“I like to sketch people and places I see. It’s kind of like a journal of my travels.” She reached for the pad. “I don’t usually show people.”

“That’s Euan, isn’t it? It’s a very good likeness.” He handed it back. “You’ve captured something more than a face. It’s almost as if you can read what he’s thinking. I like the name you’ve given it.”

Keely glanced at the sketch she had named ‘Scarecrow’. “He’s got the kind of face that asks to be drawn.”

“Perhaps one day, you’ll show me the rest.”

“Perhaps.” She closed the sketchpad and placed it on the table. “Thanks again for giving me a hand, Flynn, but I don’t want to hold you up any longer.”

“Ouch. I’ve been dismissed.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“It’s not a problem.” He grinned. “I had to check the water was working alright again. We’ve fixed the pump so everything should run okay.”

Keely watched as he turned the taps on over the old sink.

“There’s an overhead tank for hot water but that’s still got plenty in it from when I was here. Come through to the bathroom and I’ll show you the tap system. It’s a bit archaic but it works.”

Keely followed him through the door leading from the kitchen to the back of the studio. One end was partitioned off with an old shower curtain. The other end was stacked with odds and ends of furniture and bric-a-brac in boxes. Flynn pulled back the curtain to reveal an old claw-foot bath, stained with rust, and drooping over it was a huge showerhead. Opposite was an equally rust-stained handbasin and beyond that there was a small door in the wall.

“That’s the toilet and this is the trick with the taps.” He gave instructions about moving a middle tap one way or the other, depending on whether you were bathing or showering. It didn’t look that tricky. Keely was sure she could work it out.

“The back door doesn’t open anymore. You can only use the front door for coming and going.”

He headed back to the kitchen with Keely trailing behind, when he stopped suddenly and turned.

“Do you need a car to go to Mary’s tonight? You could borrow the LandCruiser.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m not sure about the roads yet. There seem to be a lot of twists and turns between here and Margaret River. I’d probably get lost in the dark.”

“I can drive you. I might go in for a drink with a few mates tonight.”

“Thanks, Flynn. I’ll let you know.”

He went on through the front door then turned back again.

“If you want to move back to the house at any time, you can. It doesn’t matter to me.”