Head on one side, Tilly considered the proposition. ‘How would he arrange that? I mean, the other guy would have to know where and when, wouldn’t he?’

Connor shrugged. ‘Matt could have a wireless. There’s no point him being here if he can’t direct the rest of the gang. They must be able to communicate.’

‘But on the air – couldn’t anybody hear them? The stations might have phones now, but I understand they still use wireless in their stock camps.’

‘On the normal channels, I agree, they could. So they’d use a different wavelength, set a particular time, have code phrases. Maybe keep changing wavelengths.’

‘I suppose.’ Tilly had been working as they spoke, and now he pulled the filled ash bucket away as she relit the fire under the donkey.

‘What’s next?’

‘Cleaning, then checking the tank and the pump. Then I’d best get back.’

‘Has Matt already left?’

Tilly glanced at the sun. ‘Oh, yes, an hour or more back. I’m awfully late today. What’s the time now?’

He glanced at his watch. ‘Nine. Bit after.’

‘He’d have been gone by seven,’ she said, and he swore lightly.

‘Damn! With a headstart like that, there’s no point following him. I’d very likely meet him returning, and that might make him nervous. Particularly if he’s not buying my cover story.’

‘Or it could be he just doesn’t like you,’ Tilly suggested, ‘and pretending you’re something else is a way of, I don’t know, sneering at you? He seemed to think it was significant you giving him that Latin name for the shade tree at the house. As if you were trying to, you know, baffle him with science.’

‘Did he?’ Connor snorted in amusement. ‘Genus names are something you learn in a nursery. I daresay I knew ’em better than my times tables because Pops started me off on them at five. Good thing, as it turned out.’

‘Yes, I told him it proved your case,’ Tilly said. ‘He didn’t like that, so perhaps he does just have it in for you for sort-of showing him up. He hasn’t much education, you see.’

‘That was very loyal of you, Tilly.’ He smiled at her and she felt the blood heat her skin. ‘Look, why don’t I dump this’—he indicated the full bucket at his feet—‘then head up to camp and put the billy on? You’ve time for a cuppa after you’ve finished here?’

‘That would be lovely. But I mustn’t stay long. Mum’s holding the fort. She was making friends with Harry when I left, but I dread to think what might happen if the old goanna that hangs around the animal enclosure was to make an appearance. He’s a giant of his kind.’

‘She’s not a city woman, is she?’