They both stood up. Their afternoon at the computer had been punctuated by banging and sawing and the occasional burst of swearing but it had gone quiet out in the passage now. The kitchen door was still lying prone against the wall as they walked past. The tantalising smell of roast pork wafted out to greet them. Bree glanced at Kate but she didn’t seem bothered by it. Laura was alone in the kitchen, bending over the open door of the combustion fire.

“Where’s Dad?” Bree asked.

Laura’s face and jumper were streaked with blotches of white flour. “He got a call from the neighbours across the highway. There were some sheep out so he’s gone to investigate.” She frowned. “I thought he’d be back by now. It’s nearly dinnertime. Granny should be here soon too.”

As if Laura had conjured her up, Olive’s call reached them from the back door.

She stopped in the empty frame of the kitchen door. “What’s going on here?”

“Dad’s trying to fix the door so it stays closed,” Laura said.

Olive harrumphed. “His father didn’t have any luck either. That door has always had a mind of its own.” She strode into the kitchen. “Is he going to put it back tonight? Hard to keep the heat in here with no door.”

“He’s gone to check on some sheep.”

Once more Olive harrumphed. Bree studied her closely, trying to imagine her sweet, sensible granny doing something as underhanded as siphoning off money to Connie.

“How much rain have we had here? It’s been steady all afternoon in town.”

“Close to an inch last time I checked,” Bree said. “If it keeps up it might be another day or so before we can start seeding.”

“Very good,” Olive said decisively as if Bree was responsible for the rain that had fallen. “What are you cooking, Laura?” Olive moved over to inspect Laura’s mess spread along the benchtops.

“I was going to make lemon dumplings but we don’t have any lemons so I’ve changed it to golden syrup dumplings.”

“Oh, I used to make them a lot. Easy way to feed a family.” Olive looked proudly at Laura. “I haven’t had them for years.”

“Well, you haven’t tried them yet. They might not be any good.”

Olive tickled Laura under the chin. “If I can make them anyone can.”

Bree heard the back door open, waited for the bang but it didn’t come and then her dad appeared in the doorway. “Hello.”

“Thank goodness you’re back,” Laura said. “The roast’s nearly ready to carve.”

“I’ll wash up and be in.” He went out then came back and stood in the empty doorframe. “Sorry about the door. I’ll fix it tomorrow.”

Olive gave another soft harrumph before she busied herself setting the table.