Preparations

by Marie S

It was good Egan was working so hard since he arrived at The Glen. Otherwise he’d gain enough weight to have a hard time moving. He supposed things would settle down in a few days, but to start Ashley and Marie were constantly plying him with good food and drinks. He wasn’t complaining.

He’d met Bud White the night before. He was a no nonsense man of few words. Tough as you could get, but he loved the women in his life. It was obvious he had a huge soft spot for Marie and Ashley. He treated Ashley like a kid sister. Because of her condition, and missing working husband, he was rabid about her protection.

It didn’t take Egan long to figure out he played a part in that. He wasn’t too keen on the idea at first, but he’d thought about it overnight and realized it would just be part of the job. And the girl was sweet and kinder than most sheilas he’d met. And Egan saw how lonely and isolated she was at times.

Egan reckoned he was smart to stay single. This wasn’t the right thing to do to a smart pretty girl. He’d had it all figured out by the second night. And then the husband came home.

He was showing Ashley the progress he’d made in the tack room when they heard a car approaching. Ashley peeked out of the stable and started running out the door. She called back to him.

“It’s my husband. Come meet him, Egan.”

Egan followed along behind her. Ashley squealed in delight and ran into the open arms of a bloke in a pilot’s uniform. He picked her up, twirled her around and planted a huge kiss on her followed by one on her belly. She hugged him tightly.

“Lachlan, Egan is here. Come meet him.” She pulled his hand, but Lachlan wrapped his arm around her and walked her over. He had a jaunty grin on his face.

“G’day, Egan. Welcome. I’m Lachlan. We’re glad to have ya here.” His left hand shot out to shake Egan’s. His right remained wrapped around his gorgeous sheila whose face was shining with love as she looked up at him.

“G’day, Lachlan. Ta. I’m going to like it here. This is a bonzer place to have horses.” He shook his hand.

“I’m home tomorrow. I’m not flying. I’ll talk to you then, mate. I can help with some repairs.” Egan noticed Lachlan was talking to him, but his attention was focused on Ashley.

“Let me get you some dinner, Lach.” Ashley beamed at him and Egan swore she batted her eyelashes at her husband. No bloody male would be immune.

“Uh, yeah. Dinner, right, love. I’m famished.” His eyes were looking at the little sheila like he wanted to eat, but it sure wasn’t food he had on his mind to devour. He wrenched his gaze off his wife for a tic.

“Tomorrow, mate.” He nodded at Egan.

“Goodnight, Egan.” Ashley’s voice happily sung out.

“G’night to both of you.” Egan watched as Lachlan hurried his wife toward the car and finally swept her into his arms to deposit her in the passenger seat to the sweet sound of his wife’s giggles. They drove quickly away toward their house.

Egan went back to work. All the while he was thinking. Maybe it was worth any difficulties of being separated if you had that kind of homecoming. He bloody well could tell the two of them would say it was all worth it.