barely touching the floor as she entered the hospital. She walked quietly to the room where her charges were spending the night. It was the room that held the big double bed Adam had purloined from the house where she now lived. The door to the room was open, and she could see Andrea and Lachlan. They were both sound asleep. Andrea’s head was cradled on Lachlan’s shoulder, her injured arm carefully settled on a soft pillow. They looked so young and peaceful. How nice it would be, she thought, to sleep like that. Safe in the arms of someone who loved you. Maybe … Just maybe …

  Not tonight of course. It was far too soon for that. And besides, Jess and Adam would be back shortly. But perhaps one day … in the not too distant future …

  She turned off the light in the room, but left
the hallway light on in case they woke in the middle of the night. Then she turned back towards her own home. Where Jack was waiting for her. She almost wanted to run. For one of the few times in her life, she wished her kids were not around. She’d get them off to bed nice and early. The sound of the telephone ringing cut clearly through the late evening air. The sudden hope flared that it was Jess calling to say she wasn’t coming home tonight after all.

  Jack reached for the phone, expecting to hear Jess or Adam at the other end of the line. They were due back about now. Jess would be tired after two long flights, and would be looking forward to getting home. Jack wasn’t certain if that was a good or a bad thing. Those few moments in the kitchen with Ellen … Maybe tonight, after the kids were in bed, he could begin to tell her how he felt. But the taste of her skin on his lips … the sparkle in her eyes. It was going to be difficult to keep himself under control. To keep it light. The last thing Ellen needed now was to feel the depth of his desire for her. He didn’t want to scare her away.

  But maybe, he smiled to himself, he could ask Jess to stay away just a little bit longer.

  ‘Hello!’

  ‘Jack. It’s Sergeant Delaney here.’

  Sergeant. Not Max – that meant official business. ‘Yes, Sergeant.’

  ‘I was actually looking for Ellen … or anyone for that matter. I was wondering if you have heard anything from Jess or Adam.’

  A cold hard lump began to form in Jack’s gut. He glanced out of the window. The summer sun was very low in the sky now. Jess and Adam and Sister Luke should have been back a while ago.

  ‘No. I haven’t. And neither has Ellen. What’s wrong?’

  ‘I had a call from Air Traffic Control. Another pilot heard a mayday. They think it might be them.’

  Jack froze. ‘When?’

  ‘About half an hour ago. ATC has been calling them, but there’s no answer. Jess filed a flight plan before they left Clifton Downs. They’re overdue.’

  ‘Did the mayday say where they were?’

  ‘They didn’t get an exact location – the signal wasn’t good.’

  ‘I’ll head for the strip and try to raise them on our radio.’

  ‘Good. I’ll call Clifton Downs. I’ll see if they can raise them. An officer from Birdsville was already on the way there because of the shooting. If Clifton can get their plane in the air, they can start a search.’

  ‘I’ll stay in touch.’ Jack put the receiver down. He turned to see Ellen standing in the open door – her face frozen.

  ‘What is it?’ she asked. The fear in her voice matched his own.

  ‘That was Max Delaney. ATC has picked up a mayday. They think it might be Jess and Adam.’

  ‘Oh, no.’ Ellen’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Do you think they’re …?’

  ‘No. I don’t,’ he said with a determination he didn’t feel. ‘I’m going to the strip now. If I hear anything, I’ll call you.’

  ‘Go.’

  ‘Mum? Jack? What’s wrong?’ Harry stood in the doorway, looking at them with wide, sleepy eyes.

  ‘Nothing at all,’ Jack said forcing a smile. ‘I just have to go to the airstrip for a while. You’ll probably be in bed by the time I am done, so why don’t I leave that comic with you, and we can read it together tomorrow night.’

  ‘All right,’ Harry said.

  ‘Good man.’ Jack ruffled the boy’s hair, looking across at Ellen. He sent her a silent nod of support before turning to leave.

  He forced himself to walk to his car. He didn’t want to alarm Ellen or Harry, but his mind was racing. He pulled away from the house slowly, but as soon as he was out of sight, he pushed the accelerator to the floor, hoping against hope that it was all some terrible mistake. That he would find the Beechcraft in the hangar. Then he would laugh about the fuss with Jess and Adam and Sister Luke.

  He raced down the dirt road to the strip and the car slid to a stop outside the hangar.

  It was empty.

  Jack got out of the car and raced towards the radio. He flicked the on switch.

  ‘Goongalla Base calling Goongalla Air ambulance. This is base calling the Goongalla Air ambulance. Jess, are you there?’

  Nothing but static. He switched the set to the emergency frequency and tried again. Still nothing. With a sinking feeling in his gut, he rang the police station.

  ‘All right,’ said the Sergeant. ‘You stay there and keep trying. I’ll alert ATC. They’ll put up a search plane, but there isn’t a lot of light left. Clifton can’t help. Their plane flew back east last week for some maintenance work.’

  ‘The search planes might pick up the emergency transponder,’ Jack offered hopefully.

  ‘Maybe we’ll be lucky. If not, there’ll be a bigger search at first light. We know what time they left Clifton Downs – and we know roughly the track they were on.’

  Knowing roughly the track they were on wasn’t really good enough, Jack thought as he hung up the phone. The outback was a big place. A kilometre or two off the line, and no one would see them. If the transponder wasn’t working. But it was. He knew it was. It was his plane. His responsibility.

  He tried the radio again, not really expecting any response. There was none.

  A few moments later, he heard a car pull up outside and Ellen walked into the hangar.

  ‘Any news?’ she asked.

  ‘No. What are you doing here? Where are the kids?’

  ‘I dropped them over to the pub. Trish will take care of them. I told her what was happening. In case anyone calls there.’

  Jack nodded, accepting the wisdom of it. The pub was very much the centre of their small community. If someone was looking to contact almost anyone, they would call there.

  ‘I figured you’d be staying here all night,’ Ellen said. ‘So I brought you some coffee and stuff.’

  ‘Thanks. Just put it anywhere.’

  She carried in a thermos and a bag of supplies for the night. Then she pulled up the only other chair in the place, and sat down next to him. For a long time neither of them spoke.

  ‘If there was some mechanical problem with the plane …’ Jack at last found a voice for his worst fears.

  ‘No. Jack. Don’t do that. No one could do a better job of taking care of that plane than you do. It’s perfectly safe. It must be something else.’

  He wanted to believe her. If only he could.

  ‘Ellen, you should go home. I’ll call you if I hear anything. There’s nothing you can do here.’

  ‘Yes there is,’ Ellen said, her beautiful blue eyes firmly fixed on his face. Then she reached out and laid her hand over his.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  He could smell the leaking fuel. It made his skin crawl. As did the creaking of hot and damaged metal. It was no use telling himself that he was safely out of the plane. That they all were. He knew only too well that all it would take was a single spark …

  ‘Adam?’

  He jumped as if burned.

  Jessica took a step back. ‘Are you all right, Adam?’

  ‘Yes. I’m fine,’ he said quickly.

  He and Jess were standing on the side of a low ridge, looking down at the aircraft they had evacuated just a few moments ago. Sister Luke was sitting on a rock, her breath coming in shallow gasps after their dash from the plane. It was nothing short of a miracle that all three of them had staggered away from the wreck without any serious injuries. They were a bit battered and bruised and Jessica’s face had several small cuts caused by the shattered cockpit windscreen, but they were going to be fine. The Beechcraft, however, was a different matter. The underside of the aircraft was a mess of twisted metal. One wing had been torn almost off. There were gouges and dents all along the body of the plane and most terrifying of all, at least in Adam’s eyes, was the steady l
eak of aviation gas from a torn fuel tank on one wing.

  ‘Do you think they heard the mayday?’ Sister Luke’s voice was so soft he barely heard it.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Jess answered. ‘Someone should have. And I did file a flight plan. If we don’t report in within an hour or so, they’ll send out search and rescue.’

  ‘But it will be dark by then.’ There was a very definite tremor in Sister Luke’s voice.

  Adam moved to her side and dropped down on to the rock beside her. ‘Let’s not underestimate Jack,’ he said forcing a confidence he didn’t feel into his voice. ‘He’s got our backs. He always does.’

  Sister Luke looked at him and tried hard to smile. Adam studied her with some concern. He didn’t like the pallor of her face. Or the way her hands trembled as she clutched the wooden cross around her neck. He’d never seen her look like this. She looked old and tired – and ill. Now he thought about it, she hadn’t been her usual self for a couple of weeks. Not since that trip back east …

  He was an idiot!

  He got to his feet and caught Jessica’s eye. The two of them moved slightly away from Sister Luke.

  ‘I’m worried about her,’ Adam said quietly. ‘Realistically, when can we expect help?’

  ‘Realistically – not till tomorrow,’ Jessica said. ‘Even if the radio is working, which I doubt, it doesn’t have enough range. I want to save the battery power anyway. It’s all we have. And it’ll be dark soon. I’ll set the transponder off in the morning – when it’s most likely to do some good.’

  Adam nodded, his mind racing. He wasn’t at all pleased by the idea of spending the night here. Not for himself or Jess. A bit of discomfort wouldn’t hurt them. Sister Luke was a different matter. He was afraid for her. But it appeared they had no choice.

  ‘We’d better get some supplies from the plane,’ he said.

  ‘Yes. I’ll get them. You stay well clear,’ Jessica said.

  ‘No,’ Adam said in an urgent whisper. ‘I am concerned about Sister Luke. I need some medical supplies. I’ll go.’