It's habit which keeps her checking the windows of whatever room she's in. Habit, after a lifetime of having to answer knocks on the door. Sell a traveller some grog, be polite to whatever copper has turned up this time. Occasionally, frighten off some idiot who thought the Kelly girls were fair game.

So when Kate comes up from the root cellar, where she's put the fish Odair's given her, she glances out the window next to the outer kitchen door. And there. There is Odair, red trousers and black coat, standing out and standing still.

Which isn't normally how he moves. The man is all cat-grace, a rolling saunter as he heads back to wherever he's taken shelter with the redhaired woman.

Swallowing, Kate picks her own coat off its hook, puts it on, and goes outside.

"Odair?" she calls out, staying within running distance of the kitchen door. "You all right?"