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‘There’s my lot,’ John said, hanging out of the window. He yelled and waved, then dipped back into the carriage to grin at her. ‘They’re all here. Don’t drift off – it’s too dark. Let me introduce you.’

32

FARINA

Fleur was taken aback by how many people had been awaiting the train.

‘These can’t all be for you,’ she quipped as John helped her to alight.

‘The townsfolk like to come and collect their mail,’ he explained. ‘Even at this time of night.’

It was past eleven – what a strange time to arrive – but she was secretly grateful. She’d never seen skies like those above her. It looked like black velvet sprinkled with millions of small diamonds. Again her mind roamed to Tom; she could finally understand his love of this landscape and his awkwardness in hers.

Both of John’s parents were at the station to meet their son and Fleur stood back, watching his mother hug him, feeling her emotions tugging as she witnessed the affection between them. She was smartly dressed in a coat buttoned to her throat. John’s father was slapping his arm with a proud smile, and Fleur thought John Bell looked extremely fine in his uniform for his homecoming.

Plenty of other locals were hailing John, welcoming him back. Fleur wondered if anyone had done the same for Tom when he’d returned. Finally, John beckoned to her. She couldn’t avoid it; there was a round of introductions to his parents, Jack and Eva, also to his younger brother, Bruce, who was looking adoringly at his older sibling. Fleur guessed he was around twelve. She graciously moved through the greetings, including from others who’d clustered around the family to eagerly say hello to John, admiring his garb. Finally, John asked about Tom on her behalf.

‘Tom Catchlove? Ah, now, I did see the lad,’ Eva replied. ‘He came by to fetch some stores.’

Fleur grinned, thrilled. So close now. ‘Oh, good.’

‘He was headed out, though,’ Jack followed up.

‘Headed out?’ Fleur repeated, a trill of anxiety sounding within herself like a lone bird calling into the night.

‘Yes,’ John’s father said, frowning as he tried to recall. ‘I think he was joining a mob of fellas going north. I’m sure he was muttering to me about perhaps even travelling to Perth and into the great stations of the northwest.’

Fleur swallowed but she couldn’t fully hide the distress in her expression.

‘Oh, look now,’ Eva exclaimed. ‘We’ve upset you. You’ve come a long way and it’s very late. Is Tom your sweetheart, love?’

All Fleur could do was nod, unsure of what to say. She dared not say fiancé, because she wasn’t sure how Tom was feeling about her right now.

‘Brucie, run down to old Alf at the Exchange – it will be closed but he’ll be around, probably outside with some of the other blokes with no home to bother with. Find out if the Witchelina mob have hauled out,’ Jack said. He looked at Fleur again, apologetically. ‘If anyone knows, Alf will. Hurry now, lad.’

Bruce paused only briefly to cast his big brother a look, nodding conscientiously, and won a grin.

‘See you back at the house, Brucie,’ John urged. ‘I might even have something for you.’

They watched Bruce skip off into the darkness, patches of the town lit by minimal ambient light from the pubs, of which she could count two in the distance.

‘They keep a few lights on so the blokes can see what they’re weaving their way towards if they’re in their cups,’ John explained. ‘Very dark out here.’

‘In the meantime, you come with us,’ Eva said, with a serious expression that brooked no protest.

Fleur tried to protest, unsure of what her next move might be if left alone; she had no plan. ‘Oh no I couldn’t, I—’

‘We insist,’ Eva said firmly. ‘Come to the house while you wait for news, at least, and help us celebrate having our boy home for a little while.’

The family’s store, which Fleur had remarked to John that yes, she would like to walk through, felt like an emporium and took her by surprise. ‘Is there anything you don’t have here?’ she asked him.

Jack thought about it. ‘Elephant feed,’ he said and laughed. ‘We try and have all that our folk around here could possibly need.’

It was obvious that Eva was keen to take Fleur to their home. Soon seated around the parlour table, Fleur stood to help but Eva immediately flapped her away. ‘No, no, we have a girl to help,’ she said. ‘Here she comes now. Frieda, tea for everyone and how I like it, mind.’ She returned her gaze to Fleur. ‘You go and join the others.’

Fleur noted the sleepy young woman who had obviously been woken abruptly or perhaps not permitted to go to sleep this evening until the young master returned. There were shades of Irma here, Fleur thought, learning as they made conversation that Eva was the organist for the Anglican Church and had a lot to do with Farina’s girl guide troupe. She told Fleur how much she loved fine music and liked to travel into Adelaide to hear recitals.

‘But I can never wait to get back to the desert,’ she said. ‘Adelaide’s so green all the time.’