They reached the ridge, the track leading them straight on. Here the smoke grew thicker. She could never turn back but they had reached the point where to go on meant certain death.

Caleb pointed and Adelaide’s heart leaped as the faint shadow of a horse loomed through the smoke coming towards them. She would have put her heels to her own horse if Caleb had not caught her reins. She turned on him, angry words springing to her lips, but he put his finger to the scarf that covered his mouth and shook his head.

‘Slowly, Adelaide,’ he said quietly. ‘We don’t want Barnwell putting spurs to the horse and heading straight back into the fire in the mistaken belief he can reach Aberfeldy.’

They dropped back and Caleb tethered his horse and the pony to a tree branch and slipped down over the ridge, working his way in parallel to the track to come out ahead of Richard.

Adelaide waited until he was out of sight and dismounted from her own beast.

Holding the reins in her left hand, she walked up the track to meet the horse and riders. Lighted embers were falling around them, igniting the dry undergrowth and setting the tops of the gums ablaze and the smoke was making her eyes water.

Richard had Danny in front of him and the horse they rode jittered and fought the restraining hand on its bridle. Like their own beasts, it knew it was in a bad place and wanted to be away from the smoke and burning.

She called Richard’s name and he started, jerking the horse’s head back. He turned so he was side on to her, his eyes going from her to the track northward from where he had come.

‘Mama!’ Danny screamed and started to slide sideways in a bid to dismount, but Richard caught his collar and hauled him back.

Adelaide raised her right hand. ‘Let him go, Richard. The fire will be on us shortly. I don’t particularly care if you kill yourself but you’re not taking my son.’

Richard licked his dry, cracked lips and glanced back in the direction of Aberfeldy again.

‘Stay where you are, and let us pass,’ Richard said. His voice cracked and he coughed as he showed her what he held in his hand—a small pistol. Adelaide took a step and Richard pressed the weapon to Danny’s neck.

‘He’s your son!’ she screamed. ‘What father draws a weapon on his child?’

‘Get out of the way, Adelaide.’

Richard pressed the weapon a little harder into Danny’s flesh and the boy whimpered.

‘Throw that weapon down, Barnwell.’ Caleb stood barely ten feet from Richard, his Colt drawn.

‘Richard!’ Adelaide’s voice rose. ‘We are all going to die if we stay here. For the love of God, let Danny go.’

Richard coughed and looked from Caleb to Adelaide.