"Hey Luke. How in the hell are you?" I hear Congratulations are in order." Alex says embracing Luke. "I'm great Alex and thank you." Kane has joined them and Nick and Marcus as well. "I'm glad to hear you stayed out of trouble Luke." Alex says. Luke smiles at him and says. "If I'd listened to you, I wouldn't have done time Alex. Worst experience of my life." Alex says. "Yeah it affected all of us when you went."
"How's Jodie?" Luke asks. Alex smiles and says "She's really good Luke it took her a long time to get over you. But she met a great bloke and they've been married about six years now and they've got a little boy Adam he's five and a daughter Beth who's three and a half." Luke grins and says "Will you tell her I said hello." Alex smiles and says "Yeah of course I will." Marcus says "So you and Jodie dated Luke?" Luke grins and says "Yes we did for about a year and a half."
Kane asks "Does Stevie still live on Drover's Run?" Nick glances at Alex then answers Kane. "No Stevie got married and moved. Jodie, Matt, Tess and I live there now, but Stevie's is a part owner." Kane grins and says "Wow married that's great. She deserves to be happy. Do you ever see her?" Nick grins and says "Yeah all the time she's still in the district."
Kane smiles and says. "Really so has she got kids? I mean other than Rose. Is she happy?" Nick grins and says. "Yes she's very happy she has three children other than Rose, Xander is four, Jake is three and Georgia is one. Her children are very cute."
Kane says "Hey that's nice. Xander that's a funny sort of a name what's that sort for?" Alex says "Alexander." Kane looks at him and says "So Stevie moved to Kilarney?" Alex nods his head. Kane hits him fair in the jaw. "You bastard you warned me off." Kane says angrily.
Luke grabs him and says "No Kane don't." Alex stands his ground and says. "When I warned you off there was nothing between Stevie and I Kane. Well nothing that either of us realized. Apparently everyone else could see it but we were oblivious."
Kane is furious and says "How long have you been married Alex?" Alex replies. "Almost five years." Kane visibly relaxes and says. "So you didn't date her straight after me?" Alex laughs and says" Oh god no I foolishly married someone else first and that was a complete disaster, she took me to the cleaners." Kane laughs and says "Well that makes me feel better." Alex grins and says "Gee thanks mate I'm glad my lack of judgement and heartache could cheer you up." Kane grins and says "Can I buy you a beer mate, to make up for the punch?" Alex says "The way my jaw feels you'd best make it two, come to think of it three I have to explain to Stevie why I've got a split lip. If she thinks I've been fighting. I'm in trouble." They all laugh.
Kane returns with the beers and says "I'm sorry about the punch Alex." Alex says. "It's ok in some ways I probably deserved it. I already copped it from Stevie when I told her I'd warned you off, we had a huge blue and she wouldn't speak to me for days." Kane laughs and says "So is she still feisty." Alex grins and says "Yes and no, she's mellowed with having the children and being at school has changed her a lot too."
Kane grins and says. "Stevie's at school?" Alex replies. "Yeah she finished yr 11 and 12 Maths and English via distance education and then we applied for a Horse Business management course at an agricultural college near Melbourne and she was accepted she's half way through and getting great marks. I'm so proud of her."
Kane asks "So you don't run beef anymore on Kilarney?" "Yeah we do. Our beef are some of the best in the country. I bought Steve's a beautiful Chestnut Quarter Horse after she had Jakey and then we bought some brood mares, one thing led to another and we took a trip to Montana and bought a stallion and some more brood mares and Stevie's turned Kilarney into a Quarter horse Stud Farm and we've got orders for our horses all around the country and we've even been asked exported some overseas."
Kane grins and says. "Montana USA? So did you buy some Harleys cheap while you were there?" Alex laughs and says "Yeah I got a sweet deal so I bought the boys one too." Kane replies "Yes I noticed." Alex asks "So tell me what you've been up to." Kane says. "Keeping myself out of trouble. My girlfriend's name is Sarah we've been together just over three years, we've got a little girl Brooke she's two and a bit. I'm happy and I work here as a farm hand / maintenance man and I love it. We live here as the job comes with a house. Sarah works in the bar sometimes at night with functions and I mind Brooke." Kane says.
Alex smiles and says. "Fatherhood is the best thing that happened to me." Kane grins and says "Yeah I wasn't prepared for how I'd feel about her. I'm her hero and I like that. I get home from work and her little face lights up and it doesn't matter if I've had a crap day, I'd gladly go and do that day again just so I can make sure she's got all she needs."
Alex asks. "Do you have a photo of them mate?" Kane pulls his wallet out and shows Alex the photo of Sarah and Brooke." Alex grins and says. "Mate, Sarah is gorgeous and your baby is like you but much prettier. She's a little cutie isn't she?"Kane grins and says. "Thanks Alex. Have you got photos?"
Alex pulls out his wallet and hands it to Kane as he opens it he sees Stevie in lingerie she is more beautiful than he remembers he takes in her curves and her smile and says "When were these shots taken?" Alex glances over and says. "Oh Shit you're not supposed to be looking at those. Steve's had them done for my Christmas present she'd kill me if she knew anyone had seen them."
Alex quickly takes them out of his wallet and pops them in his top pocket. Kane laughs and says. "Four kids and she's still a hottie." Alex doesn't look happy at the comment. "Sorry mate." Kane says and looks at the other photos of Stevie and the children. "You've got cute kids mate, very cute." Alex grins and says "Yeah we think so."
"So Alex you took Stevie to the USA how did that go?' Alex grins and says "She loved it. We took the boys too and Steve's was pregnant with George we spent two weeks there and went across to Iowa and down into Kansas and did a Harley factory tour you'd love it mate all that horse power lined up for bloody ever." Kane laughs and says "Sounds like my kind of Factory. I'd love to do that one day. So where else have you been Alex?"
Alex says "We spent a few weeks on Daydream Island last year, a couple of trips to Melbourne when Steve's is at school; we spent two months in Argentina on our honeymoon. Steve's travels more than I do; she's off to Melbourne next month. A month later she'll be in Queensland and then in September she's in New Zealand for three weeks. Oh and we're meeting the girls in Glenelg in a couple of days."
"Glenelg?" Kane enquires. "Yeah Stevie organized it all. We've been flat out with the farms for years now and Stevie organized for Nick, Marcus and I to do a road trip on the bikes and then we'll meet up with the family for a few days at the beach, we don't get away much all together so it'll be great."
Kane grins and says "Luke's getting married on the beach at Glenelg on Saturday will you still be there?" Alex says "Yes we leave on Sunday to head back. Stevie would love to see you mate." Kane says "No I don't think she would Alex." Alex offers. "She doesn't hold grudges mate honestly." Kane calls Luke over and asks about the says "You should all come it's just finger food after the wedding so I'm sure they'll be enough to eat. It would be great to have a few more friendly faces on our side."Alex grins and says "Sounds like fun mate. I'll let them all know about it next time I'm talking to them."
Marcus, Nick and Alex have an absolute ball at the brewery with Luke and Kane and their mates. They play pool for drinks and have shots, drinking games, a stripper arrives. The night becomes a blur fuelled by alcohol and they roll back to their room somewhere around 2 am.
"Hello Drover's Run Tess Ryan speaking."She smiles wiping her sleepy eyes. "Hello husband you sound happy."She laughs. "You do realise its 2am. Yes well I was asleep but this is a lovely way to wake up." She giggles and says " Oh yeah me too shame your too far away though. yes I love you too ok good night. Nick I'm glad you've had a fun night really you're kidding. Yes I will. Oh that sounds like fun. I love you."
"Hello Kilarney, Stevie Ryan speaking." She laughs and says "Oh lovely an obscene phone caller well I'm glad my husband's not here then."She laughs and says " Well actually I'm naked yes my husband prefers me to sleep that way, you know bare skin, soft, warm skin ." She giggles and says "Alex what are you doing it's 2 am. Yes yes it is. No I wasn't asleep. I was lying here thinking about how much I miss you." She laughs and says. "No Alex."She giggles and says. "You are a bad man Alex Ryan." She sits listening quietly and says. A buck's party? Who's? "Really you're joking. Oh that's nice, yes I'd love too. Sounds like fun. Yes. So did they have a stripper? Right oh no of course you wouldn't, Alex you're no good at lying ." She giggles. "Really Alex. No I had no idea I found it online yes exactly. So you like it? I thought you would." She sits quietly again and then says. "Oh Alex you didn't. " Her voice cracks. "How ?" She smiles but still looks sad. " I made them for you Alex just you. I know you are. Yes I'm Ok. Yes, ok yes. I love you too. Bye." She hangs up the phone and sleeps restlessly
.
