Hay, New South Wales, 1923. Martha, a classics scholar from the coast, comes to teach in a man’s town in the outback. She falls in love with Henry, a local man, and they find their dream place on the river where they raise a family and breed a flock of sheep with fine wool.
The unforgiving climate erodes their dreams. When Henry leaves, Martha takes on the outside work and learns to drive. Seven-year-old Anna is her main helper and confidante.
Sustained by their shared love of this stark and beautiful country with its endless skies, red plains and silvery saltbush, mother and daughter strive – against all odds – to look after livestock and land and keep the farm going.
But when Anna is away at boarding school, the place is lost forever.

Can I leave? Should I? So many times, I’ve imagined it — packing up a few things for myself and Anna when Henry is out in the paddocks. Then, when he goes off to the neighbours, walking the mile and a half up to the main road and waiting till someone comes along, flagging them down and begging a lift into town. Going to the hostel where Simon and Malcolm are boarding, getting them to pack their things, and catching the noisy smelly little motor train from Hay to Narranderra. A night at the Railway Hotel, lying awake, thinking of all we’ve left, listening to the rumble of the freight trains passing, the water glass rattling against the jug on the bedside table.