AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dad won’t like it.”
“Well, it would keep her close. And with winter coming. She needs to be close. It’s that or you ask J.T. to give up the loft. And I’m pretty sure he’s not going to want to do that and share a room with Sawyer. And even if Sawyer leaves soon, that would put her upstairs down the hall from you. Is that what you want?”
“No.”
“Well then?”
“Fine. I’ll have one of the men go in and air it out a little.”
“Sage and I will do that.”
“Not that it matters, but how much is this private nurse going to cost me?”
She smiled. “Don’t worry. You can afford it.”
Jake knew the nurse was coming today, but he’d forgotten what time. So when he came off the field on Chief and saw the strange car parked in front of the house, he was surprised. He dismounted and handed the horse off to one of the men, before crossing the large section of gravel in front of the barn. He then walked over the lawn toward the porch. The dogs all came to greet him, still not convinced he was home to stay. They all followed him like the Pied Piper as he approached Genny and the woman he presumed was his father’s new nurse.
He walked up to the woman, who was on the short side, with long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. But what struck him was her eyes. They were light brown. The color of whiskey.
She looked a little apprehensive, and he gave her a smile. “You must be my father’s nurse.”
Genny looked at him, then at the woman. “Jake, this is…Ember Madison.” She glanced at Jake. “Ember, this is my brother, Jake.”
Jake held out his hand. “Nice to meet you,Ember.”
She put her hand in his. “John.”
He smiled. “Jake. The second of three.”
“Of course. I’m sorry.” She took a nervous breath. “It’s been a long day.”
“I imagine so. Did you just get to town?”
“I did. I was anxious to get started.”
He stuck his hands in his pockets. “And where’d you come from?”
She hesitated a moment before answering him. “New Mexico. Santa Fe.”
“You’re a long way from home, Miss Madison.”
She gave him a small smile. “Please. Call me Ember.”
“Ember. Welcome to the Three Oaks.”
Genny smiled at Jake. “I’m going to go introduce her to Dad, now.”
“Good luck.”
Ember looked at him. “Am I going to need it?”
“You might.”
Genny touched his arm. “Do you have time to show Ember to the house in a while? I need to get to the church. Potluck tonight.”
“Right. Sure. I’ll be in the barn.”
As had happened so many times since he got back, Jake was hit with the feeling there was something he should be remembering, but couldn’t quite bring it to the surface. Sage had tried to get him to meditate. She was sure it would help, and he tried a few times to appeaseher. But it didn’t do anything. It only made him feel like there was something else he was supposed to be remembering.
