‘Your aunt will do what I say, because it was old Dad’s house first,’ Bill said, finally landing his eyes on his nephew for long enough to make a point.

‘Listen, I think we need to include Yvonne in all this,’ James said, very quietly.

‘Eh?’

‘About Tony’s will,’ James said, pausing because it wasn’t coming out right. ‘I’m not ready to take on any farm.’

‘It’s in your blood,’ Bill said, assuming a grin because at that moment James’s father came up to them.

‘We’re all going down the pub in a minute,’ Dad said. ‘We’ll have a few drinks for Tony, and we can chat about what’s going to happen.’

‘Right you are,’ Bill said, scuffing away.

James didn’t move and his father just stood behind him. The thought of the Kippen pub was draining. James had managed to avoid it his entire life. Now, it was poised to swallow him because his father wanted to tell him what to do about Tony. He checked his watch. It was after one o’clock.

‘Keeping you, are we?’ Dad said.

James ignored him. He’d need two hours to drive over to the airport, refill the car and check in for his flight. Endless pub chats were not going to work in that schedule.

‘What was your uncle talking to you about?’

James shrugged. He could smell his father’s breath from here, already boozy.

‘I know that you know about Tony’s will,’ Dad said. ‘Doris told me about your little chat. I wanted you to hear it from me instead of bothering her with all that. Your uncle and aunt don’t need more on their plate just at the moment.’

‘Dad,’ James said quietly. ‘I want you to listen to me, just for a minute.’

‘What?’

‘There was a bashing in town last night.’

‘Where?’ his father asked, stepping closer.

‘At the park below the bridge, near the toilets. A gang in a ute with baseball bats.’

‘Probably a buck’s party. Just local boys messing around.’

James pictured the kid who’d pursued him: the harshly-opened mouth, the absent eyes, and the pointing of the weapon.

‘A buck’s party, in the middle of the week?’ he said.

Dad exhaled. ‘Just get over to the pub, son. Don’t make them wait, and don’t start any of your conspiracy theories.’

His father moved beyond the mottled glass of the entrance hall where Doris and Leanne were chatting. James watched them all going through the family motions. He sighed and looked across the courtyard. Yvonne was finishing her cigarette and taking one of the girls from Pete. Broaching any of his ideas with her was going to be a challenge. Everyone seemed content to simply let Tony go.