Page 73 of Lost In Kakadu

Abi forgot about her bare breasts and felt free, exhilarated. When she reached the surface, Mackenzie was nowhere to be seen.

Wheredid he go?

Without warning, he dove through the waterfall over the top of her.

When he popped up, she barraged him with scoops of water and to her surprise, he picked her up and tossed her away. Laughing as she submerged, she swallowed cool mouthfuls. They splashed in the water until Abi was panting with exhaustion and lay back floating on top. “Okay, you win.” She was no longer concerned about her exposed breasts and loved it.

“Come on. I’ll show you the cave. Follow me.”

She kept close behind him as he passed through the waterfall. The water beat down on her until she was through the other side, breathless. They were now standing on a large boulder at the edge of a cave. Mackenzie climbed up into the cave and she couldn’t take her eyes off his bottom.

She looked away just in time though when he turned to offer her his hand. He lifted her with ease, as if she were as light as a child.

She marvelled at the cave’s existence and spun in a slow circle with her arms wide. “This is amazing.” She had to yell over the thundering water. “I bet we’re the only people in the world who know this exists.”

“I reckon. And watch this.” He took a couple of steps back, ran a few paces and dived through the waterfall.

“Come on, your turn,” he called to her from the other side.

She didn’t hesitate and copied his move. For a brief moment, pounding water slapped her back and legs before she plunged into the lagoon. When she surfaced, she was laughing.

“Fun, hey?”

“Wonderful!” She couldn’t stop smiling.

“Are you hungry?” Mackenzie swept his wet hair from his forehead.

“Famished.”

Abi swam to the rocks, climbed the wire ladder and at the top she dried off with her shirt before putting it on. During the walk back to the campsite images of Mackenzie standing above her completely naked came back to her mind again and again.

Heat rose up her neck, no doubt blushing her cheeks red. She thought of Spencer and an overwhelming sense of guilt took her. Not because of Mackenzie, but because of her sudden comprehension that she’d been contemptible throughout their entire marriage.

Spencer devoured every adventure and only now could she see theattraction. For years they could have enjoyed incredible mind-opening experiences together.

Her mind wandered to their third anniversary. Spencer had surprised her with a helicopter ride to a deserted island.

Three things were wrong with that. First, she hated surprises—it took the control out of her hands. Second, she was scared of flying, and he knew it. And third, a deserted island, for goodness sake! She didn’t do deserted islands.

And finally, to top all that, once they got there, he wanted to make love to her, right there on the beach. But there was no way she was taking her clothes off in the middle of nowhere. But now look at her, today she’d practically skinny dipped with another man. And she’d loved it. Her third anniversary could’ve been a truly magical day, but she’d completely ruined it with her prudish attitude.

Abigail was on the verge of tears. All these years she’d blamed Spencer for their dreadful relationship. Nothing he did was enough. She’d pushed him away when he wanted affection. Their occasional sex wasn’t enough and the way she’d treated him, it was no wonder he pursued other women. The demise of their marriage was just as much her fault as Spencer’s.

With each passing day she spent in Kakadu, her dignity, which she’d once held so high, crumbled away.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Mackenzie knelt beside the freshly prepared woodpile and flicked the lighter. Sparks sprang from the flint, but no flame appeared. It was empty. He’d dreaded this day. Crouched down, he rested on his heels as he racked his brain for a solution.

They had to keep up with the smoke.

Even though it seemed unlikely another helicopter would fly over at this point, he’d never give up hope. Over the last few months, he’d tried many times to make a fire by rubbing two sticks together, but it was impossible.

He paced toward the luggage and paused at Charlie’s grave to touch the headstone. He brushed away a couple of vines that threatened to cover the stone. “So old man, got any fire starter tricks in that book of yours?” There was no doubt Charlie’s book had played an integral part in their survival so far. Mackenzie had been through that book many times and considered it now, hoping something would occur to him.

“I didn’t think so.” This time, it was Mackenzie who’d need to find a solution.

He re-examined their eclectic collection of salvaged equipment, and Tom’s enormous camera caught his attention. It had shattered almost beyond recognition in the crash, and despite Mackenzie’s exhaustive attempts, he’d never managed to bring it back to life.

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