Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(11)

Instead, she focused on keeping her own rhythm steady, trying not to let the discomfort show. The gentle drip of water from branches reminded her of the meditation tracks they piped through at spas. That was more her idea of a good weekend away; the outdoor pursuits had always been Daniel’s thing. Bloody Daniel. She wondered if he’d arrived at the lodge yet.

She sensed a change in the movement ahead and looked up from the path to see the others slowing. The trail had widened as trees started to thin around them and she now realised what she’d thought was the wind was actually the rush of water. She caught up to the others at the edge of the tree line, and blinked as bushland abruptly parted to reveal a tumbling wall of white.

‘Oh my God. Unbelievable,’ Jill breathed. ‘It looks like we’ve found the falls.’

Stunning was the word that came to mind. A lively river drove its way past the trees, bubbling and frothy as it raced beneath a wooden bridge before freefalling over a rocky edge. It plunged like a heavy curtain with a deafening white roar into a dark pool below.

The five women clattered onto the bridge and leaned against the railing, staring down into the chasm as the water tumbled and churned. The air was so crisp Jill felt she could almost touch it, and the freshwater spray cooled her cheeks. It was a hypnotic sight, and as she drank it in she almost felt the weight of her pack lift a little from her shoulders. She thought she could stand there forever.

‘We should go.’

The voice came from the far side of the bridge. Jill dragged her eyes away. Alice was already surveying the trail ahead. ‘We’ll probably lose light early up here,’ she said. ‘We should keep moving.’

Immediately, the blister forming on Jill’s heel flared up and her shirt began to chafe against her skin. She glanced at the heavy sky, then looked back once more at the view. She sighed.

‘All right. Let’s go.’

She prised herself away from the safety railing in time to catch Bree staring at the map and frowning.

‘All good?’ she asked, and Bree flashed her straight white teeth.

‘Yes. It’s this way.’ She refolded the map, pushed her dark ponytail over her shoulder and pointed to the single track ahead. Jill nodded, saying nothing. One track, one choice. She hoped Bree felt as confident when there was a decision to be made.

The path was muddy, and Jill feared she might slip with every step. An ache had started to inch its way along her spine. She wasn’t sure if it was from the weight of the pack, or from constantly bending her neck to watch where she put her feet.

They hadn’t gone far when the hum and trill of the bushland was broken by a shout up ahead. Bree had stopped and was pointing up at something off the path.

‘Look. It’s the first flag. Isn’t it?’

A crisp white square of cloth flapped bright against the stringy bark of the gum trees. Bree dropped her pack and tramped through the undergrowth to look.

‘It is. It’s got the Executive Adventures logo on it.’

Jill squinted. She couldn’t make out detail from that distance. Bree stretched up, fingertips reaching. She jumped and fell short.

‘I need something to stand on.’ Bree looked around, her hair blowing across her face.

‘Oh, let’s just leave it.’ Alice was looking at the sky. ‘It’s not worth breaking your neck for. What do we get if we find all six? A hundred dollars or something?’

‘Two hundred and forty each.’

Jill turned at Beth’s voice. It was the first time she’d heard her speak since they’d set off.

Beth put her pack down. ‘I’ll give you a boost.’

Jill watched the enthusiasm fade from Bree’s face.

‘No, it’s all right. Let’s leave it.’

But it was too late, her sister was already heading over. ‘Two hundred and forty bucks, Bree. I’ll get it myself if you’re not going to.’

Jill stood beside Alice and Lauren, their arms folded across their chests against the cold, and watched. Beth knelt in front of her sister, threading her fingers to create a makeshift step and waiting until Bree reluctantly placed a muddy boot in her clasped palms.

‘This is a waste of time,’ Alice said, then glanced sideways at Jill. ‘Sorry. Not the whole thing. Just this.’

‘Oh, let them have a go.’ Lauren watched as the twins wobbled against the tree trunk. ‘They’re not doing any harm. A couple of hundred is worth a lot in your twenties.’

Jill looked at Alice. ‘What’s your hurry anyway?’

‘Just that we’ll be putting these tents up in the dark as well as the wet at this rate.’

Jill suspected that Alice was right. The sky had grown dimmer and she realised she could no longer hear birdcall. ‘We’ll move on in a minute. I was actually talking about you wanting to get back to Melbourne early on Sunday. Didn’t you say you had something on?’

‘Oh.’ There was an awkward pause, then Alice waved a hand. ‘It’s nothing.’

‘It’s prize night at Endeavour Ladies’ College,’ Lauren said, and Alice shot her a look Jill didn’t quite catch.

‘Is it? Well, we’ll get you back in time for that,’ Jill said. ‘What’s Margot receiving?’

Every time Jill met Alice’s daughter, she’d always come away with the strange feeling of having been somehow appraised. Not that the opinion of one sixteen-year-old held any value in Jill’s world – her need for that kind of approval was thirty-five years behind her – but there was something about Margot Russell’s cool gaze that was strangely unnerving.