The boundary fence between Drover's and Kilarney..
Bonnie and Nash Ryan are toddling around their parents and playing with the toys Stevie brought with them .
On a blanket nearby their picture books , drink cups and pillows are sheltered by a tarpaulin strung across the back of the Ute.
Tension fills the air as Stevie and Alex had a huge argument prior to coming out to work.
Nick had listened to it all while trying to pretend he wasn't there.
...
Alex had organised for Moira Doyle to come out late this afternoon as he hoped she would come and Nanny for them.
Stevie had hit the roof yelling ." Why would you do that ? Do you think I'm incapable of rearing my own children?"
"Don't be bloody ridiculous that's not what I'm saying at all! "Alex yelled back at her furious at her response.
...
" I managed to carry and rear these two without you for the first year, don't you think with the two of us we can cope with another two?" She questioned.
" Ive got a farm to run as well Stevie it's been great with two but with four it'll be too difficult." He'd tried to reason.
" Well why in the hell did you want more if you want to palm them off to someone else to rear? Let's just adopt them out shall we as you seem to have placed them into the too hard basket already!"She'd yelled as she picked the twins up and took off outside .
"That went well!" Nick commented.
Alex glared at him and snarled." Shut up Nick!"
...
Ben, Grace, Tess , Jodi and Claire arrive and instantly pick up something isn't quite right but get on with the job at hand.
" Why didn't you bring Charlotte ? " Stevie asks.
"Meg was heading into town today and said she'd take her with her. Makes it easier for me to work too." Claire replies.
Alex nods without even thinking about it.
Stevie glares at him.
He misses it.
Nick doesn't .
...
Marcus and Kate arrive as Stevie is cutting the wires holding the top line of wire.
Inside the car Kate states." Why is Stevie out here working?"
Marcus smirks and says ." Well I'm sure as hell not going to tell her to stay home and if you're smart you won't either."
Kate doesn't listen as she strides towards the others.
...
" What in the hell is going on here?" Kate asks.
The Ryan's stop and look at her.
" Morning Kate." Nick offers.
"What's wrong?" Alex asks.
...
" What aside from the fact you're disregarding every farm safety suggestion by having children in the work area?" Kate pushes.
Nick makes a face at Marcus.
Marcus turns away.
...
" My children ,my choice when the tractor is running I'll sit aside with them and when we roll out the barbed wire I'll head home. Get over it! They're going nowhere and neither am I. So either get your arse into gear or get in that car and piss off." Stevie snaps.
Kate stands glaring at her.
"Well?" Stevie growls.
...
" I'll wear it today but in future if I say you're out that's it no questions. " Kate pushes.
Alex exhales waiting for an eruption of an already pissed off Mrs Ryan.
" No in future we'll discuss each job. I won't be able to work much longer and I know my own limitations."Stevie states with her arms folded across her body.
Kate watches her and summing her up nods .
Stevie nods back at her and they begin to work.
Alex raises his eyebrows at Nick .
Nick shrugs .
...
By mid morning the old wire is completely detached and rolled up.
Ben climbs onto the tractor and Grace picks up Nash while Stevie picks up Bonnie .
Walking over to the Ute Grace lifts Nash into the back and grabs the nappy bag.
Stevie does the same with Bonnie.
...
Alex watches the two women who without a word have removed the children safely and changed them and offered food and drinks.
As Ben removes a couple of rotten posts and rebores new holes Grace moves away from the Ute and begins to unroll the wire for the new fence.
By the time the tractor stops Stevie has moved back to the main working group as both babies have lain down in the back of the ute with their pillows and blankets Stevie packed for them.
...
For the next half an hour Stevie works silently until smoko is called.
Alex has checked on the children several times and has noticed both Grace and Ben do too along with Stevie .
Sitting for their break they conversations are many and varied with such a large group.
Alex tries to talk to Stevie but she ignores him.
...
The day rolls on and when the children wake Stevie works for another half an hour and true to her word when they start unrolling the barbed wire she packs the children up and heads off.
" Now what in the hell have you done to her!" Ben yells at Alex as she drives off with hardly a goodbye.
" Nothing!" Alex grunts at him.
" Bullshit she's always great to work with and she hardly said a bloody word to anyone!" Ben pushes.
...
Everyone has stopped and are looking at them.
" I told her I was interviewing for a Nanny and she lost the plot." Alex retorts angrily.
Ben shakes his head and says ." Did you ask her first?"
" No of course not I thought she'd be glad of the extra help!" Alex answers.
...
" You know her history you stupid bastard! " Ben snarls as he walks towards the car .
" What history?" Tess asks.
" Ben let me go please?" Jodi asks.
" She told you?" Ben asks .
Jodi nods .
...
"Do you think you can all mind your own goddam business ! This is between my wife and I it has nothing to do with any of you!" Alex snarls.
Angrily he walks towards his car.
Watching him drive away Tess asks." What history ? What are you on about?"
"Drop it Tess." Jodi says moving off to work.
Tess looks at Nick , he shrugs his shoulders.
...
Kilarney's homestead..
Stevie is tired and weary by the time she reaches the house.
She thinks about the days events starting from this morning.
Although she's still angry with Alex for not discussing a Nanny with her she understands he was not trying to hurt her.
Stripping off her dirty clothes and the twins as well she starts the washing machine then moving into the kitchen flicks on the kettle before moving upstairs.
...
Ten minutes later she walks into the kitchen.
Both Nash and Bonnie in her arms ,dressed only in their nappies and singlets . They need a bath but she needs a cuppa first.
She's exhausted and the effort of carrying both babies upstairs and her ever expanding belly as well adds to the exhaustion.
Dressed only in a simple dress she is about to sit when there is a knock on the back door.
Moving slowly she opens it.
...
Sitting at the kitchen table Stevie looks up as Alex walks in taking his hat off as he does.
"Moira you're early!" He exclaims surprised by her presence.
" No you told me four." She replies.
" Oh I thought I said five." Alex exclaims.
...
Moira picks up instantly on the tension between the young couple.
"Have I come at a bad time? I can come back tomorrow if that would suit better." She offers.
Stevie rises and moves over to the sink .
" Are you alright?" Alex questions.
"Yep ." She responds without looking back.
"Look Moira I'm really sorry but Stevie wants to deal with the babies on her own. I should have asked her before I spoke to you . We wont be needing a Nanny after all." Alex explains feeling stupid and regretting having Moira drive out all this way.
With her back to them Stevie feels awful too.
Moira Doyle is a really nice woman and always appears calm and happy.
But she doesn't need someone to rear her children.
...
Nash and Bonnie are both playing around Moira and are loading her up with toys and books.
Stevie turns back and exclaims." Moira you don't have to hold everything."
Moira smiles and replies." It's just a game Stevie they're ok. They'll take them back again in a minute."
A conversation evolves about the children but neither Stevie nor Alex interact with each other and Moira notes Stevie is outwardly hostile towards him.
...
" Alex I was wondering if I could just have a private chat with Stevie for a moment?" Moira asks.
Alex looks at Stevie but she turns her face away from him.
"I guess so." He replies looking and sounding confused.
Picking up the twins he walks to the door and says ." I'll give em their bath Stevie."
She doesn't reply.
...
Moira is aware Stevie is uncomfortable so she begins."I think there has been a bit of a communication problem!"
"With what?" Stevie asks.
" Well Alex didn't ask me to come and be a Nanny?" Moira offers.
Stevie looks even more puzzled.
"Then why are you here?" Stevie queries.
...
Moira looks at the young woman in front of her and says softly." He told me you don't have your Mum anymore."
Stevies reaction is instant and clearly visible in both her face, body language and her voice.
"He told you what happened to her!" Stevie growls.
"No ! No! He only told me you were only a teenager when it happened. " Moira exclaims trying to calm her fears.
...
Stevie is still on edge but relaxes a little.
" You don't get along with Liz Ryan." Moira pushes.
"Who does?" Stevie quips.
Moira's laughs.
Stevie lets herself smile just a little.
...
" Can we cut to the chase Moira ? Why are you here?"Stevie asks.
Moira smiles and in a soft and soothing voice offers." He's concerned because you don't have your Mum or your Mother in law to lean on. "
Stevie inhales sharply and despite her best efforts her eyes prick with tears.
"So you're here for me not the children?"Stevie asks her voice shaky.
...
Moira smiles and replies." In his words, she's needs someone to lean on Moira. At times like this a woman needs her Mother. She's a brilliant little Mum but shes tired already. If her Mum was here she'd help with cooking, cleaning and the babies or she'd just sit and have a cuppa with her and talk girly stuff. "
Stevie swipes at the tears on her cheeks and sighs. " He said that?"
Moira smiles and answers." Yes he did . He's very sweet Stevie and so is Nick and it makes me wonder how Harry and Liz Ryan could rear too gentle giants like them when they were both so mean and ruthless themselves."
...
Kilarney upstairs..
Alex has the twins in the bath with all of their toys and loads of bubbles.
They're babbling away to each other and him as well.
Stevie stands at the door watching him and smiling at the antics of their babies.
" Mum Mum!" Nash grins pointing at his Mother.
Alex cranes his head back, then looking at Nash smiles and says." Yeah Mum Mum. You're a lucky boy you've got the hottest Mum Mum in the district."
...
" He's twice as lucky because he has the best Daddy in the country." Stevie replies softly from behind him.
With his back to Stevie ,Alex asks. " We aren't going to be those soppy people again are we?"
Her soft sobs and words of. " I think we are?"
Drive him to stand and turn around.
...
She's crying again.
He holds her.
"I should have asked you about a Nanny. I'm sorry I thought Moira could help you." He whispers.
She nods.
" So she's gone?" Alex asks.
" No I asked her too wait for you." She replies.
...
The boundary fence..
"Right that's about it! Let's call it a day!" Kate comments.
"What are we having for dinner?" Dave asks.
" I don't know whose turn is it to cook?" Kate grins.
" That would be me!" Marcus states.
" Aww I've heard about your cooking !" Kate teases.
...
" What do you mean by that?" Marcus grins.
"On the sign post coming into town under Gungellan it says Marcus Turner worst cook in the district." Kate replies straight faced.
He doesn't say a word but flips her over his shoulder and dumps her into the water trough.
She squeals laughing.
Everyone else does too except Grace who busies herself packing the last of the equipment.
...
Kilarney's old Homestead...
The entire group arrives and everyone sits having a beer .
Kate joins them freshly showered and stops beside Marcus .
" So do we know what culinary delight we're having tonight?"She quips.
"BBQ." Marcus replies.
...
" With frozen meat?" Kate frowns.
" Oh yeah." He grins then adds." Can I interest you in a bar meal?" Marcus offers.
" So long as I dont have to cook it then yes thanks." Kate answers.
" Good cause I'm starving." Dave offers.
"I'm not shouting you!" Marcus quips.
"We're a two for one deal aren't we Kate?" Dave chuckles .
...
She grins and nods then looking around the group asks ." Who else is coming?"
Nick , Tess and Jodi all agree.
Claire and Ben opt to go home as Meg has had Charlotte all day.
"Grace are you coming with us?" Kate asks.
" No I'll give it a miss!" Grace replies.
...
" Come on Grace it'll be fun." Tess remarks.
" No I'm going home . Thanks for the beer . See ya."Standing she walks to her car.
"What in the hell is wrong with her lately? She's usually the one dragging us out and about!" Tess growls.
The group discuss her lack of enthusiasm .
Marcus walks away.
...
As Grace turns her car around he's standing there.
Jamming on the breaks she glares at him.
Walking to the drivers side door he asks. "Come to the pub Grace please I'd really like you too."
" I thought you were busy with your new boss?" She snarls at him.
...
She's jealous .
He's thrilled, she does like him and not just in bed.
With a smirk on his face he replies." Come on Grace don't be like that. Kate's a great girl and I must say she has a beautiful arse."
She doesn't reply but angrily plants her foot sending crushed rock and dust all over him.
Covering his face from the stones he coughs and splutters before emerging from the dust cloud with a huge grin on his face.
Time to restart the game.
...