Riverboat Point (27 page)

“Gedday.”

Savannah couldn't stop the yelp that erupted from her mouth. She twisted her head back over her shoulder. There was the man she'd seen on the road.

Jasper barked and then kept it up.

“Shaddup!” the man bellowed.

Savannah flinched at the sound and Jasper went silent.

“Bad enough you yelling at me without the bloody dog joining in.” The man grinned. He was still in the shorts but minus the hat. His hair was wet. A towel hung around his neck, not covering much of his hairy chest and large belly. “You looking for Digger?”

“Digger?” All kinds of wild thoughts ran through Savannah's head.

“Ethan.”

“No … I …” Savannah rethought her answer. “Yes.”

The man studied her a moment with an amused look as if he could read her mind.

“He's not here.”

“Oh, that's okay. I'll come back later.”

She edged back a tiny step. The man knew Ethan and she had come to the conclusion that he wasn't robbing the place. It was none of her business. She wanted to get home.

“You must be Ethan's neighbour. The sister.” He crossed the gap between them in a flash. “I'm Gnasher. Live over the back. Just using Ethan's shower till my pump gets fixed.”

Savannah looked from his face to the hand he offered. She took it and her hand was squeezed in a firm grip. Up close she could see his arms and legs had good muscle tone. He wasn't the flabby guy she'd first assumed.

“I'm Savannah,” she said, relieved to know he was Ethan's friend but nervous to meet the guy who took pot shots at things.

“I've seen you about,” he said. “Recognised you.”

“Seen me?”

“Down by those boats.” He jerked his head in the direction of the river. “And jogging past my place.”

He glanced in the direction of her chest. Savannah was suddenly aware of her skimpy running outfit. She took a step backwards.

“Can I make you a cuppa?” he asked.

“Oh no, thank you.”

“Ethan wouldn't mind.” Gnasher filled the kettle and got out a cup. He obviously knew his way around Ethan's kitchen.

“I have to get back.”

Savannah slid the screen door shut between her and Gnasher.

“Nice to meet you,” he said.

“You too.”

Gnasher chuckled. She turned and for the second day in a row she ran down Ethan's stairs, this time with the sound of Gnasher's laughter ringing in her ears.

The warm water soaked her hair, pounded on her shoulders and ran in rivulets over her body. Savannah closed her eyes and turned her face to the water. She never backed away from confrontation but Gnasher had spun her out. She wondered if he'd still be there when Ethan came home and whether he'd tell him about her blundering visit.

She turned off the water and reached for a towel. Goosebumps sent a shiver through her even though she'd just stepped out of a warm shower. Ethan's kisses, the feel of his body pressed against hers – Savannah rubbed her hair vigorously with the towel. They would have dinner together again tonight. He'd be around some of tomorrow to send off the houseboats. Where was this heading?

Savannah wrapped the towel around herself and tucked the corner in with force. She was crazy to fall for him. She'd been determined not to. She'd have to go back to the city when Jaxon returned. Then again, maybe she needed some uncommitted romance to put some zing in her life. Perhaps that was all Ethan wanted too. She had no idea of his past relationships. A guy like him would have to be sought after. What did he see in her? Was she just convenient, the girl next door, only here for a while?

That was the kind of talk she wasn't supposed to allow and yet with her past it was hard not to. As a very overweight teenager she'd been set up by the one boy she'd looked up to. He'd made her feel like she was special. He'd kissed her and then, when she became the butt of his friends' jokes, he'd dropped her like a hot potato. Years later, after she lost weight, there'd been several men she'd met through the gym but they'd been nothing more than a casual fling. For some of them she'd simply been another gym conquest: master the equipment and the instructor, then move on.

She thought back on those days before the accident. In hindsight she knew she'd got what she'd asked for. She'd been flattered good-looking men found her new body desirable. She'd been suckered a few times, thinking they wanted more than a quick fling. Her trust dissolved and before she knew it she was calling a few dinners, a movie and some sex, a relationship. Whatever it was, she'd thought she was happy. Then came the accident. Her life was two pieces: the time before the accident and the time after.

In her bedroom she slipped into jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. The shirt was a teal blue. She pulled the sheet off the mirror and gave herself a long hard look. With clothes on there was no indication of the mangled body underneath. She ran her fingers through her hair and swept it to the sides of her face. It was too long now to spike. It flopped slightly forward on one side and covered the scar at her hairline.

She peered at her eyes. She hadn't worn make-up since the accident. Maybe it was time to try some mascara and colour for her lips again. Where did one get things like that in Riverboat Point?

“Hello?”

Savannah jumped at the sound of a male voice.

There was a loud knock at her back door.

“Hello?” he called again.

“Coming,” Savannah replied.

She looked at the clock on the microwave as she passed. Five-thirty. She hadn't heard a car but assumed the guy was here for the Thursday-night houseboat booking.

She took the keys and went outside. There were just the four of them. The others wouldn't arrive until after dark but once again they were worried about finding the place without signage. Savannah had an idea for that. Too late to help this group but she really must do something about replacing the missing signs tomorrow. By the time they'd done their paperwork and unloaded it was dark. She left the light on outside the big shed as an extra beacon for those still to arrive.

She glanced over towards Ethan's place. No lights on there but she hadn't expected him to be home yet. She went inside and fiddled around, setting the table and tidying up her running gear. She put the television on. Once again she had nothing to do.

It was a still night and warm. She had the sliding door open and the sound of voices greeting each other carried up from the river. The rest of the group must have arrived. A short time later their music blared, accompanied by the odd voice, male and female, raised in laughter. She hoped they wouldn't be planning a late night if they were going to get away early tomorrow.

She flicked channels then turned off the television. The time on her phone reminded her that Ethan should have been back by now. Maybe with all the noise she hadn't heard his bike. She went outside to check again. Still no lights at his house.

She took a beer from the fridge, turned off the lights and sat out on the front verandah. The sounds of the group on the houseboat were much clearer out here. She could make out different voices – a couple of deep male voices and one higher pitched, a giggly woman and one with a singsong voice. They were laughing and talking, totally oblivious of her sitting alone on the verandah. She felt a pang of envy. How good would it be to have a group of close friends to spend a weekend on a houseboat with?

She curled her right leg up under her and stretched the left out in front. It didn't have the flexibility of the right. A bit of pain nagged high in her thigh but it wasn't bad. She took another swig of beer and massaged the muscles at the top of her leg.

The crunch of footsteps sounded from the driveway. Her heart leapt. Ethan was back. She hobbled to her feet and went to meet him. As she reached the carport a female giggled. Savannah stopped; in the light from the shed and the half-moon she saw two people approaching.

“Hello,” the man called. “Are we heading in the right direction? Our friends are on a houseboat.”

“I can hear them,” the woman said.

“Keep following the path down,” Savannah said. “Be careful when you reach the bank, it could be slippery.”

“Thanks,” he said.

“Goodnight,” she called.

Savannah went back to her chair and listened to the excited sounds of the group greeting the newcomers. By the time she was on her second beer the night had cooled a little. She threw a jumper over her shoulders and resumed her seat on the verandah.

The crew on the houseboat were in full party mode now. The music was louder and the voices more raucous. Perhaps she should have said something about the noise level if they were staying the night. Bit late now. She didn't want to be the party pooper. Besides, there was no-one else around for a long way, she was the only one who could hear them.

She glanced at her phone and was shocked to see it was nearly nine o'clock. Where was Ethan? Had they worked late or had he met with an accident? Anxiety needled in her chest. He'd been so sure he'd be back for dinner. She couldn't imagine he would stand her up. Where was he? She got up and paced the verandah for a while. She took another beer from the fridge and the small cheese platter she'd prepared earlier and set them on the outside table.

Jasper barked once.

Savannah listened. Could he hear Ethan returning? She moved off the verandah to the side fence. Jasper gave a series of sharp barks. She stayed perfectly still, listening. Jasper stopped barking. She heard the scrape of his claws on concrete. He gave a final throaty woof and went silent.

Savannah continued to listen but all she could hear was the noise from the houseboat behind her. A shiver prickled down her back. She went inside, got a blanket and wrapped herself in it. Outside again she sat on one chair and dragged another close for her feet. At least she could hear people. Even if she wasn't actually with them, it was better than shutting herself up inside, alone.

She shook her head as she wriggled into a better position on the chair. Who'd have thought she'd be in this situation? In her last job her smart-arse boss had called her Solo. She'd lived alone and managed very well without people. She sighed then yawned. She put her hands to her face and allowed her eyes to close. It wasn't the most comfortable position. Even so, she could almost go to sleep – if she wasn't so worried about Ethan.

A loud bang echoed through the air. Women shrieked. Jasper barked wildly. Savannah lurched up. Her feet hit the ground. She tried to move forward but she got caught in the blanket. She put a hand to the verandah pole to stop herself from falling. A sharp jab shot down her leg. She sucked in a breath.

The music stopped and there was a babble of voices. Had the bang come from the boat? It was hard to tell. Perhaps something had exploded. Savannah threw off the rug, shrugged into her jumper and flicked on the outside lights. She made her way down to the boat where several dark figures moved on the deck and on the bank.

“Is everyone all right?” she called.

“What was that?” Sam, who'd paid the deposit, came up the path towards her.

“I don't know,” she said.

“It was a gunshot.” Another guy came up behind Sam.

“Come on, Paul,” Sam said.

“Surely not a gunshot,” Savannah said. She glanced around, her thoughts going straight to Gnasher.

“I know a gunshot when I hear one,” Paul persisted. “Who would be out here shooting?”

Worried murmurs came from the women on the deck.

“There's an old bloke over the road,” Savannah said. “He shoots rabbits sometimes but he wouldn't come near here.” She hoped she sounded convincing.

Paul snorted. “There'd be no bloody rabbit left. That was a high-powered rifle. It would blow a rabbit to pieces.”

The worried voices grew louder.

Savannah held up her hands. “Look,” she said, “I'm sure it's a misunderstanding. Maybe the sound echoed along the river.”

Paul shook his head.

“I think it's time we all went to bed,” Sam said.

“Good idea,” Savannah said. “You want to set off early in the morning. Ethan will be here to get you away.”

“Come on, Paul.” Sam put his arm around his mate's shoulders. “We'll have a nightcap then turn in. Back inside everyone, it's fine.”

Savannah watched them go, grateful for Sam's good sense. She had no idea what she would have done with a boatload of hysterical people. She made her way back to the shack. All the outside lights blazed but the inside was in darkness. Jasper had stopped barking. Everything was suddenly very quiet. She took her things inside, locked the doors and closed the blinds. She put the television on, turned it down low and settled onto the couch with the blanket.

“Where are you, Ethan?” she murmured. He would have known what to do.

Ethan was up as the early morning sun spread a pale golden glow in the eastern sky. His first thought was Savannah. What must she think? He'd said he'd be home for dinner last night and he hadn't turned up.

He glanced once more towards Savannah's place. It was unlikely she'd appreciate a visitor at this early hour. He took Jasper for a walk instead. He felt bad in many ways but most of all he hated letting her down. What a mess he'd made of yesterday.

He'd fallen asleep so easily in his old bed at the farm then several hours later he'd snapped awake. Savannah's dinner was the first thing that came into his head. His parents' house was in darkness. Everyone was asleep. He gathered his things and walked down to the shearing shed, guided by the moonlight. The ride home took forever. He knew he'd be too late but a small part of him hoped Savannah had left a light on, a sign that she'd waited. But her place was in darkness.

Ethan hadn't bothered to turn on any lights when he got in. Jasper had followed him up the stairs and flopped straight on his mat. Ethan went to his pill packet, swallowed one down then pulled off his boots and jacket and discarded the rest of his clothes as he made his way to his bedroom. He'd fallen into his bed and amazingly had gone back to sleep.