"It's about time you turned up." Bryce says as Alex walks into the kitchen. Alex looks at him and says "What are you doing here and since when do I need to report to you?" "Good morning Rhonda?" Alex says cheerily. She smiles at him and says "Good Morning Alex. How's Stevie?" Alex replies "She's a bit of a mess actually, broken foot, wrist and a bump to her head plus major bruising."
Bryce looks annoyed and says "Alex I need to speak to you privately." Alex looks at Bryce and then at Rhonda who is making biscuits nearby. "Bryce I'll be with you in a minute. I'd like to have something to eat if you don't mind." Alex looks back at Rhonda and says. "It's my fault Stevie was injured." Rhonda smiles and says. "I'm sure it was an accident Alex." He replies "I slammed the float door and the horse spooked and crushed her against the fence."
Rhonda says "Are you going back to see her?" Alex nods and says "Yeah after I finish my work here, I'm going to help out on Drover's for a couple of hours then I'll head back and keep her company like last night." Rhonda asks "If I package up some of these biscuits do you think she'd like them?"
He smiles and says "I'm sure she'd love them Rhonda thank you." While he's been talking he's made himself a sandwich and a coffee. Alex sits and begins to eat. Rhonda says "Mr Redstaff would you like a coffee?" Bryce smiles at her and says "Rhonda you can call me Bryce and I will have one but I can get it myself thanks." Bryce sits at the table with Alex and silently drinks his coffee."
"Now what's so bloody important that you had to rush out here Bryce?" Alex says as he walks into the office. "You've just had to pay out a huge divorce settlement and its sounds like you're ready to move on and I thought I'd have a chat to you." Bryce drawls.
Alex looks annoyed and says "Don't think because you own a quarter of Kilarney that you have the right to stick your nose into my personal life, you may be my Father but you haven't earned the right to interfere or advise Bryce." Bryce grins and says. "Alex before you jump to conclusions let me say this. I've always liked Stevie much more than I ever liked Fiona."
Alex sits looking at him wondering where this is going. Bryce continues "I was wondering how Stevie will cope with her injuries and how the girls will cope without their Boss?" Alex is surprised by Bryce's concerns and says "I'm not sure exactly but I'll help at Drover's as much as I can and I was hoping Stevie would come here so I can take care of her as I'm responsible for her injuries. Why?"
Bryce says "Well I'd like to help if I can!" Alex scoffs." Thanks but no thanks Bryce I've already been burned by you, once with the silent partner and then surprise you've got a brother I think that's enough for me!"
Bryce says "Alex I'm sorry you feel you've been deceived it was unintentional." Alex looks at him and says. "You didn't even have the guts to tell me about Marcus." "Please forgive me for my past errors of judgement I'd like to start again Alex and I'd like to be a part of your life. I want to help now as a new chapter in your life begins and I promise if I do wrong by you I will never contact you again."
Alex looks at him thoughtfully and says "How do you think you can help?" Bryce says "Well I'm not really sure as I'm not a farmer; I was hoping you could advise me on what would be our best course of action."
Alex is quite stunned at Bryce's offer but is also wary and so he says "I'd like to talk to Stevie first and get back to you if that's ok?" Bryce nods and says. "Fine I'll be back out in a couple of days and we can discuss it then. Do you think Stevie would mind a visit from me?"
Alex looks at him and says. "I guess it would be ok but please don't upset her and don't mention our conversation until I've had a chance to speak to her. She's a very proud woman and may not accept our help." Bryce agrees.
Marcus is out working with Riley and talk turns to Drover's Run. Marcus says "How will the girls cope without Stevie?' Riley says "They'll be ok Alex and I will help as much as we can at least it's not a busy time of year." Marcus nods and says "Do you think they'd let me help?' Riley looks at him and says "What do you think you can help with?" Marcus grins and says "I haven't always pushed pens around Riley. I worked as a jackaroo up north for awhile." Riley nods and says "Ok you might be helpful."
Marcus says "So did you know about Alex and Stevie?' Riley says "Mate I think you need to ask Alex about all of that." Marcus looks at him and says "Riley I'm not asking for details I just want to understand what I've stepped into the middle of?" Riley says "Stevie and Alex are best friends Marcus they've known each other since they were teenagers they met on the rodeo circuit with Claire McLeod."
Marcus says" Claire McLeod?" Riley answers "Claire was Tess and Jodie's eldest sister, Stevie's best friend and Alex's girlfriend." Marcus says "So where is she?" Riley answers "She died a few years back in a car accident on the day Alex was going ask her to marry him." Marcus says "Oh that's terrible." Riley says "I wasn't here then but Jodie told me it was a really bad time for all of them, Stevie was just passing through and Claire asked her to stay and work just as well because Claire died soon after, Stevie stuck around and helped pull them all through it all. She kept Drover's running and helped Alex deal with it all."
Marcus asks "So Stevie and Alex got together then?" Riley laughs and says "No Marcus they were just mates for years really good friends. You haven't seen them how they were not even I have. Jodie told me that they're hilarious and instinctive with each other. I don't know when she fell in love with him or him with her but it was long before Fiona arrived on the scene. Everyone in the district assumed they'd end up together and most assume they've always been more than friends." Marcus looks at him and says "What do you think?' Riley says. "Once you get to know Stevie you'll realize she's not like that and I'd bet they've never slept together." Marcus is shocked. "So you don't think Stevie was the third person in the marriage?" Riley says "Stevie wasn't the other woman Marcus, Fiona was."
Alex is sitting at Drover's Run and has his phone up to his ear. "Hello Michelle? Alex Ryan not too bad I was wondering if Rose is there if I could talk to her please Thanks. Hi Rose yes I'm not too bad what about yourself. That's good. What about school? That's good Rose. Yeah that's what I'm ringing for Stevie's got a broken ankle yes a horse no she's had surgery and has a pin in it and her wrist is broken too yes. Yes I thought you would yes she's very bruised too. It was my fault Rose I slammed the float door shut and the horse spooked and crushed her up against the fence. Yes. I thought you'd like to come and visit her. Yes, no, fly and I'll pick you up in the morning, yes I'll email the details I think I have it at home ok yes I'm going to get changed and go soon. Yes no I'll wait until you get there. Yes me too. Hey Rose if you're on holidays would you like to stay and help the girls? Yes that's right. Ok I'll see you in the morning.
Alex is hard at work when the girls arrive home. He stands and stretches and walks towards the car. "Hi Girls how's Stevie?" Regan says "Not a good day for her she's really sore and getting impatient to get up and out and they won't let her yet." Jodie quips she was pretty happy with her delivery though. He grins and says "I thought she'd like them." Regan says "What time are you going back Alex?"
He grins and says." Well I wanted to speak to you both first. What can I do to help long term with the farm and I was wondering how you'd feel about me taking Stevie back to Kilarney to recuperate?" Jodie says "Moira's coming out to help and we thought we'd see if we can manage to hire someone as we haven't replaced Kate yet? As far as her recuperating with you that's up to her not us."
Alex says "Well Riley and I figured we can help a few hours each day so hopefully that'll help too and Rose is coming for a couple of weeks. Jodie says "How do you know that?" He replies "I rang her to tell her about Stevie and asked her if she'd help and she said she'd love too." Regan asks "When does she arrive?' Alex smiles and says "I'll pick her up from the airport in the morning, if you're talking to Stevie please don't tell her it's a surprise." They agree and he heads for home and the hospital.