Part 2

As Tess headed outside to help Stevie, Meg, Kate and Jodi muster in the cattle from the east and west paddocks, Claire pondered what her sister had just told her, 'Marriage, me and Alex. He knows I want to make a family with him, BOM and baby brother or sister, but I didn't think he was ready…' Claire was pulled from her thoughts as Charlotte grabbed her jeans, desperate to show her something.

"What is it BOM?" Claire asked, looking at the box tucked under her daughter's tiny arm.

Charlotte held the old, slightly dusty music box up for Claire to see, "It makes noise mummy, when I open," she squealed with excitement.

"Where, where did you find that, sweetie?" Claire asked, grabbing the wooden box from her daughter and carefully wiping away the dust to reveal the initials PM in gold leaf.

"Room, dresser," she replied delighted with her find. "Me show, come," added Charlotte as she impatiently grabbed her mum's hand and led her to Jack's room.

It had been almost three years since Claire had entered her parent's room. 'I thought the door was securely shut,' she thought as Charlotte pulled her through the now open door.

As Claire looked around the room where her dad had slept, even after her mother's death, a wave of emotion ran through her. She was vaguely aware that Charlotte was now crouched by the dresser, slightly off flush from the wall; she was pointing at the gap and repeating, "Here mummy, here." But Claire didn't respond, she walked over to the bed and softly rubbed her hand over her father's pillow, then her mothers.

Now aware that her mum hadn't followed her, Charlotte ran across the room and jumped on the bed, creasing the previously flat bedspread. Innocent of her actions, Claire swept her daughter off the bed and with her spare hand, smoothed out the bedspread, "Char, honey, you mustn't do that," Claire said a hint of nostalgia in her voice.

Looking confused, Charlotte replied, "Why mummy, just a bed?"

Claire sighed, "BOM this isn't any bed, this was your grandparents' bed. I lost my dad nearly four years ago, and my mum a long time ago, this was hers," Claire said, crouching beside Charlotte and holding out the music box.

Being only three, Charlotte didn't understand the concept of death. She grabbed the music box from Claire's outstretched hands and opened the lid. As the melody wafted through the room, Claire was taken back to childhood.

"Mummy, again, again," a five year old Claire squealed as her mum, Prudence McLeod, closed the lid on her music box.

"One more time Claire-bear," then I have to get ready for work.

As Prudence opened the wooden lid the tune to 'My Heart is Like a River,' escaped the custody of the box.

Claire clapped her hands, dancing around the room as the music drifted through the rafters. As the music ended, Prudence placed the box on the dresser, grabbed her daughter's hand and led her downstairs where Meg had prepared breakfast.

Claire was pulled from the memory as Alex, who had noticed the door to Jack's room ajar, entered and crouching beside her, kissed her softly on the cheek. "How are my two favorite girls this morning?" he asked, grabbing Charlotte and tickling her.

"Me good, mummy acting funny," responded Charlotte through bursts of laughter.

Looking at Claire, then at the old, wooden box she held, Alex asked somberly, "Was that Prue's?"

"Yes," replied Claire simply as she stood up, walked over to the dresser and placed the music box where it had sat so many years ago.

Out in the west paddock, Tess was excitedly spilling her news and the overheard conversation to the rest of Drovers' women.

"Oh Tess, that is great news," said Meg hugging her warmly.

"Yeah wonderful," added the others in unison, laughing.

"Oh, I haven't told Nick yet so cold we keep this between us?" added Tess, slightly embarrassed at the request.

They all looked at her, understanding her reasons and nodded.

"And that's not all," Tess exclaimed, a smile again lighting up her face, "I overheard Nick and Alex talking earlier today, I think Alex plans to propose!"

There was a cheer amongst the women as they rallied the cattle into the temporary paddock.

"I didn't realise you were all so happy to see me," joked Dave, as he walked up to the happy women and smiled.

"Funny Dave… we were just discussing the future," answered Tess as she dismounted Oscar and playfully punched him in the arm.

"In that case…" he started, but stopped wondering whether he should spill his news now or later.

"In what case?" Jodi asked.

"The future of course," he smiled at his witty response before continuing, "Dave Brewer has a date."

Jodi looked at Kate who had softly gasped, and after a moment of non-response Dave continued, "Well don't all cheer at once ladies."

"Congratulations," said Kate as she quickly left the scene to secure the gate and brush down her horse.

"Of course, where are my manners, great news Brewer, so come on who is she?" Tess asked.

Jodi added her congrats before heading off to find and console Kate.

"Well, I'm glad you asked. She is new to the area, from Western Australia. We met at the vet nary meeting in Gungellan. She was the guest speaker, and was offered the spot when the board of vet nary science heard she was moving into the area. She is originally from Queensland, and they thought she should scout the area. Lovely woman, spoke to her after the presentation, brought her a beer and it ended in an invitation for dinner and guided tour of the area this Friday night," concluded Dave, quite pleased with himself.

"What's her name Dave?" asked Tess.

"Diane, Diane Fletcher," replied Dave with a grin.

"That sounds lovely Dave, hope you enjoy yourself," said Meg as she left to meet Terry for lunch at the truck stop and discuss more ideas for their cottage. "Congratulations again," she whispered in Tess' ear as she walked by.