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‘I know a few doctors from when I was at uni. I’ll ask around.’

When Cameron, a battered Akubra shading his face, pushes a wheelbarrow filled with tools along the path, Jimmy walks from the greenhouse and the men shake hands. But when Jimmy reaches for a hoe, Cameron gets there first. They talk, a friendly argument, before Jimmy stomps back into the greenhouse.

‘Why isn’t Cameron a doctor?’

I’m not sure where the words come from but once they’re out, I’m glad I’ve asked the question.

After a curious glance, Julia refills our cups. ‘After completing a year of medicine,’ she finally says, ‘he left university and came back to Summerfield.’

I shouldn’t ask because this is none of my business but … ‘Why did he do that?’

‘I assume he didn’t find what he was looking for.’

And what exactly was that? I push the thought aside. ‘He must have missed his family.’

‘Particularly CJ.’ Julia sits back in her chair. ‘Anna had a hard time of it after his birth.’

‘She told me CJ’s father didn’t hang around.’

‘On top of that, Anna had post-natal depression. Cameron finished school and spent the next four months looking after CJ.’

‘No wonder they’re close.’

‘In time, Anna recovered, but Cameron came home whenever he could and picked up where he’d left off. He’s always been a part of CJ’s life.’ She leans forward in her chair. ‘Do you know what CJ stands for?’

‘I’ve never asked.’

‘CJ is Jackson Cameron McLeod on his birth certificate, but he’d always adored Cam, and he had his colouring. We took to calling him Cameron Junior. CJ stuck.’

‘It suits him.’

‘I was upset when Cam announced he was leaving university, but he was adamant his studies were delaying what he really wanted to do: work on the land. And given there were good opportunities in Summerfield due to the closure of the mine, this was a sensible place to start. He scrimped and saved to buy his first four hundred acres and has added to it since. I’m proud of what he’s achieved.’

‘It’s a beautiful property.’ I feel Julia’s gaze as I slice another piece of cake.

‘Was there anything about this town that you missed?’

‘I missed Atticus, the horse I found not long after we came to Summerfield. He’d already been abandoned. I hated doing that to him again.’

Julia is about to say something and stops herself. Then: ‘I recall Atticus was known for biting innocent bystanders over the fence.’

‘Occasionally, yes.’

When Cameron pulls a cord to start the hedger, the cicadas cease their chirruping. Is Cameron here because Julia can’t afford to pay Jimmyanda second gardener?

‘Atticus was head shy because he’d been mistreated. He also had scars on his legs and belly like he’d been caught in barbed wire.’

‘Why did you name him Atticus?’

‘I wanted him to be admired and respected like Atticus inTo Kill a Mockingbird.’

Julia smiles. ‘Bravo.’

‘He also had to have it in his heart to forgive misjustice. It was an aspirational name for a horse that everyone had given up on.’

‘Except for you.’

‘I had a stubborn streak.’