Too tired to argue, Caleb followed the doctor up to his cottage. He had stowed his travelling chest with Will Penrose before leaving Maiden’s Creek and all he had was what he had carried in his satchel and now the urgency had passed, he realised how damp and mud spattered he was after the hard ride from Shady Creek.

Bowen lit a lamp and directed Caleb to the smaller of the two bedrooms, which contained a camp bed with a couple of blankets and a pillow.

‘It’s a bit rough,’ Bowen conceded as he poured large measures of whiskey into glasses. ‘There’s food in the meat safe.’

Caleb located a wedge of stale bread and a hunk of dry cheese. It would do. He carried the meagre meal over to the table and offered it to Bowen, who declined.

‘You did well to identify the illness,’ Bowen said.

‘Not well enough. I could have intercepted the coach and we would not be in the position we are now.’

Bowen’s fingers curled around his glass but before he could raise it to his lips, Caleb put a restraining hand on the man’s wrist.

‘Bowen, this town needs you sober.’

Bowen snorted and shook off his hand. ‘I’ll be sober in the morning, Hunt. That’s all that counts. Go to bed. We’ve a hard few days ahead of us.’ He shook his head. ‘I know these people. I delivered young Robert. It’ll break my heart to have to bury him.’

‘Hopefully it won’t come to that,’ Caleb said.

‘You and I both know that child doesn’t stand a chance.’

They were woken in the first grey light of morning by a loud knocking. Sergeant Maidment loomed in the doorway, his face grey and drawn.

‘They’ve gone,’ he said.

Bowen looked up at the tall policeman with bleary eyes. The few wisps of hair on the little doctor’s head were sticking up. ‘Who?’

‘The Murrays. He took the whole family in the middle of the night.’

Caleb swore. ‘What about your police guard?’

Maidment had the grace to look at the toe of his highly polished boot. ‘Asleep.’

Expelling a heavy breath, Caleb glanced at Bowen. ‘Where’s he gone? He can’t have got far with a sick woman and a small child.’

‘Took them home,’ Maidment said. ‘I’ve sent my men up to his place and they’ll make sure he isn’t moving anywhere else.’

‘Have you told the council?’ Bowen asked.

Maidment nodded and his expression indicated what the good burghers of the town thought. ‘They want to meet with you in half an hour,’ the policeman said. ‘At the police station.’

‘The Britannia stays quarantined,’ Caleb said.

Maidment nodded. ‘Yorkie’s kicking up, and to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if he helped get them out.’