Chapter Ten
CHAPTER
Afternoon rays of glowing sunlight reached across the vast countryside, and the sky was a strikingly vivid blue, void of any clouds to offer shade to eager rodeo-goers—that’s what wide-brimmed hats were made for.
Smiling to herself, Nyah tugged her hat on then slid her feet into a borrowed pair of Hope’s well-worn leather cowboy boots, the familiar embrace of the Ariats somehow grounding her increasingly restless spirit.
It had been a long time since she’d set foot into bull-riding, testosterone-fuelled territory, and she was both nervous and excited to attend the annual Wildstone Rodeo.
‘Tonight is going to be so much fun, my friend.’ Hopping on one foot while she yanked her boots on, Hope laughed, and the sound was like music as she tumbled backward and onto the couch. ‘I can’t wait to see you boot-scooting with me.’
‘I hope I still remember how to,’ Nyah mused as she tucked her bohemian blouse into her jeans. ‘I can’t believe it’s been over a decade since I’ve been to a rodeo, let alone danced at one.’
‘Far out, it’s really been that long huh?’ Hope shrugged, her smile a little whimsical. ‘I suppose time flies when you’re having fun up north.’ Jumping back to her booted feet, she admired her ensemble of a floral dress paired perfectly with tan boots in the full-length mirror.
‘Wowsers, Hope Hart.’ Nyah’s lips curled into a mischievous smile, and her bright blue eyes reflected a spark of playfulness. ‘I think Vance is going to fall head over boots in love when he sees you all dolled up.’
‘Pfft, whatevs, Nyah.’ Hope’s cheeks flushed a rosy hue at the mere mention of Vance, but she deflected the lustful rush with what seemed like practised ease.
‘Today’s all about girl time, no boys allowed.
’ She grinned. ‘Ha ha, that made me sound like I was twelve.’ She chuckled some more and shook her head. ‘Sometimes I wish I still was.’
‘I reckon you’ll always be young at heart.’ Nyah hooked her arm into Hope’s, then planted a kiss on her cheek. ‘Don’t ever change that part of you, it’s beautiful.’
‘Aw, Ny, that’s very sweet of you to say.’ She pulled her into a tight squeeze. ‘I wish you weren’t going all the way back to Cairns in a couple of days; I’m going to miss you like the desert misses rain.’
‘I’m going to miss you, too, Hope, so very much.’ Embracing her friend tightly, Nyah squeezed back tears. ‘Now, come on, let’s hit the road.’ She needed to do anything other than stand still for fear of sobbing uncontrollably.
‘Yee-ha, let’s!’ Hope said with an excited squeal.
They eagerly gathered their belongings and stepped out of the coolness of the bungalow and into the heat of the Wildstone afternoon. The main road was transformed into a bustling hub by the flood of out-of-towners, there to enjoy the festivities.
Nyah couldn’t wait to be among them all.
***
Amid the pulsating sounds of the overhanging speakers echoing with country music, the mouth-watering scents of smoking meats and sizzling burgers, and the bustling crowds that had enveloped the rodeo grounds, Caleb stood tall and steady while he waited for his belated and much-anticipated lunch of the CWA ladies’ notorious hamburgers.
Looking for any sign of trouble, he scanned the crowd left to right, taking in every face, every movement.
Ensuring the safety of all attendees was his top priority—his growling stomach only came a close second.
‘Everything right at your end, Hart?’ a stern voice crackled from his walkie-talkie.
‘Yup, right as rain, Boston,’ he replied to the senior police officer from the neighbouring township of Gunadi—all available officers were onboard for what could sometimes turn out to be a bit of a rough night.
‘Glad to hear it, Hart, just let me know if you need any backup at any point of the night.’ The senior officer’s voice was steady, reflecting his unwavering reliability.
‘Will do, thanks.’
Minutes later, with burger held carefully to avoid dripping beetroot as he munched down, Caleb navigated his way through the sea of cowboy hats, sugar-fuelled children and raucous cheers to his selected post behind the grandstands.
It was here that he’d usually catch youngsters up to no good, and the occasional stray drunk in need of restraint.
Standing off to the side, in his little place of solitude, his mind wandered to Nyah.
He wondered if she’d made it there yet, what she was wearing, and how beautiful she’d look in whatever she’d chosen as her outfit to dance the night away.
He knew, if Hope had anything to do with it, that boot-scooting would be at the top of the agenda.
He might not be able to join them, but thankfully he’d be there to keep an eye on the two sweethearts of his life, his sister and his long-ago lover, just in case any of the blokes got touchy or stepped over the line in any way.
‘Officer Hart, sorry to bother you on your dinner break, but we’ve got an issue over near the holding pens.’ Senior Sergeant Boston’s voice crackled over his radio, the reality of it slamming him back to the present.
‘On my way,’ he responded quickly, striding purposefully through the throng of people as he swallowed his last mouthful of burger.
Arriving in the shadows, he caught two blokes in the act of showcasing their testosterone, the bigger with his hand gripping the smaller guy’s shirt.
‘Evening, you two, what’s going on here?’ He skilfully made his way in between the two, and a fisted hand dropped a clump of patterned polyester. ‘Anything I can help you with?’
‘Ah, nah, all good.’ The bigger bloke took a few steps back. ‘I was just telling Jasper here that he needed to keep his eyes to himself.’
‘I see.’ Caleb nodded as if it were a matter of utmost seriousness. ‘Probably not the best way to sort it out, though.’ He turned to the terrified younger bloke. ‘How about you make yourself comfortable over the other side of the arena?’
‘I reckon that’s a top idea, officer.’ And with that, he disappeared in an instant.
Turning, Caleb took a breath. ‘Do I need to keep my eye on you, or do you reckon you can cool it down a notch or two, so everyone can have a good night?’
‘Yup, cooling off as we speak.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Caleb nodded and smiled tightly. ‘You have yourself a good night then.’
‘You too, officer.’
Caleb watched the guy traipse away, steady enough on his feet for him not to be worried about liquor-fuelled violence raising its ugly head. Then, happy he’d diffused the situation, he went in search of the one and only face he was aching to see.
***
With a tomato sauce–smothered dagwood dog in hand, and Hope saddled up beside her, Nyah wandered through the sea of people and towards the packed grandstands as the sun began to sink in a ruby red sky.
The air was thick with the musky scent of livestock, intermingled with the tang of spilled beer and the sugary aroma of fairy floss from nearby vendors.
Taking a bite from her dinner, she bent a little to avoid the drips of sauce, surprised to realise just how much she’d missed the flavour of the rodeo delicacy.
A cheap sausage covered in batter and deep fried, then dunked in good old Heinz sauce—who needed a ritzy restaurant?
While enjoying the pull back into a past where she’d attended this very rodeo religiously every year, along with her little sister and parents at first, then with Hope as a teenager, she was in awe of the scene before her—a rustic canvas painted with vivid colours and frenetic energy.
Laughter mixed with shouts and cheers, and blended with the thrum of twangy country music, creating an indecipherable hum that filled the air.
Dust swirled above the mottled landscape, kicked up by thousands of booted feet pounding against gravel and dirt paths and the bulls stirring in the holding pens, each one waiting to get the next cowboy off its back.
As they made their way around the corner of one of the only grandstands with free seats left, she scanned the faces, searching for familiar ones but instead finding something unexpected—a prickling sensation at the base of her skull, quickly followed by an unshakeable feeling of being watched from the twilight shadows.
Trying to shake off the unease that crept up her spine as they navigated the steps, she quickly looked over the crowd in search of the source of her uneasiness, but it was like trying to single out a whisper in a windstorm.
Stop being so stupid, Love!
Still, try as she might to relax, her heart pounded faster in her chest, matching the erratic beat of drums coming from the arena.
Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. The noise of rodeo clowns and cheering crowds faded into the background as she focused on breathing while reaching her destination.
Each step upwards felt like trudging through quicksand, her jeans somehow tugging at her legs as if trying to hold her back.
‘Are you all right, Nyah?’ Hope’s voice broke through her growing disquiet, full of concern.
‘Oh, yeah, I’m fine,’ Nyah lied with a strained smile as they sat on the second-to-the-top timber plank. ‘It’s just…overwhelming, being here again.’
Hope nodded in understanding, offering support and comfort with just her presence.
Nonetheless, Nyah’s apprehension continued to tighten its grip on her with every breath.
A deep-seated trepidation was telling her that the person responsible for Skye’s disappearance was lurking amid the festive atmosphere in disguise.
It was certainly possible. The eerie sensation almost swallowed her whole, but she shook it off with determination, refusing to let invisible fears ruin this precious time with her forever friend.
With a break announced between the saddle bronc and the bull riding, she took her chance to dash to the toilet. ‘I need to go to the loo, Hope, you want to join?’