“But sometimes I don’t want to do something else,” Laura said. “Sometimes it’s good to veg in front of a movie.”

“Or binge on a series,” Kate said.

Milt shook his head and tossed the dregs of his tea to the ground. “Now you’re talking another language.”

“Maybe you could buy a new TV while I’m home, get Netflix. I could set it up for you.” Laura had only just thought of it and she was enthused by the idea. She’d had a Netflix subscription but she’d cancelled when she quit her job. She only had so much money and she had no idea how long it would be before she found something else. Thank goodness she had her parents to rely on till then. “You need a smart TV these days, Dad.”

“I don’t want any electronic equipment telling me what to do.” Milt put his hands to his hips and stretched backward. “Anyway, luckily for my bank balance the shops are shut now.”

“There’s online shopping these days, you know, Dad. Anytime, anywhere.”

“I prefer to support our local shops.”

Laura straightened up, warming further to her idea. “We could go into town next week, see what they’ve got.” It was out before she’d thought about it.

“Are you staying longer than the weekend?” he asked.

“Maybe.”

“Is it Granny Pork Roast night?” Kate changed the subject.

“I assume so. She usually comes out Saturday night, unless we’re not home.” Milt looked to his wife for confirmation.

“She hasn’t said she’s not.”

“Yay!” Laura took her sister’s hint and enthused over the prospect of another of Natalie’s roasts. “I haven’t had roast pork since the last time I was home.” For as long as Laura could remember they’d had a pork roast on a Sunday night. It had been Pa’s favourite meal and by default everyone else’s. After he died and Granny moved into town, they’d changed it to Saturday night. Granny would stay over and once a month there was a Sunday morning service at the little local church and they’d all go together.

“We’re not having roast pork.” Natalie had joined their group again. “We had a roast last night. I’ve put a curry on in the slow cooker.”

There was a heartbeat’s pause.

“Whatever we eat will be fine,” Milt said. “Granny likes to see you all. Now we’d better get back to work. It’ll be dark before we know it. Kate, you go out to the ram paddock and check the water there. I’ll do the back paddock and the scrub block. You might as well go home, Laura. After that we’re done for today.”

At the sound of the bikes the two dogs rose from their rest in the shade of the ute, but no call came from the boss and they sank down to their bellies, heads on paws. Laura turned to her mother but her relief at being exempted from further paddock work was short-lived.