Past and pain.

Drovers Run….

Jane arrived and pulled up by the shed. Tess wandered out of the shed, wiping her hands on a rag as Jane and the young boy got out of the car, she too noticed the likeness. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Hello." Tess opened.

"Hi, I'm looking for Heath, Harry Ryan said I could find him here."

"Sorry, you are?" Tess enquired as Claire arrived from the house, she had just got off the phone to Harry.

"Hi Jane, I'm Claire." She said as she extended her hand. "Harry just phoned, told me you were on the way, Heath has just left, stalker in tow." She added.

Jane shook Claire's hand somewhat dumbfounded, she didn't let it show.

"Let me guess? Sonya?"

"That's the one, you know her?" Tess asked.

"Oh yeah, it was her that broke us up in Roma, Heath bought another mob of cattle and bolted." Jane said.

"Just like he has done now, reckons he'll be back once he has got rid of her." Claire added.

"Well I've never known Heath to lie." Jane said. "He was always straight up."

"Did he?" Claire trailed off, Jane got her meaning.

"Know about Brad? No." she finished, somewhat sadly.

"Did you want a cup of tea?" Tess offered.

"Thanks." Jane said.

"Excuse me Miss? Could I please use your bathroom?" Brad asked, his voice full of respect.

"Sure. Come with me." Tess said, extending her hand, as they walked up the path Claire heard her say, "So how old are you? You look about 12."

"No Miss, I'm 9." He replied. Claire turned back to Jane,

"Sorry you've come all this way and he's gone."

"That's okay, it's been a bit like chasing a ghost." Jane said thoughtfully, she had been tracking Heath all the way through.

"Let's have that tea." Claire said, hoping she wasn't wrong about Jane.

After the tea was drunk and Brad had kept all the drovers ladies enthralled with his knowledge of cattle and farming, as well as informing them all that he was going to be a drover "just like my Dad." Claire had felt a bit of a stab. Heath already had a family, she wondered if Heath would return when he found out. Jane soon announced that they would move on again and head back to Queensland, hoping to catch Heath along the way. Handshakes and hugs were made by Tess and some of the others. Claire had stood stunned as she shook hands with both Jane and Brad. She wanted to talk to Heath badly, she wished he had a mobile phone.

Miles away, on the Border.

Heath was pushing the mob onwards, he swung the whip lazily. He had to get a shift on, he wanted to make the Post Office and send Claire a letter that he had written. A ute pulled up at the edge of the road. The blonde haired woman behind the wheel yelled out.

"Rodeo tonight Cowboy, you coming?"

"Nah." Heath replied a little frostily.

"Right then." She replied and promptly drove away. Heath couldn't be stuffed with the rodeo scene again. The accident was bad enough, all those know it all's telling him he was no good, and he was nothing, besides, there was no way he was going to leave the cattle for some mongrel duffer to come along and knock em off. He gritted his teeth and squinted in the sun. It had taken far too long to heal after the last bullride had gone wrong.

Drovers Run, days later.

Jodi was checking the mail, nothing but bills and a letter for Claire, she handed the lot to Claire as she walked out.

"Don't say I don't give you anything." She said with a grin.

"Aren't you and Kate meant to be mustering that mob from Skinny Jims across to Little Regret?" She asked pointedly, seeing the letter from Heath.

"Yeah, yeah." Jodi huffed as she stomped off. Claire took the letters to the office, opening the letter from Heath she read.

"My Dearest Claire, I'm sorry I can't be with you, I've had a good run so far, the cattle are moving well and I am hoping to have word any day that Sonya has crossed the border into Queensland and that the Police have got her and she can't hurt me anymore. As soon as I get word, I'll sell the mob and make my way home to you.

I hope all is well there and I can't wait to see you again, but until I do, I guess I'll have to make do with seeing you every time that I close my eyes. I wish you could be out here with me, I'm sure you would love the views, sitting around the fire at night on your own isn't a lot of fun.

I'll write soon beautiful. Until then, look after yourself and know that I love you.

All my love, Heath.

Claire blinked back the tears and stuffed the letter in the desk drawer before walking outside. She jumped in the ute and drove out the driveway, she needed to talk to someone, she headed for Killarney, as she drove quickly down the road there was a loud bang as the tyre blew out on the ute, it slewed to the left and became airborne, rolling a number of times before it came to rest beside a big gum tree. She started to crawl out of the wreck as it exploded, sending her body flying across the road in a shower of smoke, dirt and burning fuel. She came to rest in the table drain. She opened her eyes as a shadow appeared of her.

"Heath." She murmured, pain filled her body, her head pounded right before everything went black.