"That's sounds okay. Just play it as it comes. Be natural, and see how it works out."
"So is that a yes?"
"I guess so." Jemima smiled. Ned had visibly relaxed. "The only thing I have to work out is what to tell my family."
"We need to be truthful with those closest to us. When Mum and Dad come up, I'll tell them the truth, and I think you should do the same with Liam and Lucy."
"We have a deal then." Jemima held out her hand to seal the deal with a handshake. Ned took it and stared down at her bare fingers. As he held her hand, her chest filled with warmth, and her fingers tingled as he moved his head closer to hers. She tipped her head back a little and waited, wondering what he was thinking. God forbid if he knew that she was hoping he'd seal the deal with a kiss. His lips opened, and his breath was warm on her cheek as he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Jemmy. I don't even have an engagement ring to offer you. We need to make this look real from the get go."
She waved her other hand and stood straighter, trying to dispel the stupid romantic notion that had flitted into her thoughts. She'd almost made a fool of herself. This was a business deal, and she had to remember that. "Don't worry. I'm sure I have something at home."
By the time Ryan woke up an hour later, Jemima and Ned had the details worked out. He'd called the courthouse in Dubbo and made an appointment for the following Friday. They had to attend the courthouse together and lodge a notice of intended marriage, and then they could be married a month later.
Jemima turned into the gate of Prickle Creek Farm in a bit of a daze.
She was getting married.
Chapter Seven
One month later
"Slowly, take it slowly. Use your knees."
Kelsey grinned at Jemima as she rode Monty around the paddock next to the hay shed. The horse from Prickle Creek Farm was placid, and Jemima knew he would be fine for as long as Kelsey wanted to stay up there.
Liam had been more than happy to let her bring the old horse over, so both she and Kelsey had a mount to ride when Jemima moved in.
Tomorrow. Nerves skittered down her back as she watched Kelsey.
After she'd got home from Ned's place the afternoon he had talked about them getting married, she'd sat Liam and Angie down at Gran's kitchen table-funny how they all still referred to everything as Gran and Pop's-and told them what was happening. The truth.
"That's old news. I already knew," Angie said with a grin, but Liam's eyes had widened.
"What?" he said. "What do you mean you're getting married?"
Jemima nodded and gave Liam a sweet smile. "Yep, I'm getting married, and don't go pulling the bossy big brother deal. I'm all grown up now."
"Maisey Sykes asked me yesterday if you pair were getting married before Liam and I were." Angie laughed and hugged Jemima. "I managed to nod and smile and focus on her cat. The cat that had nothing wrong with it! She's such a gossip. I'm sure she came in just to get information out of me." Angie had stepped back and kept hold of Jemmy's hands. "Don't worry, I played dumb."
Liam and Angie, as well as Lucy and Garth, had gotten more used to the idea over the last month. They'd decided not to tell the children until the month was up. Ned had hired Billy Andrews from Come-by-Chance to help him out, and he was working out well. Jemima had spent her days at the farm looking after Ryan and had often stayed for dinner and helped the girls with their homework. To her relief, Ned had cooked each night. She hadn't had to admit her lack of cooking skills yet.
Liam had hitched up the horse float and helped her load Monty this morning. He stood beside the car window as she fastened her seat belt. "Are you sure about this, Jemmy?" Liam had followed her to the ute, and his brows had lowered as she'd started the engine. He hadn't been impressed when Jemima had filled him in on the details. "I know Ned's a great bloke, but marrying him to help him out? And moving in with him and three kids? It's a bit over the top, isn't it? Are you really sure that you haven't rushed this? I know what a kind heart you have."
"I'm a big girl now, Liam. You don't have to worry about me. Ned needed a big favour, and this was the best way to go about it for everyone. And I'm really grateful to you and Angie for looking after Ryan while we go to Dubbo tomorrow. And picking up the girls from school, too."
"That's not a problem." Liam had looked worried. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"No fear of that, big brother. My heart tells me I'm doing the right thing."
Now, as she stood watching the look of delight on Kelsey's face, Jemima knew the first hurdle had been overcome. She'd made the right decision agreeing to Ned's "proposal." Both of them-business and marriage. When they'd sat down with his three children last night and told them that Jemima was coming to live with them on Saturday-they hadn't mentioned the M word yet-the only thing Kelsey had wanted to know was if she was bringing any more horses with her.
Gwennie had squealed and thrown herself into Jemima's lap and hugged her tightly. "Oh, I am so happy," she'd cried.
Ryan had looked at her for a minute and then smiled before he went back to playing with his cars. Jemima had watched as Ned let out the breath he'd been holding. She'd caught his eye, and when he'd smiled at her, a warm feeling had shimmied in her chest, and she'd looked away.
Oh no, you don't, she'd chastised herself silently. Don't even think about going there.
"Jemima!" Kelsey's call pulled her from her thoughts that were all over the place. "Can I go faster? Can he canter?"
She walked over to the middle of the paddock, where Monty had stopped dead. Kelsey held onto the reins tightly as he put his head down and chewed on the only piece of green grass that was growing there.
"Monty's a bit old to go much faster. Maybe in a few weeks, we might go looking for a new horse. Maybe two? One for each of us. The farm could do with some more horses. What would you think about that?"
Kelsey's eyes lit up, and Jemima wondered if she was moving too quickly. She didn't want it to look like she was trying to buy Kelsey's affection. She probably should have asked Ned before she talked about buying a horse, but if he wasn't happy with the idea, she'd buy one and keep it over at Prickle Creek. She'd missed riding the years she'd been a model. And it would be fun to take Kelsey into pony club in Spring Downs on Saturdays.
"I think that would be an amazing idea," Kelsey said.
"Do you know how much time it takes to look after a horse? There's a lot of responsibility. You have to feed them and check they have water every day and keep their hooves trimmed."
"Oh, I would love to do that. Do you think Daddy will let me?"
Maybe she should speak to Ned about it first. Jemima had noticed he was very protective of the children and even a bit overbearing about it. But living on a farm, they had to have freedom. She was looking forward to taking them yabbie fishing, swimming in the hot water bore, and simply letting them be kids in the fresh country air. She really needed to sit down and have a good talk to Ned. He'd grown up here. He would understand what she meant. She knew he'd been busy working since they'd arrived. He hadn't even finished unpacking. There were dozens of boxes lining the hallway to the bedrooms. She hadn't felt comfortable doing much in the house until she moved across. She'd mainly focused on helping the kids with their schoolwork, doing the dishes, and pegging the washing out. Gwennie had helped her out in the garden, and she'd promised to help her start a small herb and vegetable garden at the back of the house in a few weeks when the weather cooled down a bit. There was one thing that Jemima was sure about. There was so much to keep her busy; the next twelve months were going to fly by.
"Come on, we'd better hurry up. Liam and Angie have invited us all over to Prickle Creek Farm for dinner, and it's time you got ready. And I have to take the ute and horse float back."
"Are there more horses over there? And other animals? Do they have dogs?" Kelsey chattered away as Jemima took the saddle off Monty. "Maybe they'd like one of our kittens? I so want to be a vet when I grow up."
"Here, you take the blanket, and put it in the shed while I take his bridle off." Jemima smiled. She could almost see Kelsey's chest puff out with pride. It had only been a month since she'd met Ned's three beautiful children. The time she had spent with them had been amazing. For the first time since she'd left Spring Downs to follow her career, she was appreciated for being herself. Someone needed her.
Just Jemima.
Ned was grateful she was helping him out, but she was getting as much out of the deal on her side. The kids were constantly asking her questions, and she was able to help them in so many ways, and she loved playing with them. Ryan loved hide and seek, and she pretended not to find him most of the time. He had the most gorgeous little giggle, and she knew where he was hiding because he could never keep quiet.