‘That would be Will.’ She looked up. ‘Is there a problem?’

‘Oh no, not at all, just wanted to ask Will a couple of questions, that’s all.’

‘He’s having a better day today. Yesterday wasn’t good; he was in a lot of pain. But he’s sitting up in the office this morning. I’ll tell him you’re here.’ She held the door open and ushered Dave inside.

As he walked in, he looked at the photos on the wall. Pictures of happier times when there were still four in the family, when they were all healthy and full of life.

‘You must like farming to have continued on after your husband died. Did you come from a farm?’

‘Yeah, I grew up on the other side of Barker. About eighty ks from here. Closer to Spalding. Mum and Dad had a few thousand acres running cattle. Herefords. Of course, they’re not the flavour of the month anymore. Angus seems to be the breed of choice. I was an only child, so when it became clear I wasn’t coming home, my parents sold the farm and retired.’

‘You didn’t want their land?’ Dave was surprised.

‘Too far from here. We would’ve been forever on the road between places. Farming like that is okay for a while, but Brian had done it before and he wanted to buy land closer to Rowberry Glen.’

‘Did he succeed?’

Lynda stopped in the kitchen and refilled the kettle before switching it on. ‘He died before any land came up. Then we all decided there was enough land here to keep me and Will occupied and give us a decent enough income.’ She shrugged. ‘Life seems to be what happens while we make other plans, doesn’t it?’

‘A truer statement there never was,’ Dave answered. He turned as he heard footsteps behind him on the wooden floorboards.

A gaunt man with a protruding stomach stood behind him, and it took all of Dave’s training not to react to the change in Will. ‘G’day, Will. Good to see you, mate.’

‘Hi, Dave. What’s going on?’

‘I was passing and thought I’d call in to say hi. I’d like to hear about the new technology you’ve put in, if you’re feeling like you can chat.’ Dave watched as Will’s face lit up.

‘Sure. Be happy to.’

‘Tea or coffee, Dave?’ Lynda broke in.

‘I’ll have a tea, thanks.’ Dave had already scanned the kitchen and realised there wasn’t a coffee machine there. It would have to be tea for him today.

‘Will?’

‘Nothing, thanks. Dave, come down to the office and I’ll show you.’

Following Will, Dave cast his eyes around, taking in the details of the house. There were medicine bottles lining one windowsill, and a bed in the corner of the sitting room. Beside it were farming magazines piled high. Will must spend a bit of time there, thought Dave. He saw how the window looked out over the rolling hills and creek and could understand why he did that.