Another silence. What was wrong with her? She and Will always had things to talk about.

‘Have a look at this,’ Will said as if he sensed her unease. He tapped at the mouse and brought up a Word document.

Zara leaned forward and looked to where he pointed.

‘I’ve been writing down all the breeding of the ewes, mating times, where the water pipes are, all that sort of thing. I’m trying not to forget anything because once I’m gone it’ll be up to you and Mum to explain everything to a workman or do it yourselves.’ He ran his finger down the screen. ‘See here,’ he pointed to a map that was embedded in the file. ‘The red lines are the underground water pipes; the green dots are the tanks, and the blue rectangles are the troughs. I’ve marked where the joiners are, just in case something bursts one day. Hopefully you won’t have to dig too far to find them.’ He stopped and took a breath.

Zara could see he was getting upset. She leaned over and put her hand on his arm. ‘This is great, Will. I’m so glad you’re doing it.’

‘You both need to know.’

‘We do. Mum does and whoever comes to help her out does too. But, Will, I don’t know that I’m going to be here that much.’ She broached the subject that had been playing on her mind. It had been clear from a couple of their conversations that her mum was expecting she’d stay in Barker after Will’s death.

That wasn’t something she’d intended at all.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, I’ve got a job in the city. In Adelaide. I can come and help, but …’ Her voice trailed off. She didn’t want to say that she was going back after he’d died.

Instead, Will said it for her. ‘You’re not staying for good? You’re going to go back after it’s all finished?’

‘Well … um.’

‘I thought you were coming back for good. To help Mum run the place?’ He gave a shrug. ‘Maybe that’s my bad. I just assumed. Of course you’ve got a job and that’s important.’

Zara shook her head. ‘Do you really think I’d make much of a farmer? Come on,’ she said, to lighten the mood. ‘Don’t you remember the time Dad sent me to muster the shed paddock and I ended up getting in the rams instead of the ewes? Not only the wrong bloody paddock, but the wrong sex too!’

Will laughed. ‘And I also remember something about bogging the chaser bin in creek sand during the harvest and having to drag it out with the other tractor! Yeah, you’re right, you’d probably be a liability.’

‘Hang on there, I don’t think I’m that bad! But I’m better at writing about it than doing it.’ She rubbed her finger along her jeans, feeling awful, despite the light-heartedness, that they were having this conversation.

Will sighed. ‘Seriously, though, you’re right. You’ve got your own life to live after this is all over. Mum knows that too.’