Alex and Stevie sit with the girls for ages having a few beers. Tess asks "Alex are you staying for dinner?" He grins and says "That would be great Tess I might stay for breakfast too." Stevie flicks him, he looks at her and they grin at each other Stevie says "Alex you were only invited for Dinner." He grins and looks at Tess and says "Dinner would be lovely thanks Tess."
Tess begins to walk back to the house and says "Right I'll go and let Meg know we'll have an extra for dinner." Alex calls. "Hey Tess, I need some work and a place to stay do you need any help around here?" Tess turns back to him and says "Aren't you going back to Kilarney Alex?" He says "No Harry doesn't want me there. So I'm actually homeless at the moment. I suppose I could sleep in my Ute."
Tess says "We need help alright but we can't pay you much. Stevie might let you bunk on the floor in her room." He grins and says "Perfect thanks Tess." He turns to Stevie and says. "What do ya reckon cowgirl can I sleep on your floor?" She grins and says "Yes of course you can. Alex." He smiles. Stevie looks at Kate and Jodie and says "Right girls can you set up an electric fence around my bed please I'm off for a shower before dinner." Jodie and Kate laugh and Alex's says "Oh that's a harsh way to deal with a poor, defenceless, homeless man, Steve's" She turns back and says "Alex there's nothing defenceless about you." She laughs as she runs towards the house with him running after her.
Dinner is delicious and everyone is in a light hearted mood. Tess says "Alex can you help the girls in the morning take the herd back out to Skinny Jim's?" He says "Yeah not a problem I'll need to lend a horse." Tess agrees "What time are you starting?" Alex asks. "Sunrise." Stevie answers and continues. "So we can get out and back in time for work around here." Jodie says "whose turn is it for dishes?" Kate says. "Tess and Stevie." Jodie laughs and says "Right I'm off to bed." Kate says "Me too night all." Alex says "Tess I'll take your turn if you're tired." She smiles and says" Thanks Alex but what if we all do them so we can all get to bed." He glances at Stevie and says "Sounds like a great idea." Tess laughs.
Alex's phone rings "Hello Alex Ryan. Hello." He hangs up. "Funny no one was there." They continue washing and drying the dishes and his phone rings twice more with no answer so he turns it off. Half an hour later Tess has gone upstairs and Stevie and Alex are sitting outside on the bench having a beer. He has his arm around her and pulls her closer "Alex I think perhaps I'm dreaming." Stevie says. He laughs and says "Yeah it feels unreal doesn't it. How many times have we sat out here as friends?" She grins at him and says "We're still friends Alex." He leans down and kisses her very gently. "Yeah friends first beautiful."
Upstairs Alex says "Geez Steve's your beds not very big. How am I going to fit in there?" She giggles and says "Who said you were sleeping in my bed." He reaches for her and says 'Well I don't see an electric fence keeping me out." She giggles and reaches up to kiss him.
Early the next morning her alarm is ringing and she turns to switch it off. Alex is gone. She rises dresses and heads downstairs. Tess must be up she can smell bacon cooking. As she turns into the kitchen there he is. He turns and says "Good Morning beautiful I've made you breakfast." She smiles and says "I thought you'd gone. I missed you."
He pulls her into his embrace and as he reaches down to kiss her he whispers. "Last night was beautiful Cowgirl." His lips are soft and inviting and she wants more, he deepens the kiss and runs his hands under her shirt onto her bare skin. She can't believe how he makes her feel. "Hello do you two need to go back upstairs for awhile." Tess says grinning at the door with Jodie and Kate. Stevie looks embarrassed.
Alex quips "Well if you don't need our help I'm sure I could think of something to occupy us for the day." They all laugh. Alex turns his phone on and checks if he has any missed calls. "Well that's weird. I've got 23 missed calls but whoever it is didn't leave a reply number." On cue his phone rings "Hello Alex Ryan, Hello" He hangs up. "No one there again."
Breakfast over they all head out to saddle up Alex says "Bloody Hell look at my car." The Ute has every window broken and all of his tires are slashed. Tess says "Alex did you take Fiona to the airport yesterday?" He looks puzzled and says "Yes I did I watched her plane leave but she was ok. We talked and I told her I'd made a mistake she said she thought we'd rushed into everything and we parted as friends, why?"
Kate calls "Stevie you'd best take a look at this." They all move to the shed and Stevie's car is pretty much the same as Alex's. Tess says. "I think we'll cancel taking the herd back today. I need to ring the police." Alex says "Fiona left on the plane I watched her board. I don't think she'd fly to Melbourne and then fly back to do this." He moves over to Stevie hugs her and says "Are you alright?" She says "Not really, my cars not insured Alex."