As he slowly began to walk down that lonely track, the only sounds that accompanied him were the rasp of his boot-heels on gravel and the beating of his anxious heart.

*

Ben was snatched from a deep sleep by Jake roughly shaking his shoulder. He looked blearily at the clock on the wall and realised he’d slept for barely four hours. ‘What now?’ he groaned.

‘Sorry, mate, but I’ve had the reverend’s wife on the phone in a panic, and I need to go back to town.’

Ben yawned and ran his hand through his hair. ‘Bloody hell,’ he muttered as he swung his legs off the couch. ‘What’s the matter with the woman?’

‘It looks as if the twins have nicked the new doctor’s car and their father has gone after them.’ Jack wedged his hat firmly over his dark hair and adjusted his belt. ‘But that’s only the half of it. The bloody hospital’s full of the poor bastards that ate Bert’s old meat pies last night, and I have to go and inspect the kitchen, lock up the pub and write a report.’

Ben shot him a wry smile. ‘Just another quiet day in store for you then?’ He gave a vast yawn. ‘How’s the weather?’

‘Building up to a right ripper,’ he replied with a grimace. ‘It’s as black as your hat out there, with the wind picking up and the heat rising. I don’t like the look of it at all.’

‘You’d better get off then, mate. I’ll keep an ear open on the two-way. I don’t suppose there’s any sign of Django, is there?’

‘Nah, mate. He’s in the hospital, so don’t expect him back for a couple o’ days at least.’

Ben gave a sigh of exasperation and headed for the coffee pot that was simmering away on the stove. ‘What are you going to do about the boys and the reverend?’

‘I’ve put out a call on the two-way for any sightings, but as Mrs Baker doesn’t know which way they went, I don’t hold out much hope. There’s not much more I can do but patrol up and down the main road for a bit. They could have ended up in a ditch somewhere – but on the other hand, they could be off the road altogether and out on the tracks.’

‘They won’t get far in that fancy car,’ muttered Ben as he hunted out a clean cup and the last of the tinned milk and sugar. ‘I’ll put a call in to Dad. They might be heading for Wilga.’