As it rose in the sky, the sun reflected unevenly off glistening rocks and washed down ravines, until it deepened the colour of the red dirt to the far horizons. The endless vista held a magic he hadn’t expected. He also hadn’t expected the seeping peace that seemed to fill him at the sight.

As he sat there holding Ava’s hand, soaking in the silence, taking in the tranquillity, something seemed to be osmosing into him, like the sun’s early rays healing the darkness in his soul. He’d never experienced anything like it and wondered if that was where Ava drew her strength of spirit from. It wasn’t hard to imagine that was so. They stayed there, quietly, for almost half an hour.

On the way back down, he listened to Ava talking about her grandparents’ adventures and those of their friends, both Indigenous and settler, and the stories of hardship made him appreciate the distance they were from the comforts of the city. Not for the first time he considered that Ava should never leave here, and, more pointedly, that he didn’t fit.

This intrepid outback woman had her beliefs nurtured by a never-ending sky, with a vision untethered by human construction, the endless plains tempting her with adventures he’d never thought of. Realistically, he wasn’t actually worthy of finding a future with Ava, so it was lucky he didn’t expect one.

Back at the homestead, the saliva-inducing aroma of bacon and basil swirled in the air, and Zac couldn’t remember ever being so hungry. This truly was turning out to be a place of firsts.

When they walked in, Granny Mim stopped, snorted and cackled with laughter, then demanded she be allowed to take a photo of them for her beanie album.

Jock arrived after breakfast. They were taking the Polaris, an all-terrain buggy Jock had picked up second-hand from one of the clearance sales, and it fit three adults comfortably across the front.

‘Hana not coming up to the house to wait here?’ Ava asked.

‘She’s got an order that came in last night that she’d like to start on.’ Jock took a cold bag with food and drinks from Stella. ‘Thanks, Mum. Did you put any of Mim’s Anzacs in there?’

Stella gave him a sardonic look. ‘Yes, dear. Your grandmother would like Zac to get some too.’

‘What about me?’ Ava teased, and Zac watched them all, soaking it in. A family that worked and talked and squabbled and let emotion sit front and centre, not pretending that ‘feelings’ was a dirty word. Each determined to get their view out there but happy to listen to those of others.