Chapter 65

“It’s Ellen,” he said. “Just a minute.”

While Duke explained the situation to his aunt, Rob drove up the track to his weatherboard house and parked the SUV in the garage next to it.

“Okay, got to go,” he heard Duke tell his aunt. “See you tomorrow.” He put the phone back in his jacket. “Ellen says to say hi.”

“Nice of her. Now, I’ve got some chores to do,” said Rob. “You go on in and get settled.”

Duke hoisted his backpack out from the back seat. “Is there anything I can do? I want to earn my keep.”

They walked out into the wind, which bit at the exposed skin of Rob’s face.

“Put your bag inside and if you wouldn’t mind getting some wood in. It’s around the other side. I’ll show you.”

Forty-five minutes later Rob returned from his chores to a house that was toasty warm, courtesy of the roaring fire Duke had got going.

“I don’t think we’re gonna run out of wood any time soon,” he said, noticing the great mountain of wood that Duke had lugged inside.