Buchanan shook his head. ‘We knew who they were, that their father had bought our grandparent’s grazing property, but we rarely saw them. Mostly, it was when they came to Tumbarumba for the rodeo.’

‘Did the Lorrimers compete?’ asked Flowers.

‘No, they weren’t rough riders. The rodeo’s a popular event though, it raises money for the hospital. I have a feeling Mrs Lorrimer could have been on the committee.’

‘And more recently?’ Ryder asked.

Buchanan shook his head. ‘I hardly ever see them.’

‘Okay.’ Ryder looked up as two uniformed boys walked past the window. ‘You said Owen Temple had a word with you last night. Did the subdivision go before council?’

‘Unfortunately, we didn’t get to it.’ A thread of frustration ran through Buchanan’s voice. ‘We have so many issues clogging up the agenda at the moment, mostly right-of-way issues. In the old days, if someone owned a property which didn’t have access to the road, the neighbours would just let them through. Those arrangements worked back then because everybody knew everybody, or they were related. Now, with city people buying in, it’s a different story.’

‘So, have you received any nasty objections to the proposed development of White Winter Station? Any threats or that kind of thing?’ said Ryder.

‘No, just the usual stuff.’ Buchanan looked confused. ‘Why would someone kill one of the Lorrimers because they’ve decided to sell their property?’

‘That’s what we’re trying to find out.’ Ryder paused for a moment. ‘Detective Flowers has spoken to your sister at length about the strained history between the two families.’

Buchanan shifted his feet on the rung of his stool. ‘The key word there, Detective, is history . . . that’s exactly what it is.’

‘I’m curious about something,’ Ryder said. ‘Why are you such an ardent supporter of the subdivision? Because that’s what we’ve been led to believe.’

Buchanan took a deep breath. ‘Well, there’s a few reasons. I like the subdivision Temple’s doing. He’s a good developer with a track record of retaining the rural character of the land. And the Lorrimers need to get out, they’re only just holding on.’

That’s two reasons, thought Ryder, waiting for Buchanan to go on.

‘Look, I’ll be straight with you, Detective, there’s a sweetener in there for me too.’ He shifted his gaze to Flowers, then back to Ryder. ‘I have an agreement with Temple that I have first rights on the purchase of the small block of land that has the old house and cemetery on it.’

Flowers’ eyebrows shot up. ‘You want to buy back the family’s old homestead?’

‘That’s right.’ Buchanan slid his hands back and forth along his thighs. ‘Cate and I want it for Wendy, it was her childhood home.’

‘Okay.’ Ryder frowned. ‘So, you’re using your influence on the council to try and push this development through?’