Sal finally got off the bed and reached for the cardboard suitcase that sat on top of the rickety wardrobe where the empty coat hangers told their own tale. She began to pack her few clothes, and when she’d finished, she gave Brandy a drink of water and then shut him in the bedroom.

Going back downstairs, she ignored his whines and reached for her apron. She needed something to do to stop her from thinking about Max’s funeral and Bert’s betrayal – and as Bert had done his best to destroy her pub and leave her with nothing, she would do her damnedest to scrub it clean and have it open again before the end of the day.

*

Rebecca was almost dead on her feet as she slumped in the veranda chair and smoked yet another cigarette. The hours had flown, the casualties kept coming in and it seemed as if she’d been on her feet for at least a week.

She smiled wearily as she thought of how Enid and Louise had clucked over Charley when he’d been brought in. They’d been like two mother hens, and had obviously forgiven him for owning such a reprobate mongrel. His burns hadn’t been as bad as Mac’s, and he would soon recover, but both big men had had to be sedated to stop them from leaving.

Terence came out on to the veranda and slumped into the nearby chair. ‘I feel as rough as you look,’ he said through a vast yawn. ‘I can’t remember when I had a decent eight hours’ sleep.’

‘Neither can I,’ she replied drily. ‘How’s Ross getting on?’

‘The stitches seem to be holding, but the next twenty-four hours will be crucial. Once this fire’s out, he’ll need to be flown to Brisbane. Operating on him in those conditions was risky to say the least, and with such major internal injuries it’s wiser to have him in a fully equipped modern hospital.’

She shot him a wry glance. ‘Are you suggesting this place is a bit behind the times, Terry?’ She gave him a wan smile. ‘Tut-tut. Whatever would Dad and Gran say?’

‘I expect they’d agree with me if they were being honest,’ he said on a sigh. He looked at his watch and then up at the sky. ‘Where the hell has Dad got to anyway? Delilah’s been gone for hours.’

She was about to reply when Sandra came through the screen door and handed them each a cup of fragrant coffee. ‘Compliments of Annie O’Halloran. She thought it might help keep us all awake.’

She sat down next to Terence and lit a cigarette. ‘I’ve smoked too many of these damned things today,’ she muttered through the smoke. ‘Almost makes me wish I could give them up.’