He gave a glance round the room at Becky and Jane and the patients who’d come on to the veranda with the Harper sisters to listen avidly to this exchange. ‘You’ve got two weeks, Bert, and if it isn’t sorted, then the pub will have a contamination order slapped on it and be closed for good.’

There was a murmur of protest from across the veranda, but Jake ignored it as he handed over a slip of paper. ‘I’m giving you this order in sight of witnesses, and will inspect the pub two weeks from today.’ With that, he settled his hat on his head, nodded to Becky and her mother and strode off the veranda.

‘I’ll flamin’ kill Sal when I finally get hold of her,’ Bert growled.

‘You lay one hand on her and you’ll have me to deal with,’ rasped Charley Sawyer from the next bed.

‘Yeah, you and whose army?’ snarled Bert, his eyes narrowed.

Charley sat up and raised his enormous fists, the muscles bulging in his arms. ‘These are all I need, you mongrel,’ he growled. ‘And they’re itching to wipe that sneer off your ugly mug.’

Becky and her mother exchanged worried looks. The last thing they needed today was a fight. But before they could do anything, the moment was defused by Danny and Billy Blue bursting on to the veranda.

‘The road train’s here,’ Danny shouted.

‘Yeah, and it looks like they’ll be staying,’ added Billy. ‘The weather’s getting real crook out there.’ He ran over to Django and leaned on his bed to chatter away at him like a small parakeet.

There was a stirring among the men, and the short spat between Bert and Charley was forgotten as those who felt well enough began to clamber out of bed.

‘You’ll all stay exactly where you are,’ said Jane firmly. ‘Especially you, Sean O’Halloran,’ she said, grabbing the Irish-born storekeeper by the arm. ‘You’re still far too weak, and Annie’s quite capable of coping without you.’

‘But she can’t lift—’

‘She won’t need to,’ she interrupted. ‘The drivers will do that.’ She efficiently got the grey-faced Sean back into bed and tucked in before he realised what was happening. ‘Right,’ she said, turning to Becky, ‘I think it’s time you had a bit of a break. The other ladies and I can cope here.’

‘Thanks, Mum. I won’t be long.’ She managed to grab hold of Danny, who was about to race away with Billy again. ‘Where have you been all day?’ she asked.

‘Nowhere,’ he said, avoiding her gaze.

It was the standard answer of a boy who probably hadn’t really been anywhere or done anything in particular, but who’d been very busy nevertheless. ‘Well, I need you to stay close to home now. With the storm building up, it’ll be dangerous out there.’