Egan looked around the bus terminal. He could think of several other places he’d rather be at the moment. There were too many bloody people here. He’d taken Ashley to Coffs Harbour to pick up her cousin, Jessica.
He wasn’t sure how he’d been corralled into the duty, but he’d noticed Ashley was very good at getting you to do things she wanted. Suddenly he needed supplies in Coffs for the brumbies and they were picking up the young sheila as a side trip. A small smile tugged at his lips.
He’d noticed he wasn’t her only target. She had White and Curry twisted around her little finger more than him. They’d had much more time to succumb to her talents. They didn’t seem to mind. He didn’t really mind either. Egan looked around again. He’d be glad to get back to the quiet of The Glen. That pace was much more to his liking as was the work.
As soon as they’d arrived at the station Ashley had run off to the bathroom. She’d explained it to him last week that it was an activity she had to disappear to do a lot thanks to her pregnancy. She’d blushed prettily when she’d explained it to him. Egan knew nothing about women having babies, but from what he’d witnessed so far they sure had to pee a lot.
Suddenly he saw the back of her about thirty paces from him. What was she doing over there?
“Ashley.” He walked toward her. “Ashley, I’m over here.”
The girl turned around and smiled…except it wasn’t Ashley. She had red hair and blue eyes. Her face belonged to the sheila he saw in the picture Ashley showed him. He stuck his hand out.
“G’day, Jessica. I’m Egan. I seem to have misplaced Ashley.” He’d almost forgotten. “Welcome.”
The sheila laughed. She had an open hearty laugh. “I’ve heard that sentence before numerous times. Misplacing Ashley is an easy activity though usually she’s purposely misplaced herself. Are there shops around here?” She stuck her hand out to shake his.
“It’s nice to meet ya, Egan. Ashley appears to be wandering around over in the direction where you just came from. We better rescue her. My God, she’s huge.” Her hand flew over her mouth as the words exited.
Egan started to laugh out loud. “Don’t bloody well let her hear you say that, Jessica.”
“No, I’m glad I said it only to you. She certainly isn’t huge. She’s just so, so pregnant. When I last saw her before she and Lachlan moved to The Glen she was her usual tiny self. She looks fantastic and worried. C’mon, she probably thinks she’s lost.”
Jessica started to stride toward Ashley. Egan followed aside her as she confided in him. “I’m not sure if you’ve found this out yet, but Ashley has a terrible sense of direction. She could get lost in her own house. She’s the reason they’ve invented GPS. It drives Marie crazy. She could find her way out of the deep woods with just a matchstick.” She grinned impishly.
Egan wondered what this new sheila’s sense of direction was like. She called to Ashley. The girl spun around and let loose with a squeal of delight. She began to run toward Jessica with her arms wide open.
The two girls hugged tightly and they drew some attention from passersby. Both had long flaming red hair, blue eyes and were gorgeous. Now that they were side by side, Egan noticed Jessica was taller than Ashley.
Their words were stumbling over each other and Egan couldn’t understand anything they were saying. They both seemed to communicate with each other perfectly as they chattered on for a couple of minutes. He didn’t understand women. That had become abundantly clear in the last couple of weeks that he’d been around the Weston women. He liked them; he just didn’t get them. Life had been simpler when he hadn’t had to talk to women so much.
They finally came up for air. Ashley slipped her arm around Jessica’s waist and turned her toward Egan.
“It appears you two have already met. Isn’t she wonderful and beautiful, Egan?” Ashley slyly peered up at him through her eyelashes.
“Well, ah…” Egan stumbled for what to say.
“Ashley Weston, um Curry. Don’t you even start with your fishing for compliments and putting poor Egan on the spot. You are shameless. And what are you up to?” Jessica shot her a pointed glance.
Ashley smiled sweetly. “Whatever could you mean, Jessica? I was just stating the obvious. You must learn to take compliments better.” She beamed at Egan and Jessica.
“She’s very humble too.” Ashley grinned at Egan. “Where is your luggage, Jessica?”
“It looks like they’re just unloading it now. I see my bags.” Jessica went over to grab her two cases.
“Is that all you have? Or did the airline lose some?” Ashley questioned her.
“I have everything I need, Ash. You know I don’t travel like you.” Jessica grinned.
“That’s true. I’d need more room just for my shoes.” Ashley giggled. “You can shop here if you need anything.”
Jessica nodded, but said nothing. Currently she was just out of school and without a j-o-b. She wouldn’t be buying a lot of extras. She was thrilled for the opportunity to come visit her family in Australia. If it weren’t for Lachlan, Marie, Bud and her parents, she wouldn’t be here.
Egan noticed the look on Jessica’s face when Ashley mentioned buying what she needed. He’d gotten the impression pretty quickly that the money in these families was in Ashley’s. Not so much the others. Egan had never had that much need for money until he had to sell off most of his brumbies and almost lost his farm. It had some added importance after that. Making it would still never drive his life.
He insisted on carrying Jessica’s bags to the truck. Jessica toted her carry on bag and Ashley protested when she had nothing to carry. Egan noticed she may have been raised like a princess, but she was never one not to share the work. Neither he nor Jessica thought she should carry anything, but finally Jessica handed her purse to her. Ashley smiled and trailed on behind them. They were parked down the street and Ashley kept getting distracted from the dress shops between the bus terminal and his truck.
She sighed when she caught up to them at the truck. “Nothing would fit me in any of those stores. I can’t wait to have a waist again. With my baby in my arms.” A blissful expression crossed her face. It was obvious how excited she was to be having her baby.
Egan wondered if he’d ever find someone to feel about the way he saw Lachlan looking at Ashley. There was amazement on his face each time the bloke touched her belly. He didn’t see that ever happening to him.
Once Jessica’s gear was stowed in the truck they readied for the drive back to The Glen. Ashley insisted on sitting by the window. She said she felt better driving if she could have the direct fresh air. It sounded logical to Egan, but Jessica was giving Ashley a look which was oblivious to the girl.
Jessica climbed into the middle of the front seat and Egan helped Ashley up into the cab before climbing behind the wheel. Egan listened to the two girls most of the way home as they caught up on family news and Ashley excitedly told Jessica about the plan for the horses and their first venture to look for mares for Marie and Ashley two days before. Egan provided details of the brumbies and Ashley had him recount when his mare was due to foal.
By the time they reached the two small farms in The Glen, Egan had to agree with Ashley. Jessica Weston seemed like a wonderful sheila.
