‘He’s a wild man like his dad,’ she whispered as Jock’s hand came away from her belly to gently caress her cheek, the roughness of his skin testament to the manual labour he loved.

‘Our baby will have dark, wavy hair and chocolate eyes like those that captured me,’ he whispered back and leaned over and kissed her. ‘Our daughter will be beautiful like you.’ He smiled. ‘And a strong Maori woman like you.’

‘I’m not the strong one. You are.’ Hana tamped down that frisson of fear and sighed into him. Forced herself to relax. She loved this crazy man so much. When he’d rested his blond head back on his pillow, she turned her cheek to look at him. Her big, strong cattleman she’d fallen in love with from across the Tasman Sea and followed home. Home to this desolate expanse of red earth, distant grey-blue mountains, and wonderful, caring people. But a Central Australian cattle station? She still shook her head over that one.

The landscape was so vastly different from the vibrant green hills of New Zealand’s North Island, and it was surprising she wasn’t more homesick. Though with dear Poddy, her brother, following her over and becoming Jock’s right-hand man, the rest of the family’s estrangement – and their horror that she’d married outside New Zealand – made it bearable. Her hand slid down her belly and she soothed another jab from the baby within. They were building a new family. ‘You sure you don’t want to find out the baby’s sex today, when we have the ultrasound?’ Hana did feel a little guilty she’d suggested they wait.

He shook his head. ‘I waited all my life for you, I can wait to know more of our baby.’

She snorted. ‘Twenty-four years is not all your life.’

‘Ah, wife, I’ve only been alive for a year now.’

Hana laughed. ‘Your big sister would not believe how romantic you’ve become.’

Jock blinked. ‘Which reminds me. How come Ava didn’t get in until yesterday morning? I thought her flight came in the night before?’

‘She had delays,’ Hana said serenely. ‘She should be home after seven-thirty this morning, and she has two more nights, so don’t make a noise while she’s sleeping or she’ll kick us out.’

Jock’s pale brows rose. ‘We’re going home tomorrow, anyway. But she can’t kick us out. It’s Mum’s house.’

Hana poked his shoulder. ‘Sometimes you are so pedantic. And it’s almost seven and we have to be at the ultrasound by nine. I’m getting up.’

A big, calloused hand slid caressingly around her wrist and tugged gently. ‘Do you have to?’ Then he said very softly, as he kissed her, ‘Life’s too short.’

Two hours later, Hana’s phone light flashed beside her and she reached over and lifted it from her handbag.