Hershel and the girls made dinner for Ms Kelley. They enjoyed each other's company, and spending time together with the girls.
"That was a really good supper, Mr Greene." Meredith smiled walking outside with him watching the girls play, it was still sunny out and it was 7:30. She walked around the farm with him. "What a beautiful place here."
"Thank you." He smiled, walking with her. "I'm glad you liked supper. At least I can cook." He chuckled. He glanced at the girls playing on the tire swing, and smiled. "It was my grandfather's place." He looked back at her and continued walking, as they walked over to the the pen with the lambs.
"You're lucky to have something to beautiful from your grandfather." She smiled softly, watching the animals. "The girls are lucky to have something like this too."
"I always wanted this place. My grandfather left it to my father, but he didn't want it. He tried to sell it out of the family, my aunt managed to buy it from him, and she sold it to me when I turned 18." He sighed, and sat on the wooden fence.
Meredith leaned against it and looked away from the animals and at him. "Well, it's a blessing you were able to get it." She smiled.
" I thought so." Hershel smiled slightly. "Dad never wanted to come back here. He didn't enjoy it growing up." He sighed. "I loved it though. I loved coming here and spending summers with my grandparents.. The best times of my life." He looked down at his hands and spoke softly. "They were better to me than my own folks were."
"My folks were great good people. Dad died when I was about 14." Meredith sighed. "Mom pretty much gave up on me during my rebellion and Lia took me in when she couldn't handle raising me anymore..." She smiled slightly. "At least your grandparents were good to you, Her - Mr Greene." She looked over at him.
"They did a lot for me." He smiled. "They paid for my schooling and let me live with them here so I didn't have to live on campus." He looked around and then at her. "I had my rebellion streak too." He laughed. "God help me when it happens with Maggie and Beth."
Meredith laughed slightly. "He will."
"My older brother was killed in a car accident when I was in high school." Hershel sighed. "I never got over that." He nodded. "I was in the car with him." He moved his arm up out of his shirt slightly, and showed her his scar going from his collar bone to his wrist. "Nearly lost my arm.."
Meredith looked it over tracing her finger over it lightly. "Wow. That…" She felt her heart beating faster and looked it over, she was surprised by the scar, and also how muscular he was. "I'm sorry that happened to you.." She moved her finger off it and shook her head. "How much older was he than you?"
Hershel smiled slightly, watching her. He looked away as she touched his scar, and nodded. "He was about 3 years older than I was. I was 15 and he was 18. His name was Daniel." He smiled and looked back at her. "He was a good brother."
"That's good." Meredith shifted and got off the fence.
Hershel got off the fence also. "No siblings?" He fixed his shirt and walked with her back to the house.
"Nope." Meredith laughed. "I was too much of a handful."
Hershel laughed also and smiled. "Well, you've come along way since then."
Maggie and Beth had already went inside, they were taking off their boots and Beth was getting her hair brushed by Maggie.
Hershel walked in first, and smiled. "Time to go get pj's on and teeth brushed."
"Okay daddie." Beth said running over and hugging him tightly, then hugging Ms kelley. "Goodnight Daddy and Ms Kelley." She kissed them both on the cheek.
"Goodnight Beth." Hershel said kissing her cheek, and hugging her. Meredith hugged her back and smiled. "Goodnight Beth."
Beth ran upstairs and into the bathroom.
Maggie came over and hugged, and kissed her dad on the forehead. "Goodnight dad." She smiled and hugged Ms Kelley after. "Goodnight." She said softly, and walked upstairs.
"Goodnight." Hershel smiled and walked into the kitchen. "Would you like some tea or coffee?"
"Tea is fine." Meredith smiled. "Thank you." She took off her shoes also at the doorway.
Hershel nodded and put the kettle on the stove and grabbed the tea box. "I'll be back." He smiled and walked upstairs and told the girls goodnight again, and tucked them in, then shut their doors turning off the lights, and walking back downstairs.
The tea was made and they sat in the living room on the sofa.
"So, Ms Kelley." Hershel said taking a drink of his cup of tea. "Do you dance?"
"Why, Mr Greene." Meredith said teasing him, "Are you thinking of asking me?" She smiled taking a sip of her drink.
"Well, there is a dance coming up at church, this weekend.." He smiled slightly. "Unless someone else has already asked you."
"I'm free as a bird." She smiled back taking another sip.
"Would you like going?"
"I'd love too." Meredith said looking up at him. "What time is it at?"
"It starts at 8. I would pick you up around 7:30?"
"Who is going to watch the girls?" She smiled, and nodded. "Sounds good to me." She finished her cup of tea and sat back.
"My farmhand's wife - Patricia. She loves watching them when she is free to." He smiled and finished his drink.
"I can't wait." She smiled softly to herself.
"Me either." He smiled, exhaling softly, he gently placed an arm over her shoulders.
Meredith smiled and scooted closer slightly, and relaxed.
