Rose opened the window of the Ute and drew in a deep breath of fresh air.

"What are you doing?" Luke asked as he slowed the car.

"Smell that?" Rose breathed again and smiled. "It's Gungellan and its home."

Luke laughed. "You never lived here. How can you call it home?"

"Hey, I visited here and I loved it. Besides, Gungellan was your home for awhile and Mom's home. Naturally I think of it as my home."

"You are an easy girl to please." Luke leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Watch the road, you idiot. I don't want to die before we get there." Rose pushed him away and straightened her top.

Luke pouted and she reached out to touch his cheek. He smiled and she sat back in her seat. What she had said about Gungellan was true. It was her home. And she had never been so glad to see a place. Three days on the road was enough. Though the nights had been fun. She touched her lips and remembered the feel of his lips on hers.

"So, do you think your Mom knows what we've been doing?" Luke followed the truck as Alex turned down another road and the pub of Gungellan came into view.

"Oh, she does," Rose said, stuffing her feet into her boots.

"Crap," Luke muttered. "Are we in trouble?"

Rose shrugged. She still wasn't sure what her mom thought of her relationship with Luke. Stevie hadn't said much about it but Rose had caught her watching them since that first night. She was a little scared of what Stevie would say when she finally got around to talking to her daughter.

"I think she will be okay with it." Rose shifted in her seat. "Besides, she has other things to worry about."

Luke snorted. "If that's what you think, you obviously don't know your mother."

Rose rolled her eyes. "I can dream, can't I?"

"As long as I'm in those dreams, yes you can."

Rose smiled. "You are such a sweet man."

Luke parked the Ute beside the truck and looked around. "Well, I'm back. I wonder what everyone will say when they see Stevie back."

Rose opened her door and stepped out, stretching. People craned their necks to see who was coming into town. Luke got out from the other side and leaned on the roof.

"Hey, Rose, come get your brother, will ya?" Alex called from the truck. "We'll stop here for lunch and then go on to Wilgul."

Rose went around to take her brother out of his seat. "Hey, little man, how's it going?"

"Rosie, I hungwy." Kaleb framed Rose's face with his hands. "Want chips."

"Well, I think we can get you some. Let's go inside and see if they have some chips for you." Rose set Kaleb on his feet and walked towards the pub. "Mom, hurry up. Kaleb's hungry."

"Why am I not surprised?" Stevie said, taking Kana into her arms. "Come on, baby girl, let's go find food."

Stevie stepped up beside Alex and stood staring at the pub.

"Mom, are you okay?" Rose asked.

Stevie nodded. "I just haven't been here for awhile. I wonder what they'll say when they see me."

Alex laughed and led the way into the building. "'Stevie Hall, it's been a bloody long time.' Don't worry, Steves, you'll be okay."

The pub wasn't very busy and Rose looked around curiously. She hadn't been here for ages but it was still the same. Alex herded them all to a table and for once Kaleb didn't start talking loudly.

"What do you want to eat?" Alex asked.

Rose shrugged. "Whatever's special for today sounds good."

"Luke?"

"Same as Rose," Luke replied. "And some lemonade."

"Oh, that sounds good. Me too, Alex."

"Chips, Alex, chips," Kaleb said, slapping the table with his hands.

Alex leaned over and tousled Kaleb's head. "And chips for you. Stevie, what can I get you?"

"Something good. A steak would be good." Stevie smiled.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Stevie, lunch, not supper."

She laughed. "Fine, whatever Rose and Luke are having."

Alex touched her cheek and then headed to the bar to order.

Rose turned to her mother. "How are you feeling?"

Stevie smiled. "Considering what happened, I'm feeling good. I don't know why."

"I do," Rose said slyly. "And he has a nice ass."

Stevie shook her head. Rose just laughed and leaned over to take the salt shaker away from Kaleb.

He pouted and kicked his feet against his chair. "Rose, I want my chips."

"Alex is getting them, Kaleb. Have some patience." She grabbed his leg and he glared at her.

"Kaleb," Stevie said sternly. "Stop being a little nuisance."

Kaleb heaved a sigh and leaned against the back of his chair. Rose turned her head so he wouldn't see her smile. Her little brother was quite the drama king.

"Stevie? Stevie Hall?" A large man with thin brown hair walked out of the shadows and towards the table.

"Hello, Phil," Stevie said looking up at the man.

Phil took a seat beside her and smiled. "Never thought I'd see you back in town. How have things been? I heard you had a big place up near Darwin."

"Things have been okay," Stevie said. "I sold my place at the beginning of the week. I've come back to help out on Drovers."

Phil frowned. "Did you hear about Nick? Downright shame."

Stevie nodded. "That's another reason I'm back. Tess will need all the friends she has."

"That's for sure. Well, it's good to see you back." Phil looked around and finally saw the rest at the table. "And who are all these people?"

Stevie smiled. "You remember my daughter, Rose? And Luke Morgan?"

Phil nodded. "You look just like your mother, Rose."

Rose nodded but didn't say anything. She wasn't sure she liked this man. Luke just grunted when Phil turned to him.

"And these are my children, Kaleb and Kana." Stevie touched each head in turn.

"Kane's the father?" Phil asked. "Where is he anyway?"

"He's gone and good riddance," Alex said. He set down the tray of drinks and stood behind Stevie, one hand on her shoulder. "And these are Stevie's children. The father doesn't matter."

"Of course not," Phil blustered standing up. "Well, I'll let you eat. Alex, good to see you back. Your father was in a bloody state when no one could tell him where you had gone."

Alex raised his eyebrows. "Well, next time you see him, tell him I'll be at Wilgul or Drovers."

Phil nodded and scurried off, pausing to say something to the man who had just come in the door. Rose studied the newcomer. She had seen him before but she couldn't remember his name.

"Terry." Luke shoved his chair back and hurried to the newcomer.

"Luke." The older man slapped Luke's shoulder and then pulled him into a quick hug. "How are ya, mate? It's been a long time."

Luke smiled. "I'm good. How are you?"

"Good. The truck stop is busy. Moira Doyle helps out now. I don't suppose you want your old job back?"

Luke shook his head. "No, I've turned farmer. I'm going to help run Wilgul now." Luke led the way back to the table.

"Stevie, good to see you."

Stevie stood up and hugged Terry. "Terry, how are you?"

"Good," Terry said sitting down beside Alex. "Rose, you've grown up."

"Hi, Terry." Rose smiled at the man. "It's been a few years, of course I grew up."

Terry looked at the children and Stevie introduced them.

"Mommy, where my chips?" Kaleb banged the table.

"Coming, buddy," Alex reassured him.

Rose shook her head at her brother and reached for her lemonade.

Their food arrived and they invited Terry to eat with them. He accepted and ordered some lunch.

Rose didn't remember a time when lunch had been so full of laughs and interruptions. Every five minutes someone else arrived to gawk or talk to Alex and Stevie. It took over an hour to eat and as much as Rose didn't want to get back in the car to continue driving, she was glad to get away from curious eyes.

"Well, my return is going to be all over the district in about an hour," Stevie said.

"Is that a bad thing?" Alex asked, buckling Kaleb into his seat.

Stevie shrugged. "Luke, can you drive with Alex? I need to talk to Rose."

Rose rolled her eyes. Here we go. Luke nodded and climbed into the truck with Alex. Rose reluctantly sank into the car and waited for her mother to settle into the driver's seat.

"Alright, young lady, spill."

Rose looked at her mom. "What?"

Stevie looked at her from the corner of her eye. "You know what. What have you and Luke been up to during the nights?"

Rose twisted her hands in her lap. "Oh, you know. Getting to know each other better."

Stevie snorted. "Under the covers or on top of them?"

Rose grinned. "A little of both."

"Right. You are being careful, right?" Stevie asked, all humor gone from her voice.

"Yes, Mom. I'm being careful." Rose reached out and laid a hand on her mom's arm. "But he loves me so much, my heart will never be hurt."

"I loved Kane and I was so sure he loved me. Rose, look where I ended up." Stevie sighed. "I just don't want to see you go through the same thing."

"Mom, how many ways can I say this? Luke loves me so much, he has never hesitated to tell me that. I think he would die before he did anything that caused me harm. You saw how he was when I fell at the hotel."

Stevie nodded. "Yes, I remember. I know he loves you, but I still worry. He is a Morgan."

"But the good Morgan," Rose whispered.

Stevie nodded. "Yes, the good Morgan. Take care of him, Rosie."

"I will, Mom." Rose smiled. "Now, about Alex."

"What about him?" Stevie bit her lip to hid her grin.

There was sparkle in her mother's eye that Rose was glad to see. "He loves you. Even a blind man could see that."

"Yes, he does. He always has," Stevie said. "I love him too, but I'm not sure how to tell him."

"Just say it," Rose said. "That's what I did with Luke."

"Imagine me taking advice about love from my own daughter." Stevie shook her head. "What is this world coming too?"

Rose laughed with her mother and for the first time in years felt relaxed. This was what a mother and daughter relationship should be like. Laughter and fun, not tears and pain. She wanted more of this, more easy times. She couldn't wait to be settled into a place and spend time doing mother daughter things. And Kaleb and Kana could grow up in a happy place.

Rose leaned against the window and watched the countryside roll by. She wanted to talk to Luke. When they got to Wilgul she would see if he wanted to go for a ride and see the place. A picnic supper overlooking Wilgul, the sunset and the man who loved her by her side; it was all she wanted.