They added salad, finished what they had and picked more flesh off the carcass. Natalie wanted to lick her plate she’d enjoyed the food so much, even more than the fancy restaurant barramundi.

“How long are you planning on staying?” Rosie asked. “We can take you fishing up the creek if you like.”

Natalie sat back. Last night all she’d wanted was to head back to Broome but now…She hardly knew Gabe and Rosie. They made her feel so welcome and yet… “I don’t know.” She looked at Gabe. “I didn’t even ask how I’d get back.”

“I’m staying till Saturday,” he said.

“We can get you a ride before that if you need.” Rosie set her cutlery on her empty plate, her deep brown eyes locked on Natalie. “But why don’t you stay? It’s a good place. Even our beach is better than Broome.”

Natalie pictured the beach where she’d just swum with its pristine white sand, like Cable Beach but bigger and no rocks, the beautiful turquoise water, and not another soul in sight. Sometime during their morning expedition a sense of release had settled over her and the swim had been liberating. The sheer relief of this new buoyant feeling was intoxicating. Perhaps here she could find some peace from everything that troubled her. Natalie dragged her gaze from Rosie’s searching look and glanced at Gabe.

“I…it’s certainly beautiful here.”

“You stay as long as you like,” he said. “And you don’t have to go back to Broome when I do. Rosie’s right. It won’t be hard to find you a ride back when you’re ready.”

Charlie sniffed, sat back in his chair and folded his arms, his look sullen again.

“What about you, Charlie?” Rosie said. “You going back with your cousin tomorrow or sticking it out a bit longer?”

Silence fell around the table. Natalie shifted in her chair, unsure what to make of the surly Charlie. He’d seemed to enjoy the morning like she had but now his earlier moodiness had returned. She felt she understood teenage girls so well after three of her own but boys were different.

He pushed up to his feet, arms crossed. “I’ll stay.”

“Good.” Rosie gave a satisfied nod. “I’ve got a few jobs need doing.” Charlie frowned and opened his mouth but Rosie cut him off. “And Uncle Ron will need someone to help with the kayak tours.”

“Okay.” His eyes showed a suggestion of interest before he turned away.

“Hey,” Gabe said. “Take your plate to the sink before you go.”

Charlie came back, his face serious but at least not quite as hostile, and took his plate into the kitchen. He went out the other door without speaking.