Part 10

Alex watched his fiancée talking lively with the girls. He noticed the reflection of the sunset light on the diamond on her left ring finger as she moved her hands animatedly. They were discussing the details of their impending wedding and he just let them do. It didn't matter to him how many bridesmaids Stevie should have, or if the canopy was decorated with roses or lilies. The only thing that mattered was Stevie saying "I do" and the rest were just stupid details.

He was playing absently with a lock of her hair, wrapping and unwrapping his index finger, when Stevie looked very seriously at him, "tell crazy Jodi here why I shouldn't waltz on heels"

He just smiled foolishly at her and said, "you can wear your boots, you will be extremely gorgeous still" and kissed her cheek gently.

Stevie smiled triumphantly at Jodi, "see?"

"Come on, Stevie… it's your wedding day we're talking about, the most important day in your life…" she then started moving her arms "you should be glamorous, sparkling, beautiful. You're going to be the protagonist…"

Alex interrupted her, "hey, what about me? I'm the groom, I'm quite important"

Jodi just played it down with a wave of her hand, "yeah, right… How many weddings have you attended? Since when people look at the groom? They are going to have eyes only for Stevie and I want her to be perfect" Stevie smiled sympathetically and kissed him "Come on Squirt, help me here" Jodi prayed to her best friend.

Kate snorted, "pfhh… as if… where was your support when I suggested lilies instead of roses?… What were your words?…" she faked that she was thinking "oh yes, Stevie is the bride and if she decides roses, so roses it is" she said mimicking her friend's voice "so, Stevie is the bride and if she wants to dance in boots, so boots it is" and she made a face at Jodi.

Jodi just stuck her tongue at Kate as an answer. Alex smiled at Stevie, "maybe we should have canola on our wedding…"

Stevie smiled widely remembering the romantic way that Alex declared his love for her in the middle of a canola field. She leaned in and kissed him again.

"Canola? What kind of flower is that?" Jodi said indignantly "Blokes… they're useless" she just shook her head when she noticed that the couple was kissing but not paying any attention to her "come on, we're planning a wedding here" she looked at the rest of the girls for help.

Kate just shrugged and took a sip of her beer, Moira shook her head admitting defeat and Regan just smiled knowing pretty well what canola meant for Alex and Stevie.

They all turned around when they heard a very loud and masculine voice saying "oy… get a room, loverboy…" they saw as Riley came with a pack of beers followed with Matt and Marcus "there's no need to show the old bachelors here your luck in love, mate" he said pointing to his companions.

Matt just sniggered and went to greet his girlfriend with a kiss, Jodi smiled mischievously "well, as you can see, Matt is happily taken, so…" they all looked at Marcus.

He retorted indignantly "hey, I'm not an old bachelor" Riley patted him on his shoulder, "of course not… you're the ladies' man" and he winked at the girls. They all burst out laughing as Marcus just muttered, "you think that you're funny. Wait to pay's day and I'll show you who is the last one to laugh"

Alex shook his head and made room to the others to sit on the veranda's table. They all looked as Jodi stood up and made her boyfriend sit at her chair, so she could sit on his lap. Matt just said "what were you talking about?" as Riley shared out the beers.

Moira smirked, "Alex and Stevie's wedding… Jodi and Kate had gone mad with all the details"

Stevie took the opportunity to tease Jodi, so she turned to Matt "Be afraid… be very afraid… if she gets like this on our wedding, just imagine what will she be capable of in her own"

Jodi made a mocking face to her friend, "he just moved in and we couldn't be happier. It feels like we are on our honeymoon so there's not rush to get married" and she smiled at Matt as she caressed his hair.

Riley smirked, "that, in Jodi's language, means come on Matt Bosnich hurry up and propose" and all of them roared with laughter.

Regan looked at Marcus and Riley and asked, "well, it's obvious why Matt is at Drovers. But what do we owe the pleasure of having you two here as well?"

Riley leaned to Regan and with his best teasing face just said "well apart from save you from the old man here, we…"

Alex protested, "watch it Ward" and then pointing at himself "this old man still can give you a couple of lessons"

And Marcus added, "and his brother can reduce your salary…"

Riley just rolled his eyes, "yeah… yeah…" then looking at Regan again "actually we are here to discuss the buck's and hen's party"

Stevie turned suspiciously to him, "why do I have the feeling that I'm not going to like what you're going to suggest?"

Jodi took the chance to tease Riley "what is it to discuss? You boys having a party at Killarney's shed sorrounded by junk food and beers and a girl stripping in front of you while all of you whistle like crazy. And we girls having a real feast, drinking good wine and playing truth or dare, getting all the juicy details about the groom out of Stevie, as we wait for the most gorgeous boy money can pay to strip in front of us"

Alex smirked and shook his head, "ha ha… that, in my experience, just could end in a disaster" as he saw the puzzled faces of the boys, he proceeded to elaborate as he caressed Stevie's hand "well, in Jodi and Alberto's party, Craig drank too much and confessed to the groom that he had kissed his fiancée. Alberto got crazy and wanted to kill the poor boy" he said as he burst out laughing thinking of the jealous italian.

Riley's eyes got wide as he turned to Jodi "YOU got married once?"

The girl glared at the groom, "thank you Alex" she said very pissed then, trying hard to smile, she explained to the rest of them "well, I actually never got married because we only performed the ceremony and I didn't sign the papers… it's a long story and I'm not going to elaborate further… so officially I've always been a single woman" she said as she clung to Matt looking for support. He smiled sympathetically and kissed her.

Kate came to her defense, "yeah… Alberto wasn't the right one for her, he was too jealous and possessive and Jodi was a bit immature. But Matt is the one and she has really grown…"

Jodi interrupted her irritated as she saw the smirks in the others' faces "thank you Kate… you're being a great help. But can we just change the subject, please?" she prayed to her friends, "not all the parties had ended in a disaster. Look at Tess and Nick… they had their happy ending"

Alex smirked, "yeah… and we all had an interesting night" he said looking and winking at Kate, who turned red and tried very hard to hide. But Marcus noticed the exchange and shoved her lightly in her shoulder, "what did you do? I bet it was something naughty, wasn't it?"

She put her best innocent face and answered, "nothing… absolutely nothing" Jodi opened her mouth to reply but Kate pointed her index finger to her, "don't… I know all the juicy gossips of your teens, so if you don't want me to spill the beans…" and she smiled satisfied as she saw her friend closing her mouth.

"But you don't know mine…" Stevie said with a playful face as she winked and clicked her tongue at her, she then looked at all her interested audience, "well, as Nick's best man and Tess' best woman, Alex and me had to organize their buck's and hen's night. The boys would have a low key party at Alex and Nick's homestad and we were having a small party dinner at Drovers. But the naughty best man and woman thought better and we decided to hire two strippers to spice a little bit the evening" they all laughed "but the office at Fisher messed up with the adresses and sent the girl to Drovers and our hot boy to Killarney" she said with a disappointed tone, "I really wanted to see Leather Biker in action"

Alex shook his head, "you should have seen our faces when we saw a man dressed in leotards coming to us with a CD player in his hands. Nick just looked at me and said Tell me this is a mistake"

Riley smirked and said very skeptical, "yeah… yeah… a mistake, I've caught you now and then checking me out when you think no one is looking" and he winked at him. All the girls laughed as Alex threatened him with his fist.

Stevie resumed her story, "well to make a long story short, both parties combined here at Drovers and our sweet Kate danced for us getting the cheering, yelling and wolf-whistling of all the men in the room"

Marcus looked at her flabbergasted "YOU stripped? As in dancing and undressing? Wow" then raising an eyebrow "are you going to repeat your performance?"

Jodi saw how her friend groaned and hid her face between her hands and came in her help "she didn't get undressed, she just took her hat and a glove off. If you want to see a real stripper just turn to your right and ask your brother for a performance. He is an expert, he did it twice: at the karaoke of 1997 and for all the women in Gungellan at 2002"

Moira, "I was there and it was a complete success. I remember half the women drooling for the Ryan brothers, but I have to say that my favourite was Terry. I didn't know that he could dance like that" and all the girls but Jodi looked very interested at Alex.

He raised an arm, "hey… the striptease in Gungellan was for charity and you asked us to do it" he said pointing at Jodi.

She shook her head, "no… If my memory serves me right I just asked Craig and Terry, Becky asked Jake and Tess had to work very hard to convince Nick to do it, but YOU" she said pointedly "you offered and you were a little bit offended that no one had asked you"

Riley shook his head and looked sadly at Stevie, "first he checks me out and then he strips voluntarily in front of all the district's women. Stevie you're marrying a pervert old man"

Alex looked at Marcus, "that's it, next month you're going to lower his wage…" and they all roared with laughter.

Moira looked at the young larrikin and asked "so what were you going to suggest for the party before Jodi's, Kate's and Akex's spicy past was brought into light?"

Riley smiled "well, I thought we should try something diferent like a laser skirmish game. One of my mates from the army organized one for his buck's party and everyone had a good time so he recommended it for my own, but as I'm not marrying anytime soon, I thought that I could organize one for my open-handed boss"

Alex smirked, "and now he butters me up" he looked at Stevie, "what do you say, cowgirl? do you want to share a few shots?" she smiled at her fiancé and caressed his hand.

Jodi shook her head indignantly "what is it with men and weapons? Is it supposed to be a celebration not a hunting?"

Kate smirked and waved her hand "don't mind Stretch here, she just doesn't like military tactics. But count me on, I'm keen on strategic games…"

Jodi leaned her head on Matt shoulder and groaned, "oh no… she is going to turn into Sergeant Steel again and she is going to devote her time and energies to study all the possible tactics to win the match" her boyfriend kissed her head and laughed.

Riley smirked, "so what do you say? Men against women? Killarney against Drovers?"

Moira nodded, "yeah… it could be fun" and Regan said enthusiastic "count on me, I want to wear one of those cute uniforms"

Marcus mimicked her, "yeah, it matches my eyes" and she elbowed him as she laughed.

Matt nodded too, "yeah, let's have some fun". Jodi looked at him open-mouthed, "you mean that you think shooting your girlfriend it's fun?"

He shook his head and said reassuringly, "oh honey, I couldn't shoot you, I love you too much to aim at you" Jodi smiled and kissed him softly.

Marcus and Riley rolled their eyes and said at the same time, "I can", they looked at each other and laughed. Matt hided his amusement from Jodi kissing her temple as he laughed too.

Stevie smiled, "oh how sweet…" she turned to Alex, "and you, my gorgeous fiancé…" she took his mouth on her hand "don't go in my way because…" she gave him a sonorous kiss in his lips "I WILL shoot you" she kissed him again "and you're too cute to be killed"

Alex smiled "who says that I won't be the one shooting you, cowgirl?"

Stevie leaned in playfully "because you're a man and blokes are so predictable that definitely I'm going to be the winner… cowboy" and she winked at him. The girls roared with laughter and the boys groaned indignantly, "come on, leave that goofy face and say something, she has just challenged you" Riley tried to make him react.

Alex made them to be quiet with a wave of his hand and leaned over to Stevie, "so if you're so sure of yourself, maybe we can make a little bet… the loser team has to prepare and serve a banquet to the winner team… not barbecue and beer, a proper meal and wine" he winked at her "my favourite dish is roast beef"

Stevie looked at him suspiciously "and you're telling me that because…"

He smirked, "just look at your team. You have Moira and Regan who don't shoot, pacifist Jodi and Kate, the strategist"

Riley smirked too, "don't forget clumsy Tayler and Rose"

"Thanks mate" Riley just bowed his head "And I have Riley, an ex-soldier, Marcus and Matt, great shooters"

Stevie raised an eyebrow, "don't forget Patrick, who is even clumsier than any of my girls" she then turned to Moira and Regan "not offence"

Moira played it down, "none taken"

At that moment they heard the phone ringing in the house and Regan got up to answer. Alex looked at his watch and smiled, "and that's my ace, calling to give us the details of his flight"

Jodi smiled, "I can't wait to see Tess again and meet my niece" since her sister called telling them that Nick had been given two weeks off to attend the wedding she was counting down the days until they would be together again. "Although I've seen her on my webcam conversations with my sister, it's not the same, I want to spoil little Claire rotten"

Regan appeared again, "Jodi, it's Nick for you"

Jodi kissed Matt and got up to take the call. Alex smiled triumphantly "see, it's my best man. We'll have the best shot on the district on our side" he looked at Stevie and said with sarcasm "and you'll have Tess... good luck cowgirl"

She put a face "I won't need it, Tess has improved a lot her aim and I'm sure that Nick won't let anyone shoot his wifey… so start learning to cook cowboy because we girls are going to beat you"

Alex nodded sarcastically, "yeah… yeah…" he got up and raised his beer "to us men and our relaxed dinner" the boys cheered and raised their bottles too. The girls just rolled their eyes and shook their heads.

Alex sat again in his chair and took Stevie's hand in his and brought it to his lips and, as she smiled and kissed softly his cheek, he thought that he couldn't be happier now that he was marrying the most marvelous woman in the world and he would have his whole family and friends to witness it.