Alex wakes, startled by the intensity of the dream and the emotions stirring within himself. He rises showers and moves down stairs, the last of the moonlight filters through the house as the sun tries to peep over the horizon.
Although the kitchen is warm there is a chill in the air. He makes himself a coffee and a single piece of toast and moves towards the door, grabbing his coat as he passes.
Sitting outside in the chilling morning air, he tries to erase the dream from his mind. Each night for weeks it's been the same dream.
During the day he busies himself with farm work and doesn't allow the visions to invade his thoughts but at night time while he sleeps the dreams come.
He closes his eyes and the visions drift into his thoughts like a feather gently lifted on the warm summer breeze. His heart beat changes tempo and he is confused and unsure of himself and what he sees and feels.
"Alex what are you doing out here its bloody freezing?" Nick asks. Again Alex is startled "Bloody hell mate ya frightened the daylights out of me." Alex replies.
Nick laughs and says. "Well you looked pretty bloody happy I thought, not frightened. What were you thinking about?" Alex looks at his brother and says "Not what Nick who? I'm having a recurring dream.'
Nick looks puzzled and says. "What are you talking about Alex?" Alex takes a deep breath and says." Nick I've been having the same dream every single night for weeks I can't get it out of my head. If I sit and close my eyes I can visualize what I dream. I'm not sleeping Nick it's driving me crazy."
Nick looks at his brother and is concerned. Alex has never had trouble sleeping even when they were kids and shared a room Alex would talk for a minute and then Nick would talk and get no answer Alex was asleep within 10 minutes every time Nick had timed him..
"Alex you said not what but who. Who are you dreaming about?" Nick asks. Alex blushes and Nick grins and says" Alex you've blushed so it's one of those dreams."
Alex shifts uncomfortably in his seat and says. "Nick please don't make this sound crude." Nick thinks wow he's defensive and Nick doesn't know what to say next so he leads with.
"I don't know who it is and you don't have to tell me but its sounds to me like you're in love Alex." Alex looks at him shocked.
"What makes you think that Nick?" Alex says bristling. Nick looks at him and says. "Well I've noticed you've been very distracted lately and you're not eating much and you've just told me you're not sleeping. All the signs are there Alex."
Alex drops his head into his hands and says. "What am I going to do Nick?' Nick places his hand on his brother's shoulder and says "Does she know how you feel? It is a she isn't it?" Alex laughs and says "Oh yes she is very much a woman, and no she doesn't know. It's not really something we'd talk about."
Suddenly it dawns on Nick and he speaks. "Alex its Stevie isn't it?" Alex looks at him and says "Why do you think it's Stevie?"
Nick grins and says "You've never been shy around women before Alex. So it makes sense. It has to be Stevie she's your best friend and your mate. You've got a lot to lose if you stuff this up. That's why you're dreaming all the time. Do you make a move and possibly find love or lose your friend. I'd say you have to talk to her."
Alex rises hugs his brother and moves off to the sheds. Jumping into his car he reverses out and drives towards Drover's run.
Over at Drover's Stevie is up and showered and about to get dressed when there is a knock at the door. "Who's there?' She calls. "Stevie its Alex I need to talk to you."
She opens the door in her robe and has a towel around her hair." Alex what are you doing here it's not even six am." Stevie says puzzled.
"Stevie I really need to talk to you." His senses are on overdrive, she smells so good. "Well can it wait until I get dressed?" He'd love to say no but agrees. "Yes of course sorry, but can you be quick." He asks. She looks at him and can see he's agitated.
She moves quickly to her room and just throws on a t-shirt and her track pants. Returning to her lounge room he hasn't heard her and he's pacing like an expectant Father. "Alex calm down, what's wrong with you?"
He turns to her and takes a deep breath and begins "Stevie I can't sleep and I can't eat, I'm distracted most of the time." Stevie says "Oh Alex you're in love."
He grins at her and says "Yes I am Stevie I think about her all the time and when I sleep she's there in my dreams in my arms and in my bed." Stevie grins at him "Oh Alex, those dreams are very nice."
He looks annoyed and says. "I'm sorry Stevie I shouldn't have come." Her heart drops, she's hurt him. "Alex I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or make fun. I do want to know who she is but then I really don't want to know."
He looks at her puzzled and says. "Why don't you want to know Stevie?" She looks at the ground and he can see she's embarrassed. "Well I might lose you then."
He grins and moves towards her and whispers "Stevie it's you." Her heart is pounding in her chest. Did she hear properly or is he playing with her.
"Alex what did you say?" She asks. "Stevie I love you and I want to be with you." He moves closer reaching for her and she moves into his embrace.
She lifts her arms around his neck and accepts his kiss, his hands touch the bare skin on her back and the sensation is electric. She wants him here and now.
He kisses her with such passion she begins to feel giddy, it's all happening to fast "Alex I need to sit down." He sits beside her, watching her.
"Stevie you haven't said much?" She grins at him and says "Well you really didn't give me a chance to say anything." He quips "Well I was pretty damn happy with your physical response."
Stevie looks at him thoughtfully and says "Are you sure about this Alex? I mean us together? It will change a lot and your Father won't be happy, he's already told me to stay away from you."
Alex is shocked "Did he actually say that to you Stevie?" "Yes he said Alex is running Kilarney now and you're not the sort of woman he needs beside him."
Alex stands, taking in all that she has said and replies "Stevie, I love you and I want to be with you. I think I'm the best judge of what sort of woman I need and you're definitely that woman."
She stands takes his hand and leads him to her room. Half an hour later they are lying together breathless and he says "Oh my god Stevie that was... Oh my god I've never." She chuckles beside him and says. "Yeah you weren't too bad yourself."
He rises up on one arm and looks at her, grins and says "I wasn't bad?" His lips are upon hers softly, deeply, completely, she sees nothing, hears nothing only him and his soft lips and his strong, safe arms.
Someone is knocking at the door but neither hears them. He makes love to her with such love and passion and her heart pounds. She whispers. "Alex I love you."
Sometime later they wake and it's light outside, "What time is it Stevie?" He asks. She leans across him reaching for her watch.
"Oh no it's almost eight o'clock Alex. I'm supposed to be help load the firewood." He kisses her and says "Can't we stay here?" She grins at him and says "That would be really nice Alex but no. Come on we've got work to do."
Stevie pulls up and Tess and Nick have already cut up heaps of firewood. "Sorry I'm so late I slept in." Stevie offers. She moves to load some of the cut pieces, and hears Alex's Ute pull up.
"Good morning all." He says cheerfully. Nick and Tess grin at each other and Stevie notices. Tess says "So Alex why are you late?" He looks at Nick and winks and says "Oh I slept in."
Tess grins and says "Seems to be a fair bit of that happening today." Alex looks at her and says" Oh did you sleep in too Tess?"
"No Alex I was up around 6am having my coffee on the veranda when a black Ute pulled up at the cottage and when I knocked at around 7am this morning and no one answered the door. I figured Stevie was asleep"
They all laugh.