For the Love of a Man
Kate opened her eyes and immediately wished she hadn't. She was still in the bloody hospital. Bloody malaria. Scolding herself, Kate reached for the remote and raised the bed. With a sigh she slid off the bed, and pushing her IV pole beside her, headed for the bathroom.
Snores from under the window caught her attention and she smiled at the sight of Dave's long frame curled up on the short couch. She had been really mad when he came back. For a few days she had refused to speak to him but when he sent her that huge bouquet of roses and carnations she relented and let him in her room.
In the bathroom she looked in the mirror and sighed. She wished Jodi was there to help make her look nice again. She couldn't wait to get out of the hospital so she could go visit her best friend. She had missed Jodi in the years she had been gone. Of course it would have been rather impossible to see her friend even if she was in the country. But now that Matt and Jodi where free to live their lives she couldn't wait to go back to Drovers.
Except Regan was there. Kate wasn't sure she wanted Dave anywhere near the woman. But then again it was probably Dave who had seduced Regan, not the other way around. He had a way of making a woman melt, she knew. She had felt that way so many times while they had been together. And the day she saw him again she had felt her insides melt and her tongue was tied. He had kissed her, whispered he loved her and said he was sorry. That had been all it took and she was hooked again.
"Kate? Are you okay?" Dave slouched sleepily in the doorway.
She nodded and ran a hand through her tangled hair. "I'm a mess."
"You're a beautiful mess, though." Dave came to stand behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Are you ready to go home?"
"Home to Drovers and then to Africa." Kate turned and laid her head on his chest. "Are Patrick and Tayler really coming with us?"
Dave nodded. "Tayler wants some experience in vet work and I am one of the best."
Kate laughed. "I'm surprised that you're head isn't too big for your shoulders."
Dave frowned and then leaned down to kiss her. Kate melted into his embrace and allowed him to take her away from the pain and weakness she felt.
Two days later Kate stepped from the car and took a deep breath of Drovers' air.
Dave came around her side of the car and wrapped an arm around her waist. "So, you're back."
"I'm back," Kate said with a smile.
"Kate!" Jodi rounded the corner of the house and broke into a run. "Squirt, you look bloody awful."
"Thanks, Stretch." Kate opened her arms and hugged Jodi tight. "Oh, it's so good to be back. Where are Stevie and Regan? And I want to see this baby of Grace's."
Jodi laughed. "They're all busy. Regan and Stevie are moving cattle. Grace is doing something with a horse and the guys are all at Killarney and Wilgul. We have three blissful hours together."
"Hey, what about me?" Dave called as they walked away.
"Go hang out at Killarney," Jodi said over her shoulder. "Come on, Kate. I want you to meet my Katie."
"My little name sake." Kate smiled. "Oh, I've missed this place."
"And this place has missed you." Jodi dragged Kate towards the cottage. "Mum, Kate's here."
Meg stepped out of the cottage and smiled. "Kate, welcome home."
Kate smiled and stepped into Meg's outstretched arms. It felt so good to be back among the people she loved. Jodi had gone into the cottage and now she reappeared with a little girl in her arms.
Kate laughed in delight. The little girl had blond curly hair like her mother. Her eyes were blue but darker.
"Hello, Katie," Kate said. "How are you?"
Katie laughed and tugged on her mother's hair. Jodi pulled her daughter's fingers out of her own curls.
"Come on. We'll go sit at the house and you can hold her." Jodi snagged Kate's hand and dragged her up to the house.
"Slow down," Kate gasped. "I'm not that fit."
"I'm sorry." Jodi stopped by the garden. "I'm just so excited to see you."
Kate nodded and continued up to the house. She knew the way. She had walked this path so many times over the years she lived here. Stepping onto the veranda she sank into one of the whicker chairs.
"Ah, home."
Jodi set Katie in her lap and sat down in another chair. "Are you sure you and Dave can't stay longer than this week?"
"Dave needs to get back home." Kate stroked Katie's curls. "And I kind of miss Africa."
Jodi smiled. "You miss Africa?"
Kate nodded. "Strangely enough. It's different but I really miss hearing lions and seeing the endless savannah."
"The endless paddocks here aren't enough?" Jodi poured some juice into a glass and handed it to Kate.
Kate shrugged. How could she explain how she felt? Jodi was tied to Drovers. She could never leave this place. She kept coming back. But Kate, she was tied to Dave. And he was tied to Africa. So she went to Africa. She only wished she had seen it before. It would have saved so mush heartache.
"Tell me about your time away from here, Jodi. What was it like, not being Jodi McLeod?"
Jodi sighed. "It was awful. I hated every minute of it. But Matt, he stayed strong for us both. It was hard, but together we made it. And it got so much better when we found out Katie was coming. She's our little princess."
Kate smiled. "I think I'd like a little girl. Dave wants a half dozen. I guess being Italian it's expected."
"Do you always do what's expected?" Jodi smiled and took her daughter from Kate.
Kate laughed and shook her head. "No. Neither of us ever did. You were expected to stay here and help Stevie run Drovers. But you didn't. You followed your heart. And I'm doing the same thing."
"The same thing?"
Kate nodded. "Doing things because you love a man more than live it's self. I loved my life here at Drovers and some days I wish I could have it all back. But I need Dave, he keeps me grounded. And I love him, Jodi, I truly do."
Jodi leaned over and patted Kate's hand. "Of course you do. It's hard when you love a man and he keeps taking off. When Matt came back, I couldn't let myself love him at first. I was so scared he would have to leave again. But then I decided that love was greater than fear. And when I finally let myself fall in love, it was the best thing in the world."
Kate smiled and looked out over the vast land before her. So many love stories had hatched and grown here over the years. Claire and Alex, Nick and Tess, Becky and Jake, Alex and Stevie, Jodi and Matt, Ingrid and Marcus, Patrick and Tayler and now herself and Dave.
It was a place of beginnings and endings but mostly it was place that proved that the love of a good man was good enough for anyone.
"What women go through for the love of a man," Kate murmured.
"But it's all worth it in the end." Jodi set Katie down and watched her crawl away to explore one of Meg's flower pots. "We find happiness."
Kate nodded. Jodi was right. That was what counted in the end. Happiness and love, and she had it in spades.
Hours later, after Kate had had her facial and Jodi had done her hair, the house filled with noise as various people came back from chores.
"Kate!" Stevie bundled into the house with a little boy in her arms.
Kate jumped up to hug her friend. "This must be Xander."
Stevie nodded and handed her the boy. "He sure is. Xander, this is Aunt Kate. She's going to go to Africa with Uncle Dave."
Xander grinned and then pointed at the floor. "Down. Mum, me go play with Turbo."
"Alright. But stay by the house." Stevie messed her son's hair as he ran past.
"He looks like Alex," Kate said softly.
"I know. He's my pride and joy."
"I'm sorry I couldn't come to the funeral." Kate squeezed Stevie's hand.
"It's okay. I'm glad to see you. Grace, look who's here."
Kate turned to Grace. Grace grinned and slung an arm around Kate's shoulders. "Hello, Kate. Come see Channing."
Kate followed Grace upstairs and into one of the bedrooms. In the cradle was a baby boy.
"He's adorable," she whispered. "Grace, how did he come about?"
"Through love," Grace said, stroking her son's head. "He's all mine."
Kate looked at Grace but didn't ask. If Grace didn't want to reveal the father then that was her business.
"Grace? Grace?"
"Who's that?" Kate turned to see a blond, heavily pregnant woman standing in the doorway.
"This is my sister Jaz," Grace said.
Recognition dawned on Kate. "Jaz, it's been years."
Jaz nodded hurriedly and quickly gave Kate a hug. "Grace, Regan's sick again. Come help me."
Grace rolled her eyes but followed her sister. "I've never known a woman to be so sick. That bub's going to cause us grief until it's here."
Kate frowned. Regan was pregnant? Dave hadn't said anything about Regan having a man in her life. It had been about five weeks since Dave had been on the area for the wedding. Kate guessed Regan could have had someone by then. But to be pregnant already and know it?
Kate walked slowly down the stairs. Moira met her in the kitchen and gave her a hug.
"Moira, how far along in Regan?" Kate twisted a potato in her hands.
Moira handed her a paring knife. "She's five weeks, Kate."
Kate closed her eyes and dropped her head in her hand. "It's Dave's, isn't it?"
"That's for Regan to answer." Moira leaned over and hugged Kate. "Dave loves you. He left faster than a scalded pig."
Kate nodded. She knew he loved her. But what would he do if he found out Regan was carrying his child?
The back door banged and Regan walked into the kitchen. Her pale face somehow became whiter when she saw Kate.
"Kate." She braced herself against the wall. "I'm sorry."
She turned and Kate could hear her running away from the house. Laying down the potato and paring knife, Kate hurried out after her.
"Regan!" She caught up with her at the cottage. "Regan, talk to me."
Regan slid into a chair. "Kate, I didn't mean for you to see me like this."
Kate smiled wryly. "Regan, I've seen you in worse states."
Regan laughed. "I guess you have. Kate..."
"The baby's Dave's, isn't it?" Kate sat beside Regan and reached for her hand. "You can tell me."
Regan nodded miserably. "It was one night, I swear."
"I believe you. Do you want to tell Dave?"
Regan shook her head and Kate sighed in relief. She didn't want to know what Dave would choose if he knew.
"If I was in your shoes, I wouldn't want him to know either." Regan sighed. "There's not much I can do now."
Kate stood up. "There isn't anything you can do. Let me know when it comes. Congratulations, Regan."
Regan smiled. "Thanks."
Together they walked back to the house. Dave met them on the sidewalk and leaned down to kiss Kate. Kate took his hand, and keeping an arm around Regan's waist she walked up to the house and into the arms of the family that would always love her.
"I love you, Kate." Dave kissed her again before opening the kitchen door.
"I love you too," she whispered. "For the love of a man."
Regan smiled. "He's happy. Let's keep him that way."
Kate nodded. For the love of a man.