As they came closer to Drover's Alex could see the tension building in Stevie. He reached out and took her hand in his.
"It'll be okay." He brushed his lips across her knuckles and turned into the driveway.
Jodi was fixing a gate and she stared curiously at the truck.
"Do you want to stop and say hi?" Alex asked, slowing down as they bumped over the cattle grate.
Stevie nodded and Alex put the truck into park. Rolling down the window he yelled at Jodi. "Hey, Jodes!"
Jodi's face brightened as she smiled. "Alex! You're back."
Dropping the spanner she hurried over the fence and towards the truck.
Stevie stepped out of the truck and Jodi squealed. Alex laughed as the two women hugged and Jodi's excited chatter filled the air.
"Stevie! It's so good to see you."
"Oh, Jodes, I've missed you. You looked awful." Stevie took a step back.
"I haven't had time to make myself presentable in weeks. Tess couldn't do as much, what with the baby coming and Regan's still learning. I'm so glad you're back."
Alex leaned out of the window. "Jodi, do you want to ride to the house with us? Stevie really wants to see Tess."
Jodi nodded and clambered into the back seat. "Hey, who's seats are these?"
Alex looked at Stevie. "Kaleb and Kana's."
"Who?" Jodi settled between the two car seats.
"My son and daughter." Stevie turned in her seat. "Kane and I had two children."
"Oh, Stevie, that's wonderful. Where are they?"
"Rose and Luke are watching them at Wilgul," Stevie said.
"Luke?" Jodi frowned. "What's he doing back here?"
"He's been living with us since we left. He's with Rose now." Stevie tried to smile. "Luke's changed, Jodes. If it wasn't for him, I might not be here today."
"I've moved on from him." Jodi punched Alex's shoulder. "Alex, Rob didn't say you were coming back today."
"He didn't know, Jodi. Though I'm surprised you all weren't at Wilgul waiting to welcome us." Alex pulled the truck up to the house. "We went to the pub for lunch. The old Gungellan grapevine is not working so well anymore."
"We haven't exactly had time to be listening to the old gossip mill. Unless it has something to do with cattle sales." Jodi huffed and clambered out of the truck. "Tess! Tess, they're here!"
"Well," Alex said as he helped Stevie out of the truck. "You're back."
Stevie smiled. "It feels good."
The front door creaked open and a pale Tess appeared in the doorway. "Stevie."
Stevie let go of Alex's hand and hurried to her friend. "Tess. Oh, it's so good to see you."
Alex smiled. Those two belonged in the same district. No one who saw the way they held each other could deny it. Tears streamed down his sister-in-law's face as she drew Stevie into the house. Stevie wrapped her arms around Tess and held on tight.
"Is that her?"
Alex turned and saw Regan, dirt caked on her pants and streaked across her face, walking towards him. He nodded. "That's Stevie."
"She's pretty," Regan said. "How is she?"
"Sore." Alex followed Regan around to the veranda. "But she's going to be okay."
Kate was setting out glasses and a plate of cookies. "Hello, Alex."
"Hey, Freddi," Alex snagged a cookie.
Kate smiled at him and sat down. Regan sat beside her and poured some juice into a glass.
"Now that Stevie is here, does that mean you won't need me?" Regan asked, picking at the mud on her clothes.
Kate laughed drily. "Regan, even with Stevie back, Tess will still be out. And I don't think Stevie is going to be up to much work for awhile. You'll always be needed here."
Alex smiled at the newest McLeod. "Besides, the land is in your blood now. You can't leave."
Regan smiled and he patted her leg. Stevie and Tess came out onto the porch. Both women's faces bore traces of tears but they were smiling.
"Hello, Kate."
Kate squealed and hurried to hug Stevie. "Stevie! It's so good to see you."
"And you, Kate. Oh, I've missed you all."
"Oh, Stevie, this is my cousin Regan," Tess said, standing next to Regan's chair. "Regan, this is Stevie Hall, our dear friend."
"Hello, Regan. Welcome to the family," Stevie said, reaching down to shake Regan's hand.
"Thank you. And welcome back." Regan smiled shyly.
Alex reached out and snagged Stevie's hand. He pulled her down beside him on the bench. "So, have you and Tess caught up?"
Stevie laughed. "Not by a long shot. I called Wilgul. Rose and Luke are coming over with the kids. I want them to meet their aunts."
Jodi and Tess smiled. Kate and Regan just looked stunned and confused.
"Who's kids?" Kate asked. "And Rose is with you?"
Stevie nodded. "Rose came to live with Kane and I when we first got married. And the kids are mine."
Kate grinned. "More little Stevie's running around. Oh, joy."
"Hey, they're not that bad." Stevie laughed and reached over grasp Tess's hand. "I'm so glad to be back. I've missed this place and you, all of you."
Jodi wiped a tear from her eye and grabbed another cookie. Moira came up the garden path, yawning.
"Have they gotten you roped into this place too?" Stevie rose from her seat to hug the older woman.
Moira hugged her back and followed Stevie onto the porch. "I needed a place to stay and so I've taken over for Meg. When they let me. Who baked these cookies?"
She snagged a biscuit and sat down beside Tess.
"I did," Tess said. "I'm nesting."
"Oh no, you're not. It's too early to be doing that. You were bored, admit it." Moira glared playfully at the pregnant woman.
Tess shrugged. "I'm bored. Stevie, you have to come keep me company."
"Hey, I want her sometimes too," Alex protested. "You can't keep her all to yourself."
Stevie laughed and leaned into his embrace. "There's enough of me to go around."
Laughter filled the porch and everyone relaxed. Conversation flowed easily and it was almost like Stevie had never left. Alex found himself losing the thread of the conversation as he watched Stevie glow in the attention of her friends, her family.
He dragged himself back in time to hear Jodi ask after Rob.
"I haven't been back to Killarney yet. Why do you ask?"
Jodi shrugged. "Just wondering. I haven't seen him in a couple of days."
"Has he made it a habit of stopping by?" Alex teased.
Jodi shook her head. "No. I guess I haven't been riding the same fence line as him."
She changed the conversation and Alex allowed her too. He tried to figure out how to get into the head of his overseer. The man knew what he was doing when it came to running a farm but he had no social skills to speak of.
Jodi was like a sister to him and he didn't want her hurt when Rob didn't return her feeling or explain his feelings.
"Are you alright, Alex?" Stevie whispered.
He nodded and squeezed her hand. "Just glad to be back."
She smiled and kissed his cheek before turning to answer Jodi.