Flicking off her torch, Tilly stared through the closed louvres, hoping that it wasn’t another emergency. Calling the flying doctor in at this hour would necessitate lighting up the strip, but it was very late for any traveller to be abroad. Then, still waiting for the headlights to appear, she glimpsed the dark shape of a vehicle creeping past the homestead. Only the brief shine of starlight on the duco gave its presence away as it slid gently between the sheds and vanished into the night. The sound died with its going, and for a brief moment she wondered if she had imagined the whole thing. She briefly considered waking the others, but whoever it was she could find out for herself tomorrow just by checking the regos in the camp. And it was too cold to stand around now. Her body shaking with chill, Tilly hurried back to the warmth of her bed.

Over breakfast Tilly told the others about the midnight traveller to a mixed reaction. Sophie simply tutted at her description that the traveller had ‘crept past like a thief’.

‘Somebody probably had a breakdown, Tilly. Should have made it in daylight and was just being considerate about not waking us. You can see whoever it is this morning.’

Luke frowned. ‘Yeah, but why would they drive without lights? Having them on’s not gonna wake us. I reckon Tilly’s right – it wants looking into.’

‘Well, I can’t today. I’m off to Darwin, remember? And you’ve got kitchen duties.’

‘’S’okay,’ Matt said. ‘I’ll check it out. If he ain’t in the camp, I’ll find him. The grader’s at Kileys’ Yard and I’ll be bringing it back today. If someone’s heading through on the back roads, our paths oughta cross.’

Sophie nodded. ‘Do that. You’ll be right for the camp chores this morning, Till?’

‘Yes, of course. What’ll I do after that?’

‘Take the rest of the day for yourself – do your washing, teach Luke some culinary skills.’

‘Huh!’ he muttered sotto voce. ‘There’s more than me that needs ’em.’

So she wasn’t the only one to have suffered last night, Tilly thought. She had forgotten her cousin’s upcoming trip. Subterfuge was no longer necessary – she could just dump the whole pie, if Luke didn’t beat her to it. Unexpectedly then, she remembered her mother’s favourite saying: ‘There’s an upside to everything, pet.’

She hid a smile, reflecting on how true that was.

Sophie left immediately after breakfast, slinging a modest bag into the front of the vehicle. ‘I’ll ring from Alloway,’ she told Luke, ‘so you know I’ve got that far. Once I hit the bitumen I’ll be right – plenty of traffic if I have a breakdown. With a bit of luck I’ll be back by Thursday.’

‘You’ve got the costings, boss? Five dollars says they’ll nix the idea.’