Sunshine streams through the window as Alex wakes.
He's about to stretch when he remembers where he is and feels Stevie nestled in beside him.
Opening his eyes he smiles at her, she's so beautiful and while she's asleep so very peaceful ,he can't believe how she makes him feel.
Just a few days ago they were only friends and now they are so much more and he never wants to go back.
Although what they have is all so new it's just as it should be, he wonders why it took them both so long to realize that.
...
Harry Ryan has been awake for hours and isn't happy.
Alex has obviously stayed at Drover's again with her.
Damn her to hell.
He has to get rid of her from Alex's life.
She's a bloody nuisance because she distracts him from his work and the farm.
Alex needs a wife that's a mouse someone Harry can handle this one is too unpredictable and comes out fighting not what Harry had planned.
It was bad enough Nick married Tess she was feisty too but Nick was easier to mould than Alex.
Alex always came out fighting and Harry didn't need that.
...
Stevie stretches and yawns opening her eyes she smiles and says "Good Morning Cowboy."
Gently he kisses her and pulls her into his embrace and replies "Yes it's a very good Morning."
She enjoys the way he hugs her gently squeezing her closer to him.
Alex feels little jolts of electricity run through him as his brain registers her softness and warmth.
Again he kisses her loving how relaxed she feels in his arms, he pushes his lips harder onto hers, swept up in the moment.
He releases her lips long enough for her to giggle and say "Again Alex?"
Still holding her he raises himself up onto his elbows and gazing at her asks "You don't want to?"
Momentarily she looks deep into his eyes then smiles and replies "I didn't say that."
His smile lights up his face, his lips search for hers hungrily and he lets the moment drift away taking them with it.
...
Downstairs Kate and Jodie are preparing breakfast when the phone rings.
"Hello Drover's Run, Jodie speaking. Oh Hi Harry. No he isn't. No he never turned up. Oh ok bye."
Hanging up the phone Jodie returns to the kitchen and continues helping Kate.
"Jodes can you give Stevie a yell please breakfast is ready!" Kate asks.
Jodie moves out to the staircase and is about to yell up when the bathroom door opens and Alex walks slowly towards Stevie's room dressed only in a towel.
Jodie smiles and then calls "Morning Alex run out of hot water on Kilarney did you?'
Alex turns and grins at her and replies "Yeah something like that."
"Can you tell Stevie breakfast is ready?" She asks.
"Yeah no worries. Have you got enough for me too?" He asks.
"I'm sure we can find you a piece of toast or a bowl of cereal!" She quips and returns to the kitchen.
...
A short time later the back door bangs and the girls wait to see who it is.
Kate's face lights up when Dave appears and says "Good morning ladies!" and moves over to kiss her.
Jodie says "Oh please do I have to be subjected to this before breakfast! First Alex in his towel and now the two of you!"
Dave laughs and states "Oh I forgot I've brought my own bacon and eggs with me and there's enough for Alex but it needs a bit of a reheat!"
Kate asks "How'd you know he was here?
"He rang me early this morning and asked me to bring fresh clothes for him. So I grabbed them plus some breakfast and wallah! Here I am." Dave replies smiling broadly.
Kate chuckles and hugs him while Jodie rolls her eyes.
...
"Can't we take the day off Stevie?"Alex asks with his arms around her.
"No Alex we've got all day tomorrow together at the sales and then the weekend." She replies.
She moves towards the door and he grabs her and kisses her.
She laughs and says "Alex are you usually this affectionate when you're in a relationship?"
He shakes his head and replies "I can't keep my hands off you because you're ... you make me feel ... Stevie I've never felt like this before... I love talking to you, listening to you laugh,looking at you, touching you, waking up beside you and I don't want to go home. Can I stay here?"
She laughs thinking he's joking and says "Come on I'm starving let's get breakfast.'
...
Walking into the kitchen Stevie greets everyone and Alex follows still dressed in his towel.
"Brewer!" He grins then adds "did you bring me some dry clothes?"
Dave grins and tosses the bag at him and replies "You're old man's on the warpath again today!"
Alex looks bothered but begins to put his clothes on excusing himself he returns completely dressed.
Jodie offers "Alex! Harry rang here before looking for you but I told him you weren't here."
"Right!" Alex says.
They sit to eat breakfast and discuss the day's work and tomorrows sales.
Stevie and Alex were already going to the sales together and then picking Tess and Nick up and bringing them home on Sunday.
Dave offers to stay on Drover's to help with any work that may need doing.
Stevie grins and says "Gee Dave that's nice of you to offer to help out!"
Dave smirks and replies "Well Stevie it's all a part of the Dave Brewer service program!"
Jodie quips. "Service Dave! Is that what you call it?"
She looks at Kate and grinning says "So you'll get a service this weekend Kate!"
Kate's face flushes every colour red but she grins and says. "Nothing like being well maintained Jodes!"
Alex just about falls off his chair laughing.
Stevie is shocked and states "Kate! Oh my god I can't believe you said that!"
Kate smiles broadly and replies "Well you were all thinking it I just put it into words!'
Jodie chuckles and says "Brilliant Squirt! Brilliant!"
...
Dave and Alex leave and it takes almost an hour and a half to pull Alex's Ute out of the mud.
By the time he reaches Kilarney its mid morning and Harry is furious.
Alex is in no mood for his Father and feels uneasy and agitated as he sees him storming towards him.
"Where in the bloody hell have you been? Harry snarls.
"My Ute was bogged on the back road since around seven last night. Thanks for coming out to look for me!" Alex retorts.
"The back road on your way to see her I suppose! Why didn't you ring if you were bogged? I assumed you were with her!" Harry snarls.
Alex looks at him and interrogates Harry" Why did you tell her I had gone to Fisher? "
Harry smirks" Well I had no idea where you went you just said out!"
Alex feels the anger rise in himself and he accuses " You deliberately lied to her you rotten old bastard. Do you know every time you hurt her you hurt me? Do you even care about that?"
Harry glares at him and sneers" Grow up Alex she's not the kind of woman you'd marry just continue to fool around with her like you've always done. Why tell people she's your girlfriend ? Have your cake and eat it too."
Alex stares at him and questions " What do you mean like I've always done?'
Harry looks at him for a moment and answers " You know Alex what do they call it now friends with benefits?"
Alex feels his blood pressure rise and spits his words at his Father " Is that what you think I've been doing? You filthy minded old bastard using her for sex? No Harry there was never benefits!'
Harry looks at him for a moment and then sneers " Well why in the hell do you have her hanging around for then?"
Alex snarls at him as he begins to walk away " Because she's my friend Harry something you have no idea about."
Harry yells after him " I haven't finished with you Alex!"
" Well I'm done with you Harry . Go to hell!" Alex storms off.
...
Kate and Jodie have finished the day's work early and have headed into Gungellan to grab some snacks and beer for the weekend. As they pull up at the truck stop two things take Jodie's attention.
One is Terry and Moira laughing and chatting together. They look very comfortable in each other's company and Jodie notices the body language between them.
Her mother and Terry aren't strictly together at the moment but Jodie always assumed Terry would get back with her.
The other is the cute guy standing out the front, he's tall and very handsome and looks strangely familiar .
As the girls walk past Kate takes no notice but Jodie looks into his eyes and he smiles at her.
" G'Day " He offers.
She smiles back at him and replies " Hello."
Jodie continues inside and glances back at him and he's watching her and smiling broadly.
" Squirt check out the guy at the door! Isn't he cute?" Jodie gushes .
Kate replies " He's watching you Jodie he looks familiar doesn't he?"
Jodie replies " That's what I thought."
Kate quickly looks back at the counter and whispers " He's coming this way!"
Jodie tries to play it cool but admits to herself she's attracted to him already and all he said was " G'day"
" Excuse me." A lovely silky voice says from behind them.
Both girls turn.
He asks " I was wondering what direction you're heading in ? The buses run at really funny hours out here and I need to get to Killarney."
Jodie smiles at him, thrilled at the chance to talk and look at him and replies "Yes we're going near there we could drop you off."
Kate grabs her arm and drags her away and says " Jodie what are you doing he could be an axe murderer for all we know."
Jodie laughs and says " An axe murderer Kate with any luck he's going to cut Harry up into little pieces."
Kate urges " Well at least find out his name Jodie?"
Jodie returns to where the guy is standing and says " Sorry my friend's a bit worried about giving strangers lifts.'
He smiles at Kate and then at Jodie and offers " You're friends right you don't know who I am . My name is Patrick and I've come to visit my big brother."
Both girls looked puzzled and Kate asks " Whose your brother?'
Patrick laughs and replies " Dave Brewer the local vet!"
Twenty minutes later the girls and Patrick are on their way to Drover's Run as Dave is having dinner there tonight he'll meet the trio there.
Patrick has his arm across the back of the seat , Jodie's in the middle and Kate is driving.
Jodie can smell his aftershave and he smells really, really, good, even though he has a shirt on he looks muscular and well-defined, she wouldn't mind having a look under that shirt.
Hmm she thinks to herself things are looking up maybe it won't be such a boring weekend after all.
...
