‘Glad you liked it.’ Tilly sat up, heaving the doona higher against the chilly air. ‘I’ll keep him well fed while you charm him, and maybe he’ll see things your way. But never mind that. There was a vehicle that sneaked through here last night. I just happened to be up . . .’ She told the tale succinctly, including Connor’s real purpose, adding anxiously, ‘But you have to keep that to yourself, Soph. The point – and the reason you should keep Matt away from Graeme – is that we’re now pretty sure that he’s involved with the traffickers. He’s grading roads for them, after all. And if he is, he’ll try to sabotage your plans for Sandstone Springs.’

‘No way!’ Sophie straightened where she sat. ‘I find that hard to believe. Matt’s dedicated to the job. He’s been here three, going on four years now, and there’s never been any suggestion—’

‘How do you explain the new road then? We both saw it, Soph. And we followed that vehicle within a spit and whistle of it. The driver certainly knew it was there! Anyway, how well do you really know Matt?’ Tilly pressed. ‘Would you say, for instance, that he was a good bushman? That he can track?’

‘Well, of course he can. He—’

‘Then why is he pretending that vehicle drove straight through to the river? Even I could see where it turned onto the Sandstone road. There’s no way he could have missed it! Not when his main purpose was to follow the wretched thing. And, now I come to think of it,’ Tilly said slowly, ‘he’s been trying all along to discourage me from going anywhere near the caves. Talking about the dangers of ticks and the sores they leave that won’t heal. You know how I’ve wanted to see both the caves and the springs ever since I heard about them. I’ve often spoken of getting out there one day, but he’s always said how bad the road is, how easy you can bog there. And then going on and on about the ticks – well, you were there.’

‘He was just having fun, teasing you.’