Next morning, as she loaded her suitcase on the bus, she thought about Grumpy and wondered where he was. She had calmed down considerably since their parting, and now, on the way to Tennant Creek, she wondered if any part of the rest of her holiday could top the last two days. The next stop was a kind of campground, as she understood it, and she would be sharing a cabin with another single female on the tour, a woman with whom she had spoken fleetingly. She guessed it would be okay...hadn't she swum with an almost-stranger in a gorgeous natural pool only yesterday? And hadn't he been au naturel for the swim? Camping would be a breeze! She sighed, squelched the thought thatif he were with her, it would be DELICIOUS fun, and boarded the tour bus.
Just as she was about to board the bus, a desk clerk ran out and told her there was a call for her, and the caller had said it was urgent.m So, she went in and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"G'day Miss America!" said the voice. Her heart melted. "I just rang to ask you if you people are stopping at Tennant Creek tonight."
"Why, yes, I do believe we are," she said, her voice quivering. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh nothin, just thought I'd ask. By the way, you missing anything?" he asked.
"No, I dont think so."
"Oh okay. Well, see ya at the creek, hun. Bye!"
"Bye!" and she hung up, and re-joined the bus tour.
Sitting on the bus, she wondered why he'd rung her, and why he wanted to know about where they were stopping. Their tour took them out to a place called Glen Helen, a picturesque place, with willow trees all around a billabong, with all sorts of birds flying about, and a lot of white parrots, known as Major Mitchells, squawking and screeching. After lunch, it was back to Alice Springs, then on up to an afternoon tea stop at Barrow Creek, before stopping at the famous 'Devils Marbles'. Legend had it that during the creation of the Earth, the devil played marbles here, while waiting for the right opportunity to give Eve the forbidden apple. Eva smiled at that...yeah, right! The rocks were round, just like marbles, and there were quite a few there. The tourists took photos, wandered about and re-boarded the bus, before continuing on to Tennant Creek. As the bus pulled into the parking lot, Eva caught herself looking for the red Kenworth, but it wasn't there. They unloaded from the bus and found their accommodations...
Meanwhile, Grumpy was out delivering to the stations, some as far as 100 kilometers off the main highway, others within sight. He was just coming back to the highway, from the Willowra homestead, when he saw her bus cruise by, and he couldn't help but smile. He still had one more stop to make, and then he wheeled the triple-trailered-roadtrain into Tennant Creek, just after dark. As he drove into the truck park, he looked through the windows of the restaurant, and yes, she was there! He pulled the rig up in a straight line, then skillfully reversed it away from lights, so he'd be able to sleep in darkness. As he alighted from the cab, he reached up, and hung her swimsuit on the aerial of the radio, laughing to himself. There was still enough light for her to see what he'd done. Laughing to himself, he strode into the showers.
Eva looked up when she heard the sound of a truck pulling into the parking lot. She had chosen a table by a window, hoping against hope that Grumpy might stop by, on his way to make deliveries. She knew it was a faint hope, at best, but she needed something to make her stay with the tour, and not just chuck it and go home in despair. At first she saw nothing, and then the red truck appeared, and the driver backed it up as though it were a car. She knew it was Grumpy by the chrome on the front. She watched as he got down from the cab, stopping on the way to hang something on the aerial. She looked closely, and her jaw dropped in amazement and embarrassment. That was her bathing suit! Oh my God! She averted her eyes, torn between laughter and anger. How dare he...? How did he...? Why did he...? God, he confused her so much!
She finished her meal quickly, and decided that, while he was wherever he had gone, she would take a couple of pictures of the truck. Luckily, she still had her camera, and she walked out through the side entrance to the spot where he had parked it. Trying to decide on the best angle, she walked around in front of it, and then, satisfied with her position, she aimed and took a shot. One more...Strong arms caught her from behind, and she squeaked in surprise and outrage, trying to turn around to see who had caught her off guard like that.
"Stealing piccys of my Kenworth, then, Miss America?" Grumpy's voice shook her to the core.
"Uh...sorry! I didn't know you were around. I hope you don't mind...?" Her voice held uncertainty.
"No, hun, I don't mind!" He turned her around and stared into her eyes. "Finished your dinner?"
"Yes, thanks!" She lowered her eyes, unable to hold his gaze.
"Where are you staying?" When she looked puzzled, he added, "So I can come say goodnight after I'm done eating."
She gave him her cabin number. "But I'm sharing with someone," she informed him, "so you won't be able to stay."
As she said it, she flushed. He hadn't said he was going to stay. What was she thinking?
"How did you get my bathing suit?' she demanded, changing the subject.
"Are you mad at me?" he asked, ignoring her question. "Do you want it back?"
"Not now," she answered immediately, looking with distaste at the scrap of material clinging to the aerial. "I'm going to have to get another one."
"I'll take you shopping if you like," he offered, his tone innocent, his eyes not.