Chapter 118
Jaz woke up feeling disappointed. She was envious of all the fun everyone else had had at the fair. She was sad to have missed Xanders state championship qualifying run and Tess and Stevie's epic battle in the Demolition Derby final. She was sad she didn't get to spend the day with her sister and cousins. But that's life, she reminded herself. You don't get to have everything. Having the job you want requires sacrifice in other areas, and keeping Wilgul running was worth that sacrifice, she reminded herself.
She rolled over and saw that Ben had gone already. She got up to check on Kelly who was usually up at this time, but was being suspiciously quiet today. She walked into Kelly's room and the crib was empty! Why would Ben have taken her to work? It was her day off, and Hannah wasn't coming. Ben knew that she wanted to have the day with her daughter.
Jaz saw a small card laying in the crib. She picked it up. It had Ben's handwriting on it.
"Don't worry, Kelly is fine! I have her with me and soon we will all be together. You just need to pick up a few friends along the way. You should start with your most loyal teammate."
"What are you planning, Ben?" Jaz wondered out loud.
Jaz got dressed in comfortable riding clothes. She knew where to go. She headed down to the stable, to Annie's stall. She was already saddled and ready to go, waiting for her. There was another card tied to the saddle horn.
"A journey is always better with friends and family. Go find a friend where we didn't find the National Championship ring."
"You're bringing me back to the house, to the back garden." Jaz said to herself and mounted Annie and rode her back to their house. She went behind the house and found Dylan waiting for her. He was on horseback too, although he looked pretty nervous about it. He was holding another horse's reins.
"Dylan! I didn't think you rode?" asked Jaz
"I don't, not really any way, definitely not well, but I'm going to try my best today for you." said Dylan, as he handed her a note.
"Find a friend where I got down on one knee and told you the truth."
Ben proposed at the kitchen table.
Jaz and Dylan rode around to the front of the house. Jaz dismounted Annie and walked inside, She found Regan sitting at the kitchen table.
"I was hoping you were next. I want to do this with my sister." Jaz gave her a hug and Regan handed her another note."
"Find a friend at the first thing we built at Wilgul."
Jaz smiled and looked at Regan. "I know where to go."
Regan and Jaz went back outside and mounted the horses Dylan was carefully minding for them. Jaz led them off.
She brought them behind an old barn. There was an old show jump stored there.
"Well this is it. This jump is the first thing I built at Wilgul. Ben helped me with it before we even got back together," said Jaz.
Xander came riding out from behind the barn on Rufus.
"I already considered us family, but I'm glad it'll be official." Xander smiled and handed her a note.
"They say strong fences make good neighbors, but I don't think they were expecting fences quite like these. Head there to find some great new friends."
Jaz led the group to the boundary with the old Kinsella's place. She found Russell and Kate waiting there.
"I know we aren't the closest of friends yet, and whether we get to be neighbors or not, I hope we get to become closer friends." Kate handed her a note.
"Find a friend where you do your best work."
"That would be the showjumping ring," said Jaz as she led them to the ring.
The group was getting bigger and bigger. Jaz felt so special that everyone took time to do this with her.
As Jaz approached the jumping course, She saw Claire waiting there for her.
"I'm really glad you're my cousin." Claire handed her a note.
"Find some friends where you told me you loved me for the first time."
I was getting the mail and Ben came with me. I told him then. I couldn't keep it in any longer, thought Jaz.
Jaz led the group out to the Wilgul gate where the mailbox was. Marcus, Ingrid, and their boys, Ryan and Riley, were waiting for them.
We love you Jaz. Enjoy your ride." said Ingrid. She handed Jaz a note.
"Find a friend where we said goodbye the first time."
"That was at Killarney. I had decided to devote myself to riding and try for the Olympics, and I went to see him to say goodbye," Jaz announced to the group. She shuddered at the unhappy memory and led the group.
As the group rode all the way to Killarney, Jaz thought about how the three properties told the story of her and Ben. He was doing it so well.
At the gate to Killarney, Stevie was waiting for her. "I was wondering how long it was going to take the lot of you to get here. I was about to give up. I'm sore as hell," teased Stevie.
"Sorry Stevie, blame me, they have to go slow so I can keep up! I'm not sure how I ended up on the first leg of this journey." said Dylan as he laughed "Sorry you guys are stuck riding with this city boy, but I love the McLeods, so you're all stuck with me!"
"You wouldn't have left." Jaz smirked at Stevie.
"Of course not, I love you, Jaz." Stevie handed her a note.
"Find some friends where I found out I was going to be a father."
"He was fixing a boundary fence between Killarney and Drovers when I told him. Follow me friends," said Jaz as she led them to the next stop on the tour.
As Jaz approached the spot, she saw Jodi with Meggie and Katie.
"We're lucky to have a cousin like you." Jodi said.
"I love you Jaz!" said Katie
"Me too! This is for you, Jaz." Meggie handed her a note.
"Find a friend where you overcame your fear."
"That would be the horse ring at Drovers." Jaz thought of the help Alex gave her. She appreciated that more than Alex ever knew. She never got to come back and thank him.
As she approached the back of Drovers, she saw Matt. His foot was wrapped up in a bandage with an ice pack on it. He was sitting at the reins of a horse drawn wagon.
"I had a bit of an accident at the fair yesterday. I was worried I messed up Ben's plans, but I think this ought to work perfectly. I love you Jaz." Matt handed her a note.
"You said goodbye to your father here, but now it's a beautiful, happy place to meet a friend."
"It's the lookout point, by the road, with the great view of Drovers."
As Jaz reached it, she saw Tess, not on a horse, but sitting in a folding chair.
"I'm sorry Jaz, I hurt my neck and back during the Demolition Derby. I can't ride a horse right now. Good thing I've got friends to carry me when I'm hurt." She gingerly got up from the chair and managed to climb into the wagon next to Matt. "Because there was no way I was going to miss this," Tess said to Jaz and handed her a note.
"Meet a friend where we first bared all to each other."
"It's the dam at Drovers, we went skinny dipping, but who else could there be? You're all here all ready," said Jaz, confused.
They rode to the dam at Drovers and there was Grace, waiting for her.
"Grace! You're here! I'm so happy to see you. I was floating on cloud nine, except that it wasn't quite complete because you weren't here. I'm so glad you're here. I needed both of my sisters here."
Jaz dismounted and Grace did the same. Jaz held Grace in an embrace for a long time. "Sisters are so important. Thank you for being here. I've really missed you," said Jaz.
"So I take it our surprise worked then? Jaz, of course I'm here. You're my sister and I love you. I would never have missed this, but don't you want this?" Grace handed Jaz a note.
"Come find us where we were both finally honest with each other."
Jaz was crying and she couldn't read the message through the tears. It didn't matter, she knew exactly where he would be.
She got back on Annie and started to lead the group to the spot where she and Ben finally admitted their feelings for each other. It was a special spot for them and the only place that Ben would be. She pushed Annie into a run and dared everyone one else to keep up. She knew she had the fastest horse in the group and she wanted a few minutes alone with Ben before everyone else arrived. Annie ran hard for her, enjoying the freedom to run across the open fields. Even with the speed, she felt like it took an eternity to get there. She finally saw him in the distance.
He had spread out a blanket and Kelly was playing on it. She led Annie to them. She leapt off the horse and jumped on top of Ben. She just wanted to shower him with kisses.
"Jaz, stop. Please, just stand there for a moment." Ben got onto one knee. "Jasmine McLeod- I love you so much. You are the most amazing person I have ever met. You are so beautiful. You are so caring and generous. You have so much love in your heart, but I sometimes wonder if you realize how much love you give to the people around you and how important you are not just to me and to Kelly, but to everyone. I wanted to show you that you have made so many people's lives better, just by being you. Every single one of these people were so excited to help me give you this, because they love you so much. Jaz, You are the sun to my earth, without you I would be in darkness all of the time. You have given me the most beautiful daughter a man could ever hope for. To me, you deserve the world and I promise to try to get it for you everyday. You made me a better man and I will continue to try to grow and evolve to be the best man I can be for you and our family. Jasmine McLeod, will you marry me?" said Ben.
Most of the group had come over the hill as Ben had gotten on one knee. They slowed their horses to a walk and gave them some privacy as Ben said the words he needed to say.
"I already told you I wanted to marry you. I love you. You didn't have to ask me again." said Jaz.
"Yes I did. I wanted to give you the proposal you deserve," said Ben.
"My answer is still yes, it will always be yes. You are far more than I deserve," said Jaz.
'Good." Ben got up from his knee and pulled her towards him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. Then he picked up their daughter and hugged both of them tight. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have such an amazing family.
Regan and Dylan were next to each other. Regan was crying, watching her little sister have this amazing moment with Ben. She was having a moment herself with the man who rode a horse all morning for her and her sister despite not actually knowing how to ride a horse. She loved the man who included Grace and Tess on their date yesterday, so they wouldn't feel left out. She grabbed Dylan's hand. "I love you. " she said.
"I love you too." He couldn't wait to start the journey of parenthood with her.
Xander was watching his cousin, who had been like a dad to him in so many ways. He greatly admired Ben and at that moment, he knew that when he found a girl he loved like Ben loved Jaz, he would treat her the same way. He would try to give her the world and make sure she felt special because she would be worth it.
Russell looked at Kate and a flood of emotion hit him. He had no idea how he had gotten so lucky as to have gotten the love of such an incredible woman. She was beautiful, brilliant and authentic. She was selfless and sincere. She was giving him the chance to be a father, and to have a family. He still couldn't believe she was his wife. He would build her one thousand drones if she wanted them. He would build her whatever she wanted. "I love you, baby." He whispered to his wife.
Tess watched the scene and was bursting with love. Both for her cousin and Ben, because they were able to find love and embrace it, and for her own life, because she was ready to embrace love too. She thought of Finn, and she didn't feel lonely any more.
Jodi looked at her husband, with his ankle sprained and clearly hurting him. He was still there, for other people. He had found a way to be there. He had devoted so much of himself to the McLeod family. He worked as hard as she or Tess, if not harder, for the farm. His name wasn't on the title to Drovers Run, but it was on her heart. He had been the best partner in life anyone could ask for. He was patient, and thoughtful. He was reliable and affectionate. He treated his daughters like princesses, but still managed not to spoil them too much. He had taken in Tess and her young daughter and treated them like his own sister and daughter, never once questioning if it was the right thing to do. "Girls, I want you to remember this day. You are worthy of the same kind of love you are seeing here today. When you grow up, hold out for a partner who treats you like this."
"Obviously Mom, I want someone who treats me like Dad treats you." said Meggie
"Daddy loves us so much, I want to marry someone like Dad."
Matt looked over and caught her eye. "I love you." he whispered.
Claire watched the display and at that moment fully understood what Aunt Jodi had been trying to explain a couple days earlier. Don't just jump for the first bloke who says he likes you, hold out for the bloke whose actions prove he likes you. A bloke who will plan ahead to make sure you're comfortable. Someone who likes your family, and your friends and wants to be a part of them, not take you away from them. A bloke who understands what's important to you and makes that important to him as well.
Grace watched this amazing scene with nothing but love for her sister in her heart. Finding love like Jaz and Ben had found was so rare and she was so glad that her sister had gotten that kind of luck. She thought about what Tess had said about being lonely, but shielding her heart. Grace looked at Marcus, sitting with Ingrid and his family, the man who had caused her so much heartache for so long. Even now, with her marriage ending and her life a mess, she still knew one thing about herself she could be proud of. She was still officially over Marcus Turner. She had only happiness for Marcus and Ingrid, and being there with them, it didn't hurt like it used to. She realized she was strong, and while Tess might not have wanted to date again, to be lonely instead of heartbroken, Grace decided that wasn't the path for her. She would try to find love again. If she could get over Marcus, and get over Gavin, she deserved to find love again. She would take her time, and recover, but would keep her heart open.
"Okay guys, c'mon over, she said yes!" hollered Ben.
Matt and Tess brought down the wagon, which was loaded up with picnic supplies. Everyone pitched in setting everything up. There was champagne, juice, sandwiches and cold meat pies. There were fresh lamingtons and cookies too. Ben had spent all day yesterday baking, cooking, and preparing for this, but Jaz had no idea of any of it, because he had been hiding at Killarney with Kelly.