He felt the weight of Mim’s sadness as it drifted towards him, and he remembered Roslyn’s parents saying, The young should never go first. ‘Yes. She did.’

The older lady seemed to sag with relief. ‘I’m glad. She would have been an amazing mother – was a wonderful one for the short time she had – and now she’s a good midwife. But I’d like to see her be a mother again.’

Mim wasn’t pulling any punches. And strangely, he wasn’t alarmed. ‘They told me at the hospital she’s an amazing midwife. And I can see she’s a wonderful woman. She’d be very easy to grow fond of.’ As soon as he said ‘fond’ he felt stupid.

Apparently, Mim thought so too because she laughed and waved him away in disgust. ‘Fond’s nothing to write home about. Doesn’t do it for me. Let me know if you warm up to scorching.’ Mim glanced out the window. ‘Volcanic. That’s as warm as you need to go before you bother.’ She snorted distastefully then muttered ‘Fond’ under her breath and he grinned again. This woman. If Ava turned out like her grandmother, then the man who won her heart would’ve won the greatest lottery in the world.

He had a sudden urge to buy as many tickets as he could.

Mim interrupted his thoughts. ‘There she goes.’

Ava had stepped out of another small building across the yard. She saw him and their eyes met, and when she smiled, he felt his spirits lift. That must mean something. She changed course towards him and he savoured her approach. Felt anticipation lift like a wave in his chest. And what did that mean?

Her pale jeans hugged her hips and the long-sleeved top sat loosely enough to keep her cool, but her clothes were fitted enough to let him know there was a very desirable woman underneath. Her blonde hair had been tied back with a checked ribbon, the ponytail off her neck to keep her cool in the heat, but it left the lovely curve of her throat so softly vulnerable, he had the sudden urge to run his finger down its line.

It was going to be an interesting few days to see how long he could keep her safe from the bigger danger: himself.

He met her on the dirt path outside. ‘Are you going for a walk?’

She pointed. ‘Down to the river – I want to check the level in the waterhole.’

‘Okay if I come? I need to stretch my legs.’ He could hear the warmth in his question and he suspected she did too, because she nodded, her mouth kicked up and she gestured to the path ahead.

‘This way.’

‘I hope I’m not intruding on your walk.’