She grinned. ‘It wouldn’t have anything to do with that truly frightful meal last night? By the way, Connor, thank you for that little carving. It’s lovely.’

‘You’re very welcome, Tilly. So, you’re going to be a ranger – how come?’ Hastily he added, ‘Not that I mean to pry, but—’

‘Oh, that’s okay. I suppose I just needed a change. Besides, it’s an opportunity. I’ve only ever had odd jobs, never a career.’ Save that of wife and mother, she thought. ‘Something to put on my resume, if I ever need one,’ she said lightly. ‘What about you – have you ever thought of changing what you do?’

He paused for a moment as if considering the question. ‘Maybe I’ll go back to nursery work one day, run my own business. Grow things instead of just driving around monitoring them.’

‘Speaking of growing, I’d better get the sprays started on the garden,’ Tilly remembered. ‘Just a few days away from it and I’m all out of routine.’ Dumping a handful of cutlery in its drawer, she made for the door, pausing to say, ‘No doubt I’ll see you round the camp then. You should try some of the walking paths we’ve been working on. They’re worth the effort, though I say it myself.’

‘Maybe I will. I’ll see you around.’

That evening, Sophie sighed with completion as she finished the excellent beef curry Tilly had made. ‘That was great. I’ve had an idea, guys. What if Tilly picks out half-a-dozen simple recipes in her cookbook – something not beyond our capabilities – and we try following them when it’s our turn to cook? She can tell us what we’ve done wrong each night and that way we might actually learn something.’

‘I’ll second that,’ Luke said. ‘Matt?’

He shrugged. ‘Yeah. Whatever.’

‘Well, come on! Are you saying your efforts couldn’t stand improvement?’

Matt shot him a dirty look. ‘You worry too much about your belly. Me, I’d just like to know who’s been messing with my stuff.’

Tilly stared at him. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Someone’s been through my room. A couple of times, actually. If it wasn’t you lot, then it had to be Doyle.’

‘Connor?’ Sophie raised her brows. ‘Are you sure, Matt? Is something missing?’

‘No,’ he said grudgingly. ‘But my gear’s been shifted around, like somebody’s had a good poke through it. You know where you leave things. I do, anyroad. And if they ain’t where you left ’em, it means somebody’s gone and shifted ’em.’