Rose flapped her hands and shook her head. ‘No,’ she said when the pain receded. ‘No, I’m fine. I get these cramps occasionally, and they go again.’ She stood upright and looked at Ian. ‘I’m fine, honest.’

‘Come on, let’s get you inside, out of the sun. I think a cold drink will do you wonders.’

‘That would be wonderful, thank you,’ Rose said, as the woman turned to walk inside. Rose planted her hand on her lower back as she plodded beside her, still marvelling at the change in her centre of gravity; her belly leading the way. ‘I’m Rose.’

‘I’m Evie,’ the older woman smiled as she ushered Rose inside. ‘How long to go?’

‘Not soon enough! Twins, if you can believe it. Baptism by fire!’

‘I can,’ Evie replied. ‘You’re big enough. Those cramps you’re getting are probably Braxton Hicks. And you’re right, they come and go a bit.’

‘Braxton what?’

‘Hicks. It means your body is getting ready for labour.’ Evie was silent for a moment while she opened the fridge and brought out an enamel jug. ‘Haven’t you heard about them before?’

Rose shook her head and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. ‘We didn’t talk much about this sort of thing in my family.’

Evie nodded with a kind smile. ‘Did I hear you’re on your way to Jacksonville?’

‘Yeah, Ian has a stand at the shearing shed for a few weeks.’

‘You’re brave, going to stay out there. Away from the hospital.’ She poured a glassful and handed it to Rose. ‘Homemade lemonade. Sit down.’

Rose shook her head. ‘I’ve been sitting all day. I need to stretch, but thank you.’ She took a sip of the cold, sweet drink and smiled. ‘This is just like my grandmother’s. Lemon juice and sugar topped up with water?’ she asked.

‘Sure is!’ Evie topped up her glass. ‘Good old-fashioned, thirst-quenching drink. Plenty more where that came from.’ She eyed Rose curiously. ‘How long have you been on the road?’

‘Feels like forever! Especially since I’ve got bigger. The car isn’t as comfortable as it used to be. Every time we hit a pothole, I feel like the seat is coming up through my stomach!’ She took another sip. ‘We’ve come from Lucindale and before that Mount Gambier. I’ve forgotten where we were earlier.’

‘Yep, I imagine the bubs are giving you a good kicking. Where are you from?’

‘Ballarat.’ She paused, suddenly and inexplicably wanting to pour out her heart to this woman. It had been so long since Rose had seen her mother, and there weren’t many women to talk to on the farms and stations Ian worked. Sometimes the loneliness crept in. ‘I’m a bit scared,’ she said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.