Chapter 55
Jaz was very anxious about the water situation. It just didn't add up how it went so fast. She felt a little better after talking to Jodi and Stevie. They would negotiate as a group to get better deals and would split the transportation costs. That would help relieve some of the financial burden they were looking at. She felt fortunate she didn't have to worry about thousands of heads of cattle like the others did. Worrying about all the horses was enough for her.
She tried to put that out of her mind. She looked down at her left hand. She loved wearing the ring Ben had given her. She loved what it represented and she loved the care and thought he had clearly put into choosing it. It was the perfect ring for someone who worked with horses and their hands a lot. Although most of the girls knew Ben was going to propose, they didn't know he had yet, or that she had said yes! She decided it might be more fun to not say anything when she saw them, but to just nonchalantly wear the ring and wait until they noticed.
She had to admit she was pretty upset about the other ring that went missing. It was a very important piece to her. She wouldn't have traded it for her engagement ring, but it did hurt that it was gone. She decided she would call the Australian National Equestrian Association tomorrow to see if she would be able to pay for a replacement ring.
"Oh well. If it was a trade, I got the good end of the trade," said Jaz to the empty room.
She walked over to close the bedroom window while she got ready and there was the ring! The National Championship ring! It was caught on the latch of the window!
"Well. That explains why the girls couldn't find it after searching for hours outside. It was safe inside all along! Poor Ben and Stevie and the gang. They wasted so many hours looking," said Jaz aloud to herself.
She put the championship ring on her right hand and smiled. It feels so balanced, my professional accomplishments on one hand, and my family life on the other. I actually got to have both, thought Jaz.
"Ben! Can you come in here! There is something wrong with the ring!" hollered Jaz.
"What's wrong with it?" Ben came hustling in from Kelly's room.
"Look!" Jaz held up her right hand and showed it to Ben with a big smile on her face.
"You found it! Where was it? I'm so happy!" Ben looked incredibly relieved.
"It was stuck on the latch of the window. I found it when I went to close it. Look, it's here and not damaged at all! You are officially off the hook. It's safe and sound. I'll show Stevie and the girls when I see them tonight. Now they'll have to admire two beautiful rings!" Jaz said with a smile.
"Well that explains how we never found it. We were looking outside and it was still inside all along. I am so happy you found it. I felt so awful. I had already called the Australian National Equestrian Association to see if you would be able to buy a replacement. They said yes, by the way, but I'm glad you have your original ring back," said Ben.