Outback - 12. OB Chapter 12

After a wonderful meal, Kes asked Daddy for a story before going to sleep. Bryce smiled and said “As long as it fine with Mummy, yes I will read you a story”, looking at Miranda for an answer to his statement, she just smiled, nodding yes, “Yippee, may I be excused please Grandma?” Kes asked, and when Elizabeth nodded yes, Kes jumped up from his seat and tried to drag his daddy from out of his seat to follow him. Bryce thanked Elizabeth and Miranda for a lovely meal, excused himself from the table and followed his son.

By the time Kes was sound asleep, Bryce found himself yawning and getting very tired. After two very long, tiring days and by the time Kes was sound asleep, Bryce found himself yawning and falling asleep before Miranda came back from the homestead.

When Miranda found him asleep, she just retrieved a blanket and pillow and made Bryce comfortable, before retreating to the bedroom to sleep.

The next morning Bryce was woken up by his son, “Good morning Daddy, time to get up” Kes said before landing heavily on Bryce, pushing all the air out of him, what a way to wake up, Bryce thought to himself as he tried to get untangled with his son and get up off the couch.

Kes was dressed, ready for the day, when Miranda appeared to tell their son “Give Daddy a chance to get up and wash his face, so we can all go over for breakfast. Please, go and put all your toys away in the toy box, while you are waiting for Daddy”.

After breakfast Kyle informed everyone that he was doing a short visit to the other three stations to check on the mustering and sorting on those stations. He asked Bryce if he would like to join him. Although still a bit tired from all the traveling of the past few days, he was keen to see what the Edgerton station country was like in the Pilbara from the air. Elizabeth made up two food parcels for them including flasks of hot tea, sandwiches, fruit and freshly made biscuits.

When they returned an hour before dark, Bryce was exhausted, he had actually spent quite a few hours working alongside the stockmen in the yards, to assist them with the wild cattle, who didn’t appreciate being yarded. Grabbing a shower and change of fresh clothes before dinner, Bryce was ready this time, when Kes pounced on him, and tickled him.

Grabbing, and throwing Kes up onto his shoulders, growling like a tiger at the same time, Kes just screamed and laughed at the same time, and they headed over to the homestead for dinner.

Spending his first night with Miranda in over four years, made Bryce a bit nervous at first, but her beauty and her smile just melted away any worries that he had. They had a wonderful night together. Over the next four days Bryce spent most of the days with Kyle. Working on the station, getting to see Kyle’s management style, as well as seeing different parts of the station by land and air.

On his 6^th night on the station, while settling for another night beside Miranda, Bryce was laying quietly thinking about everything that happened in the past week, still not sure how he was feeling about how the Edgerton’s kept his son from him. “You know my Dad is very impressed with you, he likes how you just get in there and work alongside the men. Always listening to how things are done on the station, and getting on and doing it” Miranda said softly.

Bryce just smiled and explained, “I guess that’s the way I do things at home too, but because of the size of the business, I often have to spend a lot more time in the office. Luckily, I have my adopted mum who helps me out in the office, so I can spend time out on the stations.”

After a short silence, Miranda dropped another surprise on Bryce, “By the way, first thing tomorrow, Dad is flying you, me and Kes to Broome for a 6-day holiday, all expenses payed. The holiday was absolutely marvellous, allowing Bryce, Miranda and their son get to know each other. He was able to just relax and not do anything for nearly a week, for the first time in over six years, and the only thing I did that was connected to work, was a telephone call home every second day, and a phone call to the family lawyers, to make some changes to the shares.

The morning before the end of the holiday, Miranda and Kes had breakfast delivered to their suite. They set it up before Bryce got out of bed, and when he sat down to eat he took the napkin and placed it on his lap. As he did he saw written on the napkin “Bryce, will you do me the honour of being my husband?”

At first, he was shocked, then he just smiled, got on his knee and said “Yes Miranda Edgerton, I would be very honoured to be your husband” suddenly there was screams and shouts of joy coming from somewhere. Bryce soon worked out was the speaker of the telephone.

While Kes and Miranda were hugging, one at a time everyone at the other end of the phone said congratulations. A lot the voices were family from his home down on the Nullabour. Sue Silverton, Natalia Murchison and all the kids, Christine, Marcus, Amos, Jonah and Nadia, Uncle Matt and even cousin Christopher, who promised to be on his best behaviour.

Kyle was the last to speak, “Congratulations, when you arrive tomorrow, all the preparations will be ready so enjoy the rest of your holiday and see you all tomorrow” and he hung up the phone before Bryce could ask what preparations was he talking about?

Kes stepped up to his daddy and handed him a gift-wrapped box, Bryce said thank you. Unwrapping the tissue paper, revealed a felt covered jewellery type box. Carefully he opened it, there placed in two slots, were two platinum wedding bands, and between them was a small diamond engagement ring. Bryce took the engagement ring and carefully placed it on Miranda’s ring finger, then gave her a long gentle kiss.

“Yahhhhhh”, Kes shouted with joy bouncing around the room, happy that his mummy and daddy would be together at last. “Now tell me, does this box of rings mean that the wedding is planned for tomorrow? And where is it happening” Bryce asked his fiancée.

Miranda smiled, “You will just have to wait till tomorrow my love” she said sweetly, and for the rest of the day they relaxed at the resort that they had been staying at, not doing too much as both knew that tomorrow was going to be a big day.

The next morning Bryce woke up with Kes bouncing on the bed, “Happy wedding day daddy”, Bryce smiled and tickled his son, who took off into the lounge. Bryce went to the bathroom, took a short shower, shaved and changed into some casual clothes. When he entered the lounge, there was no sign of Miranda, but there was a note on the table. “See you at the wedding my darling, lots of love, M”, there was a knock on the door and Kes opened the door, where Uncle Matt, Christopher, Marcus and the twins were standing, waiting to be let in.

“About time you were up and about young man, no time for a big bachelor party, so we are having a boys and men only breakfast” Uncle Matt said, giving Bryce a big hug. Once Bryce had introduced Kes to his Great Uncle Matt and four uncles, the knock on the door brought Kyle and resort staff with five trolleys of breakfast for all. There was plenty of fruit, juices, yoghurt and cereals, plus tea and coffee for the adults.

During breakfast, Kyle informed Bryce the plans for the wedding “It is in the resort grounds at 11.30am, in just over three hours’ time. Kes and your suits have been arranged and will arrive shortly. Kes will be the ring bearer, and Sue suggested that Matt should be your best man.

The wedding reception is in the resort function room, and the bride and groom will spend a night in the honeymoon suite, minus one child. Kes will remain with his grandparents, before returning to the Carlindie Station. A few days later a video link conference will happen between Carlindie and Pondana Stations, which details will be discussed after the honeymoon.

Two hours later everyone was dressed in their suits, Kes looked very handsome in his little suit, he kept saying he felt like a penguin in it, and spent the remaining hour before the wedding acting out like a penguin.

The wedding was held outside under a large shade cover, with bougainvillea, hibiscus and orchid flowers all over. The bride looked stunning in her wedding dress, and the event was all over before Bryce knew it. They had a wonderful wedding reception lunch afterwards. The reception went on till the late afternoon, till the Bride and Groom retreated to their suite for the remainder of the day.