stalk her out here, so none of them were worried he would follow them and ruin their trip. There was also the fact he lived in Sydney and loved all his high-end creature comforts. Eilagh barely bit back her laughter at the mental image of a sweaty Dean covered in red dust.
"It's going to be heaven. No boss, no alpha male bullshit…" Becky finished with a grin. She worked driving big ass trucks at a mine over in Western Australia. She was always dealing with men and their bullshit theories on what women should or shouldn’t be doing.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this show on the road!” Carina said with a little too much enthusiasm. Eilagh wasn't sure what had happened to Carina in the last year, but it was something big. She could clearly see the sorrow that was now a permanent resident in her gaze. Eilagh hoped that over a campfire, with them all around her, Carina would open up and let them help her get through whatever it was.
With a deep breath, Eilagh headed off with her friends surrounding her. The girls had been inseparable since their first day of school. They all had some Aboriginal heritage, which had helped seal their bond as they grew older. Even now, with them spread around the country, they still remained close friends. As they hiked toward the large boulders that formed Kata Tjuta they all joked and laughed with each other. After a couple of hours, which had felt like minutes, they arrived at the scrub surrounding the stunningly red rocks. The tallest boulders easily stood over one thousand feet high.
"How about we set up camp here tonight? We can explore tomorrow and find somewhere better for the next couple nights." Binda had always been the practical one of the group.
"Sounds good," Eilagh said as she dumped her rucksack and stretched out her sore back and shoulders.
All of the girls had split up the tent so they each carried a part of it to even out the load. They all pulled what they had from their rucksacks , and in no time the large dome tent was up and pegged down. Next job was collecting firewood. With no need to voice what needed to happen, Becky and Carina headed off to collect the wood. Binda started grabbing some smaller kindling from the close by scrub while Eilagh used the camp shovel to dig a pit for the fire to be placed in. She also cleared an area around the pit so they wouldn't inadvertently set the whole place alight. Binda returned, and they set about lighting the fire. By the time they needed bigger pieces the others had returned with an armful each.
As they sat around the campfire in comfortable silence they watched the sky change colors as day turned to night. Sunsets in the outback were outrageously glorious, even more so when watching the colors reflect over Uluru. The sunrise in the morning would be even more spectacular as the sun rose from behind Uluru to greet them. Once it was dark with the moon and Southern Cross shining brightly above them, Eilagh found herself absorbed by the flames. She loved to watch fire as it moved and danced. After a while, she looked up at her friends to see they were also mesmerized by the flames. Eilagh smiled . She loved having friends so close that silence could be as comfortable as a pair of old Ugg boots.
She turned her attention to Carina. Her mouth was turned down slightly , and her eyes were half closed. As Eilagh watched Carina shed her tough front and began to look as fragile as a dried rose. What had happened to her? Suddenly Carina's whole body shuddered, and she raised her gaze, locking into hers. The look of panic in them tore at Eilagh's heart.
"You know, Carina, you can tell us anything. There is no need to hide or be ashamed. We all love you. Please, let us help ." Eilagh kept her words quiet and spoke in a voice as soothing as she could make it. She watched as Carina shook her head then closed her eyes. The tears that began to silently fall down her friend's face ripped through all of them as they all moved to
"It's going to be heaven. No boss, no alpha male bullshit…" Becky finished with a grin. She worked driving big ass trucks at a mine over in Western Australia. She was always dealing with men and their bullshit theories on what women should or shouldn’t be doing.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this show on the road!” Carina said with a little too much enthusiasm. Eilagh wasn't sure what had happened to Carina in the last year, but it was something big. She could clearly see the sorrow that was now a permanent resident in her gaze. Eilagh hoped that over a campfire, with them all around her, Carina would open up and let them help her get through whatever it was.
With a deep breath, Eilagh headed off with her friends surrounding her. The girls had been inseparable since their first day of school. They all had some Aboriginal heritage, which had helped seal their bond as they grew older. Even now, with them spread around the country, they still remained close friends. As they hiked toward the large boulders that formed Kata Tjuta they all joked and laughed with each other. After a couple of hours, which had felt like minutes, they arrived at the scrub surrounding the stunningly red rocks. The tallest boulders easily stood over one thousand feet high.
"How about we set up camp here tonight? We can explore tomorrow and find somewhere better for the next couple nights." Binda had always been the practical one of the group.
"Sounds good," Eilagh said as she dumped her rucksack and stretched out her sore back and shoulders.
All of the girls had split up the tent so they each carried a part of it to even out the load. They all pulled what they had from their rucksacks , and in no time the large dome tent was up and pegged down. Next job was collecting firewood. With no need to voice what needed to happen, Becky and Carina headed off to collect the wood. Binda started grabbing some smaller kindling from the close by scrub while Eilagh used the camp shovel to dig a pit for the fire to be placed in. She also cleared an area around the pit so they wouldn't inadvertently set the whole place alight. Binda returned, and they set about lighting the fire. By the time they needed bigger pieces the others had returned with an armful each.
As they sat around the campfire in comfortable silence they watched the sky change colors as day turned to night. Sunsets in the outback were outrageously glorious, even more so when watching the colors reflect over Uluru. The sunrise in the morning would be even more spectacular as the sun rose from behind Uluru to greet them. Once it was dark with the moon and Southern Cross shining brightly above them, Eilagh found herself absorbed by the flames. She loved to watch fire as it moved and danced. After a while, she looked up at her friends to see they were also mesmerized by the flames. Eilagh smiled . She loved having friends so close that silence could be as comfortable as a pair of old Ugg boots.
She turned her attention to Carina. Her mouth was turned down slightly , and her eyes were half closed. As Eilagh watched Carina shed her tough front and began to look as fragile as a dried rose. What had happened to her? Suddenly Carina's whole body shuddered, and she raised her gaze, locking into hers. The look of panic in them tore at Eilagh's heart.
"You know, Carina, you can tell us anything. There is no need to hide or be ashamed. We all love you. Please, let us help ." Eilagh kept her words quiet and spoke in a voice as soothing as she could make it. She watched as Carina shook her head then closed her eyes. The tears that began to silently fall down her friend's face ripped through all of them as they all moved to
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