Ava put her arm around Viv’s shoulder. Willy continued to holler every time Zac adjusted the sling. ‘He’s very loud,’ Zac said with a smile. ‘He’ll grow up to have a very impressive voice when he’s big.’

‘And that’s a good sign. He’s well enough to let us know he’s not happy,’ Ava said, giving Viv’s shoulder a squeeze.

Tears streamed down Vivian’s face, but she was calming and Ava soothed her. ‘Poor little Willy. Poor Viv. Your boy is determined to cause you worry. One day, he’ll have babies of his own and then he’ll see what worry does.’

Viv hiccuped a small laugh and sniffed, and she nodded. ‘He’s so fast. Here one minute, gone the next.’ She glared at the spot on the road where it had happened. ‘That boy shouldn’t be riding so fast on the bike.’

‘No, he shouldn’t.’ Ava shook her head in agreement. ‘You reckon that will be Willy one day? Riding bikes too fast on the road?’

Viv gave Ava a rueful nod. ‘Maybe.’ Then she said, ‘You got that phone you always carry?’

Everyone knew Ava was the one with the sat phone. ‘Yep. We’ll phone for the plane. They can land on Setabilly and Mum will give you a nice cup of tea while we wait.’

They strapped young Willy up with his arm to his chest and sedated him, and by the time they got Viv and her son back to the homestead, the RFDS were on their way. They were lucky. Sometimes it took longer for response depending on the emergency calls, but today they’d be there soon.

Chapter Thirty-four

Hana

An hour later, the RFDS aircraft arrived on the station airstrip with the flight nurse. Hana drove out to pick up the nurse in Ava’s car and brought her to the homestead. Another car pulled up at the same time and a tall, dark-haired, older gentleman climbed out as Hana directed the nurse through to the house. She walked over to see what he wanted.

He bowed his head with an Old World gesture. ‘I am Lorenzo DeFortelli.’

Hana smiled. This was different. ‘I’m Hana May. What can I do for you, Mr DeFortelli?’

‘It is I come to see if I can help you. I heard the emergency flight and I’ve come to see if Stella, Mrs May –’ he sent a hopeful look towards the house – ‘requires assistance?’

‘Ah, thank you. You know my mother-in-law?’

‘Yes, she was kind enough to repair my injured hand last week. Though we have met before. I came across from Dreamtime Station.’

Oh my goodness, Hana thought with a suppressed smile. ‘Our neighbour. Yes. I heard. Thank you for the kind thought. Stella is well. A small child from the community has had an accident and they are flying him back to Alice. Would you like to come in?’