Drovers Run three weeks later ..
Dave Brewer is preg testing a herd of cattle for Tess and Claire.
As he pulls up ,Grace and Jodi arrive.
"Ladies ! Beautiful morning isn't it?" Dave says as he dips his hat to them.
Claire grins and asks."What's got you smiling so broadly today Dave ?"
" The Rose between the thorns." Dave offers.
...
Jodi has no idea what he's on about but hears Grace mumble something about one thorn and one prick.
As they walk towards the yards Claire asks."Have you put on weight Dave?"
Inhaling and with a stupid grin on his face he replies ." I live with a Cordon bleu chef I'm in heaven."
Jodi laughs and quips." You need to slow up Dave you won't be able to fit in the cattle runs at this rate."
...
They all laugh .
" So it's going well living with her I mean?" Jodi asks.
"Yeah Marcus and I love it , she's great to talk too , easy on the eye and cooks like a champion. What more does a man need?" Dave enthuses.
Grace moves away from the group and begins to work.
...
"Grace! Grace!" Meg calls walking towards them.
" Ha more flowers." Tess states.
Meg is about to hand Grace the flowers when Grace growls.
" Just leave them at the house Meg please! What am I supposed to do with them down here?"
...
"What's with the flowers ? Who are they from?" Dave asks quietly.
" No idea she's had a flower delivery every couple of days for the last three weeks ! We haven't spotted a bloke just the flowers." Tess answers.
" I think it's Marcus." Claire whispers.
Dave looks at her and asks . "He hasn't left the house at night since Kate moved in."
" I think they're fighting at the moment."Claire adds quietly.
" Nah I think you're wrong I haven't seen anything."Dave urges.
...
Kilarney ...In the garden...
Stevie is waddling around picking flowers for the table and hasn't spotted Alex.
Quietly he walks up behind her and slides his arms around her waist.
"Wow you hug better than my husband does!" She quips happily.
He laughs and kisses the side of her neck and whispers." I missed you, so I thought I'd come home for smoko with you and the tribe."
...
Sliding her hands across his arms she inhales and asks." How would you feel about a picnic tonight?"
"What out here just the six of us?"He asks rubbing her belly with his hands .
"No I thought we could invite all the others too. It's a beautiful warm day and the night will be still we could light the fire drum later if it gets cool."She replies.
"Sounds like fun. Do you want me to ring them or will you?" He asks.
...
" I will! It'll give me something to do. Moira and I will head into town in the next hour or so and buy everything we need." She suggests.
He's thrilled she's actually going to spend money even if it is only on food.
"Maybe I should come too and carry everything for you ?" He suggests.
" No it's a girls only road trip unless you're under two years old." She teases.
...
He laughs and quips." So it's working out ok?"
She nods and replies." She's great Alex she leaves me to deal with the children unless I ask for help."
" I'm glad Stevie, you look so much more relaxed than you were before. I miss working with you though." He says.
"Not as much as I miss you!" She says softly.
"Careful we'll get soppy again."He warns playfully.
"Well stop saying nice things to me then."She says pretending to be cross.
He laughs.
...
How's Marcus ?" She inquires.
" Grumpy and clearly unhappy." He offers.
"He hasn't said anything?" She asks.
"Not a word." Alex replies.
"Yeah something's going on Tess said Grace is grumpy too. "Stevie adds.
" Well you warned him." Alex states as they walk towards the house.
...
Kilarney...late in the afternoon.
Alex and Nick have finished for the day and have both showered and changed .
Ben arrives just as they're setting the fire drum up and laying the last of the blankets onto the grass.
"Yeah good timing mate we needed you to give us a hand with the fairy lights." Alex says?
"Looks like you and Tinkerbell here have done a great job." Ben teases.
...
Alex laughs.
"Why in the hell have you put fairy lights in the trees?" Ben asks.
"Stevie thought they'd look nice." Alex replies.
Ben looks into the trees and shaking his head and quips." Never thought I'd see the day you'd buckle to a woman and put pretty lights in trees."
"Tease me all you like , I think they'll look great and if she wants them I'm happy to put them up for her." Alex states.
Nick and Ben both laugh at him and tease him a little more .
He takes it all in good fun.
...
With the sun almost set the group of friends all sit laughing, eating and drinking.
It's a still warm night but Alex lights the fire anyway.
Bonnie and Nash have fallen asleep after having a wonderful time with everyone lavishing them with attention .
While Charlotte is snuggled up in Claire's arms all but asleep too.
Moira has offered to take them all inside so the adults can relax.
Despite initial resistance Stevie has agreed so Alex helps Moira carry them inside.
Ben helps Claire up and rather than hand Charlotte over to him and risk waking her she carries the sleeping child inside.
...
"Wine?" Nick asks Stevie having just filled Tess's glass.
"Just a small one thanks Nick." She replies.
"It's a perfect night for this." Jodi states.
"Yeah it is . We should do this kind of thing more often. Great idea Stevie." Tess adds.
...
Claire and Alex are on their way back to the group when a Ute towing a horse float pulls up.
Alex walks towards it.
Over on the lawn Stevie grins.
" Who is it?" Nick asks.
Standing up Stevie begins to walk to Alex and replies. "It's Brett Higgins he's an old rodeo friend."
...
Alex and Brett are talking loudly when Stevie arrives.
"G'day Stevie! " Brett greets her.
"Hello Brett it's good to see you again. How are you?"Stevie asks giving him a small hug.
He laughs and replies." I'm really good thanks Stevie and you look sensational."
Alex grins and placing his arm around her shoulder quips." She's taken mate so keep your beady eyes off my wife. "
Brett smiles at them and quips" He found you then?"
Stevie pulls the fabric of her dress tight across her belly and replies. "Yes you could say that!"
They laugh.
...
" Ah sorry this is my cousin Riley Ward. Riley this is Stevie Hall." Brett offers.
As Stevie shakes the other mans hand she sizes him up.
Although it's just on dark she can see he's very cute .
" G'day Riley pleased to meet you and my names actually Ryan these days." Stevie says.
Brett laughs and quips." So you've tamed the infamous Stevie Hall!"
Alex laughs and answers." Don't let the rounded belly,dress and name change fool you mate, she's still Stevie Hall."
...
Joining the others Alex introduces them all.
Grace already knows Brett and Claire has met him before too.
Jodi's eyes light up at the arrival of two new men particularly as she learns they're both very single.
...
" So are you just passing through?" Claire asks.
" We're actually looking for work." Brett answers.
" Have you finished on the circuit?" Alex asks.
"I have! I'm getting older and I'd like to settle down. Brett answers.
"What about you?" Jodi asks looking at Riley.
"I've just come out of the army. I ride but I don't agree with rodeos or their treatment of animals."Riley replies.
"Riley you're in the home of an ex rodeo star might me an idea to hold your opinion." Brett cautions.
"I'm allowed to have an opinion mate just like they are. " Riley retorts.
...
Marcus has taken the opportunity with the diversion to speak to Grace.
Holding her upper arm he leads her a few metres away from the group.
" Can we please talk Grace?" He says softly to her.
She glares at him .
"Come on you at least owe me that much." He pushes.
" I don't owe you anything!" She growls.
...
"Did you like the flowers?" He asks.
" You wasted your money." She replies.
" I don't think I did!"he replies.
She looks around but not at him.
"Why are you frightened to go out with me? "He asks.
...
She scoffs. " I'm not frightened!"
" I think you are and I think it's because you like me!" He pushes.
"Gee you've got tickets on yourself haven't you?" She retorts.
"Come on Grace give me a chance, I want to get to know you better ."He asks.
She looks at him for a moment and her expression softens then...
" No I told you I don't want a relationship." She replies before turning and walking back to the group.
...
Everyone is sitting on the blankets chatting when Alex stops talking and says. "What in the hell!"
Following his gaze they watch Marcus with his arms wrapped around Grace as he kisses her.
" Told you!" Claire states grinning from ear to ear.
...
The kiss is a long , luscious one until he drops his arms and steps back .
They hear the slap and it's hard.
Grace storms off towards her car.
Marcus holds his face but is grinning.
...
Stevie is on her feet quickly moving after Grace.
Marcus stands watching her then turning walks towards the house.
" Who is going to talk to him? Stevie's gone after Grace." Nick asks.
" It should be Alex." Claire offers.
" Me! Why me?"He asks.
" Cause you've probably had your face slapped before." Jodi teases.
Brett laughs.
"Shut up I'll go."Alex grumbles.
...
Half an hour later Stevie is back and Alex is lying down with his head resting in her lap.
Marcus has come to sit with them and Grace had gone home.
Initially things were a little uncomfortable but that soon past with the help of great company, a relaxing atmosphere and a few bottles of wine and beer.
It's late by the time they call it a night.
Despite the hiccup with Marcus and Grace they've had a brilliant night.
After farewelling everyone Stevie asks Marcus if she can have a private word with him.
Alex heads up to bed knowing Stevie will try to smooth things over for her friend and brother in law.
...
Alex senses she's there and pulls her over to him then pushes her away.
" You're bloody freezing." He says sleepily.
" I know but I'll warm up quickly if you cuddle me." She whispers.
" Just as well I love you." He offers.
She giggles .
...
"How is he?" Alex asks.
"He's ok, disappointed in her but still determined."She replies.
" And her !" He asks.
"Stubborn, pig headed and confused." She replies.
...
Inhaling and exhaling deeply he bundles her up.
With his face buried in her neck he whispers. " Night."
Wriggling just a little to get comfy she replies." Yeah night."
"Stevie?"
"Yeah."
" The picnic was awesome."
" Yeah it was fun..night."
"Hmmm night."
...