Page 16 of Lost In Kakadu

The fire cast an eerie glow through the jagged hole in the side and the bodies lay in an array of awkward angles. Her pounding heart amplified as she stood beneath the small cabin space and gripped onto the shattered wreck as her legs weakened beneath her.

Mackenzie sat in the seat beside Rodney with his elbows on his knees, and his hands over his face.

But just the thought of spending even one moment in the plane with the deceased made her queasy. “Mackenzie,” she whispered. But he didn’t move. “I can’t sleep in here.”

He groaned and turned to her. The firelight cast deep shadows under his eyes.

“I can’t sleep here,” she repeated.

When he came toward her, she was surprised at the kindness in his expression and instantly regretted the things she’d said. “I’m sorry I didn’t share that chocolate with you.”

He dropped down beside her, and she grabbed his waist, feeling his muscular body beneath his jacket. Embarrassed, she quickly recovered and edged away.

“It’s okay. We’re both under stress.” He stepped into the clearing. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep in there either.”

“What are we going to do?” She scratched an ant bite on her cheek.

He shrugged and the concern in his eyes was confusing. After the way she’d behaved, he should hold nothing but contempt for her.

“We could take turns sleeping by the fire, I guess.”

Never before had she slept without a roof over her head and the knot in her stomach tightened as she eyed the surrounding area, imagining all manner of creatures crawling about the woods. A shrill bird’s call shattered the silence and gasping, she jumped toward Mackenzie.

He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Come on, you can sleep first. I’ll take the first watch. You must be exhausted.”

She was exhausted. Scared, hungry and exhausted.

The sooner this night was over the better. Mackenzie placed the bags in a protective semi-circle behind her as she curled on her side on the grass and stared into the fire.

“Thank you,” she said as he took a place opposite her.

A cold shiver ran over her shoulders, and she buttoned her jacket to her neck. The cool night air was a complete contrast to the stifling heat only hours earlier and she was grateful for the fire.

With her hands beneath her face as a pillow and the warm fire blazing, she was as comfortable as she was going to get. She glanced at Mackenzie through the heat distorted air above the fire. He seemed so calm, hypnotised even. The thought of being trapped alone in the jungle was terrifying and she was grateful he was there and felt terrible for the things she’d said.

Her body ached and the ant bites itched and stung at the same time, but she closed her eyes and eventually succumbed to sleep.

“Abigail,” a voice drifted to her.

“Hey.”

Something touched her shoulder, and she jolted awake.

“Sorry, but I couldn’t stay awake any longer,” Mackenzie hovered over her.

Two anxious seconds beat by as her mind raced from sleep to present. When the horrid memories came crashing back, she moaned. The fire had burned down to glowing coals, and she frowned at the pitch blackness that still surrounded them.

“What time is it?”

“It’s only two o’clock.

It was her turn to keep watch. She dragged her body to a sitting position and from the moment she changed places with Mackenzie the darkness closed in on her. She tugged her scarf around her neck and clutched her jacket lapels to her chest.

Mackenzie lay on his side and within minutes, he was asleep.

She’d never felt so alone. The cold leaching in her stomach grew colder. The emptiness around her was overwhelming.

The desire to return to sleep was strong. But the hunger gnawing at her stomach and the invisible insects buzzing in her ears would make that impossible.

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