‘My mother is terrified at the moment,’ Becky said fiercely. ‘She just has more self-control and dignity than to make a drama out of it. Dad’s still out there, Danny’s gone missing, and until a few minutes ago we didn’t know if Terry had come through the fire at Blackman’s Creek. Pull yourself together, Sandra,’ she snapped, ‘and start behaving like an adult instead of a spoiled, needy brat.’

Becky turned away from her and ran up the steps into the hospital. Her fear for Danny and her anger at Sandra’s stupidity had made her say more than she should – but the time had come to stop pussyfooting about. Sandra either shaped up or shipped out. Either way, at this moment, Becky didn’t care.

*

Sandra slowly climbed the steps and sank into one of the wicker chairs. She felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She stared out to the street where a light burned in every window to combat the gloom and people were bustling back and forth to cater to the men who were still pouring in to help fight the fire.

Young and old, they all seemed to have something to do. They had a place in this tight-knit but far-flung community, and understood the parts they had to play. This was where Terence belonged – she could see that now. But if she and Terence had any chance of rescuing what they’d once had together, where could she fit in – and how?

She sat there feeling lost and very alone. She’d been raised in a city orphanage, and Terence was all she had. She didn’t want to lose him. But life in this small settlement was alien to her, the people unsophisticated and as tough as their surroundings. Could she ever learn to understand them, to become a part of Morgan’s Reach just as Terence and his family were?

Becky’s sharp words came back to her, reminding her that it was not the first rebuke she had had that day. Did Terry and his family really see her as a demanding, wilful child who needed constant attention, and couldn’t be trusted not to get drunk at the first sign of trouble?

She shivered despite the heat. It seemed they did. And it was a shocking awakening.

*

‘My waters have broken,’ groaned Millicent. ‘You’ll have to stop, Hugh.’

He flashed his headlights to signal to Delilah, and drew to a halt. When she turned back towards him, he climbed out of the utility. ‘Millicent is about to give birth,’ he said quietly. ‘We’ll transfer Maeve and the rest into the other vehicles and I’ll stay here.’

‘No good, boss,’ she replied. ‘Smoke come fast. Alonga no see track.’

‘There’s no wind, and with so much traffic passing through, the trail will be easy to follow in the headlights,’ he replied firmly.