She shook her head and addressed the livery stable owner. ‘Mr Sones, have you seen Mr Barnwell or my son today?’

‘Mr Barnwell hired two of my beasts first thing this morning. The bay mare and the pony, the one your boy likes to ride.’

‘Do you know where they’ve gone?’

Sones shook his head. ‘Said he was just going out for a ride.’ He frowned. ‘Funny thing, though—he was askin’ me if there were another way to get to Melbourne from here if he didn’t want to go back through Shady Creek. I told him the best way was to go north through Aberfeldy and Woods Point and cut down to Jamieson.’

Nausea rose in Adelaide’s throat. Once the hue and cry went up in town about a missing child, a northerly route into the high country and down through the settlements on the plains would be a better way of avoiding suspicion than taking the more populous route back through Shady Creek. She lurched and Amos caught her arm.

‘What’s ’appened?’

Adelaide pushed her hair back from her sweat-slicked forehead. ‘It’s my Danny … Richard Barnwell’s got him. I have to go after them, Amos.’

‘Got ’im? What do you mean? ’e’s kidnapped ’im?’ Amos said.

Adelaide nodded. ‘I think he lured Danny into playing truant this morning. They’re heading for Aberfeldy.’

She turned to look towards the north where thick plumes of smoke were visible above the hills. Burned leaves were falling around them, driven in on the wind. Somewhere between Maiden’s Creek and the approaching fire front was her son.

‘They are going straight into the bushfire.’

Amos glanced at Sones. ‘When did Barnwell leave?’

‘Three or four hours ago, at least.’

Amos pulled his ear. ‘That’s a big ’ead start.’

Sones pushed his hat to the back of his head. ‘I told him it was not a good day to be travelling, but he’d not be told.’

Amos shrugged his big shoulders. ‘If they’ve any sense, they’re probably on their way back already,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t worry, missus.’

‘I don’t have time for this.’ Adelaide said. ‘Please saddle my horse, Sones.’

The livery man frowned. ‘If that’s what you want.’

Amos frowned. ‘You aren’t planning to go after them?’

‘Of course I am.’ Her voice rose in her anxiety.

‘You can’t go alone. Where’s the doc?’

‘He’s in a cell in the police station, along with Netty. Barnwell put them there. Amos …’

At the mention of his beloved’s name, Amos’s placid countenance darkened. ‘He’s done what to my Netty? We’ll just have to get ’em out then.’ Taking Adelaide by the elbow, he steered her out into the street. ‘We’ll be back for the ’orse, Sones.’