‘Oh.’ Rose looked at Ian, then down at the ground, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. The ones that weren’t the babies or indigestion. They were getting harder and harder to ignore. She put her hand on her belly protectively and looked over at Ian. ‘I’ll need time to talk to my husband about that.’ Her hands fell away as she moved towards the car.

‘Of course. Still, if you decide you want to stop here, let me know. I have a little house just up the street, with no one living in it. Barker is a lovely, sleepy little town. Gets pretty warm in summer, but that’s just like the welcome you’d get here.’ She nodded. ‘Off with you, then. But take care.’

‘What are you two gasbagging about?’ Ian held the car door open for Rose.

‘I was just saying that being so far away from the hospital with twins on the way is quite dangerous,’ Evie answered, her smile softened her firm tone. ‘They might need medical help when they’re born. I’ve just been telling Rose that you’re welcome to use my other house if you need it. Just nearby, and it would easily fit your new family.’

Rose looked at Ian hopefully. ‘A house sounds lovely.’

‘Come on, sweet Rosie.’ Ian bent to kiss her. ‘You know the plan.’ He turned to Evie. ‘I want to get her back to Adelaide before the babies are born, but I need this shed to be able to do that.’

‘Well, if you change your mind, the offer’s there.’

Ian looked at her. ‘Why would you do that when you don’t know us?’

Evie shrugged. ‘I like helping people.’

‘Women have babies out in the bush all the time.’

‘Yes, they do.’ Evie paused, looking at Rose. ‘Some survive and some don’t. As I just said to Rose, twins are a different story.’

Ian gave a bark of laughter. ‘In this day and age, you’d have to be pretty unlucky to have something go so wrong that you die.’

‘If you’re close to medical help,’ Evie agreed.

Rose frowned as her middle tightened. ‘Come on, Ian,’ she urged. ‘If we’re going, let’s go.’ She reached her hand out to Evie. ‘Thank you for your kindness. Country people and their compassion is one of the reasons I can cope being on the road.’

‘Go well, you two,’ Evie bade them farewell, smiling through the window to Rose as Ian started the car.

‘She’s a bit of an old busybody,’ he said, pulling the column gear into reverse.

Rose looked out the window, tears unexpectedly filling her eyes. ‘She was nice,’ she said unsteadily as she looked down and opened the book to the first page.

What happens in the first trimester, she read. Bit late for that.

Ian glanced over at her. ‘What have you got there?’