Did I say I love reviews? Anyway, let me know what you think, and don't be afraid this story will not end any time soon. I have heaps of chapters in store.


Chapter 11.
'Isn't Marcus eating with us?', Stevie asked rather curious to see Ingrid sitting with her at the kitchen table cutting carrots and not mentioning anything about her boyfriend. She didn't look at the blonde now trying to feed Xander as he sat in the little chair next to her.

Grace took a sip of her water, instantly feeling her grip tighten around her glass with this specific question. She leaned against the kitchen counter and could feel the dirt all over her face and neck, keen to take a quick shower before dinner. Ingrid shortly turned her head, looking at the McLeod. 'It's good to spend a bit of time apart', she just spoke, looking at Stevie now.

The red head frowned; 'everything okay between the two of you?' She know swept away the food gathered around her son's mouth.

'Oww, we're great', Ingrid spoke with enough enthusiasm, but moving unsure on the wooden chair. Obviously Grace's presence was far from making her feel comfortable. 'We just take things slow'. She hoped it would be enough, that it would satisfy Stevie curiosity, quickly chopping another carrot.

Stevie looked up, and met Grace's gaze shortly, who felt too much anyway. 'I better get take a shower, see yah.' She quickly left the room, causing Stevie to stare at Ingrid.

'You're sure everything is okay?'

Ingrid formed a sweet smile; 'oh don't worry Marcus and I are going well. But we figured it wouldn't be all this easy on Grace to see us constantly together. After dinner I'll go to Killarney.' Her smile now grew.

Stevie grinned; 'good, and I know how tough it must be for Grace. Better not rub it in. I'm glad you two are fine.' She had caught Ingrid's wrist, pinching it lightly in a supportive way, pressing out a caring smile.

***

'This is getting weird', Regan spoke, as she walked into the Drovers kitchen minutes later.

'What?', Stevie mumbled, stealing a piece of carrot to stick in her mouth. She sat easily on her chair, now one feet on Ingrid's chair, now that the blonde had taken her position behind the stove.

Regan forced Stevie to put her foot to the floor, sitting down on the chair; 'Skinny Jim's; the fencing is cut. First the boundary paddock two days ago, now completely at the other side of the property.'

'It's not like we're missing any cattle', Jaz spoke as she said down opposite to her sister. 'But we better check all fencing tomorrow, who knows there is a part completely cut open. We can't take the risk of losing any cattle. Better check on the mob in Little Regret first thing tomorrow.' She took her chance to also pick a piece of carrot.

'We live on that mob. The sales are next week, the only chance of us staying out of the red zone', Stevie spoke; 'do we miss anything else; equipment?'

Regan already shook her head; 'no, besides what on earth would they have to steal from us? They would pick Killarney without a doubt.' She sighed deeply, resting her face into the palm of her hand.

Ingrid turned around, for a moment stopping to stir into the pan in front of her; 'Killarney is full with cameras, no one would even think to burn their hands there. So far haven't heard anyone else about this fence cutting, maybe just some youth with way too much free time on their hands.' She now tasted her soup sipping carefully at a spoon filled with the hot liquid.

'Oh come on, they even have better things to do. Why would they do that?', Regan muttered, sliding lower onto the table. It had been a long day.

'Someone who likes to bug us with extra work', Jaz spoke, chewing on another carrot.

'Hey, I need all that carrot for my soup!', Ingrid let out, ticking Jaz on her fingers when she picked another one.

Stevie rested back in her seat, not noticing how Xander now played with his spoon, spreading food all over the plate of his baby chair. 'If there's another fence being cut we better call the police. It's weird. They might be cattle thieves after all … Xander!' She quickly took the spoon out of the boy's hand; 'you naughty one, now it's all dirty, yuk, yuk …', she spoke to the child, which made the others grin.

'I wonder where he got that from', Regan chuckled.

'Not me, I tell you. Must be your daddy's genes', Stevie spoke, now trying to clean the plate, and Xander. Regan gave Jaz a quick look, noting her sister was thinking the exact same thing. If Stevie started talking like this, maybe she was ready after all.