" We'd best get moving these ewes aren't going to drench themselves." Jodie announces.
The gaggle of woman head out towards the yards.
"Shouldn't take us long with all of us" Stevie says.
"Perhaps we can go for a swim afterwards." Belle says nudging Stevie.
Steve laughs. "You know me Belle always up for a dip."
The other girls laugh.
Jo quietly says to Rose "Why is everyone laughing about swimming?"
Rose laughs and says. "There's a rule on Drovers if it's only females then it's nude swimming. Mum and Auntie Tess made the rule years ago. We had a surprise 50th for Mum the other night and a heap of them went for midnight skinny dip and then the following day we went again, it was brilliant."
Jo looks shocked "So your Mum swims nude."
Rose laughs and says. "If I have a figure like hers when I'm fifty I'll sure as hell still swim nude."
It only takes a little under an hour and the girls are finished drenching.
They are filthy and hot and tired.
" Righto swim time." Stevie states. "Who's in?"
Everyone yells. "Yes"
"Righto hurry up then either bareback or saddle up we leave in five.
Everyone heads off running.
Stevie and the girls are a step ahead as their horses just need bridles on and girths tightened.
Five minutes later ten women head out over the rise and on towards the dam.
...
Two police cars turn up at Drovers with several Police on board they pan out and search the grounds and then the house. Meanwhile over at Kilarney the police have arrived and so have Alex and the men. Alex wants to go straight to Drover's but Jim asks him to stay put as his presence there may tip off the perpetrator.
"You expect us to just sit here and do nothing." Nick growls.
Jim responds "We've got two cars there and a marksman."
Alex spins around "Why in the hell would you need a marksman?"
Jim asks them to calm down.
" We brought Jakes sparring partner in for more questioning and found out he'd tampered with the brakes Fiona had paid him $150,000 to do it. She also put him up to starting a fight. We got it out of him where she was and by the time we got there she'd left."
"Right so that tells us she's behind it but why a marksman Jim?" Alex pleads.
"Alex when we got there she'd already left but she didn't take all of her bags."
Alex looks at him quizzically. "She left a gun bag Alex."
Alex is up off the chair and out the door and in his car before they can stop him.
...
"Oh, What a beautiful place." Jo announces as they move alongside the wildlife corridor on their way to the dam.
"This is my absolute favourite place on Drover's." Stevie says all the others agree.
As they arrive at the dam everyone is laughing and joking.
They tether off the horses in the shade and remove the bridles.
Jo is feeling a little uncomfortable about the whole mass nudity thing.
"I might just sit this one out." she says quietly.
"Nah you can't." Georgia laughs.
"All nude or no one swims!" Beth states.
"You don't want to stop us from swimming do you Jo" Moira says.
Stevie walks over to her and whispers. "Are you all right Jo?"
" Yes Stevie I am"
"Any reason that you physically can't swim?" Stevie asks.
"No it's just that I... I've never swum nude before!" She says quietly.
"You're kidding." Stevie says "With a body like yours what are you afraid of?"
"Nothing I guess." Jo responds.
"Then get your gear off I'm hot and I want a swim." Stevie laughs.
As soon as Jo starts to undo her clothing the others are stripped and in splashing around.
After about half an hour later they all get out, dry off dress and head back to Drover's.
Stevie rides up beside Jo and with a big smile says" So how was your swim?"
"Oh my god Stevie that was awesome fun."Jo beams.
Stevie giggles as she rides off.
...
The marksman is in place and they can see the girls coming up over the rise near the windmill.
The rifle barrel pokes out of the old shed directed towards them. Stevie is at the back of the group as they wind their way down to the stables.
Stevie stops to check the windmill and as she is about to dismount two shots ring out. Alex has just driven in and hears them and sees Stevie and her horse fall.
He is out and running "STEVIE"
...
Dave and Sally are discussing last night's events. "So tell me again about Justin's reaction." Sally asks.
"Well like I said Alex told me to sit and wait in the living room as Regan had taken the young fellow into the office for a bit more privacy. I sat there for what felt like an hour and then the door opened. So I stood up and just waited to see if anything would happen. Regan came out first and I could tell she had been crying then Justin walked out and just stared at me for ages. Turned around hugged his mother and then I thought he's going to bolt or hit me or something because he came towards me so fast. I was completely shocked when he hugged me and cried. I wasn't expecting that" Dave says with tears in his eyes.
"So I just hugged him real tight like I'd never let him go. It was so good Sal. You know very natural."
The phone rings Sally answers "Hello, Sally Brewer speaking. Oh God No, Ok I'll send him now."
"Dave quickly you have to go to Drover's Stevie and her horse, have been shot."
"What! Go we'll talk in the car Ethan! Chad! Get in the car!" Sally yells the boys come running.
...
Alex reaches her before anyone else and she's out cold. Clancy is thrashing around there is blood everywhere Alex doesn't know if it's the horses or hers.
Stevie's leg is caught underneath Clancy "Oh dear God please let her be alright!" Alex cries, tears streaming down his face.
"Stevie, Stevie can you hear me?"
"Alex the ambulance is on the way and we called Dave as well. " Nick says putting his hand on Alex's shoulder.
"Stevie can you hear me?"
Back near the house Tess and Jodie have taken care of Georgia and Rose all the girls are hysterical.
As the ambulance arrive so does Dave he leaves Sally and the boys at the house and runs up to the windmill.
As he runs he can see Clancy thrashing around and Alex slumped over which is obviously where Stevie is. He runs praying "Dear god let her be alright."
"Dave Stop this bloody horse thrashing around." Alex yells.
"Stevie can you hear me?"
Dave sums up the situation quickly and injects Clancy with a sedative he has to stop it crushing Stevie's leg. Quickly the horse calms.
The paramedics quickly but thoroughly assess Stevie they attach braces to her neck before they move her. "Mr Ryan your wife has only been shot in the leg but still hasn't regained consciousness; she could have internal injuries or head injuries from the weight of the horse and the fall. We are taking her to the hospital now."
As Alex climbs into the ambulance he calls to Nick. "Look after the girls please and call the boys."
Jake and Xander are back at Kilarney getting something to eat when the phone rings."Hello Jake Ryan. "What? Where? How Uncle Marcus? Righto!"
Xander has stopped dead in his tracks something is terribly wrong he can hear it in Jakes voice.
"Xander we have to go to Fisher Mum's been shot, Dad's with her Uncle Marcus and the others will meet us there."
"How" Xander asks.
"Get in the bloody car Xander I'll explain on the way."
...
Police have swarmed around the shed and have boundary ribbons all around Drover's.
"The Coroners on his way from Spencer so we'll have a bit of a wait." Jim says "I'm just going to talk to the family."
As he heads towards the house he waits to let the Ambulance pass.
"Jim. What's happening? "Jodie asks.
"Ambulance has just gone their taking Stevie to Fisher, Alex is with her. As far as they can see she's only been nicked in the lower leg but they are unsure about head or internal injuries nothing that really stands out at the moment which is a good sign."
"Why would someone shoot her?" Marcus asks.
"Well we have to have conformation but I'd say Jealousy."
"Jealously" Tess queries.
"The shooter was Fiona."
Everyone looks shocked.
"Why though?" Jodie asks.
" Well we haven't got all the details but by what we gained from Jakes sparring partner she wanted to take away everything Alex loved."
"Bloody Hell' Nicks says.
" So are we right to go Jim?" Marcus asks.
"We want to get everyone up to the hospital."
"Yeah that's fine we'll need statements later but they can wait for a while."
...
As they drive quickly with the siren wailing Stevie regains consciousness. "Alex "She utters.
"I'm here beautiful" He leans over her kissing her gently.
" Alex what happened. I was checking the windmill." She says puzzled.
"Just rest Stevie you're going to be ok" He kisses her again.
She squeezes his hand and says "Ok."
Alex looks at the paramedic and he smiles. "That's a good sign she knows you and she knows what she was doing." The paramedic says.
Alex feels some relief.
...
Xander and Jake are flying towards Fisher "Hey slow down a bit mate we need to get there alive." Xander says as his phone rings.
"Hey Jo, Yeah, Oh, Ok, Really, Bloody Hell you're kidding. Are you alright and the girls? "
He listens then says" Thanks heaps Jo, yep see you there I love you too."
Jake glances at his brother" Well?'
"That was Jo she said Mum's regained consciousness she spoke to Dad and she's only been nicked in the calf but they're still unsure of internal or head injuries. And it was Dad's ex wife that did it and the coppers shot her dead!"
Jake states" What just like that they shot her dead."
Xander replies " No Jake they didn't Jo said apparently they were there for hours trying to talk her down but she wouldn't listen at all and where she'd positioned herself they couldn't get to her."
"Bloody Hell" Jakes says amazed.
