Time to cool down.
Tuesday Morning Breakfast time
"Morning." Nick offers as Stevie enters the kitchen.
"Yep" She replies shortly.
Kate and Jodi arrived and exchange greetings.
"Stevie we've loaded up the ute so we can get a start on those weeds." Kate offers.
Stevie nods.
The girls look at Nick and he gestures to leave it.
...
Alex appears in the kitchen and Stevie glares at him.
"Good Morning all it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day." He offers brightly.
Grabbing her toast and coffee cup Stevie moves onto the veranda without comment.
Nick says to Alex. "I told you this would come back to bite you on the arse."
Alex screws up his face and mimic's in a child's voice. "I told you this would come back to bite you! Piss off Nick you're not helping."
Nick grins.
...
Kate asks. "Can you fix it Alex we have to work with her?"
He looks vexed and replies. "I could probably cut my own throat in front of her that would make her happy at the moment."
'" Yeah anything's worth a try Alex give that a go." Jodi quips.
He pokes his tongue out at her.
"Oh very mature Alex." Jodi growls.
...
Alex walks out onto the veranda the hot January day already evident in the early morning.
He's hoping Stevie will be there but she's gone already.
Scouring the immediate vicinity he spots her walking towards the sheds.
Grinning he stands for a moment eating his toast and drinking the remains of his coffee.
...
Stevie is chatting to Banjo as she saddles him up.
She notices the horse lift its head and she glance at the floor towards the door and his boots are there.
Stevie can't help but grin knowing he'll be leaning against the door frame watching her.
...
Alex stands nonchalantly watching her ready the horse.
Her tight jeans guiding his eyes over her body.
Her hair shining in the hot morning sun.
He smiles as she flicks the flies from around her face.
She hates the flies.
Her arms are brown and strong the muscles flexing as she lifts the saddle onto the horse's back.
...
"Where are you working today Stevie?" He asks.
Without turning she can tell he's grinning.
"Where ever you're not!" She replies dismissively.
Untying Banjo she walks passed him.
With the reins in one hand she places her foot in the stirrup and lifts herself into the saddle.
Turning Banjo she clicks him into a fast walk.
Alex stands grinning at her and waits.
"I'll come out and help you if you tell me where you're going." He yells.
She turns and canters back to him.
He smile broadens watching her approach.
"I'm going to hell Alex so I'll meet you there ok?" She replies sarcastically a black look on her face.
He smiles and quips. "Watching you ride towards me like that is the best view on Drover's Run and the thoughts that are in my head right now? I'm going to hell as well, no doubt about that."
She turns quickly without comment and canters away.
A huge smile drifts across her face.
Unseen by him.
...
Tuesday Afternoon
Kate, Jodi and Stevie have spent hours pulling out weeds and bagging them up.
They're all hot, thirsty and dirty.
Stevie says. "I think we've done enough for today that sun has some bite in it doesn't it?"
The girls stop and stretch, wiping the sweat from their faces.
"How about we go for a swim?" Stevie offers.
"No I just want to sit and have a cold drink I couldn't be bothered swimming." Jodi offers.
"Yeah same." Kate adds.
Stevie nods and helps them load up the Ute.
Climbing aboard Banjo she says. "I might go for a swim on the way back."
"You shouldn't swim on your own Stevie.' Kate warns.
"Ok I won't." Stevie replies to ease Kate's mind but decides to swim anyway.
...
Tuesday Afternoon in the shade of the veranda of Drover's Run
"How was your day? " Nick asks.
"Yeah not too bad she was quiet but not overly grumpy." Jodi replies.
"Did he turn up? " Tess asks.
"No I haven't sighted him since breakfast." Jodi replies.
Kate walks out with four beers and they sit and enjoy the cold liquid amber
...
Tuesday afternoon Drover's Dam
Alex swims, enjoying the cool water, hoping his hunch is right and she'll come for a swim as the sun rises high in the summer sky.
She shouldn't see his car as it's parked away from the direction she'll come.
He grins when he hears the pounding of horse hooves and hears the jangling of the bit in Banjo's mouth.
Stevie pulls Banjo to a halt and scans the horizon.
...
Grinning she strips to her underwear and climbs up over the dam wall.
She'll strip to her birthday suit for a cooling nude swim once she's sure no one can see her.
The flies buzz around her face and the sweats mingles with the dirt as it runs down her face and back.
"Excuse me this is a private party." His voice like velvet calls to her across the water.
Frowning she looks at him and says. "What are you doing here?"
"Well I was enjoying a swim until you arrived."He accuses.
...
"This is our dam!" She growls.
"Fine!" He says as he stands and begins to walk towards her.
He waits for her reaction.
"You're naked!" She observes.
"Yep but you've seen it all before Stevie so it's not a problem is it?" He quips.
"Yes it is! Get back in the water." She demands.
...
On the inside he smiles knowing she enjoyed the view but is still angry with him.
He pushes onto his back and floats.
"Alex can you turn over!" She orders.
"Make me!" He teases.
She picks up a rock with the intention of scaring him into turning over and is sickened when it hits him in the head the crack heard across the water.
He makes no sound but rolls over onto his face and doesn't move.
...
"Alex!" She calls from the bank.
"Alex stop mucking around." She yells.
He doesn't move and drifts further from the bank.
"Oh God." She says panic rising.
"Alex!" She yells as she runs into the water.
Her feet sticking in the mud retarding her advance.
" Alex!" She screams.
...
...