Drovers Run …Four months later…
Tess and Stevie stand and watch as Claire's Ute threads its way down the drive leaving a cloud of dust behind her.
Tess sniffs and wipes at her tears.
Unsure of what to do Stevie places her hand on Tess's shoulder.
"Don't cry Tess she'll be back before we know it." Stevie offers.
Tess turns into her and sobs. "What am I supposed to do Stevie I don't know how to run this place on my own."
"I'm here and I'll help if you want me too I've got nowhere else to go." Stevie comforts.
…
On the road out of town…
Claire has the window down and the breeze plays with her hair, glancing sideways she smiles at her daughter already beginning to doze as the music from the radio and the movement of the car lulls her to sleep.
As the miles slip by she replays the last few months in her head.
Two men that wanted her and she'd rejected both.
Peter only clung to her through grief but he had been partly right she did still hold feelings for him but his timing was wrong.
Then there was Alex, he'd done everything right.
After the accident he'd comforted her, supported her and given her time and space.
Something had changed in her after her near death experience and she couldn't explain it although she'd tried.
His hurtful words when she'd declined his proposal both wounded and stunned her.
She'd asked for time to get her thoughts and feelings straight in her head but he was too angry to see she wasn't saying no just not now.
Snappy the ring box closed he'd told her he was moving out of her home and her life.
Angrily he'd told her he'd waited long enough and was tired of her games.
Within a day all trace of him living on Drover's had been erased except for his place in her heart.
….
Now here she was two months later taking off on an adventure.
With her car full of some of Charlotte and her belongings she was off to visit a variety of friends that she'd made while riding the circuit.
A couple of months off Drovers was all she needed.
Stevie and Meg were the only ones who understood she just needed a little more time.
She'd be back, Drover's was her home but she'd had a taste of life away from the farm years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Before she settled down she just wanted one more taste, that's all.
…
Gungellan Pub …. Four Months later….
Stevie sits at the bar, beer in hand, deep in thought.
She thought Claire would be back by now but she was getting further and further away from Drovers Run.
When Claire had last called she was headed for a friends farm in far North Queensland.
Stevie's thoughts spin around her head.
Michelle had rung and told her Rose had her tonsils taken out and was recovering well.
Stevie had angrily asked why she didn't tell her sooner as she would have come down to be there.
Michelle's words drove daggers into her heart when she told her she wasn't needed Rose was fine.
When Stevie had suggested Michelle bring Rose to the farm when she was feeling better Michelle made excuses and quickly said her goodbyes and hung up.
Stevie inhaled sharply holding her tears and pain in check.
Tess asked if she was ok.
Stevie lied and suggested they'd been working so hard lately she just needed a night at the pub and she'd be fine.
Tess thought that was a great idea but wouldn't join her as Nick was coming over to help her with the bookwork.
As she sits at the bar she thinks about her daughter and how she wants to hold her and tell her everything will be alright soon.
…
She couldn't get away now, the farm was too busy and Tess was depending on her.
Tess was a quick learner and a natural for farming despite her crazy ideas about organic farming.
Stevie knew Tess really needed her for support as they are about to start crutching.
A tap on her left shoulder causes her thoughts to stop as she turns.
No one is there.
Alex plonks himself onto the barstool beside her.
Nudging her with his elbow he quips." Ya fall for that every time Hall."
She smiles at him.
…