Hana’s lips trembled no matter how hard she tried to keep them still. She was struggling to comprehend the horror. ‘He must have convinced himself that the insurance policy would save the family farm.’

‘The disease did that,’ Ava said again.

Hana nodded. ‘I know. It twisted the truth until it seemed real. Created the scenario in his mind that everyone would be better off with him dead.’

Ava sighed again. ‘I know. All decisions at Setabilly are joint ones. But we have him safe now, thanks to you.’ Ava squeezed Hana’s hand. ‘And he will get well.’

Hana glanced down at her stomach. ‘He’s only got ten weeks.’

‘He’ll be more himself with the meds in four. Zac says the psychiatrist is brilliant. He checked him out with friends in Sydney. We’re lucky to have the best care.’

Hana jumped on the change of subject. Diversion was good. ‘How is Zac? He was amazing.’

‘Yes, he was. And he’s fine.’ Ava’s voice was noncommittal.

‘Will you see him while you’re here?’

Ava shook her head. ‘He’s going down to Uluru for a week. Mum and I will go home as soon as Jock is awake and stable. We still have a muster to organise. Is it okay if we take Poddy back with us?’

‘He’ll want to go back to help now that he knows I’m okay and Jock’s okay.’

‘Poddy did well to get here so quickly. I wanted to come with him, but I thought Mum would lose it if I went.’

‘He’s a wonderful brother.’

‘Brothers are wonderful. And you saved mine.’ Ava blinked away fresh tears and changed the subject. ‘If Poddy will come back, that would be a bonus.’

Hana put her head back and closed her eyes. ‘And I’ll be no help?’

‘Having you here in town will be an enormous help.’ Ava gestured to the phone with her hand. ‘You’re our contact with Jock. Mim’s staying with you at the flat until Jock’s out of the mental-health unit. Lorenzo’s son is back from Sydney and has organised a muster gang – goodness knows how, but I don’t care. We’ll go back in a few days and get it over with, though the numbers will probably be small. I don’t think Mum even cares.’

Hana thought about Stella. The way she’d seemed to shrink when she’d looked at Jock. ‘Your poor mother.’

Ava lifted her chin. ‘Mum will be fine. We all will be. You worry about yourself and Jock. He’s got the help he needs now and he will get better.’ Hana could hear the certainty in Ava’s voice and it comforted her. Ava would be onto the mental-health team like a … What did she say Granny Mim was like? An eagle onto roadkill.