Chapter 157

"I just don't think so, Regan. I promised Xander I would help him with his training. We started using video, like Jaz suggested, and it's helping, plus, who's going to watch Xander while I'm gone? I have a young son, and a large property to care for, I can't just disappear for three days at a time. We don't have enough help as it is"

"Ben said that Xander could come stay with him and Kelly at Wilgul while you're gone," Regan countered.

"Look, he has his heart set on winning states. I promised him I would help him as much as I can. He has the extra time for training right now because school is on holiday. I know he might not win, but if he doesn't, it won't be because his mom, who is also his coach, left him to train on his own. I just can't do that to him. He is working really hard and is so focused, I have to support him. I'm playing the family first card. I'm sorry Regan," said Stevie.

"It's okay, I get it. I just miss you, and I thought this would be a great way to spend some time together. I guess we'll just have to invite each other to dinner parties and things like regular people. You're a great mom," said Regan.

"I'm sorry Regan, I hope the trip goes well."

"Hey Mom. How are you feeling?" asked Claire as she returned from her swim with Charlotte.

"Hey Honey, I'm actually feeling so much better. How was your swim with Charlotte?"

"The swim was good. It's nice to have an older cousin to talk to, plus she can drive. I'm glad you're feeling better," said Claire.

Tess stood up and did a jumping jack. "Tah dah! and look, I can do this now." Tess moved her head from the left to the right and back to the left. "I"m not sure what happened, but somewhere between here and the Farmers Council meeting, everything just sort of loosened up. I wonder if the pain got so bored from the meeting it just got up and left to find somewhere more interesting to be," joked Tess.

"That's great Mom. Now I won't have to do your hair for you anymore." Claire teased.

"I think I'm going to call Finn, he was worried about me and I want to tell him I'm feeling better." Tess thought about what he might do now that her back was feeling better.

"Jeeze, you are tenacious. Look, I'll talk to Tess about it. That's all I offer. Now lay off. You're like a pack of wild dingos!" Jodi argued with Kate and her mom.

"I bet Tess is still up, you can walk over there now and ask her," said Meg.

"I'll walk with you on my way back to the shearers' quarters," Kate added.

"Alright! Fine, let's go!" Jodi gave up and walked out the door with Kate close behind her.

"Tess? Are you still up? Jodi called as she knocked.

"Yeah, is everything alright?" Tess responded.

"Yes. Kate is just being ridiculous." answered Jodi.

"No I'm not!" Kate answered.

"Kate, go to bed. I'm talking to my sister without you." said Jodi.

"But you'll tell her my plan?"

"Yes!, now go away," said Jodi.

"Okay, good night!" said Kate.

"Hi Tess, sorry."

"It's okay, hang on one second." Tess had her phone to her hand and was covering the mouth piece. "Finn, I'll call you back in a little bit. Will you still be up for a while? Okay, I love you, bye." Tess put her phone on the table. "So what is going on?"

"Kate has this plan. She mapped out a route through the National Park to the mine site. She thinks it's accessible by horseback the whole way, without ever going on Kinsella's property. She wants us to go. I told her she was nuts." said Tess.

"When would they leave? Who's going?"

"So Regan, Grace and Jaz are all in. Kate is out because of the babies, but said she would cover chores here. Stevie is out because she wants to continue to help Xander with his training. Charlotte is interested in going too. Ben is out because he is staying to watch Kelly while Jaz is gone, and Dylan wants to go, but everyone including himself is concerned if his riding skills are going to be good enough. Ingrid has to work and Marcus has to take care of his boys. Russell said he would stay and help with chores here, and fly the drone in if we need aerial views. Meg and Terry have offered to stay until we get back and help with the kids and chores. Matt is obviously out with the ankle, but he reckons he can probably handle all the meals here to help out that way."

"So that leaves you and me?" Tess said.

"I'm not thrilled about Charlotte going either. This is potentially dangerous, I want to protect her if I can, but I'm not her mother, and she's eighteen. She can make the choice for herself if she wants to go, but I'd prefer she didn't go," replied Jodi.

"Yeah it's up to Charlotte if she wants to go. She's an adult now, but yes, there are certainly some risks. She wouldn't be alone though, she would be with family." said Tess "When is the group leaving?" she asked.

"Early Tuesday morning, hopefully back by Thursday night at the latest, but Kate really thinks it would probably be Wednesday," said Jodi.

"So just tomorrow to prepare? That's a tight time frame, and I'm worried about my back. I feel a lot better tonight, but that would be a very strenuous ride, and I'm not a spring chicken anymore," said Tess.

"So you're actually considering this? You could barely move this afternoon." Jodi was shocked.

"Well, I've been saying yes to scary things lately, and they have been working out pretty well, back pain excluded. I'd feel better about Charlotte going if I was there to help her, and look out for her. You know Claire would go if she was still here," said Tess.

"Why am I the only one who thinks this isn't a great plan?" Jodi threw her hands up in the air. "We are investigating criminals here! I haven't had great luck dealing with criminals in the past," said Jodi.

"We don't get to spend a lot of time with Regan and Grace, and it would be a great chance for Charlotte to bond with everyone. I've missed my cousins," countered Tess.

"You're gonna go!"

"I need to see how I feel tomorrow, but if I can ride without pain, yes, I'd like to go. As long as Meg doesn't mind having Claire stay in the big house while I'm gone, then yes, I'm gonna go."

"Well what the hell then, if you go, I'll go. All of us are nuts!" said an exasperated Jodi.