Drover's Run...Outside...
Stevie sits with her elbows resting on her knees.
Tears drip from her chin onto the veranda as they run out of skin.
Over and over she replays her conversation with Alex at the pub.
With mixed emotions she tries to make sense of it all.
...
He'd sacked Riley for helping Moira save her business.
Wouldn't listen to either of them and then yelled at her.
He'd always yelled at her but this was different.
...
"Oh there you are Stevie we were worried about you." Jodi says from the doorway.
"Rain didn't come." Stevie states flatly.
"Are you ok?" Jodi asks.
"Yep.' Stevie answers desperately trying to hold her voice steady to avoid an inquisition.
"Ok I'll see you in the morning."Jodi offers and watches as Stevie gives her a dismissive wave.
Jodi stands for a minute wondering if she should push to talk to her friend but
decides tomorrow after a good night's sleep would be better.
...
The back road between Kilarney and Drover's Run...
With the dash light illuminating Alex Ryan's face the fury there is unbridled.
He was weary of the fighting and the deceit.
Fiona used sex as a weapon and he was tired of that too.
Any time she thought he was displeased she'd initiate sex.
...
They'd fought because she wouldn't leave him alone.
It started on the way home from the pub.
Running her hand up his leg towards his crotch.
She rabbited on about going to Fisher for a romantic evening.
...
He was trying to think about Stevie and what had almost happened in the car park.
Her eyes so beautiful even when she was yelling at him he noticed her eyes.
Eyes like liquid chocolate filled with anger but also her friendship.
Despite his anger now as he drove he smiled thinking about how those eyes would search his face taking in every detail.
...
She could always look him straight in the eyes whether she was delivering good news or telling him something he didn't want to hear.
Honesty was there in her eyes and loyalty.
Fiona crept back into his thoughts and he angrily pushed her aside as he realizes she often doesn't look into his eyes usually when she's lying.
...
His thoughts rush back to the pub.
As he'd roughly pulled on Stevie's arm and said." Of course I want you."
Her eyes searched his face.
Time felt like it rolled back on itself as they looked at each other.
Her hair glistened in the late afternoon sunshine.
...
Glancing at his hand on the steering wheel, he rubs his thumb across his other fingers and thinks about the feeling when he had brushed Stevie's hair from her face.
He'd heard talk about electricity between people.
He was sure that they'd actually sparked off each other.
She'd inhales sharply at the precise moment he felt an electric charge.
...
Inhaling as he drove he can still feel her soft hair as his hand wove through it.
Her eyes glimpsed his lips then his eyes.
Questioning.
...
Her voice imprinted in his core, her laugh.
It was something about the X that made it sound they way it did.
Only her voice and the pronunciation of the X sounded like that.
No one whispers his name like her.
...
As he leant to kiss her she touched his face and whispered "Alex."
For once he wanted the timing to be perfect and without thought he moved towards her lips.
She rose up to meet him.
In that split second Fiona called his name and everything changed.
...
He slows the car and flicks the indicator as he turns into the drive.
The hair on the back of his neck flexes to stand and his heart feels strange.
Pulling the car to a halt she's there.
Reaching over he grabs his hat then opens the door unfolding himself.
"Where have you been I've been worried sick?" Fiona growls.
"I went for a drive." He replies.
...
'That was an hour ago. Where did you drive too?" She questions.
Shrugging his shoulders he says. "Just around.'
Angrily she begins to walk back inside and he follows her "What's wrong with you Alex?"
He replies. "Leave me alone Fiona just bloody well leave me alone. You're always nagging at me."
She shakes her head and says. "This should be easy."
He stops.
...
Drover's Run...
Still sitting outside Stevie cries until the tears just stop.
A great black hole in her gut swallowed every emotion she felt over an hour ago.
She wants to run like she used too but Tess is depending on her to take care of Drover's.
After all these years she didn't think she could hurt any more than she did until today.
She wonders how she'll ever get through another day then she wonders if she want too.
...
Lifting her beer to her lips she stops and spits it out.
It's warm and tastes disgusting.
"Can I offer you one of mine?" His voice startles her.
She looks up and quickly wipes her face.
...
She takes the offered beer but offers no words.
He sits beside her.
"Cheers." He offers holding his bottle up.
She drinks without answering his request.
...
"You been crying Stevie." He observes quietly.
Her resolve breaks.
Quickly she bends her knees up and rests her head on them.
He wraps his arms around her.
A muffled. "Take your hands off me." Removes them.
...
"We need to talk Stevie." He pushes.
"No Alex we don't!" She yells.
"Don't bloody yell at me!" He retorts.
"Leave me alone! Just leave me alone! " She screeches tearfully.
...
Jodi and Regan race down the stairs.
At the shearer's quarter's the lights are on and doors are open.
"What in the hell is going on?" Jodi growls.
...
Regan takes one look at Stevie's face and says. "Dear god have you been crying since we got home?"
Regan holds her arm up as she moves towards her friend.
She takes Stevie inside.
"Why are you here Alex?" Jodi questions.
"I need to talk to Stevie." He replies.
...
Angrily Jodi points towards the gate and says. "Go home to your wife Alex. We've stood by silently and watched you torturing Stevie for months. We don't want you near her anymore now piss off."
"What do you mean months?" Alex questions.
Jodi's about to answer when Kate fires up and says. "Surely you can't be that much of an idiot Alex. The entire town have dissected this since you brought that stupid bitch back here. No one likes her Alex and no one likes you while you're with her. You say Stevie's your best friend? Then why is it you've continually hurt her? Jodi's right, we don't want you here. Get off this property before we unlocked the gun cabinet."
...
He looks hurt, angry and shocked as he stands staring at them.
Suddenly it dawns on him.
He steps back and looking up at Stevie's window now with the light switched on he yells. "Stevie! Talk to me please."
Her light goes out.
He waits.
Nothing.
...
Driving out of the gate he stops and sends a message.
Sweet dreams Cowgirl.
Talk tomorrow?
X
...
Kilarney
As Alex opens the car door Fiona yells at him. "Where in the hell have you been?"
His phone registers a message.
Opening it his heart sinks.
It reads.
I'm sorry I can't be your friend anymore.
You once said if our friendship didn't work neither of us would lose.
You were wrong.
Storming passed Fiona Alex yells. "Pack your bags Fiona I want a divorce."
...
Alex finally closed the door behind Fiona after watching her headlights as they disappeared down the drive.
It was almost two am by the time he'd crawled into bed.
He'd slept fitfully excited by what he had planned for the morning.
He woke early showered and jumping into his car headed for Drover's.
Smiling as he came to a halt he pulled the handbrake on.
Reaching over he grabs his hat and the beautiful bunch of roses he picked himself this morning.
...
Taylor, Kate and Jodi meet him at the gate.
"Morning ladies." His says cheerfully dipping his hat.
None of them smile as Jodi says. "I thought I told you that we don't want you here."
"Fiona's gone girls I asked for a divorce. I've come to speak to Stevie." He enthuses.
...
"You're too late Alex." Kate says.
He glances at his watch and responds. "It's only seven am Stevie doesn't start until now."
The girls look uncomfortable.
"What?" He asks.
...
"Regan and Stevie left last night." Jodi answers.
"When will they be back?" He asks.
"We don't know and before you ask we don't exactly know where they went either. Regan said it would be better that way because if we didn't know where they were we couldn't accidentally tell you."Jodi responds.
"No!" He screams at the top of his voice.
Shivers jolt up the girls spines...
His anguished cries sounding like a wounded animal...
...
...