“Morning, Mum.” Bree eased herself onto a kitchen chair and tried to find the best position for her aching leg. She’d had trouble going to sleep then slept in and now she felt tired and scratchy.

Natalie looked over her shoulder. There were shadows under her eyes too. “How are you?”

“Sore and sorry.”

“Coffee?”

Bree nodded. Natalie put a cup under the coffee spout and turned on the machine. She brought it to the table with the packet of paracetamol. “Take a couple of these.”

“Thanks.”

“Should I take a look?”

“I already have. There’s nothing to see. The plaster is clean, no blood seeping, no redness around the edges.”

Natalie swept a lock of hair back from Bree’s face and rested her hand on her cheek. “You’ll live to fight another day.”

Her gentle touch made Bree feel like a little girl again. “It’s only a few cuts and bruises.” Her tone was sharper than she’d intended and her mum stepped back as if she’d been stung.

“Would you like some toast?” Natalie moved back to the kitchen bench.

“Thanks.” Bree took a deep breath and tried to quell the surge of annoyance at being housebound. “I assume Kate’s gone with Dad?”

“And Laura. Graeme can’t help today. They left an hour ago.”

“Perhaps I can go out later.” Bree swallowed the tablets and shifted on her seat to find a more comfortable spot.

Natalie glanced at her. “I suspect you were told to rest that leg for a few days.” The toast popped and she put it on a plate and set it in front of Bree.

Bree slapped butter on the toast. “The doctor said to keep it dry for twenty-four hours then come back in seven days to have the stitches removed.” And he’d also said immobilise it for a couple of days but she didn’t tell her mum that.

“Your dad will manage with the crew he’s hired. Kate’s staying till later in the week and Graeme will be back on Monday.”

Natalie went back to the food she’d been preparing and Bree sipped her coffee. She badly wanted to be out there with them. She loved being outside working and especially mustering. She also felt a little guilty that she was going to ask for time off once tailing was finished. She’d said yes to Owen. He was heading north in a week’s time and she was going to follow as soon as she could.

Natalie snapped the lid on a container of sandwiches and put them in the fridge then brought her cup and sat beside Bree.

“Since you’re housebound for a few days it’ll be a good chance to get reacquainted with the computer and the account-keeping.”