Ava thought of Jock. Tall, a little too serious, big-hearted, too aware that he was the only man around the place but not allowed to be the boss. ‘My brother has delusions of being the father figure for the family. Nobody listens to him except his beautiful wife. So he tries to be discreet as he does what he believes is best for the family. We’re lucky we have him.’ She slowed the car for a cattle grid and they rattled over it. ‘Jock’s twenty-four and has a level head, though he did a few dumb things when he was younger and Mum won’t give him as much slack as he needs to run the station completely.’ She glanced at him. ‘I think she’s wrong. But that’s between her and Jock.’

‘Does your mother work as a nurse?’

‘Yep. Two out of three of us do. Mim hasn’t nursed for years, but she handles emergencies fine. But Mum is the calm head. As well as nursing agency work, she does part-time clinics. She takes relief work for the communities to the west and south, and the elders will come, or send people to her for emergency first aid when the normal clinic is shut. The workers and family at Dreamtime Station used to come as well if they needed her because we’re the closest medical help.’

‘How far away is the nearest Aboriginal community?’

‘About eight kilometres. Then there’s the community at Yulara. I have a group of antenatal ladies and new babies over there, who I catch up with. I knew them growing up. The caseload midwives are their midwifery contact, and all mums transfer to Alice for birth, but I like to know where everyone is at when I come home, and admire any new additions. The ladies make me welcome, and sometimes I can help when important things don’t get passed on to the other midwives. Granny Mim is a favourite over there.’

‘So it’s a big community?’

‘It varies, depending on the season, and some of the stockmen who work for us and their families still live here on Setabilly in the cottages some of the time.’ She gestured to the land on every side of them. ‘It gets busy. Mum and I both roster ourselves off the agency nursing during May and September for the mustering seasons when it’s all hands on deck.’ She tried not to sigh. ‘And this muster had better be good or the bank won’t listen again.’

‘Money problems?’

And the rest. ‘The drought by itself we can handle. It’s a way of life and good times roll around eventually.’ But the timing of outside influences had hit them hard. Her brother was feeling the weight of the world, and Hana was worried enough to pass her concerns on to Ava.

‘Sounds like other worries?’ Zac could be perceptive.

‘Just stuff.’