Laura rolled her eyes and looked back at her phone. “There’re more photos, Kate. Looks like Sean had a party weekend. Is that…” Laura tipped her head to one side and peered closer. “Is that Sean’s friend Damo sitting in an esky with a fish-shaped hat on his head? It’s hard to tell.”

“That’s him.” Kate’s head was lowered over her own screen again. “They were at the shack over the weekend.”

“That would have been entertaining.” Bree drained her beer. “Your Sean is a saint to put up with a friend like Damo.”

From beyond the kitchen the back door banged. They heard the low rumble of Jack’s voice followed by a hearty laugh from Milt.

“Sounds like Dad’s in a good mood.” Laura tucked her phone into her pocket and stood up. “I’ll start cooking the schnitzels.”

Bree hoped his mood had improved. She hadn’t seen him since the middle of the day when she’d been the one to drive their lunch out to the paddock. He’d been testy then because they’d been having trouble with a breakaway mob who’d spread out into some prickly scrub. The way he’d spoken it was as if it was Bree’s fault the sheep had done a runner and she hadn’t even been there.

Milt’s chuckle rumbled cheerfully again. Obviously Jack Halbot didn’t annoy him like she did. She looked over at Kate who was staring at her phone as if it was about to reveal the meaning of life. “You okay?” she asked.

Kate looked up, her dark-brown eyes pools of uncertainty. “Yeah.” She stood up as the two men arrived in the kitchen. “I’ll get the drinks.”

Dinner was over, and Jack had gone home, Bree had retreated to her quarters and their father disappeared to bed when Kate’s phone rang. She dragged herself up from her chair in the den where she and Laura had been watching some reality TV show about dating. She glanced at the phone she’d been clutching in her hand since the last time she’d tried to ring Sean straight after dinner. She blew out a soft breath before she answered, relieved as much to see the picture of his smiling face as to be released from that appalling show.

“Hey, Katie-Q,” he said as she put the phone to her ear.

“Hello yourself.” She made her way to her bedroom and shut the door. “I’ve been trying to call you.”

“And I’ve tried to call you.”

“I was probably out in the paddock.”

“We’ve been playing phone tag.” He chuckled, lightening the mood. “I’ve been in and out of signal range myself. I didn’t leave the shack till this morning then Dad had work lined up for me.”

He was speaking quickly and she could hear cupboards banging in the background.