Epilogue to Strange Days...
"Darien come to Mummy." Stevie calls as the little boy plays nearby.
Looking at her he grins as she claps her hands and says " Come on. We have to write in our journal!"
He crawls over to her and allows himself to be lifted into his Mother's arms.
"I can't believe I even keep a journal let alone write in it every day!"She says to herself.
Whispering softly to him she gently places his hand on an ink pad then presses it down onto the book in front of them.
Wiping his hand she kisses his face and says. "What will we tell Dada today ?"
...
The little boy gabbles away as she animatedly pretends to understand.
Nodding her head she then writes... Dear Dada today we are working around the house as Mr Smythe-Jones is home and we have to pretend we don't ride together.
He doesn't like it when Mummy rides me on her horse with her, he says it's dangerous.
I was born to ride and I have great balance .
Maybe one day you'll see me ride and you will know I'm safe just like Mummy does.
Yesterday I helped Mummy muck out the stables and clean the tack.
I'm very good at both but Mummy gets cross if I try to bite the round balls of poop she says they're yucky?
...
Stevie stops writing as Darien begins to grizzle and tries to lift her shirt.
Loosening her top she lays him across her lap and he nuzzles into her and begins to suckle.
Smiling down at him she holds his hand before releasing it .
He rests it back on her breasts.
Swinging his foot backwards and forwards occasionally she grins down at him.
Running her hand across his face she coos. " Your Dada is a silly boy he's missed all of this. But we love him anyway don't we? "
...
Alex Ryan's heart is beating too fast as he slows and turns the car down the long dappled driveway.
He's taken months to find her and is hoping she'll talk to him.
Ringing ahead was impossible because he thought she'd run again.
For the first few months he'd looked for Stevie Hall but found no trace.
Then he'd tried the sale yards, rodeos and finally stables.
...
A gutsy little red head that was working as a strapper for the Smythe-Jones stable was his first lead.
Her name was Jane Stevens, his hopes rose .
Finally through some friends in racing he'd found out she had a baby son named Darian.
Bingo ! It had to be her.
...
Stevie has worked around the stables all morning with Darien in the baby carrier.
Untying the harness she places him on the grass and stands arching her back.
"You are getting way to big for me Bub." She says softly.
Squatting beside him she removes the clump of grass from his mouth and chuckling quips. "Yucky. Horses eat grass not little boys. "
...
From behind her Malcolm the trainer calls . " Jane you've got a visitor!"
Smiling she stands and as she turns says. " I don't get visitors remember!"
" Hello Cowgirl." His velvety voice calls.
Her heart stops .
Confused she grabs Darien and begins to run.
...
Alex is about to take off after her when Malcolm grabs him.
" Hey you said you were a friend. She looked terrified? You'd better leave mate."Malcolm says gruffly.
" I promise I won't hurt her. I am her friend and the little boy is mine . She ran away because I was married. I need to speak to her. Please don't hold me up or she'll run again. "Alex explains quickly.
Malcolm still has hold of his shirt and replies. " I'll come with you and if she says go! You do as she says or I'll call the police."
Alex nods.
...
In a panic Stevie has started to pack.
They don't have much as they move around a lot.
Darien begins to grizzle wanting a drink.
" Oh Bub not now we need to go. Just give me a few minutes and we can be on the road."She offers her voice shaky.
Her cheeks wet.
" He's come to get you, I won't let him take you Bubby I promise. We have to go, right now."She whimpers.
...
A loud knocking.
She jumps and looks at the door wiping her tears.
"Jane! It's Malcolm. Are you alright?"
Malcolm looks at Alex and says. " She's not there mate."
...
"Let me try." Alex offers moving to the door of the tiny cottage.
He knocks.
Silence.
"Open the door Stevie! I know you're in there. Don't make me break it down." He calls.
Malcolm glares at him.
Alex smiles and reassures him he won't hurt her.
...
Again he knocks and offers. " We need to talk Stevie. I have a lot to tell you."
He listens .
Silence.
Glancing back at Malcolm then back at the door Alex waits.
...
" Ok if you want your mate here to know our business that's ok with me. I'm divorced Cowgirl and if you'd hung around I would have told you that. I went straight home and asked Fiona for a divorce. I didn't lose Kilarney because she'd lied about the pregnancy! Marriage by deception is illegal so the divorce was swift."Alex calls loudly.
Silence.
...
He knocks louder and yells. " I came for my son!"
The door flings open.
He grins at the sight of her.
With the baby suckling at her breast she looks at him with her sad ,tear stained face and offers. " We're kind of attached at the moment."
He steps forward sliding his arms around the both of them and whispers. " That's ok I kinda wanted his Mummy too."
"Really?" She asks in a whisper.
" Stevie I love you of course I want you. " He answers.
She sobs into his chest .
...
"So are you ready to go? " He asks.
"Go where?" She inquires.
"Home to Kilarney." He answers smiling at her.
" Me on Kilarney!Harry would turn in his grave." She suggests.
...
"Well I'm planning a dynasty and the two of you are the most important pieces." He says smiling at her .
" Yeah? How many more pieces for a dynasty ?"Stevie asks.
He leans forward checking out her breasts then gently turning her around taps her on the bottom and says quietly . " Well we could get started on the next piece while the little guy takes a nap. He looks pretty sleepy to me."
Stevie looks past Alex to her grinning boss and says. " I think I can handle everything from here Malcolm thanks. "
Malcolm smiles and says. " I'll get your pay ready."
Alex turns around and speaking to Malcolm says." Donate it to charity mate. She's going to be Mrs Alex Ryan and she'll want for nothing."
...
Kilarney.. Eighteen months later..
Stevie rides across the paddock with Darian in front of her.
Alex watches as she slows to a walk .
"Riding fast Dada!" Darien calls.
Alex smiles and walking to lift him down kisses him and says. " I know I saw you."
...
"Hello bubba" Darien comments hugging the baby boy in his Father's arms.
"Jesse is hungry buddy and he needs Mummy." Alex offers placing the toddler on the ground.
Stevie dismounts and takes the grizzling baby from him as she loosens her shirt.
...
"Shh Jesse shh." She soothes.
Alex picks Darien up and says ." Come on you can help Dada ."
"Did Chad wake up." Stevie asks.
"Yeah he did and I gave him the expressed milk you left but he drank Jesse's share too."Alex offers.
...
" I'll have to wean them." She offers rubbing Jesse's head.
"Why would you do that Stevie they're thriving?"Alex asks.
She grins at him.
" What?"
...
"Why did I wean Darien?"She asks.
" Cause you were pregnant with the twins." He answers.
She stands grinning at him waiting for him to register.
His face lights up as he steps towards her and asks ."Again Stevie? Are we pregnant again?"
She nods.
...
" My god you're a fertile little bugger. " He chuckles before kissing her.
She laughs and replies. " I did have help and anyway you said you wanted a dynasty you didn't specify a time span. "
"Riley ! Come and grab this horse please!" Alex yells.
Riley arrives and takes the reins off Alex .
" How'd she go Stevie? " Riley asks .
" Really well thanks you've done an awesome job with her ." She replies.
...
" I've just brought in two more to start work on when you're ready." He replies.
" She's pregnant again mate so that may have to wait." Alex offers proudly.
" Again! Wow congratulations." Riley grins.
Stevie grins at him and says . "Spit it out!"
Riley quips. " Geez you're a bloody goer ."
The three enjoy the joke then Alex says. " Come on Mrs Ryan I think you deserve a nice mug of hot chocolate and a nap."
...
" What about a massage too?" She asks as they walk towards the house.
With his arm across her shoulder and Darien in his arms Alex whispers. " Shh Stevie the little guy doesn't need to know how he came to be. "
Giggling she quips. " So red wine and open fires shouldn't be mentioned either?"
Stopping he kisses her then offers . "Definitely not."
"Ok so we can't mention hay sheds now then either!" She offers biting her lip.
...
Raising his eyebrows he asks . " The hay shed?"
Licking her lip she says. " That's my guess for this one!"
She watches as he gets a twinkle in his eyes and a mischievous grin on his face .
" That was a sensational afternoon Cowgirl" He sighs.
" Hmmm yes definitely memorable." She adds.
...
"You said one maybe it's two again!"
"It was such a great afternoon it's probably three." She teases.
He throws his head back laughing loudly.
She smiles watching the joy in him.
Stopping he looks at her and says. " I'm glad you're pregnant again Stevie . You have brought so much love into my life ."
" Well you'd better get ready for a whole lot more Alex because I plan on continuing to produce children until you beg for mercy or we fill all the bedrooms. "Stevie chuckles.
" There will be no begging for mercy and I'll ring the architect in the morning about an extension. Love will grow on Kilarney because you're here and you're mine and I love you more than I could ever express."Alex explains.
...
She looks at him with such love in her eyes he feels it.
His lips cover hers as he has no words.
"Ow! " she yells pushing back.
"What?"
" He bit me." She says frowning.
"Well that's a bit naughty I'd never bite you." Alex comments .
She grins and shaking her head quips. " Hot chocolate first ok?"
...
Laughing he answers. " Whipped cream might be nice."
" We're not talking hot chocolate anymore are we?" She grins.
Smiling he shakes his head.
Giggling she says. " You're hopeless ."
"Hopelessly in love with you." He retorts.
...
Flipping Jesse onto her hip she offers. "You told me once you could be romantic for the right girl , I never dreamed it would be me."
" I kinda hoped it would be you when I said it but we kinda got lost along the way didn't we?" He remarks.
" Let's not go back Alex it's too painful." She suggests.
A slow sweet kiss signals the end of the conversation.
The End.
There you go stevieLUVSalex enjoy:)