“She’s right,” Kate said. “Dad and Mum have made everything clear, involved us all in the future planning.”

“Maybe Aunty Connie didn’t get much,” Laura said. “And she’s not worked off their farm since she had the boys.”

Bree folded her arms. “Like Dad said, she could get a job.”

“There was something else,” Kate said as she remembered the first part of the conversation she’d eavesdropped on. “Granny said something happened between Mum and Dad.”

“What?” Laura and Bree asked as one.

“I don’t know but Granny and Pa knew about it.”

“That narrows it down.” Bree’s hands went to her hips. “Did they say anything more specific?”

Kate shook her head, trying to remember. “Granny said something about Dad upsetting Mum again.”

“Hell, he’s probably done that a million times over the years,” Bree said.

“This sounded serious.”

The door opened behind them. Olive looked at each of them, surprise on her face. “What are you all doing in here?”

“Cleaning my teeth.” Laura snatched up her toothbrush.

“Waiting for the shower.” Kate winced. They all looked towards the empty cubicle.

“I was just chatting.” Bree, the only one dressed, stood up.

Olive eyed them suspiciously. “Well, I’ll use the bathroom in the quarters then.”

“Okay.” Bree smiled.

Olive gave them one more searching look and left.

“Waiting for the shower?” Bree glared at Kate.

“It was the best I could do,” Kate hissed. “We’d better get out of here.” She opened the door and peered out. The passage was empty. She waved to her sisters and by the time Olive re-entered the kitchen all three of them were tucking in to breakfast.

In Broome, Natalie sat on the verandah of a cafe with an empty coffee cup and half a slice of orange cake. The cake had looked so tempting but she’d barely had two mouthfuls; nervous tension mixed with anticipation was creating havoc with her stomach. Over her head, hanging baskets full of lush green plants swung gently, stirred by the fans and the breeze gusting along the street. She would have been hot without the movement of air.

Once more she glanced at her watch and looked across the street but there was no sign of Gabe. She’d phoned him first thing this morning and he’d arrived before nine in a large four-wheel drive to pick her up. They’d driven into town where he’d taken her to a supermarket, made suggestions about what she might need and loaded her purchases and his into the back of the vehicle. Then his phone had rung and he’d moved away but she could tell from his manner he wasn’t happy about something. He’d ended the call, apologised, said there was something else he had to do before they left and suggested she might like to have a coffee while she waited.