CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

Kathy was both excited and nervous! Eddie would be here any minute now to take her to the Boomerang Hotel, and he would be meeting her father.

'Katherine, I'm not at all pleased about this!' Digger told her. 'You know he's not the type of young bloke you should be mixing with. I'm not happy about this at all.'

'Oh, Dad, please,' she begged. 'Mum's okay with it, she understands. I'm not silly and Eddie's been so kind to me. Even Francis likes him. You should know I wouldn't go out with him if I thought he could hurt me.'

'That's my whole point, Kath. What will you do if he does try something?'

'Dad, please give me a break... Actually, how about giving him a break! He drove me all the way home from the Weir yesterday. He was polite and well-mannered and... and nice! Dad, I like him. I thought you were okay with it now?'

'Only because your mother thinks it'll be alright. Just know, young lady, I am against this whole thing.'

When Eddie arrived, he came to the front door to collect Kathy. He looked very smart in pale grey trousers and a pale blue and white striped shirt. Kathy took him inside to meet her father.

He shook hands with Digger who was obviously trying to be calm and polite for Kathy's sake. Eddie promised to have her home by twelve thirty.

She kissed her father and murmured, 'Thanks Dad, love you.' as they left.

Digger watched them leave. With a slight shake of his head and a disapproving grunt, he went back inside.

There was a hype of activity in the pub lounge. The music was loud and the crowd boisterous. Francis had met Sheryl there again, and the boys Tammi and Laura had met out at the Weir had showed up. Kathy and Eddie were inseparable. Win had asked Francis to keep an eye on Eddie but as far as Francis was concerned, he didn't think it necessary. Kathy was happy. In fact, she was glowing. He had someone else who was attracting his attention. Sheryl looked stunning and Francis couldn't keep his eyes off her.

They danced up a storm and again Eddie and Francis got along well. Everyone enjoyed the night without any drama. For once things went smoothly.

At the end of the night, Tammi and Laura told Francis they were getting a lift home with Ian and Phil, the two soldiers. Kathy of course went home with Eddie. Francis was free to drive Sheryl home, which put a smile on his face.

Eddie put his arm around Kathy and pulled her close as they walked slowly back to his old Zephyr. He opened the door for her and she slid in. Then he walked around to the driver's side and climbed in beside her. 'Come over here next to me, sweetheart,' Eddie said softly.

Kathy didn't need asking twice. She slid across the seat into his arms.

He kissed her long and sensuously. She responded instantly, which made Eddie's advances more daring.

His pa.s.sion unnerved her a little and she pulled away. She had her hand on his leg and she could see his handsome face in the moonlight.

'What's wrong, sweetheart?' he whispered, leaning forward and brushing his lips against hers.

'Nothing, I'm being silly,' she whispered back. She instigated another kiss and he pulled her close.

The kind of fumbled petting she had done with boys from her school days had been nothing compared to the feelings she was now experiencing. With a will of its own, her body arched against him and she felt her nipples harden as he slid his gently hand underneath her top.

She gasped in pleasure when he rubbed his thumb across her nipple.

She had never gone quite this far before. She slid down underneath him.

He ran his hands along her body and up the length of her thigh. His kisses deepened and Kathy felt his tongue in her mouth.

She tugged his shirt free from his trousers and slid her hands up along his back. It felt so good to caress his bare skin.

'Mmm, baby, do you know what you're doin' to me?' he whispered.

The sound of his voice brought her back to earth. She twisted beneath him and with an effort managed to wriggle to a half sitting position.

Eddie groaned. He realised he had to regain some composure and pulled away.

'Eddie, we have to stop. It's not right, not here, not like this. You'd better take me home.'

'What is it? Have I done somethin' wrong?'

'Oh, no, it's nothing you've done wrong. You were doing everything right. I just don't want my first time to be here in the car park of the Boomerang pub.'

Eddie cupped her face in his hands and whispered, 'I understand, sweetheart. You're special, Kathy Miles.' He ran his thumb across her cheek and gently brushed a kiss on her lips.

'I don't want that for you either, we just got a bit carried away. C'mon, I don't want to get you home late; I promised your old man I'd have you home by twelve thirty.'

Neither of them took any notice of a car parked nearby nor did they take any notice when it followed them as they left the car park.

It wasn't until they were driving along Urana Road towards Centaur Road that Eddie said, 'We've got company. We've been followed for a while now. I think I'll slow down and let them overtake. Try to get a look at who's in the car, will you?'

Tammi and Laura were nearly home. They had sung along to tunes on the car radio with Ian and Phil, and had arranged to go to the Weir with them again the next day. They had two weeks of summer holidays left and they were making the most of it. As they came up over the hill before Kia-Ora, Ian, who was driving, said, 'Hey, that's a fire up there!' he pointed to Dawn's place. 'Looks like it's got a good go on too!'

Tammi leant forward, craning her neck to look where Ian had pointed. 'That looks like it's at Aunty Dawn's, in her top paddock. Keep going, Ian, they're probably asleep. It doesn't look as though anyone's noticed it. We might have to wake them... Hurry!'

Tammi and Laura ran up to the front door, making as much noise as they could, thumping their fists against it and yelling at the top of their voices.

A few seconds later, a bleary-eyed Jeff peered out at them. 'What's goin' on? What' a'ya doin' up here at this time'a night, girl?'

'Fire, Jeff... There's a fire over in the top paddock!'

Dawn had padded out sleepily behind him, tying the cord on her chenille dressing gown. When she heard what Tammi said, she was instantly awake.

'Top paddock, you said? No! No... It can't be... My new hay shed... There's a thousand bales of hay in there as well!'

Jeff and the two young soldiers were already racing through the backyard.

'Call the b.l.o.o.d.y fire brigade, Dawn. It's your shed alright. C'mon you two, jump in the ute!'

Dawn's hayshed was well and truly alight. Jeff and the two boys tried valiantly to save it but their efforts were proving to be in vain.

The familiar sound of sirens had alerted everyone else and Karl, Digger and Sam, along with a host of other locals, arrived a couple of minutes later.

Win had come up as well. She knew Dawn would be broken-hearted over this and she was right. Dawn was in tears. Eileen had made them a cuppa then jumped on her horse and headed off across to the fire.

'There's nothin' we can do to stop this. It's got a good go on it'll burn that hay in no time! All we can do is hose it down and stop it spreadin'.' Frank Smith cursed.

'Poor b.l.o.o.d.y Dawn,' Arthur growled as he watched the flames devouring the hayshed. 'She worked d.a.m.n hard gettin' this together.'

'Yep... A b.l.o.o.d.y fortune's gone up tonight!' Jeff swore.

They all watched helplessly as the fire burnt the hayshed to the ground.

Digger nudged Karl and pointed to a figure hurrying across the paddock from the direction of the dam. 'Friggin h.e.l.l, isn't that Father Damien crossing the paddock over there?'

'It's him all right... b.l.o.o.d.y idiot. How many times do we have'ta warn him? Everyone's on tenterhooks, he's gonna end up gettin' himself shot by someone!' Karl growled.

Father Damien came puffing up to them. 'What a dreadful, dreadful shame! No hope of saving it?' He was holding his slouch hat between his hands as he looked at the fire burning in front of them.

'Not a hope in h.e.l.l, Father!' Karl retorted.

'Father, your sneakers are soakin' wet. Where've you been?' Digger questioned.

'Oh, yes they are very wet, Digger. I came up through the paddocks and just down there near the dam there's a very wet patch. I ran right through it. It's so dark down there you can't see a thing. I saw the fire and I came straight across from the seminary.'

'Never miss a trick, eh, Father?' Karl commented sarcastically.

Father Damien looked at him and he smiled thinly, not bothering to answer.

Karl muttered a swear word and walked away. Digger looked at Father Damien but didn't offer an apology for Karl's language. Shrugging, he turned and followed Karl.

'I think that priest needs watchin' a bit more closely!' he thought.

Connie was home alone. She sat at her kitchen table feeling extremely nervous. She had switched on every light in the house. These fires were so upsetting it made her stomach churn. Why was it happening? She could hear odd noises but told herself it was only the house creaking.

Suddenly, a drum toppled over outside and Blacky the cat let out a yowl, leaping down from his comfy chair to hide underneath the table.

Connie jumped up in fright and spilled her mug of Milo. This was too much! She was frightened out of her wits and listening to every noise. She could hear the men's voices drifting down from Dawn's and the now familiar sound of the water pumps from the fire engines.

If she concentrated on them, maybe she wouldn't worry about the noises the house made. She crossed to the sink to get a cloth to mop up the spilled Milo and what she saw drained the blood from her face.

Eric's tractor was on fire!

For a moment, Connie was rooted to the spot. Eric had parked his tractor in close proximity to the house, thinking it would be safe.

Connie blinked rapidly and shook her head. Talking to herself she raced outside to grab the garden hose. 'Those noises... that must have been the firebug. He was here doing this while I was right there inside!' Trembling from head to foot, she sprayed water onto the tractor as best she could. It was the only thing she could think of to do. She had enough sense to attempt to douse the flames immediately as the house was so close it too could go up. She prayed someone would see her dilemma and help her.

Eddie pulled over to the far left side of the road and the car behind overtook them. Kathy craned her neck but couldn't make out who was driving.

'Well, let the d.i.c.khead go. I promised your old man you'd be home by twelve thirty, sweetheart, and I've got five minutes to get you there.' Eddie pulled back on to the road and headed for Kia-Ora.

Neither could have been prepared for the scene that awaited them.

All the lights were on at home and the fire was still lighting the sky up at Dawn's.

'Holy s.h.i.t!' Eddie swore as they came over the crest of the hill.

'Oh G.o.d... Another fire...' Kathy groaned.

'Look, baby. Is that a fire at Sam's too? We'd better take a look before I drop you off.'

'Thank the Lord you're here!' Connie yelled to them as they ran up the short drive to her. 'Eric's tractor's on fire. I just noticed it a minute ago and I'm worried the house will catch on as well.'

Kathy recognized the fear in her Aunt's voice and put her arm around her. Eddie grabbed the hose from her and quickly ran around the tractor, spraying it with water.

He managed to extinguish the flames, but not fast enough. The damage was done. The tyres were ruined and, among other things, the fuel line was destroyed.

'This is just awful Kathy. I was inside drinking Milo and this was happening right outside the window.' Connie shuddered. 'I heard noises, but put them down to the house settling.' She gave another shudder. 'Just think: the firebug was right up here, right up next to my kitchen window!' She was beginning to sound hysterical.

'Come on, Aunty, we'll take you inside,' Kathy consoled her.

'You go in, Kath. I'll go on up there and tell them what's happened here,' Eddie said. 'Make sure you lock the door after you and don't open up unless you know it's us. Stay inside. I'll be back with Eric shortly.'

Eddie drove off quickly and Kathy took Connie inside, making sure she'd locked the door as Eddie suggested.

'Goodness me, love, these fires are so bad for my nerves! Eric will be so upset. He not long bought the new tractor. It took most of his savings to get it. What's going to happen next?' Connie's voice wavered as shock began to set in.

'Sshh, Aunt Con, it's a good thing you saw it when you did.'

Eric had parked his tractor close to the house so it would be safe. After the gra.s.s fire behind the shed some months ago, he thought it safer to park it near the house. This just showed that nothing would hinder the firebug. He was really determined to destroy whatever he could. Would houses be next?

'Hey! That looks like b.l.o.o.d.y Chancellor's heap. What the h.e.l.l does he thinks he's doin'?' Eric said, puzzled.

Eddie had driven his car straight onto the track that led from Dawn's house across to the top paddock where her hayshed had once stood. He knew he wouldn't get good reception but he also knew he had to hurry. The track was rough and meant for tractors and farm utes, not ordinary cars, so his car b.u.mped and bounced its way across the paddock. He was blasting his horn as he negotiated the track and when he was close enough, he jumped out.

'What the f.u.c.kin' h.e.l.l to you think you're doin', mate?' Karl snapped at him.

Eddie put up a hand to hold an angry Karl back. 'Hang on a minute, Eric, it's your tractor, mate the firebug's had a go at it too!' He had no choice but to be blunt. Karl was in his face and he had to talk over the top of Karl's head to Eric.

'Don't talk s.h.i.t, Chancellor. It's not friggin funny to joke about things like that.'

'It's no joke, mate. I've just put it out for you. Connie was trying to put it out when Kath and I arrived. We were just about to pull into Kia-Ora when we saw it. Kath's with Connie, they're alone. I said I'd take you back straight away. I don't think they should be left alone, do you!'

Eric was stunned. He looked at Sam.

'Go on, mate. You go too, Des. We'll have to stay here a bit longer. Just until it's out properly, but you two go on. Chancellor's right, Con and Kathy shouldn't be alone. Go on and see how much damage's done to that tractor,' Sam said, patting Eric on his shoulder.

'Righto,' Eric answered in a deflated voice.

Eddie took Des and Eric back and showed them the damaged tractor. Eric thanked Eddie for what he had done and shook his hand. Eddie then took Kathy home. It was way past twelve thirty but neither of them were concerned: Digger would have heard Eddie up at the fire.

'Come in, Eddie, I'll make us both a hot choccy. It's turned into a rotten night,' she urged.

'Nah... not tonight, the place's in an uproar. I'll get home to Mum. She's alone too, you know. She hates bein' home alone now as well. I'll see you soon, honey, real soon.' He took her in his arms and kissed her. She clung to him for a moment which urged him to add, 'C'mon, I'll walk you to the door.' He kissed her again at the door and with a salute and a smile, left her and went back to his car. She watched him drive away. She felt very proud of Eddie Chancellor tonight.