Kilarney...
Stevie is upstairs with Tess as the children have woken up.
As they change their nappies and dress them Stevie thanks Tess for minding the children while they went to Fisher.
" I really appreciate you looking after the children for us Tess. I don't leave them with anyone very often so it's nice to know they're in good hands when I do." Stevie explains.
" We've had a lovely day with them Stevie and it's been great watching Nick with them too."Tess replies.
Stevie smiles at her future sister in law and teases." A bit of a trial run for Fatherhood Tess."
Tess grins and answers." He's good with Charlotte but perhaps a little detached but with these two! Oh my goodness Stevie just watch him , he lights up when they're around."
...
" Have you set a date for your wedding yet?" Stevie asks.
Shaking her head Tess replies ."Not yet but we've planned for an engagement party next month on Drover's Run and we're having a double celebration with Ben and Claire. Ben suggested we do it as a fancy dress."
Raising her eyebrows Stevie replies." Really? Ben suggested fancy dress?"
Tess laughs and explains ." Yes he did and we all loved the idea not fancy as in dressing in a silly way. We'll all dress how they would have when they first came to Drovers Run."
"I'm not big on fancy dress but I like the sound of this. They wore some beautiful outfits back then."Stevie comments.
...
" Ben and Claire want something casual and Nick and I have been trolling the internet looking for costumes and it's so easy to find the right gear." Tess comments.
Rubbing her hand across her rounded belly Stevie asks." Did you see anything to camouflage this ?"
"No but I wasn't really looking for maternity wear." Tess responds.
" Well not yet anyway!" Stevie teases.
They both laugh and return downstairs.
...
Kilarney's dining room..
Nick and Alex have sat with Kate as she explained why she thinks she's the right person for the overseers position .
Stevie has arrived in the room with tea and biscuits on a tray.
Tess and Jodi are in the living room with Nash and Bonnie.
" Stevie sit down and have a look at this resume ." Nick says.
Stevie looks at him and asks." Why?"
...
Alex holds his smile as his brother explains." Well you're married to Alex so you have a say in the running of the farm . This is an important step forward for us and we'd like your views."
Stevie frowns and briefly looking at Alex replies to Nick.
" Kilarney isn't mine Nick, it's yours and Alex's . I don't mind having a say in the day to day running but hiring someone? Not really my area of expertise." Stevie answers.
Alex expects Nick will drop the whole thing and is surprised when Nick pushes on." If you haven't got the guts to offer an opinion today on this issue, then don't expect us to listen to your opinion on anything else."
...
Alex raises his eyebrows waiting for her to fire.
She glares at Nick.
Kate feels extremely uncomfortable.
Stevie picks up the resume and thumbs through it.
Nick looks at Alex and winks.
...
Stevie asks Kate a couple of questions about her farm aid work.
Kate replies with crisp , concise answers.
" Do you take direction well?" Stevie asks.
"Yes I do so long as it's right and given in a clear and accurate manner." Kate replies.
...
" If you're working with someone and they're cutting corners and you've got a hot date and you want to get home early to get ready. Would you cut corners?" Stevie asks.
Nick and Alex both laugh.
Kate looks at them .
Stevie gives them the filthiest look .
...
" Well ?" Stevie pushes.
Kate looks at the three of them and replies in the only way she knows how." Honestly? If I had a hot date I'd have everything prepared days ahead and I wouldn't want to cut corners with my work because that usually leads to more work later on because of a job half done."
Stevie almost smiles as she places the resume besides Nick.
Kate waits.
...
" Do you have an opinion now?" Nick asks Stevie .
She looks at Kate then back to Nick ." She's young but on paper she has the makings of a great addition to the farm. I think you need to give her a trial period on the lowest wages for an overseer..maybe three months as she has no hands on experience.. We'll work with her and see how she goes...if she pans out then we'll readjust her pay to an agreed amount and back pay for the trial period. That way we give her a chance to prove herself and gain experience and if she works hard there's the bonus of back pay at the end."
Kate holds herself together she's so excited on the inside she's about to burst.
...
She loves Drover's Run but Kilarney is state of the art with its breeding programs and equipment.
Plus if she gets this she'll be close to Jodi again.
Her entire life hangs in the balance as the three Ryan's make their decision.
Nick looks at Alex .
With the slightest of movement Alex nods .
...
Nick asks." How do you feel about starting on lower wages?"
"So long as I get accommodation and enough money to run my car and feed myself I'll be fine plus it's only for a few months."Kate answers.
Nick smiles and holding out his hand exclaims" Welcome to Kilarney. We don't have an overseers home just the old homestead and I'm afraid you'll have to share with the local vet and Alex's other brother."
...
As she shakes Stevie and Alex's hands she asks." Dave and Marcus that I met before are they housebroken?"
"Yes but not very well ." Stevie jokes.
Kate nods and says ." I would have worked for nothing just to gain the experience."
" I though you would and I also thought the lower wage and bonus at the end would work well with your over achieving personality." Stevie comments.
Kate laughs and thinks this is going to be very interesting she'll have three bosses and just by first impressions this women is going to teach her plenty.
...
Gungellan Pub..
Pulling on the handbrake Jodi questions." You've changed Kate you're not the timid person I remember!"
Kate laughs and replies." Jodi I'm not seventeen anymore . I've been to University and worked for a large company. "
Jodi grins and responds." Welcome to the real world . What are you like with men these days?"
Kate laughs and quips." If I like what I see I'm not frightened to say so anymore."
"Wow really?"Jodi asks.
Kate grins and says ." Come on I'd like to have another look at my new housemates ."
...
Drovers Run..
With dinner eaten Nick and Ben help the girls to clear the plates and tidy up.
As the four sit down in the dinning room each with a beer or wine the conversation turns to the engagement party.
" I've booked a bush band for next month." Ben grins.
" What sort of music do they play ?" Tess asks.
" All the old stuff, for barn dances." Ben answers.
...
"We've got our outfits sorted." Nick offers.
"Yeah we have too." Claire remarks.
"Should be a fun night." Nick grins.
Everyone agrees.
...
"It's so quiet tonight isn't it?" Tess suggests.
"Yeah Terry and Meg took off early." Ben states.
"Probably taking advantage of no Jodi at home." Nick chuckles.
"Dirty old men need loving too." Ben quips.
...
" Ben!" Claire chastises trying not to laugh.
" Come on Peachie don't you hope I'm still capable when I'm his age?" Ben teases winking at her.
Claire's face reddens but as Tess and Nick laugh she does too.
...
Gungellan Pub.
Marcus and Dave are having a quiet beer at the bar when Kate and Jodi arrive.
" About time you got here we're bloody starving!" Dave states.
Jodi laughs and replies." You're always hungry Dave !"
" Maybe he needs worming?" Kate grins.
They all laugh at the look on Dave's face.
...
The foursome move to a table and order their dinner.
Several rounds of drinks are ordered and consumed as they celebrate Kate's new job and the boys new house mate.
Jodi is stunned but thrilled that Kate gives as good as she gets and flirts up a storm with both men.
Times certainly have changed.
...
Across the bar unseen Grace watches Marcus.
She'd only come to the pub to get away from the couples on Drover's Run and now she finds this foursome.
She has no claim to him but still she's furious with him.
He'd claimed he wanted more and yet hear he is flirting with Jodi and Kate.
...
Unable to watch anymore Grace leaves the building.
As she fumbles in the darkness to find the key hole a hand alights on her shoulder.
" Can I help?" His silky voice offers.
Startled she tries to control her voice as she replies." Im a big girl I think I can manage."
...
His hands turn her around to face him and his lips find hers.
Stepping back he takes the keys from her hand and unlocks the car.
Unsure of herself or what she's feeling she doesn't say anything .
Sliding into the seat she wait's for him to move back and reaching out closes the door.
...
He stands with his heart in his hands as she drives off.
She doesn't look back and scolds herself for being so weak as more tears fall.
Grace Kingston isn't accustomed to tears she hasn't shed any since she was young.
Unable to see she pulls to the side of the road.
...
With her hands on the wheel she leans on her arms and lets years of disappointment and heartache go.
She'd learnt from a young age never to rely on men.
It started with her Father, he'd let them all down, her Mother and her two sisters .
He'd shattered all of their lives including his own.
...
Finally she'd let herself trust a man.
Brendan was her first love and they'd dated for almost a year.
When he proposed to her, she'd accepted swept up by love and his strong arms.
They had so much in common as he came from broken home too.
He understood her.
...
Finally she let herself be happy.
Then he started staying out late drinking with his mates.
She was blind in the beginning not wanting to believe he would be unfaithful .
The earring that wasn't hers in their bathroom confirmed her greatest fear.
...
She left and vowed no one would ever con her again.
Her heart would never feel that pain and she sure as hell wouldn't let herself get caught up in a relationship.
Yet here she was an emotional mess and she'd done everything she'd always done .
Kept it simple, private and removed all emotion except lust.
She couldn't comprehend why her heart ached as it did.
It shouldn't she'd trained herself not to feel.
This can't happen again.
Not to her.
...
Marcus watches her car head into the night and as he's about to walk back into the pub he sees her brake lights come on.
Standing for a few minutes he waits for the reverse lights , maybe she'll come back.
It doesn't happen.
He walks back into the pub.
Disappointment weighing him down.
...