She was still the girl from Gibber’s Creek. But in two years . . . ten years . . . she could be different. Would be different, whether it was here or at home, where there were no laboratories, although there was the rehab centre attached to the hospital, getting a major reputation now for innovation and success, still funded by Overflow and Thompson’s Industries . . .

A car door slammed below, and then another. She heard Angus’s unmistakable accent in greeting, heard William reply, then Alex’s voice, saying something she couldn’t make out. Her pulse sped up to ninety, possibly even a hundred and ten. She checked her hair, her lipstick in the mirror, then ran — ran — down the small flight of steps to the front door and opened it.

Four male faces looked at her from the footpath. One — Jimbo — looked curious and even slightly puzzled. Two looked embarrassed, but also filled with a joy she had never seen in them before. The other looked as if he had never felt so much terror in his life before, but was totally determined nonetheless.

And every sparrow in Edinburgh began to chirp, and the clouds danced a Highland fling, and the entire world purred like a cat who has been promised sushi and cream for dinner.

And Scarlett smiled, knowing, in that moment, who possibly . . . probably . . . no, almost certainly . . . who Scarlett Kelly-O’Hara was going to be.

Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Dried Apples

Peel apples; slice as thinly as possible and place into water and lemon juice — 1 lemon to 750mL water. Thread the slices onto a needle and thread with about a finger space between each slice. Hang them up in the sun, preferably under the eaves of the house where they won’t get wet in the dew or rain. Bring them in when they feel rubbery.

OVERFLOW, 1907

CLANCY

They finished the teacher’s cottage and schoolhouse by Christmas. Matilda had ridden over several times to give advice on the size of the classroom and how many bedrooms the cottage would need (three, for the teacher would have family and friends visiting) and a parlour large enough for her to give promising pupils extra coaching with a fireplace to toast crumpets, for it seemed that toasting crumpets with her schoolteacher was one of Matilda’s favourite memories of her childhood.

Matilda had also suggested a special school library room. Even Gibber’s Creek Public School did not have a library. She arrived one morning on her horse, followed by a cart that held ten boxes of books for it, including six volumes of Banjo Paterson’s poems.

Clancy had not heard from the poet after the letter he had finally received when he and Rose returned to Overflow. The letter had hurt, for a moment, then he laughed and scribbled a note inviting Paterson to visit, to see just how happy a man might be with a native bride.

There had been no reply.