This could be the day, Rachel thought as they walked hand in hand towards the river bank. With no recent substantial rain in the north, this part of the river looked more like a creek. It meandered leisurely through patches of stone and reeds.
The Landrover was parked nearby under a huge ghost gum. It was a short walk through the gently waving long grass to a clearing by the river. If this was to be the day, Ben could not have picked one better – light breeze, cloudless sky and the enjoyable river scent for them alone. Rachel had decided to wear her yellow summer dress when Ben suggested they go for a drive to the river. She felt attractive in this dress - important for a woman approaching middle age. Rachel couldn’t help but smile at the thought that Ben actually owned this part of the country only twenty minutes from his homestead. It had taken some time but she was feeling confident it would all fall into place quite soon.
Rachel and Ben had connected through an online dating app - the process often used by those with failed marriages and with the radiance of their youthful complexion fading. Rachel certainly fit the mould - Ben, however, didn’t. He owned a sheep property in central Queensland. He inherited it after his father succumbed to cancer. The cause, Ben was convinced, was the myriad of chemicals used to manage the animals and crops. Ben’s mum was in a nursing home so he lived alone, only seeing workers he hired from time to time. He was a big man in his early fifties hardened by constant work and the unforgiving conditions. He had a couple of almost serious relationships with local women in his early days. The young people didn’t stay for too long out here unless they were working a property. Ben was well liked in the local town and by neighbours, always ready for a chat and to help out anyone in need. That was the way of the country community. Ben was tired of the solitude and felt the need for a partner and friend.
Rachel had been married for eighteen years when her marriage ended. The usual catalyst for breakups after this amount of time is an affair by one or the other in the relationship. Not so in this case. Rachel and her husband grew apart and in the end, they just did not like each other. Their teenage son was a casualty of the bitterness and lived with his Dad. Unfortunately for Rachel, the marriage failed to accumulate much in the way of assets, no house, property or cash to speak of. Since the split, she worked in a ladies fashion store in the central Brisbane city area, easy commute from her one bedroom apartment. With a petite build, short blond hair and elfin features she had her share of attention from men. Most were either married or separated with kids, and Rachel steered clear. She was looking for an uncomplicated relationship that would provide the security she craved.
Ben’s profile on the dating app didn’t really impress Rachel until she noticed the homestead and the sixty-five thousand acre property. His looks were a little on the weathered side but she knew that quite a few ladies would be interested. Living out in the sticks of South West Queensland would scare some off.
Rachel gave it a lot of thought before starting up a chat with Ben. She was a city girl. The lifestyle out there was so different. They may not even connect. The potential benefit may be worth it - so why not.
It was about a month of engaging chat before Ben suggested they meet up in Brisbane. From that point, the relationship blossomed and it wasn’t long before Rachel was having extended visits with Ben at the homestead. She liked to potter around the homestead not fussed on going out with Ben around the property.
They had only walked a few meters towards the river. Rachel screamed. “Ahh! Snake! I’ve been bitten – Ben!”
The snake slithered off and disappeared through the long grass. “Rachel, stay still. Show me.” Ben crouched down to hold Rachel’s ankle. Blood was flowing from two distinct puncture wounds on her instep. “Just stay calm, we need to get you to hospital.” Ben picked Rachel up in his arms and quickly walked back towards the Landrover.
“Ben, did you see it? What was it?” Rachel was understandably agitated. “It hurts!”
Ben was hesitant. “I don’t want you to panic, but it looked like a taipan.”
“Oh my God!” Rachel was shrill. “They’re deadly!”
They reached the Landrover. Ben opened the passenger door and placed Rachel in the front seat. He ran to the driver’s side and pulled a first aid kit from the glove box.
“Rachel, you need to be as calm as you can and stay very still. I’ll bandage your leg and ring the hospital.” Ben arranged with the hospital for the ambulance to meet them halfway. He cleaned the wound, finished the bandage then drove as fast as the road conditions would allow out towards the highway.
Rachel was pale. “Ben, do people survive a taipan bite?”
“Yes, of course, they do. There’s antivenom and it’s on the way,” Ben replied.
“How long until we meet them?” Rachel asked.
“Not long, about thirty minutes,” Ben said. “Just stay quiet.”
Ben knew it would be touch and go. He knew if left untreated a taipan could kill in thirty to forty-five minutes. He glanced at Rachel and thought that she knew it too. Her face was gaunt and very pale. Her lips pressed together and her eyes moist.
“It’s not fair. I just wanted security and a decent life.” She said weakly.
“You’ll be ok, don’t worry,” Ben said.
“I don’t fit in out here in the bush. I should have realised it was too much of an upheaval.”
“Please Rachel, just stay quiet and still,” Ben said as he drove, exceeding the highway speed limit.
Rachel was still pale but lucid when they spotted the ambulance with lights flashing and sirens howling. The pulled into a gravel side area. The paramedics acted quickly. She was injected with antivenom and on her way to the hospital within minutes. Ben followed in his vehicle.
Rachel was monitored closely overnight. The bite wound was a little swollen but apart from that, she appeared to be well. Ben was there at her bedside when the attending Doctor came into the ward.
“Hello, Rachel I’m Doctor Henson,” he said to Rachel, ignoring Ben.
“Hi!” she replied.
“How are you feeling this morning?” he asked.
“Well, pretty good. That antivenom must be great stuff,” she replied.
“It’s good, but not that good. I would say that you are a very lucky lady. It appears that you had what is known as a dry bite from the snake,” he explained.
“Dry bite?”
“Yes, the snake didn’t actually inject its venom into you. The experts think it happens when the snake is not attacking to kill prey. Perhaps it thinks you are too big to eat. In any case, it is not common, and very unusual for taipans. So a lucky day for you,” the Doctor said.
“Thank you doctor. That is such a relief,” Rachel said.
“No problem! As long as you are over the stress of the experience and look after the bite wound on your foot you should be fine.”
“Thank you so much,” she said. The doctor left them alone.
Rachel sat up in bed and looked directly at Ben. “That is such a relief. Wow! What a story I’ve got to tell now,” she said.
“I’m so glad you’re ok. I was really worried,” Ben said.
“You were great Ben. I knew how serious this could have been. Thank you for looking after me. It’s a shame that snake spoiled our day. I had a feeling it was going to be special,”
“Well there was something I wanted to say to you yesterday,” Ben said lowering his voice.
“Yes?” she replied expectantly.
“I wanted to tell you that I didn’t think that we were really suited to each other for a long term relationship. Sorry Rachel, but I think you feel it as well.”
Rachel could not stop her face showing the disappointment she felt. “Is it what I said in the car on the way here Ben?”
“No! That just confirmed it for me,” he said.
“My lucky day,” Rachel replied.