Alex stood for a moment looking at the old house. It was nothing compared to Killarney, but it was elegant in its own way. He'd seen the outside of this house many times when he was younger, waiting for Amy. He'd never been inside though. He wasn't sure why he came now. Something deep inside of him called him here. He hadn't been able to rest since he found out Claire was missing. Tess and Meg had called every hotel in Adelaide. There wasn't even a farming conference on that week. Something strange was going on. He thought back to the day he dropped Claire at the station. Why hadn't he paid more attention?

No one had the first idea where Claire had gone. Had something happened to her? Had she just taken off? Made up that stuff about the conference? That really wasnt very much like Claire. But nothing made much sense this week. Then he'd seen Amy. Thought he'd seen Amy. And the only place he could think of to come was here, Amy's house. Well, it wasn't Amy's house anymore. It wasn't anyone's house, it had been abandoned for years. That's why the sight of smoke in the chimney startled him. Someone was here. Was it Amy? Claire? Brad? Some squatter?

His first instinct was to run inside, to check it out. No point stading here wondering about it. But he couldn't move. Just being here, standing on this ground, brought back so many memories. Things he had fought for years to forget.

He had stood here in this exact spot on another day long ago. A day not unlike this one, cold and grey. Again he wasn't entirely certain what had drawn him here that day. Only that it was something beyond his control. An impulse he couldnt refuse. He had stood hiding behind that big old tree, watching, waiting, listening. He held tight to the rifle in his hands. He couldn't stop his hands from shaking slightly. He was 13, and he knew how to handle that rifle better than most adults. He was the best shot on Killarney, better than Harry had ever been. They always took him out pig shooting. They woudnt have had a chance of catching anything if they left him at home. He was never nervous to have that rifle in his hands, it never bothered him pulling that trigger. He had never known his hands to shake like they were doing now. But tonight was different. Suddenly Harry's words rang in his head "It's not a bloody toy son, be careful, you could really do some damage with that thing". Yes, he thought he would enjoy doing some real damage this time. Thats what he'd come here for. He'd come for Brad.

Tess had taken Meg's advice and gone with Becky to check the fences. They had called every hotel in Adelaide, they had called every person in the district, and finally they had called the police to report Claire missing. After an entirely sleepless night Tess forced down some breakfast and agreed it was best to keep busy. There was nothing she could do to bring Claire home any sooner, and she hated feeling helpless. The least she could do was keep Drovers in good working order until her sister came home.

They rode in silence along the far poddocks until they came to the shed. That shed where they found that painting of that little girl, Amy. In the aftermath of Claire's dissapearance Tess had long forgoten about the Amy mystery. She barely noticed as they rode past that old shed. Until she had seen something moving. She stopped and looked closely. There was someone there. She silently dismounted her horse.

"Hey, what are you..." Becky turned and said to her. Tess waved her hand for Becky to be silent, and in that moment when Tess had her back turned to the shed, Amy took her opportunity to run.

Amy hadn't expected anyone to be here at this old place. She hadn't expected it to still be standing. She shouldn't have come. Too many memories. Right before she bolted she took a moment to look at the woman who had come here. That was little Tessie all grown up, no doubt about it. She had no time to stop and wonder what Tess was doing back on Drovers, she just ran as fast as she could, not looking back.

Tess mounted Oscar and chased the woman. She called out for her to wait. She just wanted to talk. She wondered where this stranger was running to. Or where she'd come from. Despite the fact that Tess had a horse and the stranger was on foot, she got away. Tess silently told herself that Claire would never have let someone get away like that. She wondered again what she was doing on Drovers, she didnt really fit in here, she couldn't even ride properly.

She had no chance to look into that strangers eyes before she ran off, but she did get a quick glance at the back of her head. It could have been the back of anyone's head really. But something was so familiar about that woman. Something deep inside her mind told her the answer, It's Amy. She shook her head in disbelief, all this talk of this Amy person had got to her. And hadn't Alex said that Amy was dead? She was just exhausted from being up all night worrying about Claire. She started to wonder if she'd even seen a woman at the shed moments ago, maybe she was hallucinating.

As she and Becky rode back to the homestead for lunch she couldn't get that stranger out of her head. Who was she? And who was this little girl Amy that no one talked about? Memories swirled before her eyes. One night. With her mother. Packing her bags.

"Where are we going Mama?" She asked.

"We're moving to another place. To the city. It will be so much fun Tess, there's so much to do in the city." Ruth told her as she pulled the little girl into her arms "You and I and your sister, we will live in a big house all together, and no one will ever be able to find us. It will be our secret place" Ruth kissed the top of her daughters head.

Tess thought these things over "What about Daddy?" She asked

"Daddy is going to stay here, on the farm, for a little while. Don't worry about Daddy. It will be just us girls" Ruth told her. Tess didnt like the sound of that, but if Ruth and Claire were leaving then she didnt want to be left behind. She quickly followed her mother as Ruth picked up the bags and packed them into the car.

"Come on Tess, your sister is waiting in the car." Ruth reminded her as Tess turned back to the house for one last look at Drovers Run. Then she quickly slid into the back seat of the car. It was dark as they pulled out of Drovers, but Tess anxiously looked out the window hoping to wave goodbye to her father.

"Mama I didn't say goodbye to Daddy" Tess spoke up quietly.

"Nevermind that Tess." Ruth answered inpatiently.

It was then Tess turned to her sister "Claire, we didn't say goodbye to dad." She whispered urgently.

It was then Tess looked closely at the girl beside her. It wasn't Claire. It was that girl who used to play with Alex and Claire all the time.

"Mama where's Claire?" Tess screamed.

"Quiet Tess. We have a long drive. Tomorrow you and your sister will wake up in your new home.

"Where is my sister? Where is Claire?" Tess asked, her bottom lip trembling.

"Amy is your sister now." Ruth replied calmly "And please be quiet girls, Mama has to concentrate on driving."

Tess had looked over to the girl in the back seat next to her with hatred in her eyes. "You're not my sister" Tess whispered "Claire is my sister."

The little girl didn't answer her, but looked away silently brushing tears from her eyes