She has grown up, he thought, drinking obediently as she held the mug to his lips. It wasn’t how the sweat stuck her shirt to her now-different shape, but a confidence not just in herself but in the world around her. Most people he knew tried to change the world to fit themselves. Rose could have been a shaft of light through the gum trees, or the dapples made by a branch of gum leaves.

His body no longer refused to obey him. Even his hands had stopped shaking and stabilising his leg had eased the shock of pain, even though it felt like a dingo was gnawing his kneecap.

‘You all right, matey?’ yelled Tiger, his tired horse dusty and sweaty as it plodded back to them.

‘Pretty much, except my knee. Rose, I mean Joe, has wrapped it.’

‘Mrs Mack’ll give you some stuff for it, I reckon, like she did my ankle.’ Tiger let gravity bring him from horse to ground. ‘My word, I don’t want to do one like that again. But we’ve got them safe, and the Macks are riding among them and the dogs nipping them so they can’t drink too much, too fast. Think you can ride?’

‘Probably.’ Clancy eyed Big Red. ‘If I can manage to get up. Do you think she’s limping?’

‘Come on, girl.’ Rose led his horse a few steps. ‘She’s favouring one leg a bit, but I’d say she’ll be fit after a day or two of rest. You’re going to need a day or two too. I’d say get up behind me or Tiger, but our horses are pretty beat. Give Big Red a go.’

‘Heave ho and up she rises,’ chanted Tiger as Clancy balanced an arm on each of their shoulders. He managed to put the foot of his good leg in the stirrup, the others supporting his weight, then swung the other over. Thank goodness for the high, broad saddle.

He let the others go ahead of him so Big Red could follow, plodding slowly and carefully. The creek was hidden behind almost half a mile of sand then a sandbank, which he realised must have slowed the stampede down, but the sand by the water itself was firm and lush with grass, as well as river mint and watercress. It had almost certainly been a river before the drought had narrowed it to its trickle. The cattle grazed, looking hot, tired and annoyed. The horses were hobbled nearby. Clancy took Big Red to drink before he slid from her back, then let Tiger hobble her.