“Oh, Nate, what a horrible blemish.”
They leant back against the ute side by side, shoulders almost touching. Nate didn’t pull out the old rug to sit on to enjoy the view. This section of the mountain range no longer held any appeal. An ugly scar snaked its way from one end of the project to the other, clear evidence of where the rainforest had been cleared to make way for the road.
“If we don’t push to stop the state government from allowing foreign wind farm companies to simply pick where they want to set up without any proper consultation, where we parked earlier will look exactly like this by the end of next year.”
Roberta lost count at fifty-two turbines. They were massive from this distance and resembled a hodgepodge of distorted crucifixes along the top of the mountain ridge.
Roberta crossed her arms, tightening their pull towards her chest. The weight of the loss settled deep in her heart. It wasn’t taking much to understand how the desecration of virgin forest could hit you hard. “Tell me more, Nate.”
“We’re all about pushing for proper planning because currently there is none. They’re not even placing these wind farms in areas which will deliver the highest energy capacity required.”
“But green energy is good, right?”
“Yes, it is, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of wildlife, erosion and irreversible damage to the environment.”
Roberta understood how the construction of the steep road was the basis of Nate’s erosion concerns.
“The next lot to go up will be some of the tallest turbines in the southern hemisphere. Taller than these, if you can picture them. These foreign companies will crash through virgin forest just to get to the area they want to demolish, not to mention the system of permanent roads they’ll want to put in for maintenance. Wildlife getting caught up in the blades is bad enough, without irreversible loss of habitat full of countless species already threatened by dwindling numbers.”
Nate’s sigh shook Roberta to her core. And the list will go on.
“We lost the fight on this spot, so we’re doing everything to stop the next wind farm being positioned in this area again. One is damaging enough.”
She’d driven past other wind farms in Victoria, marvelling at their engineering feat. She’d never considered much more. Like so many others, she believed they were the way of the future—green energy shoved down their throats from all angles.
“They’ve reduced the closure date of this collection of turbines by five years. So, in twenty years’ time, they will have reached the end of their life. Then what?” Nate slapped his thigh and pushed himself away from the utility. He stood staring at the ugly stain on the horizon, his shoulders tense, his hands curled into fists by his side.
“These companies putting them up are not even going to be around. Who dismantles them? Where will we put all the parts if they do? I’ve seen turbine graveyards overseas, and they’re not pretty. Nothing is being done to dispose of them smartly, and no one has researched how to recycle them. They’re just collected into huge piles, unable to break down.”
Roberta moved closer to Nate and squeezed his arm. “Hey.”
Nate turned to face her, his hardened glance softening a touch when he trapped her with his gaze. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to land all that on you.” With a wry grimace, he added, “My intention this morning was to take your mind off things for a couple of hours. That’s all.”
Roberta offered up a genuine smile. “I have been nervous and frustrated, all wrapped up as one.” Raising her brows, she added with a chuckle, “Didn’t think you’d noticed, though.”
Nate’s grimace changed into a lopsided smile, its beam sending flutters around her stomach.
“Bit hard not to. So, I left you alone until this morning.”
“Thanks.”
They continued to stare at each other; Roberta’s tongue suddenly tied. At a loss with what to say next, she blurted, “Hug?” and lifted her arms.
Nate took her up on the offer. Roberta wrapped her arms around his waist, squeezing for all it was worth. Nate’s arms tightened around her, and they remained fused, rocking gently, sharing a magnetic force. She closed her eyes, rested her face against his chest and inhaled everything this moment offered. The overpowering forest fragrance, the male scent that was all Nate, wishing she could bottle both up. The power of a hug, hey. Sometimes more powerful than the intimacy of sex.
The sun blazed on the back of her neck, a reminder her hat was sitting inside the vehicle. She pulled back, tilting her head back to Nate’s gaze. “What do you hope to achieve?”
Nate dropped his arms by his side, his eyes gently brushing over her. “That they pick somewhere else or agree to the conditions we’ve suggested. This area already has its share of wind turbines. Choose a spot where the environmental importance has already been lost, and the forest has already been cleared.”
“You won’t stop fighting?”
His expression darkened, and his frown intensified. “I can’t. It’s worth fighting for.”
Roberta agreed with Nate, even though it felt like an insurmountable goal stacked one hundred percent against him.
“Come on, let’s go.” Nate broke the spell blanketing them both. “There’s a small creek a couple of kilometres away where we can sit in the shade and have that snack. Then we’ll head back in time for your meeting.”
* * *
“Do I need my joggers on?”
“For now, yes. You can take them off once we’re near the creek. It’s not far.”
After another short drive, Roberta followed Nate onto a barely visible walking track, appreciating the hush of the forest that enshrouded them once they left the harsh midmorning sun. She wouldn’t need her hat here.
After about fifty metres, Roberta heard the creek only seconds before she saw it, water trickling past small rocks and largish boulders. Mottled sunlight left shadows over the creek that barely spanned three metres, the shadows constantly moving as the breeze shifted through the overhead canopy.
“Take your shoes off and leave them here.” Nate had his off already, showing her where she could leave hers. “We can sit on that large, flat rock in the middle of the creek.”
Nate pointed to it, and she nodded. It would only take a few steps on selected rocks to reach it. This was another first for her as she marvelled at where she was. The spot resembled an enchanted fairy glen, with tree trunks covered in rich, lush lichen, some leaning precariously over the creek as if they decided to fall over with age but then decided against it and only fell halfway.
She half expected tiny fairies to appear, fluttering about and landing on a tree barely centimetres above the water. She grabbed onto it as she gingerly stepped from one small rock to another, the sudden chill of the water travelling up her legs with cooling delight. A couple of rocks wobbled underneath her feet. In one instance, she grabbed hold of Nate’s arm to steady herself, leaving a grimy handprint of lichen from the trunk she’d held onto only a few steps earlier.
“Oops, sorry. I’ve just plastered your shirt with lots of green stuff.”
Nate grinned. “Can’t take you anywhere.”
This easy banter set the mood, and Roberta was glad Nate was no longer frowning. There was much to filter through in understanding this passionate and complex man, but for now, she was hungry and glad Nate had brought snacks.
They sat on the wide, flat boulder, knees touching in the confined space.
The warmth connecting them was in stark contrast to the pleasant chill of the shin-high water gently flowing past her legs.
“Here, I have some crackers and cheese prepared. Take a couple.”
She did, slowly crunching so as not to disturb the surrounding quiet.
“This is so peaceful,” she said once she’d finished eating. “I feel like we’re the only two people in the world.”
“This is what makes this area so special. You can find spots like this and not have to share it with anyone.” Nate put his arm around her and hugged her closer. “Glad you like it,” he added, his gaze wandering over her face.
She latched onto it as a sense of harmony settled over her. “I see how such tranquillity can grow on you.”
“If you’re with the right person, it can be pretty special.”
“Right,” she dragged out, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew exactly where this was headed—again. “You don’t hate me anymore?” A hint of wariness crept in. They’d been here before—crashing and burning.
“Never.” Nate’s warm breath touched her cheeks only seconds before his mouth found hers. The kiss was slow and gentle, in contrast to how her pulse pumped wildly around her body. She pressed back, thankful the water swirling around her legs was keeping her body temperature in check. But oh boy, how did he manage to kiss her so tenderly when she was struggling to keep everything under control? If they weren’t perched on a rock in the middle of a creek, she’d suggest other things to ease the building frustration growing heavily between her legs.
Things between them were seesawing madly. Moving way too fast on some days, taking too damn long on other days. Confusing as heck every other day.
Today was one such day.