Alex says "I'll go and talk to her." Regan rises and says "No I don't think that's a good idea Alex." Jodie says "But he's her best friend Regan. He's exactly who she should be talking too!" Jodie looks at Regan and then back to Alex her expression changes and she whispers "Oh Alex no." His eyes glass over and he turns and walks away.
"Bloody hell Regan why didn't you tell me this has all been about him?" Jodie accuses. Regan says "Drop it Jodie it's none of our business!" Jodie yells at her "None of our business of course it's our bloody business Regan! Stevie's our friend. Friends look out for each other My God how did I miss this. Poor Stevie." Jodie turns and runs upstairs. Regan calls after her. "Jodie leave it!"
Alex drives towards Kilarney tears trickle down his face he uses his shirt sleeve to brush them aside. He pulls over to the side of the road as he can't see properly. His heart is heavy and he doesn't know what to do. He's made such a mess of this and doesn't know how to fix it. He leans on the steering wheel and lets the tears come.
Stevie is laying face down on her bed as Jodie knocks softly and says "Stevie are you alright?" "Yep I'm fine." Stevie says. Jodie can hear in her voice that's she's not. Jodie walks over to the bed and sits beside her friend gently she rubs her back and says "Stevie I'm so sorry I didn't know." Stevie sobs, Jodie leans down and hugs her friend, and she kisses the back of her head and cries with her.
Alex has sat beside the road for half an hour and finally drives back to Kilarney as he pulls up his phone rings. "Hello Alex Ryan, yeah Hi Bryce what? No that wasn't part of the deal. No you said silent partner that's not silent, Fine." He hangs up and moves inside.
Marcus is furious as he turns his car back to Kilarney. Entering the front door he finds Alex defiantly glaring at him. Marcus throws his bag onto the floor and says "You've heard! I'm not happy about it either." Alex sneers "What is Bryce playing at?" Marcus growls "You'll get used to this, just one more of his games." Alex huffs off to the kitchen and grabs a beer calling back "Do you want a beer?' Marcus says "Yeah might as well drown my sorrows."
Stevie has cried until there are no more tears to cry she sits up and Jodie embraces her "Oh Stevie I wish I could help." Stevie smiles and says "You could get me a beer." Jodie laughs through her tears and says "I think we might need more than one." Stevie nods and they walk downstairs. Regan looks shocked when they walk in and her eyes well with tears too. Stevie quips "Don't Regan or you'll start me off again." Regan hugs her. Jodie says "We need beer." Regan grabs three beers; Jodie walks out and returns with a cold flannel. "Here I think you need this." Stevie laughs and says "Thanks but I don't think it will help." As she wipes her eyes.
Several days have passed and Marcus and Alex has brought one of Kilarney's horses over for Stevie to work with as she walks towards them Alex says "Hi Stevie!" She replies. "Hi Alex." Then says"G'Day Marcus what are you doing here?' Marcus is thrilled to see her and smiles broadly and says "Bryce thinks Kilarney needs a business manager and I'm it!"
Stevie chuckles and says "Well you look awfully happy for a man who didn't want to stay out here." Marcus beams "Well I get to see you again so there's the silver lining." She laughs and moves over to the horse. Alex isn't happy she's enjoying chatting to Marcus and ignoring him. "He's a bit wild Stevie be careful."
She's takes the lead from him and says. "I know what I'm doing Alex. I'm not stupid." He glares at her and says "I never said you were. Ya can't help ya self can ya always gotta have a dig." She looks at him and wonders why he's cross at her and it makes her angry she's done nothing wrong.
As Stevie moves into the round yard she replies "Oh bugger off Alex what's wrong with you today?" He slams the float door shut and the horse jumps sideways crushing Stevie up against the steel fence as the horse races off around the yard Stevie crumples to the ground. Marcus says "Alex you bloody idiot!" As he scales the fence to stop the horse running over Stevie.
"Stevie!" Alex yells. Jodie and Regan have heard the commotion and come running. Alex is leaning over her "Stevie can you hear me Stevie!" He calls with a lump in his throat. Marcus yells at him don't move her Alex." Alex yells back at him "I know Marcus. Stevie! Stevie!"
She's lying on her side with a big bump and bleeding cut on her forehead and blood coming from her nose she's unconscious. Marcus has moved the horse to another yard and watches as Jodie runs through the gate and pushes Alex and says "Get away from her. You've hurt her enough." She repeatedly hits him and he tries to stop her. Marcus grabs Jodie and says "Calm down Jodie."
Regan is beside Stevie and says. "I think we need an ambulance Alex." He looks at Regan and she can see the hurt and love and sadness in him. Regan places her hand on his arm and says "An ambulance Alex." He stands and rings an ambulance. "No she's unconscious five minutes maybe a little longer, a horse crushed her against a fence...um..a bump and a cut on her forehead and a bloody nose, no we haven't moved her. Yes Drover's Run yes, yes, that's right, Alex Ryan, Kilarney, her friend. Thank you.
Alex moves back over to Regan, Marcus, Jodie and Stevie and kneels down beside her. Alex says. "They'll only be ten or fifteen minutes they got called out to a false alarm near here." Regan says "She still hasn't come around Alex." Alex looks at Regan and says "It's all my fault Regan I slammed the float door shut and the horse took fright." Regan says "It was an accident Alex."
He says "Stevie can you hear me?' I'm so sorry for everything, it's all my fault." Jodie says "Yes it is." Regan says "Jodie you're not helping." Stevie whispers "She's right though."
They all look at Stevie as she moves her hand to her head and feels the bump and blood. "Oh that doesn't feel good." Alex says "What else hurts Cowgirl?"
She looks at him, smiles and says "Why are you gunna kiss it better for me?" He laughs and says "If it helps I will!" "Everything hurts Alex." Stevie whispers as tears begin to slip from her eyes.
Marcus states. "Ambulance is here." Jodie quips. "That was fast." They're all looking at the ambulance as Alex leans over to kiss her so very softly. "Better?" He whispers. She smiles and says."Much."