Drovers Run….

As the rain pours down in torrents Tess tries to drag her muddy feet through the horse yards.

Behind her Claire grumbles. "Stop messing around Tess I'm going out tonight and I'd like to get ready if you'd get out of my way."

With a mixture of anger and amusement Tess turns and playfully shoves her sister.

Claire slides and plops unceremoniously into the mud, landing on her bottom.

Tess laughs and laughs and laughs.

Initially angry Claire lifts her muddied hands up and with a smirk hurls a large handful of mud at her sister.

It smacks into the centre of Tess's face.

Her laughter silenced; she coughs.

Wiping the muck from her face she stands as her sister cackles loudly.

"Right!" Tess exclaims as she bends to grab mud and launches herself at her sister.

…..

Killarney….

Nick strides into the kitchen showered and dressed only from the waist down.

Liz hands him the shirt she was ironing and comments. "What time will you be home tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure Mum it'll depend on what happens at the sales."

Harry enters with Rose holding his hand. "Grandma we're hungry."

Liz smiles as Rose let's go of Harry's hand and rushes into Liz's outstretched arms.

Straightening back up Liz accepts the beautiful hug and questions." Is Granddad hungry?"

"Yes, and me too." Rose replies pointing at herself.

"Well Rhonda made some biscuits earlier how about we get a few of those?" Liz asks.

Rose nods with a big smile on her face.

…

"Heard anything from the honeymooners?" Harry enquires.

"No not a peep." Liz replies.

"Why would you? They're on their honeymoon for goodness sakes. If it was me, you wouldn't hear a word either." Nick adds with a smirk on his face.

Harry grins, Liz tut tuts them then they all have a chuckle.

"I just thought Stevie would ring to see how Rose is." Liz states.

As he finishes buttoning his shirt and tucking himself in Nick replies. "You should be very proud and grateful Mum, obviously Stevie feels very confidant and comfortable with the care her little girl is getting and doesn't need to check up on you."

Liz smiles and puffs out her chest.

The phone rings.

Harry answers it.

Nick and Liz know by the conversation that it's Stevie.

Harry gestures to Liz.

Hello!

Hi Liz. How are you? How's Rose? Oh, I'm so pleased I wanted to ring earlier but I thought you'd feel like I didn't trust you. I mean you reared Alex and Nick so you have so much more experience than me.

She's wonderful Stevie she's such a good girl and we're all having so much fun with her.

Oh is she. I miss her .

I'm sure you do but she is fine she's been on supply runs, to a CWA afternoon tea and we even had dinner at the pub with Jack and the girls so she could have cuddles with her Grumpy.

We went Skydiving I was so scared but once it was over I felt amazing .

What's that?

Skydiving? Really! oh I could never do that.

Are you alright? And Alex?

I'll put him on

Hello my darling it's sounds like you're having a marvellous time .

We are Mum but we're both missing Rose she's such a big part of our lives.

Liz speaks for a bit longer then hands the phone to Harry .

…

Drovers Run ….

Nick passes Dave as they both move along the driveway.

Nick waves.

Dave doesn't.

Arriving at the house he enters expecting to find Claire ready for their date but finds Tess sitting at the table crying.

"Are you alright? "

Her voice whispers. "Not really . Claire isn't here."

"Can I help you in anyway?"

Standing up Tess grabs herself a tissue .

Wiping her tears, she then blows her nose.

" I broke off with Dave because I have feelings for someone else and that's not fair to him."

"Oh."

"Claire said for you to go without her. "

" No it's ok , I can't leave you like this . Where is she?" He offers.

"She's at the stables, some guy she met came over to talk horses with her."

Nick looks angry but offers." I'll be back in a minute."

….

On the road to Fisher….

Wiping her tears Tess glances sideways at Nick.

She was a bit confused as to how she managed to be on her way to Fisher but here she was.

Beside her Nick is deep in thought.

Now and again he glances at his phone on the dashboard.

No one can ring him as he'd removed the battery.

….

"Are you ok? "

" No but I will be."

" What happened?"

" I don't want to talk about it Tess ok?"

" Ok but if you're fighting with my sister I'd like to know . I mean is she going to misconstrue my going to the sales with you?"

Tess is stunned as he pulls over quickly.

" Do you want me to take you back?"

Tess frowns and replies." I'd like you to talk to me ."

…..

Rubbing his hand across his face he then stares out across the steering wheel.

" I was pissed off because Claire was supposed to come with me and she didn't even have the decency to tell me. So I went to front her . She was kissing that bloke."

Tess's mouth drops open in shock.

Reaching over she places her hand on his arm and says." Nick I'm so sorry."

Without warning he reaches out and draws her into a kiss.

Time passes.

Leaning back away from each other Tess remarks." Well!"

Nick slowly looks at her.

She grins at him.

He grins back.

…..