Alex arrived back at Killarney after taking Charlotte home. He had seen Harry standing there before he had even made it up the driveway.
"Where the hell have you been?" Harry demanded.
"Spending the day with my God-Daughter! Do you have a problem with that?" Alex asked.
"I've been on the phone with Fiona's father, the poor girl is very distraught. Now what's all this nonsense about calling the engagement off?" Harry yelled.
"None of your business old man" Alex answered as he pushed past his father and went inside.
Harry followed him "My sons future is my business. Now what do you think you are doing Alex? And it better not have anything to do with that no-hoper, gold-digging farm girl at drovers run!" Harry yelled.
Alex saw red as he heard his father insult Stevie that way. It was all he could do to stop himself from hitting the old man.
Harry continued on "Now stop wasting time, get on a plane and go get your future wife."
Alex had an idea.
"Listen you're right Harry, I need to be with my future wife right now. But it would help if I could borrow the chopper."
"Anytime son" Harry answered as he slapped Alex on the shoulder "I'm glad you've seen sense."
One of Stevie's favorite spots on Drovers Run was the roof of the old hay shed. You could see the entire property from that roof, and it was a peaceful place to come and think. Only her mind was so scrambled she couldn't think.
Stevie could hear one thing clearly resounding in her mind. The voice of Tess. It was as clear as if Tess herself was standing right in front of her. "Go to him, be with him, tell him."
Stevie wondered briefly what Claire would have told her to do. She laughed to herself as she realized that if Claire was here, the situation wouldn't have come up at all. But Claire was gone.
"Tell me Claire, what would you do?" Stevie called into the open spaces. "Claire? Oh mate I've got myself into a big mess this time. Help me. Help Alex. Please Claire show me what to do!"
She knew she could get in quite a bit of legal trouble, but it wasn't the prospect of jail that frightened her. It was telling Alex everything and having him reject her for it. That thought scared her more than death itself. She told herself that she only acted in self defense, and she was certain Alex would understand that part of it. But it was the rest that she was uncertain of.
Stevie turned her head as she heard someone climbing up the ladder, and was relieved to see it was Jodi.
"Hey" Jodi greeted her.
"Hey, how was the sale?" Stevie asked her.
"Got a great price for the cattle, made quite a profit." Jodi replied cheerfully.
"That's great. Look I'm sorry, I know I haven't been pulling my weight lately, and I promise that will change from today." Stevie told her
"Its ok, I guess you had other things on your mind. Is everything ok?" Jodi asked.
"Not really" Stevie told her.
"Is there anything I can do?" Jodi asked as she sat down beside her friend.
"No, but thanks Jodes." Stevie forced a smile.
Jodi's curiosity had got the best of her and she couldn't wait a minute longer to find out. "Are you really engaged to Dr Wilson?"
Stevie shrugged her shoulders "Um...yeah...I guess I am." She answered finally.
"Wow, a Dr! And he's pretty cute too. But why didn't you tell us? So when is the wedding?" Jodi asked.
"I'm not sure exactly, maybe next week?" Stevie answered.
"Next week! That's not enough time to plan a wedding. And he's moving in next week? Don't you think Kate and I had a right to know?" Jodi asked disbelievingly.
"Look, you're right Jodi, I should have told you about it. But don't worry about Lawrence moving in here. We'll get a place in town. I'll sell my share of Drovers back to you. You can afford it now, after that sale." Stevie answered her.
"No no no that's not what I meant at all!" Jodi insisted " I didn't mean I want you to leave, Drovers Run is your home. I'm just surprised that you didn't even tell us. It would be nice to be invited to the wedding……… And, you don't really seem very happy for someone who is about to marry a cute doctor. In fact I don't think I've ever seen you more miserable."
Stevie thought back to the spoiled little kid she remembered meeting when she first arrived at Drovers. Jodi had grown up a lot. Jack would have been proud of his youngest daughter.
They conversation was put on hold as they saw the Ryan helicopter flying overhead.
"What's Alex doing, did King Harrold break through the boundary fence again?" Jodi wondered out loud.
"Jodi can you do me a favor?" Stevie asked
"Sure" Jodi agreed, but if she had known what it was, she would have thought twice about it.
"If Alex asks, tell him I'm not here. Please." Stevie begged her.
Jodi didn't like the idea of lying to Alex, and would have refused if it wasn't for the pleading look on Stevie's face.
"Why?" Jodi asked. Jodi had known for months that Stevie was in love with Alex. And was shocked to hear that she was engaged to someone else. The whole thing was incredibly weird, and Jodi was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Just do it. Please?" Stevie asked her again.
Jodi agreed, and went off into the house. Jodi entered the kitchen to fins Alex and Kate there.
"Jodi have you seen Stevie?" Kate asked "Alex is waiting for her."
"Oh, yeah, she's not here, remember Kate, she went out." Jodi winked at Kate
"Oh yeah, how could I forget. Sorry Alex, she went out somewhere."
"Well, her car is here." Alex pointed out.
"She went for a walk" Kate suggested
"Yes a long long walk." Jodi added.
"No problem, I'll wait." Alex announced as he sat down, removed his shoes, helped himself to the sandwich Kate had just made, and put his feet up on the table.
Jodi sighed; it was going to be a long night.
Stevie remained on the roof of the hay shed. His helicopter was still here. He was still here. What was he waiting for? What was she waiting for? Why was she hiding on the roof like a frightened child? She had told him she would have dinner with him, and she couldn't very well sit on the roof all night.
Suddenly Claire's voice came to her mind "What the hell are you waiting for?"
She smiled at herself for being so foolish, and climbed the ladder to the ground. With each step towards the house she became more excited to see Alex, and her fear melted away.
"Hey Cowgirl, bout time!" Alex greeted her as she arrived in the kitchen. "We had a date remember, I was beginning to think you stood me up!"
"Who me?" She asked "Never. Just let me get changed." She surveyed her clothes, Jeans, a shirt and her work boots. But she noticed Alex was dressed much the same.
"You look great, dressed perfectly for where we are going" He told her "Now come on, the chopper is double parked."
And with that he grabbed her by the hand and led her out to the helicopter, leaving Jodi and Kate standing bewildered behind them.