Finally, the day that had crept towards Ava so slowly through all the noise and exhaustion of muster was upon her in a rush. She returned to the family flat in Alice Springs, and when she pushed open the door Hana practically threw herself at Ava.

‘Ava!’ Hana hugged her and she squeezed her sister-in-law gently in return. Jock stood back and waited, and her eyes stung to see how diffident her brother had become, and thinner. Gaunt-looking. But his eyes were clear.

‘Hey, you,’ she said and stepped up to hug him, and after an initial hesitation he hugged her back fiercely. They’d spoken on the phone, but this was the first time she’d seen him since that fateful day.

‘Love you,’ she said.

‘Love you, too.’ Jock heaved a sigh, gesturing vaguely. ‘I was nervous.’

She touched his shoulder. ‘Don’t be. We miss you, but we can wait till this baby of yours arrives and then we’ll have you home.’

She tapped her ear. ‘I hear your psychiatrist is pretty cool. Hana said you really like him?’

Jock smiled. ‘He’s amazing. And I’m feeling better. Almost good.’ He looked from her to Hana. ‘I’m feeling stronger.’

‘And it’s only been ten days. That’s excellent,’ Ava said to the both of them. ‘By a month you’ll be yourself again.’

He sighed. ‘I hope so.’

‘Don’t rush. We’ll do this properly.’

Jock nodded.

‘How was muster?’ Hana asked the question they both knew Jock wanted to ask and she dragged Ava into the lounge room so they could sit down. Jock and Hana sat opposite her and Hana held Jock’s hand in hers. It was so good to see them together that Ava felt the tightness in her throat easing.

‘Well, we all fell asleep in camp at night physically exhausted. Lorenzo’s family are awesome. Though everyone’s sad you and Hana missed the camaraderie.’ It would have been great to have had Zac there, too, but she wasn’t saying that out loud.

She went on. ‘Your wonderful trap yards, with the entry and exits, were a huge success. The cattle self-mustered into the yards to get the water. Even Mim noticed how calm the cattle were and how few people were needed.’

‘That’s great.’ Jock practically beamed and Ava saw Hana’s eyes mist at the obvious cheer he drew from that.

‘Mum went so far as to say she should have listened to you earlier.’

Jock clicked his fingers in disgust. ‘And I missed it.’

‘Yeah, but I’m telling tales so it’s okay.’ They smiled at each other. Hana beamed at them both and Ava imagined how hard it must have been to carry the spirits of both of them by herself this last week since Jock had been discharged.