Gwyneth shook her head. ‘The mail takes its time getting here, Terence. You should know that.’ She glanced across the street to the car. ‘I see you brought Sandra with you,’ she muttered with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. ‘How long are you actually planning on staying?’

‘For a while,’ he replied vaguely. ‘Perhaps longer if things work out. Sandra and I need a break from the city, and Dad’s been asking me to come out here ever since I got demobbed.’ He looked down at her, knowing his smile was tense. ‘I know you and Sandra didn’t get along very well when you came down for the wedding, but give her a chance, Gran,’ he pleaded quietly. ‘She’s been through such a lot and is still not well.’

‘A good dose of hard work and clean country air will sort her out soon enough,’ she said briskly. ‘These city girls are spoilt and soft, but we’ll soon have her pulled into shape.’

‘Go easy on her, Gran,’ he murmured. ‘She is my wife, after all, and if we’re to settle here, she needs to feel welcome.’

Gwyneth gave him a glance of derision that spoke volumes, before tucking her hand into the crook of his arm and leaning on her walking stick. ‘You’d better come to my place for a cuppa,’ she said as they approached the car. ‘Jane and Rebecca are busy at the hospital and your father’s had to go out to one of the stations to see to a difficult birthing. But they’ll all be home soon enough. It’s Danny’s birthday today, you see, and we’re having a tea party at the school later.’

There wasn’t time to ask about his sister and her boy, for Sandra had climbed out of the car and was waiting beside it, the broad-brimmed sun hat casting a soft shadow over her features. Considering how upset she’d been only minutes before, she looked amazingly calm and collected in her pretty cotton dress and white high-heeled shoes, and Terence noted that she’d even managed to plaster on a rather stiff little smile.

‘Nice to meet you again, Mrs Morgan,’ said Sandra, holding out her hand, her gaze steady and almost challenging.

Gwyneth shook hands with her, her gaze returning that challenge. ‘Welcome to Morgan’s Reach,’ she said with a ghost of a smile. ‘I hope you don’t find us too dull after all the excitement of Sydney – but as humble as it is, it is home, and I hope you don’t find it too hard to get used to our funny ways.’

‘Thank you,’ she replied flatly. ‘I’m sure Morgan’s Reach will prove adequate for the short length of time I intend to be here.’