The door opened and Sophie joined her, holding a second mug of tea. ‘Never a dull moment,’ she observed. ‘I hope the girl’ll be okay. Luke’s really taken with her, isn’t he?’

‘He seems to have lost his heart,’ Tilly agreed. ‘So, lunches today, anyone?’

Matt emerged from the house. ‘Not for me. I’ll be in the shed. Vehicles to service,’ he said, heading off.

‘Are the whipper snippers fuelled up?’ Sophie called after him, then continued as he nodded. ‘Just me and Luke then, thanks. We’re working on the walking tracks,’ she explained.

‘Ah.’ Tilly nodded. Nature was a relentless force. ‘What about you, Connor?’

‘No thanks. Is it okay if I take the boat out this arvo, Sophie? It’s the easiest way to check the river bank growth.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Binboona had inherited the former station’s tinny for emergency use in the Wet, though, Tilly privately thought, you would have to be mad to put it into the Nutt in flood.

Remembering then, she said, ‘I’d almost forgotten the mail plane. At least the strip’s already been checked. That’ll save me time.’

‘I’ll be here and free – I can collect the mail for you,’ Connor offered. ‘What time?’

‘Would you? It’s due about half ten.’ She smiled her thanks. ‘The mailbag will be on the table there. That sounds like Luke coming back now.’

It was. Don stopped briefly to let the young ranger out, then drove the station wagon back between the sheds towards the camp.

‘He’s gone to pack up,’ Luke announced, bursting into the room. ‘And I’m catching the mail plane out if I can get a seat.’

‘Whoa, slow down a bit.’ Sophie looked startled. ‘What did the doctor say about Jane?’

‘An extreme allergic reaction to something in her system. He thinks she’ll be okay. Thinks!’ he said scornfully, eyes flashing. ‘And what if she isn’t? I have to go to her. Don’ll be forever reaching Darwin dragging that trailer. Six hours if he speeds, so I’m taking the plane.’

Tilly said, ‘But Luke, what are the chances of there being a spare seat?’ The mail plane serviced a dozen stations, any one of which could be sending or receiving travellers that day. ‘They’re nearly always booked out – with freight, if not people.’

‘There’s got to be,’ he said stubbornly. ‘You don’t understand – none of you do – she could die! Anyway I’m going.’ This last said with a challenging look at his boss.

‘Okay,’ Sophie said mildly. ‘Take a couple of days. Though how you’ll get back, short of waiting for the next plane . . .’

‘I’ll worry about that later,’ he muttered and rushed from the room. Shortly they heard the sound of doors and drawers opening and slamming closed as he packed.

Sophie shrugged. ‘So, that’ll be just the one lunch then.’