AN: This story takes place sometime during Series 4 after Kate is introduced but before Luke and Jodi get together. In fact it might be just easier to imagine that Luke never existed. Also I know only about farming what I have seen from McLeod's so bear with my inaccuracies. One final note I am from California and am not up with Aussie lingo….I will do my best to keep it realistic, but forgive me if it at times it seems a little to Americanized.

Beep…Beep….Beep…Beep….

Jodi sighed and rolled over lazily waving her hand around in an attempt to shut off her alarm.

"Come on mate, we have work to do." Kate said a little to cheery for Jodi's taste as she walked in to her friend's room.

"Alright" Jodi sighed pulling herself out from under the warmth of her covers; a few moments later Jodi walked out of her room and outside to the cold morning.

Stevie frowned at Kate and Jodi as they made their way to her. "You girls were supposed to be here twenty minutes ago. We have to get the mob out of the North paddock and get them ready for drenching today."

"Yeah sorry…" Jodi said a little hotly.

"What's your problem Jodi? Why are your knickers in a twist?" Stevie asked.

"Nothing" Jodi quickly moved on changing the subject "Where's Tess? Is she helping us out today?"

"No she is going into town with Nick today….they are looking at some posts. The ones she has aren't organic." Kate replied filling the group's canteens with water and handing each an apple.

"Well knowing those two it will take all day." They all smiled knowing that Tess and Nick were in the throws of their epic relationship. "Let's get to work then." Stevie said.

The group mounted their horses and set off.

IN THE NORTH PADDOCK

"Damn it, someone cut the fence." Stevie kicked the ground angrily. "Jodi call Killarney and get Alex over here to help us…the sheep are probably on Gungellan road by now. Kate you go north and I'll go south so we can see which way the mob went. We find the sheep and then we find the bastard that cut the fence."

Jodi headed back to the house. Although she wasn't happy with the turn of events because it meant more work for all of them she was glad she was by herself. Although Jodi was usually the sociable one out of the girls of Drovers Run she had been valuing her alone time more highly lately. It had been over a year since she had run out on Alberto after her two seconds of marriage. She thought to herself as she rode back in silence. "God Jodie how could you have been so stupid? You could be traveling the world right now. Instead you are back where you started here on Drovers." She took a breath remembering the real reason she had ended things with Alberto. She had loved him but he didn't really want to travel around the world…that was only what Jodi had wanted. He wanted to settle down and as he had put it "plant his roots". Jodi knew she certainly was not ready to settle down and she didn't want to plant her roots just yet. She smiled…besides she'd had her chance to leave Drovers right? It had only been a few weeks ago that she had told her mother that she didn't want to move to the city. Had she been wrong? She didn't think so at the time - Drovers was her home and she was really for the first time getting good at what she was doing. But what did she have going for herself? She thought out loud "Is this what you want; a life chasing after sheep?"

As Jodi came to the house Tucker, her horse, made a grunt, "Ah no worries mate. I am not going anywhere - at least for awhile. Besides I couldn't leave the only man in my life that is worth while right boy?" She patted the horse and tied him down.

"Jodi, I think it is time you got a man. Talking to Tucker like he is your boyfriend isn't exactly healthy."

Jodi jumped, startled by the voice. She turned around to find herself face to face with a very pregnant Becky Howard.

"Oh my...Becky…what are you doing here…when did this happen…oh my god!" Jodi grabbed her best friend in an embrace.

"Calm down Jods I came here to see you. I miss you and Drovers the whole place. I thought I would find at least somebody here, but you were all out. I was going to have Gabe drive me back to Gungellan and bring me back tonight. I'm glad you came though."

"Oh Becky I am so glad you are here. I needed my best mate to talk to and by the looks of it you have some things you need to tell me." Jodi said as she reached for her friends protruding belly. "Oh and who is Gabe…what happened to Jake?"

"Me and Jake are still together Jods. Gabe is a station hand at mine and Jake's farm. He helps us out with our breeding program. Jake couldn't come with me and he didn't want me to travel alone with me being in this condition. Want to meet him?" Becky asked.

"Of course, Becks we have so much to catch up on." Jodie embraced her friend again as they headed in towards the house.

"Any sign of them?" Stevie yelled as Kate rode back up the road towards her.

"No not at all. Stevie I don't think they came out this way, wouldn't we see their tracks?" Kate questioned.

"Where else would they have gone? And damn it, where are Alex and Jodi? They should be here by now."

"Maybe we should check the other fences. I mean if someone cut this one who is to say they didn't cut another right?" Kate suggested.

"Right ho, you do that and I will see what is taking Jodi and Alex so long. Maybe he can get Sandra to let us use her plane." Stevie said.

"I doubt it. From what Jodi says this is just the sort of thing she would love to happen to Drovers." Kate replied.

"Your right that's why I want Alex to check up on her," Stevie answered. "Let's get going the longer it takes us to find those sheep the farther they get from us."

BACK AT THE HOUSE

Stevie rode up to find Tucker tied up. "God Jodi what are you doing." She said aloud. She ran into the office and found it empty and the phone still in its cradle.

"Jodi? Jodi….where the hell are you?" Stevie screamed out loud.

Stevie made her way to the front of the house and spotted Jodi and another blonde woman chatting outside.

"Jodi where the hell have you been?! And who is this?" Stevie screamed while storming out of the house.

"Sorry Stevie. I got up to the house and Becky was waiting for me and we just started talking."

"Yeah well while you've been socializing Kate and I have been looking for the sheep by our selves. And coming up empty handed I might add."

"Oh god the sheep- I completely forgot!" Jodi said suddenly.

"Yeah you think?" Stevie replied angrily.

"Your sheep are missing? If you give us two horses Gabe and I will help you look?" Becky spoke up for the first time.

"No that's really not necessary. Besides I don't even know who you are." Stevie answered hotly.

"Stevie this is Becky Howard. She was the leading station hand here before you. She knows this land like the back of her hand." Jodi said quietly.

"Fine can you ride like that?" Stevie asked pointing to Becky's belly.

"Claire could, so I can too." Becky replied eagerly.

"You think you can manage a call to Killarney now Jodi?" Stevie said angrily

"Yes." Jodi said meekly.

"I will go get Gabe he is still in the truck waiting." Becky said to Stevie. "We will meet you at the stables."

After making the call Jodi went to meet the others. From a distance she could tell that Gabe was a big man. Jodi could see he was very tall and muscular. His brown hair was cut neatly. He wore the usual farm gear: a pair of well worn boots, jeans, and a white t-shirt.

"Jodi hurry up we have to get going. Those sheep could be anywhere." Stevie yelled.

"Right." Jodi replied. "Alex said he is on his way. He called the police too. He said if our fences were cut they might be able to charge whoever did it."

"Good lets…" Stevie was cut off by hooves coming from behind her.

"The sheep - I think someone stole them." Kate panted. "I found tire tracks and an impression from where someone laid a ramp down."

"Damn it -where?" Stevie asked upset.

"Along the border fence up from Wilgul. They cut Wilgul's fences to and made their way down." Kate answered.

"Maybe we can follow the tracks see if they go anywhere locally." Becky suggested from her seat upon Oscar.

"Good idea. Kate and I will do that." Stevie said. "Here comes Alex. Becky you know him…why don't you and your friend follow him and see if you can find anything on Gungellan road. Maybe someone saw something or maybe there will be a sign."

Becky and Gabe nodded.

"And what about me Stevie?" Jodi asked.

"You stay here. Wait for the police. Do you think you can handle that?" She asked a little more angrily then she meant to.

"Sure why not?" Jodi replied, her voice raising.

"Hey mates shouldn't you be looking for your sheep not standing around chatting…Hey Becky! What are you doing here?! Who's this bloke? What happened to Jake?" Alex said walking up and recognizing one of his old friends.

"Alex she's going with you. You two can catch up then. Let's get going." Stevie pushed passed the group who sat for a moment until Stevie yelled at them to get a move on.

AN: Reviews are very much appreciated. I hope to post the next chapter soon - so be on the look out for that. Thanks!