A powerful and successful ex-local now made good in America, John Murray, is due to visit Gungellan. Murray runs a chain of steak houses in the USA and with the rumour that he is opening his franchises Down Under, the district cattle owners are keen to secure the lucrative contract for supplying the beef to Murray's restaurants. When one of Murray's employees arrives to ensure the big event goes as planned, Stevie is stunned to see he is none other than Will Hamilton, an old boyfriend from her school days in Broken Hill. He is also the father of Rose, a daughter he has no idea exists. Will is at first shocked to learn he is a father, but delights Stevie by wanting to know all about their daughter. But is Will really who he says he is? Luke's grandiose plans for expanding the truckstop in Terry's absence have gone awry, and needing a fast, short term loan, he has turned to Rick Burns for help-and finds himself back on the wrong side of the law, despite the best of intentions. Tess finds Nick has hidden a picture of Harrison in one of his drawers, feeling unable to place his son's pictures amongst the other family snapshots on display. Tess puts the photo out, telling him it doesn't seem right that his son should be banished from sight.