In 1864 cousins Brandon and Sean O'Riain fled their tenant farms in County Tipperary as wanted criminals. Now, three years on, they are working as cedar-cutters in New South Wales's lush-green Richmond Valley. But while Brandon embraces the opportunities this new country offers, Sean refuses to let go of the past. And one of them is about to make a dangerous choice ... Nearly a century later, in the spring of 1949, Stella O'Riain is also fleeing her home - a sheep property on the barren edge of the Strzelecki Desert. She leaves behind her husband Joe and a baby daughter. With no money and limited options, Stella accepts her brother-in-law Harry's offer to live at the O'Riain family cane farm in the Richmond Valley. However Harry's refusal to discuss Joe - or the row that tore the brothers apart - leaves Stella with more questions than answers. In particular, why does she feel someone is watching her from a distance? And what is the real reason she is banned from speaking to the owner of the farm next door? Man-woman relationships -- New South Wales -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction. | Secrecy -- Fiction. | Historical fiction, Australian. | Historical fiction. | Australian