‘If she gives you trouble,’ he growled to Hugh, ‘you have my permission to bloody well tie her in.’

Hugh saw the fight go out of Maeve as she took in the distant smoke and flames and gathered her surviving children close to her. He turned to the three native housemaids who were hovering nearby with their own small children, and helped them up into the flatbed. Fastening the tailgate, he ignored the sudden tightening in his chest and rushed over to orchestrate the evacuation.

But there was no need, for the women had filled every cart, wagon, car and truck. Crammed in tightly, they and their children were clinging to the sides, the running boards and the tailgates. Several of the black stockmen’s women were already astride the tough little stock horses, their children sitting in front and behind them, clutching whatever they could to stay on board.

Hugh looked round and saw his heavily pregnant niece, Millicent Cooper, surrounded by her four daughters. ‘Come with me, Millicent,’ he ordered.

‘This baby’s on its way,’ she gasped as she doubled over in pain. ‘I’ll only slow you all down.’

Hugh swore under his breath and tried to make a grab for little girls, who were clinging fearfully to their mother. Realising he was wasting time, he followed Big Mac’s example and swept her into his arms. As he carried her over to his ute, he was aware that the children were following – that the fire was closer – and that all the men could now be seen as small black silhouettes against the glow of flames.

He slammed the door on the utility, checked everyone was all right in the flatbed and stood on the running board seeking out Delilah. Her husband, Jimmy, was Big Mac’s most prized tracker, and he knew she was just as gifted. ‘Delilah,’ he shouted. ‘Where are you?’

‘Here, boss,’ she called as she turned her husband’s skittish horse towards him.

‘I need you to lead us out of here,’ he said, his gaze flitting over the baby sleeping in a sling across her chest and the two wide-eyed children clinging to her waist.

‘I do dat, boss,’ she replied, stilling the horse with a tug on the reins. ‘Alonga me quick, quick.’

Hugh nodded and turned towards the gathering. ‘Keep close together, and follow me,’ he yelled above the wailing of babies, the frightened sobs of small children and fretful whinnying of the horses. ‘Any problems – send one of the riders up to let me know.’

It was a bit of a squash inside the utility cab, but that didn’t matter. He turned the key in the ignition, rammed the gears into first, ignored the pain in his chest and Millicent’s groans – and followed the slender figure on horseback into the darkening, smoke-laden wilderness.

*