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not caring to think too far along those lines.
    'I was only going to scare it away from you,' he explained. 'It's been taking cattle along that stretch of the river. When I saw it coming close to you, I didn't want you becoming the next victim.'
    'You're sure it's the same animal?' she queried.
    He glanced at her then back to the road. 'Don't you think so?'
    'There are two big crocs in that waterhole—a male and a female. I've seen the male once from a distance and he has a deformed jaw, which would explain why he's taking cattle. The one I was photographing today is a female. I think she's nesting along that stretch of bank, although I haven't found a nest yet.'
    'If you're right, the female will only be aggressive until her young hatch. But the injured male ought to be shifted to new territory before somebody gets hurt.'
    'Moving him won't help,' she explained. 'The instinct to home in on one particular pool will bring him right back here in time. Only recently, we had a crocodile which travelled overland more than forty miles to get back to its old territory.'
    The warmth in her voice caught his attention. 'You really enjoy your job, don't you? You even care for these prehistoric monsters.'
    'I suppose I do,' she admitted. 'Ever since Nugget taught me to love the wild and all its creatures, I've wanted to make it my career. I was lucky that it worked out so well.'
    The vehicle took flight aver a series of bumps and Ben wrestled it back under control again then asked, 'What would you have done if you couldn't become a ranger?'
    She was tempted to jest that she would have married a rich grazier, but since that was already what he expected from her, she decided not to joke about it. 'Probably joined the Aerial Medical Service like Mum and Dad, if I could hack it.'
    'How are your parents?' he asked her.
    'They're fine. They live in North Queensland now so they can be close to Louise.'
    He took his eyes off the road momentarily. 'She's your sister, I remember. Isn't she autistic?'
    'Yes. She attends a special boarding school in Queensland. Soon she'll be getting a job in a sheltered workshop. Then she'll move into a group home where she'll learn to live as normal a life as possible.'
    He slipped the car into four-wheel drive as they approached a shallow creek-crossing. At the end of the dry season, there was little water to soften the corrugated mud bottom as they jolted across it. 'I suppose that's why you're so good with Robyn, because of your sister,' he guessed.
    'I'm good with Robyn because she's a terrific person,' she said irritably. 'Look, I know you think I'm a gold-digger, but Robyn is my friend, not some good cause I've taken on.'
    'If I thought otherwise, I wouldn't let you within coo-ee of her,' he said grimly, man-handling the vehicle up the steep bank of the creek. 'I realise you do have some redeeming qualities.'
    'Let's be thankful for small mercies,' she muttered under her breath, then turned her head away and pretended rapt interest in the scenery.
    They didn't speak again until they reached the cluster of buildings which made up Kinga Downs homestead. More like a small town than a single dwelling, it was home to the station manager, jackeroos, carpenters, plumber, stockmen and bookkeepers who helped to run Champion Holdings.
    In the centre of the cluster was the main homestead, a handsome turn-of-the-century timber structure screened with lattice panels which ensured privacy while admitting every scrap of breeze. The verandas which surrounded the house were floored with spotted gum weathered to an attractive silver- grey, in contrast to the cool green paint on the walls. Behind the house, was a pool area paved with ochre- coloured stones which echoed the colour of the Champion land itself.
    There were no steps leading to the main house, only ramps which provided access for Robyn's wheelchair. Now, Keri saw that similar access had been provided to nearly all the buildings around the homestead.
    As soon as