His Outback Nanny (Prickle Creek)(11)

"There are a few more horses, but they're all work horses." Jemima  opened the gate and led Monty into the paddock, and then after she  checked he had water, she slipped the chain over the hoop on the gate.  Kelsey was swinging on the fence.

"Did you know that Angie is the vet in town?" Jemima asked.

"Really? That is so awesome."

Jemima smiled. She was getting used to that word. It must be the current  buzz word kids used when they liked something. She had so much to  learn.

"Daddy will have to get a horse, too, for when he buys the cattle. If we  all have one, I could help him in the paddocks. Grandpa only has one of  those silly quad runners here."

"I noticed that. I don't like them. They can be dangerous." Jemima  smiled as Kelsey slipped her hand into hers as they walked back to the  house, and Jemima's heart swelled with affection for the  almost-teenager. "But you'll have to learn how to ride first."

Progress was being made.

Ned had showered while Ryan was in the bath and had dressed in clean  jeans and a white T-shirt that fitted snugly to his broad chest. He was  combing Ryan's hair, and Jemima smiled to see that Ryan was dressed in  jeans and a white T-shirt, too.

"You're optimistic."

"Huh?" Ned's forehead wrinkled in a frown.

"The white T-shirt on Ryan."

The crinkles besides Ned's eyes deepened. "He chose it."

"I'll head back over now. I'll see you all when you get over there."  Jemima picked up her bag and the ute keys. "Liam asked me to take his  ute back."         

     



 

"Thank you for bringing the horse over, Jemmy." Ned smiled, and Jemima  noticed that the shadows beneath his eyes were not as dark as they'd  been a few weeks ago.

"My pleasure. I'll see you all over at Prickle Creek in a while."

"I feel bad not bringing anything with us. I've got a six pack of beer in the fridge."

"It's fine, but bring that if it makes you feel better. Gran's freezers  are always stocked, and Lucy loves cooking. Did I tell you Lucy and  Garth are coming over, too?"

Ned nodded as Gwennie walked into the kitchen. "Who's Lucy?"

"She's my cousin," Jemima said with a smile.

"Will that make her my aunty when you and Daddy get married?"

Jemima raised her eyebrows and looked at Ned over Gwennie's head. She  didn't think he'd told the children yet that they were getting married.  Even though he hadn't said it in as many words, she knew he was worried  about Kelsey's reaction.

He shook his head slightly and shrugged. "Where did you hear that, Gwennie?"

"My teacher asked me when you were getting married, and I said Jemima  was coming to live with us so I guessed it was going to be soon."

"Bloody Spring Downs gossip mill," Ned muttered beneath his breath.

"Maybe before you come over, you should tell the children it's  tomorrow?" she said quietly. They had decided to marry quietly at the  court house in Dubbo, the closest town where they could have a civil  ceremony. "Best to be honest, because for all we know, we'll bump into  someone from Spring Downs in Dubbo!"

Gwennie switched the television on and was soon engrossed in cartoons.  The noise covered their conversation as Ned took Jemima's elbow and  walked her to the door. She ignored the funny shaky feeling that ran  down her legs when his fingers brushed her skin.

"That's a good point. I'll sit them down when Kelsey gets out of the  bathroom." He held open the screen door as she walked onto the verandah.  "And thank you, Jemmy. I owe you so much."

"Unless you promise to stop gushing gratitude every time we have a  conversation, I might change my mind. It's not too late, you know." She  tempered her words with a smile. "We're not married yet."

"Okay, okay." He put his hands up and laughed. "One last time and then I'll stop. Thank you."

"I'll see you at Prickle Creek." Jemima stopped and turned as she  reached the bottom step. "Um, Ned. This might sound like a silly  question, but what are you wearing tomorrow? I don't want to be over … or  underdressed."

Ned shrugged again. "I hadn't thought about it yet. I guess whatever I can find clean in the wardrobe."

Jemima walked to the car. "As long as I know if it's jeans or a suit, I can choose what to wear."

She regretted her words as soon as his smile faded.

Stupid. No need to remind him of his first wedding.

"Make it jeans. After all, this is the country," she said gaily as she opened the car door.

 …

Ned walked slowly back inside. Was he making a stupid mistake? Marrying  Jemima tomorrow might solve his problems, but was he rushing into an  easy solution for working the property? Maybe he should have toughed it  out and tried to get a loan to hire some help through a broker in  Sydney. When he'd come up with the idea, he hadn't given it enough  thought. There were so many complications and others who were going to  be affected by his actions. He should have thought of his children. It  was time to tell them he and Jemima were getting married.

He walked through the living room and called down the hall. "Come on, Kelsey. Hurry up."

While he waited for his eldest daughter to appear, thoughts whirled  around his head. This was his last chance to change his mind. Once he  told them, there was no backing out. It was really out of character for  him to be indecisive. Usually, once he settled on a course of action, he  followed through. His whole life had been like that. The decision to  leave the farm to go to university in Sydney, even though Dad would have  loved for him to stay and take over; choosing his career path, marrying  Cath, starting a family, and buying their home on the beach in Sydney.  He'd always followed through, once he'd made a decision. No second  guessing.

Hell, even the gut-wrenching and life-changing decision to turn off  Cath's life support, two months after the bloody car accident-when the  doctors had told him there was no hope of recovery-he'd made that  decision without the doubt that was plaguing him now. And like then,  this decision would affect the well-being of his three children.         

     



 

His fingers gripped the edge of the bench. It was feeling like a final  step. Marrying Jemima-for whatever reason-was like closing the pages of  his marriage to Cath. He'd vowed to himself the night of her funeral  that he would never leave himself so vulnerable to grief again.

Ned clenched his jaw. Tomorrow wasn't a true marriage-even if they had  to go through the vows-Jemima would be his wife in name only.

It was purely a business arrangement. An arrangement that meant he could  spend more time with the kids and not need to juggle family and work.  Whatever it took, he would do it. He and Jemima had travelled to Dubbo  to see a solicitor before they went to the court house last month to  file their intention of marriage. The solicitor had looked over the top  of his glasses as he'd drawn up the agreement, they had both signed it,  and now it was filed at the solicitor's office.

"I'm ready, Dad." Kelsey walked into the kitchen.

"Gwennie, Ryan," he called into the living room. "Come into the kitchen.  I want to talk to you before we go to Liam and Jemima's farm."





Chapter Eight


Jemima had sat down with Lucy as she fed James in the nursery before the McCormacks arrived.

"Oh my God, Jemmy. I'm so excited for you. I wish we could come to the  wedding tomorrow." Lucy smoothed her hand over baby James' soft cheeks  as he nestled against her.

Jemima smiled. "It's not a real wedding. We're just getting married. But  remember the deal is top secret, okay? As far as Spring Downs is  concerned-and the kids-the marriage of Ned McCormack and Jemima Smythe  is the real deal."

Lucy grinned back at her as she stood. "This young man has a wet nappy.  You know you can trust me, Jemmy. I won't slip up. For the last month,  I've dreamed it was the real thing for you." She looked at Jemima from  the corner of her eye as she put James on the change table. "It wouldn't  be such a bad thing, you know. Ned is quite a catch."

"Don't even think about it." Jemima stood. "I'll go and get the food  organised." She knew that Lucy was looking at her curiously as she  headed to the kitchen. The last thing she needed was for Lucy's romantic  happy-ever-after nature to kick in. She was having enough trouble  ignoring the attraction that was building for Ned McCormack.

And his behaviour was confusing her, too.

Last week, Ryan had insisted that Ned join in the game of hide and seek  that she was playing with the kids. She could smile now, but at the  time, she hadn't known how to take it.

"One, two, eight, nine, ten, I'm coming, ready or not." Ryan's little  voice came from the kitchen as Jemima opened the door to the cupboard  that housed the linen and the hot water system and slipped inside. She  smiled as Gwennie immediately revealed her hiding spot behind the sofa  by yelling out to Ryan that he couldn't count.