Chapter 129

"So I'd love to introduce you to my husband, but we have to go to him." Jodi said to Becky and Jake. "He had a little accident at the Demo Derby yesterday."

"Sure, lead the way." Becky responded "Thanks for including me in your Drovers Run moment with Charlotte. It's more than I deserved."

"Nonsense. Becky, Jake, this is my husband Matt, and my cousins-in-law Ben and Dylan, and this is Bobby, he's a field hand at Killarney. This is Becky and her husband Jake. Becky joined Drovers shortly after Tess did, she was leading station hand, so she was my boss back then," said Jodi.

"It's nice to meet you guys," Matt extended his hand. "I'd get up, but I had a bit of a mishap at the demolition derby yesterday."

"Yeah, he tripped over a tire jack in between the rounds," Dylan joked.

"Oh, I'm sure Jake doesn't want to hear the boring details." Matt responded laughing at his clumsy accident.

"So Bobby, you work at Killarney? I was once the leading station hand at Killarney, back in the day," said Jake.

"So you worked under Harry Ryan then? How was that?" Ben said. "I'm Ben Hall, I'm the overseer there now."

"Becky, I'd love to catch up. Can we leave the boys to compare war stories?"

"Sure let's sit." said Becky pointing to a table a few feet away.

"So, how have you been? I tried calling you a few times after you left, but I never got anywhere. Just a message saying your voicemail hadn't been set up. You were a good friend to me. It hurt you never called, and I know we all thought you would have come to Claire's funeral at least, she was good to you," said Jodi.

"Jodi, I"m sorry. I wasn't a good friend to you back then. The truth is, I went to Higgins on the scholarship and it was awful. I had improved my reading a lot from when you first met me, but I still struggled so much. I wasn't prepared for that level of academic work. I nearly failed out. Jake wasn't there at Higgins with me, he was trying to run the property he had leased and manage our stud horse investment. He helped me as much as he could over the phone and when he visited, but it was really all on me, and it was too much. I never called you back because I was ashamed. I never even checked my school mailbox. I had left Drovers Run to go onto these big things, and I was failing miserably," admitted Becky.

"Becky, I would have helped you," said Jodi.

"I know, you always had helped before, I guess I didn't realize how much all of you had helped me until I had to do it on my own. I got really depressed and even isolated myself from Jake. I broke up with him for a while. I wouldn't leave my dorm or do anything. I finally realized I was blowing the great opportunity I was given. I started working with a therapist, Dr. Eggleston, on the shame I was feeling, and she directed me to a teacher who specialized in adults with Dyslexia. Mr. Peabody really helped me get things back on track. I was able to eventually complete my one year certificate from Higgins, but it took a few years, and I fixed things with Jake, who thankfully, hadn't given up on me, then I got pregnant with Emma. By the time I was in a better place, so much time had passed, I didn't think you'd want to talk to me, so I just disappeared," confessed Becky.

"Becky, I was hurt that you never returned my calls. It felt like after you left, that it was like you had never even been here at all, that our friendship hadn't mattered. I lost two friends within a few months of each other. You and then Claire. I didn't know she was my sister then, but I had grown up with her on Drovers and I loved both of you. I would have gotten over you not calling. I'm over it now. Please don't stay away," said Jodi.

"I'm glad you and Tess found me yesterday. This place, it just brings back some of those good memories of working together and supporting each other. Drovers Run healed me from my fucked up childhood, and my assault, and gave me the confidence to try something else, and even though I struggled with the next step, I owe Drovers Run and your family an awful lot," said Becky.

"Well it wasn't the easiest path here at Drovers either. Let me just tell you a story," said Jodi, as she grabbed each of them fresh drinks.