Jodie, Kate and Regan are down pulling out stumps getting ready for ploughing .
" Anyone heading into the pub tomorrow night?" Regan asks.
Jodie answers. " Kate and I were going anyway but Tess was saying this morning we might be booking a table for a welcome home for Stevie."
Regan laughs and says " Stevie will hate that."
" Why would she hate it?" Kate asks.
Jodie answers for Regan " Kate think about it. The last time she saw people from the district her and Alex were yelling at each other and she was crying."
" Oh yeah. Still it will probably be good to face people head on!" Kate replies.
" Not a lot of people liked Fiona so no one was sad to see her go ." Regan states.
"Even though most were shocked by what happened the general consensus was that it took a lot of guts to do what Stevie did and people that might not have liked her so much held her in a lot higher regard for looking after Alex." Jodie adds.
" I'm just glad they've worked it all out. He was so much happier yesterday when they got back." Kate says.
The other girls agree and continue on with their work in silence.
...
" So Stevie when are we going to start a family?" Alex asks grinning at her.
From the passenger seat she giggles and replies " Well you're moving so fast Alex we've been together two days and we're engaged! I don't know a marriage licence takes thirty days how about thirty one days time."
He laughs and replies " Sounds good to me."
Stevie stretches and yawns and then offers. "Of course we'll need to practice lots before then."
He looks at her and smiling says. " There's a motel up ahead want to stop for a while."
She giggles and replies " I was wondering how long it would take for you to want me again?"
As he pulls into the motel reception he quips " Here we go Mrs Ryan honeymoon central."
...
A short time later they're showered and asleep in each other's arms.
Time ticks by and Alex's phone rings waking them both.
"Hello Alex Ryan. Oh Hi Nick I don't know what time is it?" He yawns and answers.
"No we've stopped for a while." He grins and replies " No we're in a motel we stopped for a rest and a shower. No we'll drive more today I'm hoping to get to Coober Pedy tonight and then we'll just have an eight hour drive tomorrow. Yeah of course"
Alex listens for a moment and then laughs loudly and offers. " We're engaged Nick I asked her to marry me and she said yes!"
Laughing he hands the phone to Stevie and says. " It's Nick."
" Hi Nick." Stevie says with a huge smile on her face .
" Thank you I'm very happy. Yes. Hang on a minute Nick."
Covering the hand piece she flicks Alex and says " Will you behave yourself I'm trying to concentrate."
On the other end of the phone Nick has heard what's been said and grins.
Alex is leaning on his elbow facing her and the minute she begins to speak to Nick again Alex cups her bare breast once more.
She giggles and says " Nick I'm sorry but I'll have to go Alex wont behave himself."
Handing the phone to Alex he says " Nick I've got to go she's about to ravish me. Yes see you tomorrow."
Hanging up the phone he says. " Now where were we?"
" I was about to ravish you apparently?" Stevie giggles.
" Oh yeah that's right." He whispers as he pulls her gently under him and begins to kiss her.
" Hold on a minute !" She says laughing . " If I'm ravishing you why am I on the bottom?"
He smiles at her and as he reaches to kiss her again whispers " Does it really matter?"
She giggles and accepts his lips.
...
Hanging up the phone Nick has a huge smile on his face as Tess walks into the room.
" What are you so happy about?" She asks smiling at him.
" I was just talking to Stevie and Alex and we're about to get a new sister- in- law."He replies.
"So he's going to asks her?" Tess quizzes.
Nick laughs and says " He's already done that and she's accepted. They stopped at a motel for a rest and a shower."
Tess giggles and offers " A rest! I'm sure they're not resting."
...
It's late afternoon by the time Jodie , Kate and Regan return to the homestead .
They're all exhausted and in need of a long hot shower.
Tess greets them with a huge smile on her face and says " I've got some great news for you girls."
Jodie quips " It better have something to do with either a hot shower or a cold beer!"
Regan and Kate agree.
The trio stand waiting and Tess blurts " Alex and Stevie are engaged! He asked her this morning and she said yes!"
There is much excitement and hugging all round.
" Are you serious ?" Kate asks.
Tess giggles and says " Nick was talking to them this morning and they're both very happy."
Regan smiles and offers " Just a week ago it was all such a mess and now this. It makes you believe in love doesn't it?"
Jodie says a little sadly" If they're engaged she won't come back to Drover's will she?"
Tess answers " No Alex wants her on Killarney. At least she'll be closer than Darwin."
They all agree and Regan asks " Showers or beer first?"
" Beer." They all call.
