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Kane shot her a glance. ‘I can’t see it would be a problem. Mum would probably appreciate a visitor too.’ His hands were clenched on the steering wheel. ‘She’s not real well,’ he said. ‘And I think she’s a bit lonely.’

There was no more conversation until the towering granite escarpments signalling the beginning of the gorge appeared in the distance ahead.

‘Around the next bend, past the camping area, the road changes and it’s four-wheel drive vehicles only.’

Kane nodded and moved back a gear, slowing the vehicle as they approached the sweeping curve. A sudden flash of white was the only warning as a large all-terrain vehicle came careening around on the wrong side of the road.

He pulled the wheel to the left and their vehicle came crashing down into the channel, Ellie’s head bumping the roof.

‘Christ, who gave that cowboy a licence? Are you okay?’

She rubbed it with her hand. ‘Yes, I’m fine. That’s another one of the not-so-natural dangers of the park. Sorry I should have warned you.’ She shook her head. ‘The tour buses take the road down to the falls right through the dry season, full of backpackers and tourists. The worst part is, if we meet one of them on the next section of the road, one of the vehicles will have to back up to get past and I can guarantee it won’t be them.’

Kane pulled back onto the road, and slipped the vehicle into four-wheel drive mode as they passed the turn-off to the Garnamarr campground. Ellie watched his strong hands on the lever as the gearbox resisted for a moment. Finally it slotted in and the tone of the motor dropped back.

‘How come your mother is living back at the farm? I thought Sordina lived in Darwin. Isn’t he a member for one of the southern regions of the city?’

‘I can’t really help you there.’ Kane lifted one hand from the wheel and scratched his head, before he turned to her. ‘I don’t know why she is yet.’

‘Watch the road.’ She inclined her head to the road in front of them.

‘Yes, ma’am.’ That broad grin was finally back, and he hadn’t ‘babed’ her this time. ‘To tell you the truth, I don’t know Sordina that well. I’d only met him a couple of times before I –’ Kane stared into the distance ahead of them ‘– when my mother married him. When I visited them in Darwin after they were first married, they were living right on the water at Cullen Bay. But I’ve been away . . . for a few years. I must admit I was a bit shocked myself when I saw the state of the place yesterday. I’m not happy about her being there, especially when she’s crook.’ A pensive look crossed his face and Ellie could sense there was something more but she didn’t press.

‘Do you think he’s going to try and resurrect the mango plantation?’

Kane shrugged and changed back another gear as the road ahead narrowed. ‘I have no idea why he would want to. Mum didn’t say anything about him taking up farming. But honestly, I can’t imagine it. He’s a city bloke. He loves the horse races. Always running off to put a bet on. Not what you’d expect of your local member.’

‘That’s the Territory for you,’ Ellie joked.

‘Is there anything else he might have in mind for the place?’

‘Like what? Cattle or something? What other crops grow up here in this heat?’ Ellie stared at him. It was becoming apparent that Kane knew very little about the area. But was he being truthful or just prevaricating?

She bit her lip again as he slowed the four-wheel drive when they approached the next bend. His slowing down was timely and a curse left his lips as another tourist bus came around the curve in front of them, smack-bang in the middle of the narrow road. Kane shifted the car into reverse, and his fingers brushed her shoulder as he put his arm along the back of the seat, sending a quiver down her arm. He looked over his shoulder as he backed to the side of the road to let the vehicle through.

‘You’re a quick learner.’ Ellie nodded as the bus accelerated past them and tooted the deep horn as it went by. A blur of tourist faces flashed past.

‘How far did you say we have to go on this road?’

The moment for asking any more questions was past. She’d bide her time and wait until another opportunity arose.

*

Kane focused on the road without speaking. It had taken a while to regain his composure after that blasted panic attack at the billabong; the worst was the choking feeling when he had to fight for breath. The doctor at the base in Germany had offered him antidepressants but Kane refused to believe that he had a problem. The doctor had looked at him over his glasses so Kane had reluctantly agreed to take the leaflets on PTSD. Maybe it was time to read them.

‘Another one.’ Ellie’s voice intruded on his thoughts. Yet another big four-wheel drive bus was hurtling towards them.

‘Christ, it’s like a freeway down here. How many tourists come down here in a day?’

‘The tours start at daybreak and go all day. You’d be surprised at the thousands of visitors here every season.’ She turned to him with a grin and his gaze lingered on her face. When she smiled the constant wariness in her expression disappeared. Her pale blue eyes held his for a minute before she turned away.

By the time they reached the small car park, the sky had clouded over. Kane looked at Ellie, raising his eyebrows in question. ‘Are you sure this is the right place? Where are all the tourist buses?’

‘Yes. We’ve timed it well. Between tours. Don’t worry, the crowds will be back when the next bus arrives.’ She pointed across to the lone car parked on the other side. ‘That looks like the vehicle we have to retrieve over there.’

He parked beside it, and Ellie jumped out and checked the number plate. ‘This is it.’ She held the keys up. ‘I’ll drive that one back seeing you’re used to driving the Cruiser.’

Kane climbed out of the car and looked around. The car park was a large square and was fenced in with low timber. A few trees lined one side and there was no sign of a river or a waterfall. Red dirt was furrowed in deep lines from the tyres of large vehicles and the dust clung to his boots as he followed Ellie around to the back of the four-wheel drive.