Drovers Run…..Months later ...
Tess waddles towards the car as Nick finishes buckling Harrison and Oliver into their seats.
Their excitement is at fever pitch as they're going to stay at Uncle Alex's house tonight.
"Mummy are we going to sleep in Xander and Levi's room?" Harrison questions.
"Levi still sleeps in Auntie Stevie's room buddy." Tess answers as she climbs into the car.
"Uncle Alex said he's got a big mattress on the floor in Xander's room for you all to sleep on." Nick offers.
Oliver and Harrison squeal with happiness.
Tess and Nick grimace as the squeals pierce their ears.
"Guys enough with the squealing!" Nick growls.
"This poor baby is going to have no peace when it arrives." Tess comments as she rubs her belly.
Nick chuckles and moves the car forward.
…
Kilarney…
As Stevie and Kate organize dinner Kate muses. "Geez those bulls are noisy aren't they?"
"Hmm yeah they are "Stevie replies
"I didn't sleep much last night did you?" Kate asks.
Stevie chuckles and answers." Kate remember what it was like when Robbie was a newborn."
Kate laughs and replies. "You never heard a thing did you?"
Shaking her head Stevie replies." Nope."
…
Both women look up to the noise and entrance of Marcus Alex, Xander and Robbie.
"Something smells good I'm starving." Marcus offers.
Xander runs over to his Mother "Up Mummy."
Stevie smiles and bends to pick him up.
Wrapping his arms around her neck and his legs around her waist he snuggles in.
Stevie kisses him quickly and multiple times.
He giggles and in muffled voice says, "More Mummy."
She repeats the kisses and he giggles.
Alex smiles.
….
Letting go of Marcus's hand Robbie walks over to his Mother.
Kate picks him up and asks for a kiss.
The little boy holds her face and delivers a sloppy kiss.
"Oh yummy." Kate offers wiping the extra slobber off her lips.
The others laugh.
…..
"All sorted?" Stevie asks.
"Yep all up there are sixty two bulls and bull calves out there ready for sale tomorrow."
"Sixty two! Really?" Kate exclaims.
"Yep last muster we found another 12 wild boys in the national park."
"So it's an annual thing now?" Kate asks.
"Sure is. Kilarney beef as a brand has tripled in sales in the last few years and our Bulls were pulling well above market price at the sales so Nick suggested we sell them ourselves at an annual Bull sale." Alex answers.
The monitor alerts them that baby Levi is awake.
"Bubby awake." Xander announces.
"He sure is." Stevie answers.
"I'll get him." Alex states as he walks from the room.
…..
"Hello!"Tess calls as she leads her boys into Kilarneys kitchen.
Marcus greets her with a hug and a G'Day .
Kate lines up to say hello and finally Stevie .
Rubbing her sister in laws belly Stevie quips. " Are you sure there's only one in there?"
Tess grins from ear to ear and responds . " Yes theres only one beautiful big boy in there."
" Another boy wonderful!" Stevie responds smirking at Tess.
Tess looks up at Nick then replies. " Damn we werent going to tell you what sex it is."
Back in the room Alex walks over to flick the kettle on and teases ." We were hoping it was a girl so Rose wouldnt be the only female in the family."
"Well make sure your next ones a girl then." Tess jokes.
Taking the small blue bundle from Alex Stevie remarks ." Hey we've got a mixed family already, time for someone else to step up to the płate."
They all grin at Kate .
It takes a few seconds for her to register they're all looking at her.
" Hey don't look at me I just carry the progeny l can't decide its sex ."
Immediately they look at Marcus .
Marcus animatedly pretends to have pen and paper and while writing says. " Make baby girl as soon as possible ."
They all laugh .
Kate moves off to make cups of tea while the others find seats at the table.
...
Kilarneys Dining room…. later in the evening.
Grace and her partner Alan have joined the others for dinner and talk turns to the Bull sale in the morning.
" Dad wanted to know if you've got any young bulls that look like they might grow on to something special."Alan asks.
"Every single one of them will." Nick states.
Alex lifts his head and responds." Pen 39 Alan he's about two years old and I'd bet my last dollar hes from a bull we rounded up from the national park a couple of years back."
"You mean the big fella the girls and I brought in?" Stevie questions.
" Yep thats the one . Throws big calves that grow quickly and have massive scrotums."
Stevie smirks at him.
His eyes twinkle as he remarks . " Settle."
They all laugh having seen the facial expressions of both.
...
" I don't understand why you always talk about the bulls scrotum! Whats that got to do with breeding a big calf ?" Tess questions.
There is a stunned silence around the table .
" You're kidding right?" Stevie asks.
Looking around the table at the enquiring faces Tess answers." Yeah of course I am."
" Our bulls average a 36cm scrotum Tess which means they have a high sperm count, high libido and the heifers they throw are very fertile." Kate offers.
Tess nods but looks embarrassed." Thats why you inspect their scrotums when we have them in the crush."
"How could you not know this Tess?"Nick quizzes.
"Well when I first came here Claire handled that end, then Stevie and now Grace does it. I've never had too." Tess replies .
"Don't be embarrassed Tess its our fault because we all assumed you knew." Stevie soothes.
Tess nods.
" Stevie's right Tess we should have explained it to you." Grace adds.
" Right who'd like a cuppa?" Stevie asks as she stands.
" I do and I'll come and help." Tess states.
...
In the safety of the kitchen Tess gushes ." I feel like such an idiot."
Stevie giggles and replies." Of all the things to own up too you choose testicles."
Tess glares at her initially hurt by the comment. then a smile drifts onto her face.
Stevie smiles and gentle shakes her head. " You're a worry McLeod."
"Claire would turn in her grave." Tess chuckles .
" Turn! she'd be on power spin. What kind of Mcleod are you? ." Stevie jokes sounding like Claire .
Both women cackle happily then Stevie offers seriously . " I miss her Tess."
Tess's smile drifts from her face as she responds . "Me too."
Quietly they stand looking at each other lost in the moment .
" I need to have a daughter don't I ?" Tess laments .
Stevie nods .
...
Busily they finish organising supper and the discussion turns to everyday life on the farm.
The Bull sale in the morning and their BBQ lunch delivered by the local Lions Club members .
"I wonder if we'll get a bigger crowd than last year?" Tess muses.
"Well the pub and country club are booked out plus the caravan park is chockers as well." Stevie answers.
"Stevie?"
"Yes."
"Would you show me how to measure a bulls scrotum in the morning before everyone gets up?"
"Of course I can Tess I'll wake you when I feed Levi."
Tess smiles then nods as she picks up one of the trays and heads back into the dining room .
...
Everyone is in a relaxed and joyful mood as the Bull sale will bring in extra cash and provide a lovely social day for the Gungellan district .
"What time will Jodi and Dave be here. " Stevie enquires.
"About 7.30." Kate replies .
Stevie nods then winks at Tess .
Tess nods acknowledging they need an earlier start to their scrotum measuring lesson.
"Well I hate to be a party pooper folks but I'm off to bed." Stevie announces.
Nick looks up and asks "So does that mean you want your baby back?"
Stevie smiles at him and replies. "He's all yours, he's full and dry. My work here is done."
"I'll bring him to you when he's ready for his next feed." Alex offers.
Placing her hand on his shoulder she kisses him. "Goodnight."
"Sweet dreams." he replies.
The others bid her goodnight and she leaves them.
…