The news that the fire was out was a huge relief to everyone and, although some had lost loved ones, and others had been deprived of their homes, the general consensus was that things could have been far worse if the widespread community hadn’t come together when it most mattered.

It was now mid-morning and Becky was pacing the veranda, looking out frequently for any sign of Danny. Her nerves were shredded, and as the hours had ticked by since hearing Django had found him, the waiting became ever harder to bear.

She peered through the screens again and, as the rain began to fall, she saw the small figure ambling down the street as if he’d just been away for five minutes. Her heart leaped with joy. ‘Danny,’ she shouted as she pushed through the screen door, flew down the steps and raced towards him.

Danny’s dirty little face split into a wide grin as he quickened his step. ‘Mum! Mum, it’s all right.’

Becky fell to her knees, gathering him to her and holding him tight, her kisses and tears smothering his grubby face as the rain softly fell on them. ‘I was so frightened,’ she said. ‘I thought I’d lost you.’

‘Fair go, Mum, I was with John Miller and—’

‘I know. Django told me. But that was hours ago.’ She looked at him through her tears and touched the cuts and bruises on his face and arms. ‘You’ve hurt yourself,’ she breathed. ‘What happened?

‘I fell off a cliff,’ he said with a touch of bravado. ‘John cleaned me up a bit, and it doesn’t hurt.’

She wondered what on earth he’d been doing on a cliff in the first place, but it didn’t matter for now. She had him home – questions were for later. She softly flicked back the damp hair from his eyes. ‘I love you so much, Danny. Please don’t ever run away again.’

He wrapped his arms round her neck and pressed his face against her cheek. ‘I love you too, Mum, and I’m sorry I made you cry. I promise I’ll never go off again without telling you first.’

His promise sounded heartfelt, and she was certain he meant it right this minute, but would he forget it in a while and disappear again? She had to trust that he wouldn’t, but from now on she would keep a much closer eye on him.

Ignoring the rain that was now teeming down and soaking them both, she held his precious little body close and thanked God for keeping him safe. ‘You’ve been gone for so long, Danny,’ she said. ‘Where were you – and why didn’t Django bring you back like he promised?’