As Fiona flies out Alex swoops in...

A few days pass and Stevie avoids Fiona and Alex as they visit Nick and Tess on Drover's Run.

On the night Tess invites them over for dinner Stevie is so ill at ease.

She sits through entree and mains watching Fiona maul Alex but can take no more of it.

Excusing herself with an aching leg and retires to her room.

"Stevie!" Tess calls as she knocks on her door.

" Yeah!" Stevie replies.

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

...

Tess moves towards Stevie's bed as she sits up with tears streaming down her face.

Tess feels like she could cry with her.

Sitting on the bed Tess offers her arms and Stevie holds her and cries.

"Stevie you have to tell him how you feel. You can't go on like this." Tess offers rubbing Stevie's back.

"No Tess he chose her, I won't put him in that position." Stevie argues.

Tess sits for awhile longer and then Stevie says. "You'd best get back to your guests."

"Ok I'll bring you up some desert, its chocolate mousse." Tess offers and Stevie nods.

...

Tess gets Fiona to help her clear the table and once she has her preoccupied she walks into the dining room and whacks Alex across the back of the head.

"Ow what was that for?" Alex growls.

Tess shushes him and says. "Stevie's in tears upstairs and it's your fault. Wake up to yourself Alex you are breaking her heart."

"Me what did I do?" He exclaims.

"What in the hell are you doing with Fiona? She doesn't fit in here Alex not at all! You are being an idiot. Stevie would normally tell you when you're being an idiot but she's too close this time so I'm doing it. Here take this dessert up to her. Don't knock just walk in she thinks it's me coming back and then you'll see what I'm talking about." Tess growls then adds. "I'll tell Fiona you've gone to the bathroom so don't be long."

He stands and Tess says softly. "Hurry up! Go! Go! Go!"

...

Tess keeps Fiona busy as the two of them chatter about city life.

Tess feels guilty for what she is doing but truly believes it's time that Alex knew the effect he has on Stevie.

Several times Fiona moves to go back into the dining room and Tess distracts her.

...

Stevie is face down on the bed crying.

Her eyes puffy and red.

She sits up as she hears Tess enter the room.

Shocked she sees its Alex with her dessert, she tries to quickly wipe her face but she's passed the point of self control and when he says softly. "Oh Stevie."

She puts he face onto her bended knees and sobs.

Quickly he is beside her and easily swings her around so he can hold her.

He's never heard her cry like this and his own eyes prick with tears.

...

Once he gains control he lifts her face and says. "Are these tears for me?"

She shakes her head,

A beautiful smile crosses his face as he asks. "Are you lying to me?"

Her face crumbles and she nods.

...

Tess and Fiona carry the desserts into the dining room and Alex and Nick are sitting quietly talking.

Fiona doesn't even notice Alex face or his eyes.

He laughs and jokes with the others but when Tess gains eye contact with him she gives him a small smile and he winks at her she gives a knowing nod.

...

Harry Ryan is beside himself.

Fiona is still here and the more he sees her the more he dislikes her.

The baby talk she fires off at Alex makes him feels ill and he wonders how a man can stand to listen to that.

She knows nothing about sheep and less about cattle.

Her riding ability is that of a small child and the day she rode the trail bike he thought the gear box was going to blow up.

...

Despite his own dislike of her, Stevie stacks up well ahead of this one.

She has a broken leg and is still working a full day and he guesses this other one would want a day off for a broken finger nail.

Harry Ryan never liked the idea of women working on farms but after years of watching the girls over at Drover's Run he's come to the conclusion that they do a great job.

Although he'd never admit to it.

He smiles to himself; they're all easy on the eye too which makes a nice change from looking at Nick, Alex and their farm hands.

Harry has started to compare Stevie to Fiona in front of her and Alex and he can see it riles her and the opposite is true of Alex he smiles at each put down which baffles Harry no end.

...

Harry needles and torments Fiona at ever chance and she whines to Alex constantly.

"Fi I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do about it. Harry is who Harry is and that won't change." Alex tells her.

Even though he's chipped Harry a couple of times it never stops him.

...

Stevie pulls into Kilarney as Harry walks across from the shed to the house.

"Morning Harry." She calls as she climbs from the car.

"Morning." He answers.

"Is Alex around?" Stevie asks.

"No he isn't they've gone to the airport." Harry responds.

"Can I help?" Harry asks.

Stevie is shocked that Harry is civil let alone offering assistance.

...

Inhaling she offers. "The corner stays on the northern end of the boundary fence need replacing and I'm heading out and just needed a bit of muscle with the larger posts. If my foot was alright I'd be ok but I'm struggling a bit at the moment. Nick's gone to Fisher otherwise I would have asked him to help.'

Harry nods and says. "I'll send someone out to help you but it'll be half an hour or so."

Stevie grins and raising an eyebrow says. "Thanks Harry that would be great."

He nods and turns to walk away but hesitates and asks. "How's Tess today?"

"Yeah she's really good Harry and getting rounder as we speak." Stevie offers.

A small smile illuminates Harry's face for a second and then it's gone again.

"Good to hear." He states and continues towards the house.

Stevie stands looking after him and smiling shakes her head and climbs back into her car.

Wonders will never cease Harry is almost in happy mood.

...

Stevie has set up the posts and wire plus all the equipment needed to replace the posts when she hears a motorbike approaching.

She smiles when she realizes its Alex.

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd gone to the airport." She calls as he walks towards her.

Without words he wraps her in his arms and kisses her with such passion she has no resistance.

She'd longed for this, dreamt about it.

His kisses are frenzied and furious, her lips feel the expectation and longing and she submits all that she is.

All her suffering is replaced with enthusiasm and ecstasy.

...

Resting his weight above her he kisses her one last time and lifts himself from her.

Reaching down he takes her hands and helps her to her feet.

Breathlessly she smiles at him and quips. "Well hello."

He smiles and says. "Hi."

Quickly they dress and Stevie says. "Would you like to explain what just happened?"

He has a cheeky grin on his face when he replies. "That was me wanting you. Didn't you like it?"

She grins and shrugging her shoulders says. "What on a scale of one to ten?"

He leans over and kisses her.

...

"So she's gone?" Stevie asks.

"Yes flew out this morning. She told me she'd made a mistake and didn't belong in the country and she hope we'd remain friends." He says grinning.

She shakes her head and says. "I still don't agree with how you did it but I'm glad she's gone. But that still leaves Harry he won't be so easy."

As he finishes doing up his buttons he reaches for her and says "Already part the way there Cowgirl. Harry's having a little dinner party and he asked me if I'd like to ask you and Dave plus Tess and Nick!"

She looks wary and asks. "When?"

He kisses her and says "Tonight. So make sure you wear something that I'll like."

She smiles and quips. "So you want me to turn up nude."

He kisses her again and then lets her go.

Walking to begin the work on the fence he calls over his shoulder. "Steady on Stevie no one knows we're together yet, that might give it away!"

She giggles, grabs her gloves and hobbles over to help him.

...

One chapter to go! ... Will it be smooth sailing or is round two around the corner...Harry watches and smiles...

...