Outback Blaze Read online

  Outback Blaze

  RACHAEL JOHNS

  Dear lovely reader

  I’m so excited to be able to share with you the second book in my Bunyip Bay series – Outback Blaze, which is Ruby and Drew’s story.

  About five years ago, when I was living in a small country town called Kojonup in Western Australia, the supermarket my husband managed burned to the ground one night. I (along with what had to be half the town) stood by and watched as the building that was like the hub of the vibrant community was destroyed. Employees of the business watched on in dismay as the local volunteer firefighters battled to save the historic building. Most of the onlookers were in their pajamas and slippers having been readying themselves for bed when they’d smelt smoke or heard the sirens. Shock was the main emotion that night – everyone devastated by the loss of the building, the business and a number of jobs. Speculation was rife about the cause of the fire, everyone wondering if it had been deliberately lit.

  Within a few days it became clear the fire was not arson, but rather due to an electrical fault. It was like the community breathed a collective sigh of relief. But my writer’s brain started ticking. The image of half the town standing in their PJs stayed with me and I started to imagine what kind of fear and dismay would spread through the town if it had been arson. Would the community that usually pulled together in an emergency suddenly start doubting everyone? How would they feel knowing an arsonist was living in their midst?

  I knew back then that one day I wanted to write a book in which a town was ripped apart due to a fire, but it wasn’t till I met Ruby Jones while writing Outback Dreams (Faith and Monty’s story) and wondered what her story was that I decided it was time to use that little snippet of real life in a book.

  Outback Blaze is about small town strengths and weaknesses, about learning to trust again and the healing power of true love. It is the first book I’ve ever written incorporating an element of suspense and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  And don’t forget to look out for Adam’s story in Outback Ghost (coming soon). I hope you enjoy this book and as usual would love to hear from readers either on Facebook or Twitter or through my website at www.rachaeljohns.com

  Until next time, happy reading.

  x Rachael

  Dedication

  To my boys – Hamish, Lachlan and Archie. You are my world and my wish for all of you is that your dreams come true as well!

  Acknowledgments

  They say it takes a village to raise a child and I reckon the same can almost be said for writing a book. None of the words in this book would be possible without the support of a whole host of people.

  My hugest thanks to the awesome team at Harlequin Australia – Sue Brockhoff, Lilia Kanna, Cristina Lee, Romina Panetta and Lauren Roberts to name but a few. You continue to make my experience in this crazy publishing business a good one. And also to Jody Lee, my editor for this book – thanks for making my prose sparkle and helping me take this story to a deeper level.

  To my fabulous agent, Helen Breitweiser, thanks for your continued support and enthusiasm you have towards my writing.

  A special thanks to Tanya, Kylie and Richard for taking time to answer some of my police questions.

  I’m blessed to have so many wonderful writing friends – once again thanks must go to Bec Sampson, Cathryn Hein, Janette Radevski, Jackie Ashenden, Maisey Yates and so many others who help me brainstorm and offer guidance when needed.

  This book was my fastest one yet in terms of how long it took to write. This would not have been possible without the most supportive family on the planet – thanks to Mum, Craig and the boys for all the help you offer as I write. I love you all!

  And finally to the town of Kojonup for allowing us to make our home there for six wonderful years and for the inspiration you provided for events in this book.

  Contents

  Dear lovely reader

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter One

  ‘Now, you boys behave yourselves,’ Drew ordered as he dropped off the two teenage delinquents he’d been supervising doing community service that afternoon. ‘It’s my night off and I don’t want to be called out because of you two. Understood?’

  The boys grinned back at him – they weren’t bad kids, just bored out of their bright brains in this back-of-beyond town. He didn’t blame them. In fact, arresting the two of them (whom the town had dubbed ‘dangerous thugs’) for building their own Molotov cocktails and testing them on cars at the local junkyard had been the most excitement he’d had since arriving. This West Aussie town of two thousand had a surprising amount of crime but none of it was the kind of stuff he could get his teeth into. Open and shut cases – mostly domestic violence (which he abhorred), a small amount of fertiliser theft and neighbours quarrelling over petty disagreements.

  He could think of a number of places on earth he’d rather be, but like the boys still shackled to their parents, he had no choice about the matter. Moving to Bunyip Bay had been the best of the undesirable and limited choices offered to him. Lost in a reverie of regret at choices made, Drew almost didn’t hear their cheek.

  ‘Damn it. There go our plans for burning down the school.’ Jaxon and Brad high-fived each other and started in opposite directions heading towards their neighboring houses.

  Half chuckling, Drew waited until he saw them enter their houses and the front doors shut before driving off. After he’d read the riot act to them, they wouldn’t dream of riding their bikes down the main street without a helmet. Ah well, that was something to worry about another day. They were their parents’ problem now, whereas he had an ice-cold beer waiting in his fridge. And Aussie Rules on the TV – he thought he almost understood the rules and definitely saw the appeal. Sport and beer – no better way to spend your birthday.

  Pushing aside the thoughts of a time when his whole family would have celebrated, he turned the patrol car into the station, parked, beeped it shut and went inside. As usual he found his supposedly senior sergeant sitting in front of his computer playing an outdated game. O’Leary was on duty tonight and heaven help a criminal that interrupted the game. So many times Drew had had to bite his tongue when he thought about having it out with this idiot. Men like him should retire – do a favour to the general public who deserved cops who at least had some enthusiasm towards fighting crime. What Bunyip Bay needed was some fresh blood, a couple of youngsters who wanted to prove their worth. Instead this poor town was stuck with Sergeant Sloth, a newbie called Mike who’d only joined the force because his father and grandfather were in it, and Drew. At least he’d do his best for as long as he
was here, although deep down he prayed like mad that wouldn’t be much longer.

  He nodded to the sergeant and went to lock his gun in the cabinet for the night. He’d been amazed at the differences in policing between Australia and the United Kingdom when he’d first arrived. For one thing, back home frontline officers didn’t carry guns on the beat and it seemed a bit like overkill to have coppers in a small country town armed to this extent. Luckily his unit had been armed and he knew how to use a gun if the need ever arose.

  ‘You’re expected at the hall for the meeting tonight.’

  ‘I’m what?’ Drew tried to recover from the shock of the older man actually speaking and then work out what the hell he was going on about.

  O’Leary kept his eyes trained on the screen. ‘The Bunyip Festival’s on soon. They’ve been planning it for months. The Undies Run takes places on the same weekend and the ladies want a member of the police to sign up. I put your name down and there’s a meeting about it tonight.’

  Drew raised his eyebrows. There were so many things wrong with those sentences. ‘What do you mean you put my name down?’ While he’d heard about the Undies Run – hard not to when it seemed to be the highlight of the ladies of the region’s year – he didn’t see what it had to do with him. Generally he tried to remain calm around this guy, but right now, he couldn’t keep the irritation out of his voice. ‘What about Mike?’

  ‘You heard me. The Run’s to raise money for the Hospital Auxiliary. They’re always desperate for a buck and I’ve been doing my bit in this town for years. Your turn.’ O’Leary finally turned away from the screen and narrowed his eyes at Drew. He totally ignored the question about the other constable. ‘And you’d do well to toe the line around here. You don’t want me reporting to headquarters that you’re a troublemaker, do you?’

  Drew seethed, but didn’t let it show. O’Leary might be older than him but in terms of experience Drew was light years ahead and kowtowing to this idiot gave him migraines. They’d butted heads over a number of matters and more than once Drew had wondered how much O’Leary actually knew about his situation. As far as he understood, only a couple of very senior cops in Perth knew the score. Was O’Leary threatening him? It wasn’t as if he had anything much planned tonight. It might be his birthday but no one was likely to bake him a cake and if he were honest, the social interaction would be welcome. For obvious reasons he’d avoided getting too involved with the locals, but it might be nice to talk to someone besides Jaxon, Brad, Mike, Sarge or someone he was writing up a speeding ticket for.

  ‘Right. Whatever.’ He sounded like a pissed-off woman but there was no way in hell he was letting O’Leary think he’d made a good suggestion.

  Sarge turned to the screen. ‘Good lad. There’s usually a plate of scones or something provided by one of the ladies at these things. Details are on your desk.’

  As Drew snatched the yellow post-it off his desk and shoved it into his pocket, he thought scones might be the closest he’d get to birthday cake. Like everything in his life at the moment he might as well just grin and make the most of it. That beer would still be waiting for him in a couple of hours.

  Ruby Jones picked up her handbag, iPad and folder off the kitchen bench and went into the living room where her parents were eating their dinner on trays in front of the TV. She’d eaten hers, all alone at the kitchen table, wondering when or if one or both of them would jump in through the kitchen door, shout ‘Happy Birthday,’ and come at her with a chocolate birthday cake lit with sparkling candles. She sighed; it looked like that was merely a fantasy. Not that she cared too much about birthdays, but her parents had never in twenty-seven years forgotten hers. Even when she’d been living away from home, there’d been cards and presents sent and a number of phone calls.

  She sighed and stopped in front of them, giving quick kisses on their cheeks. ‘I’m off to the Undies Run photoshoot now, Mum and Dad. I won’t be too late. Have a good night.’

  ‘Don’t rush, sweetheart,’ said her father, Robert.

  ‘Enjoy yourself,’ added her mum, Lyn.

  Ruby frowned as she left the house – neither of them had been acting themselves lately. Not remembering her birthday was the latest in a long line of strange behaviours. She wondered if something was bothering them and wished, not for the first time, that they shared more of their business issues with her. Since returning to Bunyip Bay earlier in the year, she’d tried to prove to them (and herself) that she was well on the way to recovery, but they still tip-toed around her like something they might say or do would upset her. While she felt as if she were emerging from the hell her life had been, they seemed intent on sheltering her. And it was getting worse. What they didn’t understand was that she wanted to move on. She had been a naïve girl when she’d fallen in love with Jonas and the one positive thing he’d done for her was to help her grow up.

  It amazed her that no one else in town had asked about her sudden return. Surely they’d known she’d been engaged, but no one had mentioned it and even though she’d made good friends with Faith, Monty, Adam and Ryan over the last few months, they hadn’t pried or asked questions.

  If Faith and Monty were still around they’d likely have taken her out to the pub for her birthday and celebrated long and hard, but it was no use getting all maudlin about the fact they were gone. Their romance had given her faith that such relationships were possible and she couldn’t be happier for them.

  Somehow, while turning all these thoughts over, she’d arrived at the town hall for the photoshoot, barely noticing getting in the car and driving. Ruby parked alongside the historic building, which sat in the middle of the main street of the town. A few older women from the Bunyip Bay committee were already there – they wouldn’t have much involvement with the Run, it was her baby now, but they didn’t like to relinquish control completely. Ruby guessed the fact that the evening was all about taking shots of half-naked men for publicity had a lot to do with the extra faces as well.

  As she headed inside and approached the women, she heard hurried footsteps behind her. ‘Sorry I’m late. Kids.’

  Ruby turned to smile at Simone, who entered the hall like a hurricane whirling through the door. She’d only recently become friends with Simone after helping their mutual friend Faith organise a Barking Ball to raise funds for Dogs for Autism. Frankie – Simone’s sister, who also happened to own the local café – followed behind carrying a couple of trays of cupcakes. She rolled her eyes at Ruby and smiled.

  ‘Hi Frankie. Hi Simone. Can I help you carry anything?’

  ‘No, no, I’m fine.’ A large camera swung like chunky jewellery around Simone’s neck and she carried a tripod and some sort of backdrop as well. ‘I swear, I don’t know why I had them sometimes. Nothing but trouble. No matter how many times I tell Harriet she can’t go out on a school night, she keeps on at me, hoping I’ll give in.’

  Ruby guessed Simone was referring to her daughters. She’d been widowed long before Ruby met her and although she was a great mum, doing it on her own often took its toll. Frankie took the cupcakes into the kitchen and Ruby followed Simone across to the front of the hall, where she started unloading equipment onto the stage. ‘Are you sure there’s nothing I can help with?’

  Simone sighed. ‘You could run down to the Bottle’O and get me a drink.’

  ‘I appreciate you doing this,’ Ruby said, hoping she didn’t have to rush off and buy Simone alcohol. She wanted to be here when her poster subjects arrived. ‘Promise I’ll shout you a drink at the pub after. Deal?’

  ‘Deal.’ Simone grinned, rested her hands on her hips and turned to survey the hall. ‘I think we’ll set up on the stage.’

  ‘Okay, then, let me know if you need anything.’

  ‘Will do.’

  Ruby went into the kitchen to check that the older ladies and Frankie had supper under control. When she’d come up with the idea to photograph a number of local guys in their undies to use as promotion across the state – h
opefully garnering more attention for the event – they’d been more enthusiastic than she could have imagined. She soon learned that’s because they expected to be fed after parading about in their undies and she’d had no shortage of volunteers for that job either.

  ‘So, who are we getting to perve on tonight?’ Frankie asked, while plating up her cupcakes.

  The three older ladies moved closer to Ruby, their eyes sparkling with excitement. ‘Yes, do tell,’ one of them asked.

  ‘Well,’ Ruby didn’t need to consult her list. ‘There’s Adam and Ryan covering the farming contingent, Liam from the pub and Sergeant O’Leary for the services.’

  The smiling faces dropped at the mention of Sergeant O’Leary. No one wanted to see his beer gut wobbling over the top of Y-fronts, but he’d been helping out with the Undies Run for years and Ruby felt it would be wrong not to ask him. She shrugged a shoulder. ‘He represents the older generation.’

  One of the committee ladies snorted. ‘We’ve got enough floppy penises at home; we want eye candy for the poster.’

  ‘Amen,’ Frankie muttered. ‘Seeing O’Leary bare-chested will be enough to put people off my cakes.’

  Ruby fought back a smile. These women were only speaking the truth, but she hadn’t wanted to hurt the old policeman and had expected him to turn her down. ‘Just focus on the others,’ she told them. No one could deny Adam and Ryan, her friend Faith’s brother, would paint a pretty picture in boxer briefs and although a little older, Liam wasn’t too bad to look at either.

  ‘Speaking of which,’ Frankie pointed through the serving hatch out into the hall, ‘I think our first suckers have arrived.’

  Ruby’s head ticked with the beginnings of a headache. She’d taken plenty of photos of horses when she worked at Vanderbrek’s but this was the first time she’d had to wrangle half-naked men into submission like this. Taking a deep breath, she went out to greet them.