This book starts in August 1880.
Aroha is now fourteen, and she and one of the orphans, Matiu, are to travel together as he has discovered where his mother's family live. Aroha and Matiu are in love and they believe they will marry one day. They travel by train, and Matiu's uncle and aunt are waiting for them. They discover that Matiu's mother was kidnapped and raped by an Englishman, and when Matiu was about two, she died. Matiu and Aroha have a great time in the time they spend in the marae. The local priest thinks that the children should have an education, and it is Aroha who convinces the chieftain that the children could study in Franz's school, and she and Matiu will look after them.
Four children are to go and study in the school: Haki, Anaru, Koria and Pukahi. They are excited but Haki's and Pukahi's mothers are afraid, and Aroha has to reassure them. Then whey are travelling on the train, there is an accident. As a consequence, Matiu dies and two children die too, Haki and Pukahi. Aroha is just injured, but after that moment, Aroha changes completely as she feels guilty of the death of Matiu and the children. Franz and Linda bring her home, but she is hardly there. So Linda thinks that maybe they could go to Rata station, and maybe working with the sheep and horses may help Aroha to heal and forgive herself.
A very intense beginning. I am curious about the lives of the other characters, and the children who were born in the last book.
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