In Front of Her Eyes

Jodi rolled over and panicked.

"Matt," she called, throwing back the blankets and rushing from the room. "Matt, where are you?"

"In here, Jodes." Matt poked his head out of the nursery. "Katie woke up. She needed a change and now she's all yours."

Jodi took the baby from her husband and held her close. "I thought you were gone."

Matt frowned. "What? Why?"

Jodi closed her eyes. It was all just a bad dream. "I dreamt we were being chased by that man again."

"Oh, Jodes." Matt wrapped his arms around her. "That time is all over. Those men are all in jail. We're safe."

Jodi leaned into his strong embrace and thanked her lucky stars that he was hers. She knew they were safe but there were still days when she couldn't keep from looking over her shoulder. After spending almost two years running she still jumped at shadows and noises in the night.

"Come on, Katie. Let's get you fed while Daddy makes breaky." Jodi walked back to her room.

"While I'm making breakfast?" Matt laughed.

"Well, if I make it then we'll both be late and I'm sure Marcus won't forgive you again." Jodi changed directions and headed for the living room. "I'll feed her in here, that way you can talk to me."

"And that makes things so much better." Matt rolled his eyes and went into the kitchen. "Omelets?"

"Yes, please. Oh, and some bacon." Jodie tucked her daughter under a blanket and leaned back against the couch.

She looked around the living room of the cottage and remembered all the times she had spent in it with her mother. She had come full circle. She was back in the place she had grown up in. Her daughter was sleeping the room she had once occupied.

The cottage on Drovers' Run was the same as always. After Stevie had moved into the big house, Moira had taken over the cottage. When Jodi and Matt had come back, Moira had graciously offered to move into the house so they could have some privacy. Jodi loved being back in the cottage. It reminded her of her mother.

Meg and Terry were happy living in the city, but Jodi wished they would come back home and they could all be one happy family again. Then again another couple on the farm would make it more crowded.

Ben and Jaz had renovated the shearers quarters into a house of sorts. Taylor and Patrick were going to move to Africa and then Ben and Jaz would move into Wilgul. And with Jaz's baby it was a good thing. The house was filled with Stevie and Xander, Grace and Channing and Regan. Moira was downstairs and the dogs had claimed the back room.

"Hey, Jodi, are you in there?" Stevie opened the door and came inside. "Hey, Matt."

"Stevie." Matt handed a plate to Jodi and sat down beside her. "Did Marcus ring around for me?"

Stevie shook her head. "But you have about fifteen minutes before he does. Jodi, are you up to checking the cows in Skinny Jim's? Taylor reckons something's been at them."

Jodi nodded. "Sure. Just let me get Katie to the house and saddle up Tucker. Is Taylor here?"

Stevie shook her head. "I gave her the day off. Her and Patrick have some stuff to sort yet."

Jodi nodded and stuffed a piece of bacon in her mouth. Matt shook his head and pulled Katie into his lap.

"My little girl is going to learn to eat like a lady." Matt forked a bite of omelet into his own mouth.

Jodi and Stevie both laughed and headed out of the room.

"In this house it's not likely," Stevie said. "Five minutes, hey, Jodes?"

Jodi waved a hand and stuffed her foot into a boot. "Hey, Matt, can you be back on time tonight?"

Matt snorted. "In this business? Yeah right."

"Matt, make it a decent time. And tell Marcus to make it an early night. If all goes well, we'll be attending a wedding."

Matt appeared in the doorway, Katie propped on his hip. "Yeah, how is that going to work? Doesn't a girl usually like to plan her own wedding?"

Jodi rolled her eyes. "Taylor's been talking wedding plans for months now. All we had to do was listen."

"What about a dress?" Matt lowered Katie to the floor. "How do you know what she likes?"

Jodi shrugged. "I still have mine from my failed wedding. She likes it. So she gets to wear it. Hopefully it gets her farther than it did me."

"Well, I for one am glad it didn't get you very far," Matt said softly.

Jodi smiled and standing up wrapped her arms around him. "So am I. I love you, Matt Bosnich."

"And I love you, Jodi McLeod Bosnich." He kiss her soundly and then scooped up Kaite.

He kissed her cheek and handed her to Jodi. "I'll see you later, darlin'. Walk me to my car, Jodi, my dear?"

Jodi nodded and bounced Katie. "Let's go take Daddy out to his car and then we have work to do."

Jodi snagged Matt's hand and walked outside with him. This was what she loved about having her own place. Saying good bye each morning and knowing that when they finished for the day and crawled into bed it would be the same place as the night before.

She kissed Matt and then waved as he drove off. Katie gurgled happily in her arms and gnawed on her fist.

Jodi kissed her daughter's head and sighed. Katie was seven months old and Jodi reckoned she was the most content baby in the world. Reaching into the cottage she grabbed the diaper bag and headed up to the house.

"Hello, Grace." Jodi climbed the steps to the veranda. "How's it going?"

Grace smiled and put Channing in the bassinet. "Things are good. I actually managed to get six hours of sleep last night."

"Unbroken?" Jodi lowered Katie into the playpen and handed her a stuffed dog.

"I wish. But at least I managed to sleep."

"Thank goodness for small miracles." Jodi hip checked Grace and headed for the yards. "Have a good day."

At the yards she joined Regan and Jaz. "Hey, cousins."

"Hi, Jodi." Regan grinned and tightened the girth on Sebastian's saddle.

Jaz just grunted and tossed a saddle pad on her horse.

"What's up with Miss Sunshine?" Jodi asked, heading off to get Tucker.

Regan laughed. "From what I've gathered, she had a bit of a blew with Ben. Don't ask. You might lose your head."

Jodi raised her eyebrows and continued to Tucker's stall. "Hello, boy. How's it going?"

Tucker nodded his head and nuzzled Jodi's arm. She smiled and pulled a halter onto her horse's head. Leading him into the yard she tied Tucker next to Regan's horse. Jaz was still grumbling to herself and her horse stomped a foot.

"Chessie, stand still." Jaz tugged on the mare's reins. "Regan, are you almost ready?"

"Yeah, yeah, hold you horses." Regan stroked Seb's neck and climbed up into the saddle. "See ya later, Jodes."

"If you survive." Jodi waved the girls away and lifted a saddle onto Tucker's back. "Let's go, boy. We have cows to check."

Jodie pushed Tucker into a lope and guided him through the top paddock. Spread out before her was the land she loved. From the top of the hill she could see the house and the barns of Drovers. She turned Tucker around and they galloped down the hill towards Skinny Jim's.

Reaching the end of the field she stopped and looked over the wilderness that had almost taken Matt from her. She shook her head trying to rid herself of those dark imagines that insisted in following her around from place to place.

Why couldn't she let go of the past? They had been safe for almost a year now. She needed to settle down. Matt had. Why couldn't she? Did she worry too much like the girls always said? Or was it something else? Was her sixth sense telling her that what she wanted she could never have?

With a shout she kicked Tucker and the gelding took off at a run. She concentrated on staying on her horse. With the wind whipping her hair she forgot her troubles and gloried in the feeling of freedom.

When she got to Skinny Jim's she pulled Tucker to a slow walk and they moved along the fence line. The cows grazed peacefully, pausing to chew their cud and stare at Jodi and Tucker.

"Well, they don't look very disturbed," Jodi murmured, stroking Tucker's neck. "Must have been some campers going where they shouldn't."

As they rode along the fence, Jodi noticed the cows in the bottom corner start to mill around. Frowning she stood up in the stirrups and peered over the herd. Something moved along the far fence.

"What in the world?" Jodi turned Tucker and rode to the gate. "Come on, boy. Let's go see."

Leaning down she opened the gate and Tucker swung around into the pasture. With practiced ease Jodi shut the gate and rode slowly through the cows. Something was spooking the cattle. The cattle at the front of the field didn't seem bothered but the farther in she went, the more unsettled they became.

"What is up with you silly cows?" Jodi asked as she passed another skittish heifer.

She reached the edge of the milling bunch of cows. Something moved on the other side of the fence. It was brown and the sun glinted off of something white. Tucker started at the sound of snorting and snuffling. There was a squeal and one of the cows bellowed in pain and came rushing through the crowd.

There was blood running from a gash on her leg. Tucker side stepped the cow and Jodi moved him to herd the cow away from the rest.

"Feral pigs," she muttered. "Bloody mess. Now what?"

Jodi looked around helplessly. She couldn't do anything for the cow in Skinny Jim's. It needed to go back to the yards but she couldn't leave the rest of the herd. As the cows hurried around in a panic she saw more with half healed wounds and a few with scars. Why had no one noticed before?

"There's nothing to do but move them, Tucker." Jodi kicked Tucker in the side and guided him around the herd. With a shout she started them towards the gate. She had to move the cattle now before the pigs got the better of them.

As she rounded the back of the herd she saw the rest of the pigs. The old boar grunted and pawed the ground. Three sows and a bunch of piglets rooted behind him.

"A whole herd. Not good. Come on, Tucker. Let's move these cows."

An hour later she galloped into the yard. "Stevie! Regan!"

"Jodes, what's up?" Stevie hurried out of the shed, Regan right behind her.

"Feral pigs in Skinny Jim's." She slid off of Tucker and bent over trying to catch her breath. "The cows got into their nest and the old boar's attacked some."

"Regan, call Russ and grab some guns out of the cupboard. Jodi, get Moira to pack us some food. Tell Jaz were the cows are and she can help Russ when he gets here. Grace can sort out Tucker." As Stevie gave out orders she hurried to the truck. "Snap to it, girls. We've got pigs to shoot."

"For real this time." Regan grinned before headed into the house.

Jodi laughed as she followed her cousin. She couldn't help it when she remembered the look on Regan's face when they started shooting around her mine testing strip. Their excuse had been wild pigs.

"Grace, can you brush down Tucker?" Jodi raced across the porch. "Moira, we need some food. For three. We've got some wild pigs in Skinny Jim's."

Scooping Katie into her arms she hugged her daughter. "Mommy's going to go shoot some pigs, Katie dear. You tell Daddy I'm off protecting the family."

Moira laughed as she headed inside. "Daddy will be very happy to hear that. Shall I call Killarney?"

Jodi shrugged. "Stevie's orders didn't include calling Killarney. I'll ask. You be a good girl, Katie."

She put Katie back into the playpen and went back to find Stevie.

"Hey, Stevie. Do you want me to call Killarney?" Jodi found Stevie adding petrol to the truck.

Stevie shook her head. "Not now. Take the sat phone. If we take longer than an hour we'll call them. Besides, we have a wedding tonight."

Jodi grinned and helped Regan load the guns into the tuck. Jaz came around the corner, her face dark.

"Still at odds with Ben, Jaz?" Jodi asked.

"If you must know, yes." Jaz leaned against the truck. "How come you get to go shoot pigs and I have to help Russ bandage cows?"

Stevie looked pointedly at Jaz's stomach. "I'd think it was obvious."

Jaz stomped her foot. "Stop treating me as if I'm a piece of china."

"Jaz, you're five months pregnant. You can't be traipsing off after pigs," Jodi said. "Trust me, after that baby's here you'll be glad that we made you rest so much."

"But that's just it," Jaz whined. "I'm sick of resting. I want to do something."

"Helping Russ is doing something." Stevie patted Jaz on the shoulder as she passed. "Moira, thanks for the food. Don't bother Killarney. They have lots of work to do. Come on, girls. Let's go. See you later, Jaz."

Jodi waved at Jaz and settled back in her seat. "I haven't been pig hunting in ages. Actually come to think of it, I haven't shot a rifle in ages. Couldn't exactly go running around with guns."

Stevie patted Jodi's leg. "Well, you can shoot to your heart's content now. Just make sure you hit something."

"Stevie! I'm not that bad of a shot."

"I am," Regan muttered.

Jodi laughed. "By the end of this hunt, you'll be a pro."

Regan just shook her head and sorted through the eskie Moira had packed. "You'd think we were staying out all night instead of a few hours."

"With pig hunting you never know." Stevie pulled onto the stock route. "I hope those pigs haven't moved, Jodi or this could be a very long day."

Jodi braced herself for the ride. As they careened down the stock route she realized that this was what she had missed. The chance to kick back and relax with other women who understood the struggles of running a cattle and sheep station. This was what she wanted.

"I'm glad we came back here instead of going to live in the city," Jodi said.

"We're glad you came back too." Steve laughed and slowed down. "This place just isn't the same without you."

"Aah, thanks, Stevie."

Stevie laughed again and parked the truck. "We walk from here. Where exactly were they?"

Jodi pointed to the bottom corner of Skinny Jim's. "Out there by that old tree. They've been there for awhile."

Regan grabbed the cooler and a gun. "Let's go shoot some pigs."

"Try to get the boar first. It'll be easier to chase off the sows if the boar is dead." Stevie opened her rifle and peered down the barrel. "Who used this last?"

Jodi shrugged. "I don't know. Mine's clean."

"Well, this one isn't. Let's hope it still works. Tomorrow we clean all the guns and take inventory on the ammunition."

Regan rolled her eyes. "That's not on this week's roster."

"Well, add it. Get Grace to do it. She can clean guns and watch Channing at the same time. Now hush. We don't want the pigs to know we are coming."

Jodi grinned at Regan. She really had missed Stevie while she was gone. Stevie was like a sister, an older bossy sister and Jodi loved her for it.

As they settled in to wait for the pigs to appear, Jodi realized that what she wanted had been in front of her eyes for so long. This was her home, her place of comfort, her safety net. She knew that no matter what happened, whether she stayed here until she died or even if she had to leave again, Drovers would always be waiting for her. And the people that called it home would welcome her with open arms.

She knew that they would always protect her. Even if someone came looking for her and Matt the people of Gungellan would keep their whereabouts hidden. She had no reason to fear. This was her home and always would be.

A bang startled her and she jerked back.

"Got him," Stevie crowed.

There was another bang and a sow fell to the ground beside the boar.

"Come on, Jodes. Let's see what you've got."

Jodi grinned and sighted down the barrel. Steadying her breath she gently pulled the trigger and watched as another sow fell to the ground. The remaining sow squealed and took off, the piglets at her heels.

"And that is how it is down," Jodi said, lowering her weapon.

"Good on you, Jodes."

Regan lightly punched her and smiled. "What are going to do with them now?"

"Cook them." Stevie started forward and knelt by the boar. "They'll make a good barbeque for tonight. Let's get them back to the house."

"What about the other sow?" Regan looked towards where the sow and piglets had disappeared.

"Leave them. She won't be back for awhile." Stevie tossed the keys to Jodi. "Get the truck, will you?"

Jodi nodded and walked back to the truck. Yes, this was her home. For the first time since she had gotten back, she didn't feel the need to look over her shoulder. She looked around and saw the land with new eyes. It wasn't a place trying to hurt people, it was a place of safety for them. Here she would always be safe. Here she would raise Katie and hopefully more children with Matt.

Jodi took a deep breath and walked faster, a spring to her step. The weight that had dragged her down for so long was gone. She was free.