Chapter 205 – End of an Awkward Supper

"Abigail." Margaret said. "You are more than welcome to bring the kids over. Opal will be up here at some point in the morning. I have already messaged Katie and let her know it was fine."

"We will be jumping about ten." Jack said.

"Okay." Abigail said. "If you want to come back tomorrow and Sunday, we need to go home. You both need to finish your chores and go to bed."

"Yes, ma'am." Both Becky and Peter said.

"Then we will see you in the morning." Margaret said. "Feel free to bring the fruit, veggies and milk tomorrow. I had planned on finishing baking in the morning."

"Don't forget." Nathan said. "I am making homemade waffles for breakfast."

Becky and Peter both turned and looked at their mother.

"We will see." Abigail said. "I am sure there will be plenty so you can always have one when you get here."

"Yes, there will be plenty." Nathan said.

"Then we will see you tomorrow." Abigail said.

Abigail gathered her children and headed out while Lee and Doug made sure everything in the kitchen was taken care of. They brought coffee and the platters of cookies back to the table. Devin and John both grabbed a cup of coffee and a cookie before heading to the office.

"Mom." Maddie said.

"Yes." Trish said.

"The kitchen is done, other than what is left on the table." Maddie said. "The food is all put away, the dishwasher is running and the rest have been washed and put away."

"Thank you." Trish said.

"Yes, thank you." Gran said.

"What are everyone else's plans for the evening?" Trish asked.

"It shouldn't take Grandpa John and Devin long." Jack said. "Then I know that they, along with Bill, have some things left to talk about. I would like to sit in if they will allow it."

"Can we go watch some tv?" Missy asked.

Trish looked around.

"I think that is fine." Trish said. "I will expect you to help with Cody and Opal again tomorrow. I know that you are riding and need to care for your horses, but still."

"Yes, ma'am." Maddie said.

"I got the game console out and it is in your room." Jack said. "Feel free to hook it up there or in the main room. There is also a tote of games."

"I think we will put it in the main room." Maddie said. "That way everyone can share."

"Thank you girls." Gran said. "You know how?"

"Yes, ma'am." Missy said. "If we have questions, we will ask."

"Very well." Gran said. "Before you head down. JP, what is the plan for the morning?"

"Horses need to be cared for by seven." Jack said. "Then you can come eat. Then we will all take turns riding either in the sand rings or over at the large arena. I will be at the press conference, but Doug and Nathan know what needs to be done."

"Alarm for six, girls." Trish said.

"Yes, ma'am." Maddie said.

Maddie and Missy headed downstairs.

"Nathan." Frank said. "How long will it take to get the waffles going?"

"We should probably get up by five thirty." Nathan said. "With the two of us, it won't take long, but that will also give everyone a chance to do what they need."

"Got it." Frank said.

"So what is this about waffles?" James asked.

"I offered to make my great-grandmother's old fashioned waffles." Nathan said. "Frank offered to help me. We are going to make two batches. They freeze well. Then we can just pop them in the toaster."

"That sounds good." James said. "I had planned on waiting to head down in the morning since we have the press conference, so I will be here to have some fresh ones."

"Sounds good." Nathan said. "I hope you like them."

"I am sure I will." James said. "We don't have waffles a lot when it is just the two of us. But I do like them."

"Then I have no problem making a large batch so we can freeze some." Nathan said. "We would do this a couple times a month when I was growing up. That way my sister and I could take care of ourselves in the morning or after school."

After Missy and Maddie headed downstairs and John and Devin headed to the office, the rest of the people at the table shifted down closer to Gran and Trish. Without really talking about it, it was decided that they would sit and visit. Rosemary wasn't happy, but she figured it wasn't a good idea to push things more than she had.

"So Frank." Gran said. "I hear congratulations are in order. Did I hear correctly that you are taking the job as the property manager for the orchard?"

"Yes, ma'am." Frank said. "I will be taking the job. That is why I need to go back to the city and pack my belongings. I want to be back here for the show and then stay. Jack says we will have access to the property at the end of July. I want to be able to be ready to jump in and start with what we need to do. It sounds like Jack here has grand plans for the property. I look forward to helping achieve those plans."

"Good." Gran said. "What were you thinking about where you will be staying until something can be sorted out for the orchard property? I have decided that I am not calling it the Miller property. If we want to change the perception, we need to call it something else."

"I like that." Jack said. "The orchard property is fine for now."

"I was thinking of getting an apartment in town." Frank said. "But you said that there is plenty of space here. I don't want to intrude and I am not sure how long it will take to have something livable at the orchard."

"Have you thought about getting either an RV or mobile home?" Trish said. "I mean that would get you until at least the snow fell if you did an RV."

"I have been looking at things." Jack said. "I haven't talked to Elizabeth or Frank yet, but I was thinking of something a little more permanent."

"What were you thinking?" Frank asked.

"Elizabeth and I have talked about wanting someone there full time to oversee things." Jack said. "We also agree that having someone staying on the property would be a deterrent for vandals or those who want to cause trouble. So I was thinking of a small home away from the main house, so we both have privacy. We could easily pour a concrete slab and put a house on it. Nothing too big, but there are some nice modular houses that are easy to do."

"I agree." James said. "I think that would be nice. I think a nice two or three bedroom place with an attached garage. One level, easy to do. It could be set back and hidden mostly with trees or hedges."

"I like that idea." Frank said. "Maybe we could do an oversized garage with a two bedroom home. That way I would have plenty of room and somewhere to work on my bike."

"If that is what you want." Jack said. "That is what we will do. When we have access to the property we will find a spot that will be easy to run electrical and plumbing. Until we get to that point, I was thinking you could stay here or I can rent one of those higher end RV's. Actually, I think it might be cheaper to buy it. Then we have it for shows and stuff if we want."

"If that is what you want." James said. "I think that is fine."

"I would be okay with that." Frank said.

"Good." Jack said. "Then, you, Elizabeth and I will sit down and pick out something we can all live with. I will look into a modular home and what we need."

"JP." James said. "Slow down. You have several other things going on. I think we either hand this off to one of John's assistants or figure something else out."

"I can do it." Frank said. "It won't take long. Having worked in construction on and off for the last year, I have plenty of knowledge and even know where to look."

"JP." James said. "Is that acceptable? Frank will find two or three options and bring them to you. Then you three can sit down and decide."

"I am okay with that." Elizabeth said. "I might even sit with Frank and help him. I wouldn't mind learning a little. Jack has asked me to think about things for our house."

"We can do that." Frank said.

"I am okay with it." Jack said.

"You can't control everything." Doug said. "They are capable and they will loop you in when they have narrowed things down."

"Fine." Jack sighed.

"Very good." Gran said. "JP, remember what I told you about compromise. This was a nice first step."

Nathan, Doug and Lee laughed. Gran snapped her fingers and gave them a look.

"Enough." Gran said. "You three can also take lessons for when you find a partner."

"Well said Margaret." Trish said.

Jack, Nathan, Doug and Lee all ducked their heads. James and Bill smiled and nodded knowingly.

"Frank, for your information." Gran said. "You are welcome to stay here as long as needed. You can even have a room upstairs if you want. I won't require you to bunk with the boys downstairs."

"Thank you, Margaret." Frank said. "But I don't mind the big room downstairs. Reminds me of when I was in the Army. I will survive. Besides, I think that there are plenty of other houseguests that will be coming and going."

"If that is what you want." Margaret said.

Frank nodded.

"Father Mark." Bill said. "Jack said something about you taking leave for the month of July."

"Yes." Father Mark said. "Between wanting to spend time with family and the show here, I felt it was the best. The Bishop agreed. I haven't taken any leave since I was ordained. Other than my typical Monday off, I am entitled to three weeks each year and I haven't used any of it."

"So will you be staying out here?" Bill asked.

"Yes and no." Father Mark said. "I will be spending time here, including overnight, but I will also be spending time at the house in town. Another priest is coming in to cover for me. He will deal with the day to day things, as well as any emergencies. I only have one commitment during my leave and that is a wedding on the afternoon of the twentieth."

"That will be good to have time with Jack and others." Bill said.

"That was what I was thinking." Father Mark said. "I thought I would be able to spend some time riding with these rascals (motioning to Jack, Doug and Lee)."

"If you want to ride Athena." Nathan said. "I can jump one of the other horses."

"Absolutely not." Father Mark said. "She was meant to be a jumper and she has apparently taken a shine to you, so I will be fine riding one of the trail horses. We have plenty of them around here."

"Maybe you and I can go for a ride and talk." Frank said.

"Just let me know." Father Mark said. "I am here for everyone. Besides, a nice trail ride is a perfect way to spend an afternoon."

"So you all ride?" Rosemary asked.

"Yes." James said. "Most of these guys have been on a horse since they were old enough to sit up. Father Mark used to jump competitively for us. He did quite well as I remember."

"Doug started riding lessons when he was about four." Trish said. "He became more serious about things when he hooked up with Jack. The girls started riding lessons when they were three, almost four and have been doing competitions for two years. They show jump. They have done hunter jumper and they have also done equitation. They have said they want to move up in show jumping and do it more than just a few shows a year. They have trained in cross country and have taken some dressage lessons so if they wanted to do eventing they would be able. If you don't know what those are you can look them up."

"And they will." Jack said. "Next year they will be old enough to do modified in most of the shows. They just have to be patient for the summer. I know that they are jumping modified, but I don't want them to continue on Rocky and Rainbow at that height."

"Hence the two new jumpers." Doug said. "We didn't want to tell the girls until we knew that they would work out. They are fully trained for eventing, supposedly. So the girls will be happy."

"I was going to introduce them to the horses on Monday." Jack said. "So please don't say anything."

"I won't." Trish said. "I thought that was what you were talking about when you were talking to my James about some new horses."

"Why didn't you just tell them tonight at supper?" Rosemary asked.

"Because they can't ride them until Monday." Jack said. "Yes, Doug and I have been on them. But I want our trainers to have a chance to work with them or at least evaluate them before I am going to put two ten almost eleven year olds on them. They may be trained, but they are still a little green."

"I still don't understand why you didn't tell them." Rosemary said. "It was kind of sick to see the way she was flirting with you to try and find out."

"They weren't flirting." Trish said. "Get your head out of the gutter. They see Jack as their uncle. They have always tried to charm him to get their way. They saw their older sister doing that and have been doing it to Jack and Lee since they were about five. They do it with others. I have talked to them about it. It was harmless. They don't do it other than to Jack and probably will try it with Frank and Grandpa James. They know that they are cute and try to use that to their advantage sometimes."

"I agree with Trish." Father Mark said. "Maddie was being cute and trying to get her way. It was innocent. Why do you think that it was anything else?"

"I mean." Rosemary said. "You know. All those things online can't all be made up. There has to be some truth to them."

Jack flexed his hand under the table. Father Mark reached across and stopped Jack.