Chapter 11 The bet

'Alex, Stevie!' Tess was riding Oscar and came closer to the two. 'God what happened?' She jumped of her horse and it made Alex move away. Stevie grabbed his arm. He looked at her again. 'It's ok', he said. Tess kneeled down.

'She fell, it seems she only has this head wound, but she was riding pretty fast.' Tess looked at the wound it. 'Does it hurt anywhere else? Are your back and neck ok?' Tess asked quickly. 'It's just my head', Stevie replied. Tess looked at Alex. 'We need to get her to Drovers as quick as possible'. She softly carried her up. Stevie moaned, but she was glad that she could walk. She rested on Tess. 'I will take the horses', Alex said.

Jodi, Kate, Alex and Dave were waiting inside. Meg was standing in the doorway, watching the doctor examining Stevie on the veranda. Alex was leaning against the wall. His face still looked upset and it seemed he was captured in his own world. Meg shook her head as she saw him. 'Poor Alex, after Claire, it must have scared him a lot finding Stevie like this.' She had just said it softly, shaking her head slightly, but it made Dave, who seemed to be the only one hearing it, look at her. Meg already had drawn her own conclusion last night. There was more between Alex and Stevie than just friendship and after she had seen Alex his face when they brought Stevie in she knew it for sure.

The doctor was looking at Stevie, as she lay on the long chair on the veranda. Her wound was covered with a bandage and it had taken a few stitches to close it. 'You've been lucky', he said. 'It seems that you only have a slight concussion of the brain, and some bruises. You need to take some rest. And if there's anything; you need to call me. Than I will let you get checked in the hospital, but it doesn't seem necessary at the moment'. Stevie nodded. 'So she's gonna be fine?', Tess asked. The doctor nodded reassuring. 'But she really needs as much rest as possible, at least for the upcoming days.'

Dave was wondering about Meg's comment and walked to Alex. 'Hey mate, you're ok?' Alex looked up slowly and shook his head. 'She's gonna be just fine', Dave said reassuring. 'I know, but .. gosh how she scared me. You should have see her laying there, for a moment I thought she was gone.' Dave softly lay his hand on Alex' shoulder when Tess came in.

'She's gonna be just fine. It's just a slight concussion. But it's important that she gets some rest. Meg, could you help me and bring her to her cottage?' 'Of course', Meg said. 'I will walk with you', Jodi added.

Alex was still leaning against the wall. He had heard what Tess had said and it was probably better to check on Stevie later. The only think that counted for now was that she would get better soon.

A couple of minutes later Dave and Kate stood on the veranda. Dave peeked inside, again looking at a worried Alex. He turned his face and looked at Kate again. He grinned. 'What are you smiling at?' Kate asked. 'Nothing ... ' She looked at him inquiring. 'Well ... I bet those two will get together within two weeks. It won't take any longer.' 'You mean Stevie and Alex?', Kate said wondering. Dave nodded, still grinning. 'No way!' Kate shook her head. Dave looked amused at her. 'No way? You wanna bet?' 'Ok, if they will get together it surely gonna take them longer than two weeks!' 'Ah, ok, it's a bet! And if I win ...' Dave thought for a moment, putting even a bigger grin on his face.

'What?' Kate looked at him. What on earth was he thinking? 'You gonna give me a private version of that strip dance of you'. Kate eyes grew wide. 'No way ... I'm not ...'. Dave gave her a loving stare. 'Ok, but only if you gonna dance for me when I win, and I'm sure gonna win!' Dave laughed. 'Yeah right, start practicing I would say.' 'Like I need that', she answered clever. Uhm, she was right about that, Dave thought.