AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It was time. I’ve been in that bed too long.”
Lexi’s heart glowed as Jackson bent to give his mother a hug. Her time here had proved worthwhile.
“Wow, a night of miracles, huh? Mom getting better—”
“Oh, I—”
“Jackson got the girl.”
“I—”
Ellie interrupted Lexi’s protest. “No, seriously. I’m really happy for you two.”
Lexi bit her lip. She’d need to explain that Mrs. Reilly getting up today did not mean she was completely better. Although, having lived with the family these past few weeks, she wondered if the diagnosis of early-onset dementia was premature. Perhaps it was more a case of complete physical and mental exhaustion. “We need to take it a day at a time.”
Ellie glanced back at her mother, her face falling. “Oh.”
“But it will help Mrs. Reilly to be out and about a little more,” Lexi said.
“Jackson, what are you up to today?” Cooper asked. “Anything I need to know about? What’s happening with the finances? Do you need my superior brainpower to help you?”
Lexi smiled and turned back to the washing up, listening as the siblings squabbled.
Jackson apparently did have some spreadsheets to show his brother. It wasn’t long before the two of them moved to the office, and she heard Cooper’s loud complaint about the state of the room.
“He’s always been a little messy,” Mrs. Reilly said.
“Jackson?” Lexi asked, pleased to see her making connections and engaging again.
“But he tries so hard.”
“He’s always wanted to help you, Mom,” Ellie said.
Mrs. Reilly nodded, and Lexi wished he could see his mother’s appreciation. Maybe she’d tell him later.
But the rest of his morning was taken up in other things—phone calls, cattle checks, fence work—so Lexi worked with Ellie and Mrs. Reilly to work out all the logistics involved in running a farm stay. As Dermott’s wife had indicated, it wasn’t enough to provide accommodation and a few experiences. They’d need to work on getting permits and approvals, as well as the website, social media, and other elements to help make this a viable business concern.
“I’d much rather just clean the bunkhouse than sort all this stuff out.” Ellie closed the laptop. “It’s doing my head in.”
“I can help, if you like,” Lexi said. “I’ve just got some laundry to deal with, then I can help.”
“You don’t have to do our laundry or our cleaning,” Ellie said. “Isn’t it time you had a day off?”
After last night’s romance and unloading her burdens onto Jackson’s broad shoulders, she felt like she’d already had ten weeks of holiday. Even if her sleep had been interrupted by Jackson waking her on the porch swing and helping her inside. How mortifying to have fallen asleep on his chest, then discovering she’d left a small patch of drool on his shirt. There was a reason she’d been keen to get the laundry done today. “I’m okay,” she said. “Truly.”
“Hmm. Must be love.”
“Stop.” Lexi flicked the dish towel at her, snapping it on her legs. Ellie squealed.
“Looks like someone’s settled in,” Cooper said from behind her.
“She deserved it.” Lexi folded her arms.
“Ooh, yeah. Definitely like one of the family.” But his curled mouth said he was teasing.
Her heart eased. “So what do you think of the proposal?”
“He proposed?” Ellie jumped up, clapping her hands.
