Drovers Run...The Wild life corridor.
Before the girls spot him Alex has quietly rolled towards them.
Finally nearing the bottom of the hill he kicks the bike into gear.
" Bloody hell Kate it's Alex." Jodi remarks.
"What? Where'd he come from?" Kate exclaims.
" Doesn't matter now she's spotted him." Jodi adds.
...
" Stevie how are you?" Alex calls bringing the bike to a stop beside her and Banjo.
" Ha like you care. Aren't you afraid I'll try and murder you too." She snarls .
" It wasn't me Stevie honestly." Alex replies.
She shakes her head and looking around tightens her reins before calling ." Come on you lot push em up I don't want to be out here all day."
Looking back at him she states." Get off my property."
...
" Stevie please I need to talk to you. I know you'd never hurt Harry. I never dobbed you in." He pleads.
" I have nothing to say to you Alex and how do you know I wouldn't hurt him. I had enough reasons to want him gone." She snaps.
"I know you wouldn't hurt him because he was important to me and you'd never do anything to hurt me. You'd rather hurt yourself than me." He states softly.
He sees the change in her body language so pushes on." He warned you off didn't he."
" It doesn't matter Alex everything's changed." She answers.
...
"I dreamt about you on the way to Argentina." He states.
" I bet Baby was thrilled about that."
" I dreamt about Claire too." He pushes.
He hears her inhale and sees her glassy eyes at the mention of their friend.
" I wish she was here, I could use a friend."
" You've got me." He offers.
...
She glances at him and his heart shreds seeing her so sad.
Shaking her head she replies softly before moving ." No Alex once we were friends but that's changed now. I could be going to jail go home to you're wife. I can't be around you anymore."
"But I need you." He responds in a sad low voice.
Pulling Banjo up she puts her her hand palm up to him and snaps." No Alex I can't do this, it's too late. If I mean anything at all to you then please just leave me alone."
She rides on ahead.
He's about to follow when Jodi rides alongside." Haven't you hurt her enough. Leave her alone Alex ,for christsakes leave her alone."
He stops the bike.
The mob and the riders move on.
...
Kilarney..
Fiona has turned it on for the CWA ladies and is playing Mrs Ryan for their benefit.
Out in the kitchen she skillfully arranges afternoon tea on the platters as Sandra harasses her at every turn.
Tensions are high.
Sandra flips an envelope onto the bench and states ." One Mrs Ryan , Two Mrs Ryan's , three Mrs Ryan's , Four Mrs Ryans but which one is infertile."
Fiona looks stunned as she retrieves the letter.
" Hmm lets see. Liz is too old and she had Nick and Alex so it isn't her, Tess has just had baby Claire so it's not her. I lost a baby but am capable of having more so that just leaves you Fiona doesn't it? Alex will be thrilled no children for him from his barron wife." Sandra torments.
" Haven't you got a steep cliff to drop off Sandra' Fiona snarls.
Sandra places her hand on her chest and in her haughtiest voice asks." Mrs Ryan please that's hardly hospitable."
...
In the living room Sandra sits quietly watching Fiona's preformance and quietly offers." Oh Fi that document I gave you earlier I meant to let you now I made a copy for safe keeping."
Fiona looks flustered when Alex appears at the door.
"Baby I'm so glad you're here." Fiona gushes.
" I want an annulment Fiona. Bryce is drawing up the papers and will post them to you. You lied to me Fiona about being pregnant but I was willing to forgive you that and try to make our marriage work but this! When were you going to tell me you're infertile ? I married you because I thought you were carrying my child ? You knew I wanted a family. I could have loved you enough without children Fi but lying to me ! I can't accept that. " He snarls as he holds up a letter.
"But!" Fiona begins.
As he turns he growls." I want you off Kilarney by nightfall or I'll have you arrested for trespassing."
Amidst the shocked mutterings of the gathered women Sandra snidely remarks as Alex leaves the room." Oops I must have left that on his desk sorry."
...
Fiona's face contorts as she grabs a handful of Sandra's hair screeching ." You bitch."
Dragging the two women apart Alex yells" Enough the pair of you . There is nothing lady like about this behaviour ."
Letting them go he grabs at his face as Fiona drags her nails across it.
" You bastard." She yells at him .
...
Women quickly exit the homestead full of gossip and shock.
Beth Martin calls for calm and discretion.
Alex is well liked and they're all sympathetic to his heartache.
First he'd lost Claire and now this.
" He should have stuck with Stevie at least she's honest." Old Prue Reynolds offers.
" But she's going to jail." Meg Pierce suggests.
"She hasn't got a mean bone in her body if she's found guilty I'll run down the Main Street naked." Beth Martin comments.
Alex appears on the front veranda holding a cloth to his bleeding cheek. " Ladies can I have a word please"
They quietly mill about as he speaks to them.
...
