6.

At the hospital, Claire sat by Alex's bed and watched the nurse wrap a large bandage around his leg. She watched the nurse dip a cotton-bud into some anti-septic lotion and rub it on Alex's wound. Alex just sat looking at Claire. Claire sat looking at the nurse. The nurse just looked at Alex. It would have been quite amusing to watch, no one said anything at all, but Claire wished she was the one rubbing Alex's leg up and down like that!

"Mr. Ryan," Nurse Lee said, breaking the silence. "You can go home once the bandages are done, but you wont be able to do any hard walking for the next few weeks. No riding horses, you understand? Come back on the specified date the doctor has arranged and we will do another x-ray."

"Uh OK. Thanks. I wont need a walking stick will I?"

"No, but take it easy. Make you sure you keep an eye out for him, wont you Mrs. Ryan?" Nurse Lee winked at Claire. Obviously, she didn't know anything. Claire almost laughed.

"Did you hear her?" Claire was amazed. She helped Alex get into the car and she started the engine. " I cant believe it - she thought we were a COUPLE?!"

"Well, we are aren't we?" Alex hinted.

"Yea, but we're not MARRIED!"

The engine roared and Claire backed the car out of the park. It was pitch black. Must have been about 9 o'clock by the time they reached Drovers. Claire led Alex inside and he sat down in the kitchen. The chair creaked and Alex groaned. "Ah. Bit sore still." At around 10.30, Nick came to pick Alex up from Drovers. Alex and Claire both had a good nights sleep. They finally knew how much they felt for each other. They were both happily in love, Claire felt sure of that, and she was comfy with the thought of him being her "boyfriend"! But Alex has other plans.