Paula was pleased to recognise the bitumen road that led in the direction of their farm. They had enjoyed a late start to the day, eating breakfast at the B & B and ending up having quite a conversation with the couple who owned it. They were farmers with a property adjoining the town. Dan had talked farming but Paula had been most interested to hear the woman’s explanation of how they’d started the B & B and how they managed it without actually living close.

After they’d said their goodbyes, Dan had driven down the coast and they’d had a late lunch in another small town. Since then they’d been working their way inland via every dirt road and track Dan could find. Paula had no idea where she was but every so often Dan would announce the name of a place with a flourish. Often there was nothing marking the spot but a cairn with a plaque, sometimes there’d be a hall or a church and occasionally a tiny town with a general store. She’d dozed off a few times until bumps in the road jolted her awake.

Now, in the late afternoon, somehow one of the roads had brought them to the main road she recognised.

“We’re nearly home,” she said. “I still don’t understand how you can find your way, when there are so many crossroads and tracks and few signs.”

“Years of practice.” Dan grinned. “Besides, if you can’t keep your eyes open you’re bound to get lost.” He gave her a poke in the ribs.

“I was just resting my eyes. It’s been a busy weekend.”

“Well, little lady,” Dan said in his bad American drawl, “you will keep a man awake half the night.”

“Me?” She was about to remind him it had been his idea to share a warm bath when they’d got back from the football but the ringing of his mobile phone interrupted her.

Paula flicked a look at the incoming call display but there was nothing there.

“Damn Bluetooth must be playing up again,” Dan muttered.

Paula took his phone from the console and answered it.

“Hello, Paula.” Rowena’s voice was loud in her ear. “Are you on your way home?”

“Nearly there.”

“Could you ask Dan to call in? I need to see him.”

“Do you want to talk to him now?” There was something different about Rowena’s voice.

“I’d like him to come here.”

“Tonight?”

The phone was silent.

“Rowena?”

Paula pulled the phone away from her ear and peered at the display screen.

“What’s the matter?” Dan asked.

“Must have lost signal.” Paula could see there were at least three bars on the screen but it was very intermittent out here. “She wants to see you.”

“Can’t it wait till tomorrow?”

“She sounded a bit…” Paula hesitated. She was going to say upset but Rowena rarely displayed emotion.