‘Betta go,’ muttered Billy Blue, his chin dipping so his gaze avoided Ben’s. ‘Mum gets plenty crook if I’m late for tucker.’

Danny shuffled his feet, unwilling to give in, but knowing he had no choice in the matter. ‘We can’t leave until you get out of the way,’ he mumbled.

Ben stepped aside, leaving them no option but to climb up through the boulders. ‘You lead the way, Billy. Me and Danny will follow.’ He had no qualms about making the boys clamber up that jumble of rock – they were as nimble as lizards – but he suspected that the minute they reached the top, Danny would try to make a run for it.

Billy began the climb and Ben followed closely behind Danny, ready to grab him the minute his feet touched the summit. Danny put on a sudden spurt as he neared the top, but Ben was faster and, as they breached the hill, he clamped a large hand into the seat of the boy’s shorts.

‘Let go of me,’ the boy shouted furiously as he kicked out and tried to wrestle from the man’s grip.

‘Not until you’re in the truck,’ replied Ben. ‘And if you don’t stop kicking me, I’ll put you over my shoulder, dump you in the flatbed and tie you in like a cattle dog.’

‘I’ll tell my mum,’ he yelled, his face red with fury.

‘You do that, mate,’ he said, ‘but your mum asked me to get you home, and that’s what I plan to do.’

He held on to the boy, his gaze steady and determined as the struggle weakened and the fight went out of him. But he didn’t let go even then, for he didn’t trust him. ‘That’s better,’ he said softly. ‘Now why don’t you show me how good you are at driving the ute?’

The brown eyes widened above the freckled nose as Danny looked up at him, and Ben could see the reluctant excitement in his small, dirty face. ‘Really?’ Danny breathed. ‘You’ll let me drive?’

Ben nodded and released his grip on the boy’s shorts before climbing into the passenger seat after Billy. ‘It can be your turn next time, mate,’ he said to the Aboriginal boy, who was looking a bit put out.

Danny clambered into the driver’s seat and yanked it forward so his bare feet could reach the pedals. Like most Outback children he’d been taught to drive while still very young, for no one could ever predict the sort of emergency that might call for this skill one day, and it was always best to be prepared.

The journey back into Morgan’s Reach was hairy to say the least, but they made it in one piece to find Rebecca and Sarah waiting for them outside the hospital with expressions that didn’t bode well for either boy.