Consequence

Chapter One

His arms around her waist squeeze gently as he pulls her close to his chest, his head over her shoulder stealing a kiss on her cheek.

"Baby please stop worrying, I'll be fine." He knew it was a foolish thing to promise because the world they lived in wasn't safe. You never knew what the next day would bring. But if there was anything in this world Joel would find to fight for; it was coming home to his wife. His family.

Ada dumped the cooked eggs onto the plates laid out, they were a little burned on the edges. She hadn't been paying that much attention to them if she was honest. Then turned in her husband's arms to face him.

"Back by dinner or I kick your ass." She warned playfully. "Deal." He chuckled, pulling her close as their lips met in a kiss.

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It didn't take long for Ada to get to the stables when she'd finished breakfast. After reluctantly pulling herself from Joel's arms; they'd both parted ways as the older man went to meet his brother at the gate.

She'd quickly threw herself into her list of jobs for the day, hoping it would take her mind off her worry.

"Morning Max." She smiled at the stable hand, walking through to the back room. "Mornin' Ada, whadda we got today?" he grinned in reply, his frame leaning through the door as she tidied her workspace. Collecting all her notes and paperwork together.

"Well Daisy has been lame for a couple days so she needs to stay on box rest. Then I need King and Blue tacked up before noon." She explained, her eyes never leaving the sheets of paper in her hand. "Bob and Maggie are headed out on patrol so they need them ready before half twelve."

"You got it boss!" Max assured with a joyful grin, sending her a mock salute. She chuckled at the old man as he disappeared from the doorway, but she quickly caught up to him, catching herself on the wooden frame.

"Oh! Could you also take Barnaby out into the paddock this morning please? He had a touch of colic yesterday and I want to keep his gut moving to make sure it's passed." She explained. Max simply nodded and turned to make a start on his duties. Ada always liked Max. He was an older gentleman, around seventy years old but still incredibly fit for his age. He'd arrived in Jackson a few years after herself, Ellie and Joel. Along with his grandsons from somewhere near Montana. Having the experience of running his own ranch before the Outbreak; he'd been the perfect fit to help Ada run the stables and take care of the horses.

She continued through until around nine o' clock, just making the finishing touches to the poultice she'd wrapped around the gelding's leg she was treating. "There ya go buddy." She cooed sweetly, giving the horse a soft scratch behind the ears as he nickered in reply.

"Morning Ada!" A familiar voice greeted as the brunette moved to close the stable door closed behind her. "Morning Dina, you out on patrol this morning?"

"Yep, heading out on the creek trails with Ellie." She smiled, Ada quickly returning it as they both looked to Ellie walking through the door. "How's my boy?" Dina asked, grabbing Ada's attention once again.

"Oh he's fine, Japan had a little mud fever but I think we got it under control now. He's good to go. All tacked up for you with Max down there." Dina gave her a quick thumbs up and threw a thanks over her shoulder as she ran down towards the back of the barn. Leaving the woman alone with her adoptive daughter who slowly trailed behind.

"Good morning sunshine. How are you feeling this morning?" She teased. Ellie rolled her eyes at her mother's smirk.

"Oh jeez don't. I already got half the town giving me weird looks." She whined. After the dance the night before, her kiss with Dina, Seth drunk and aggressively harassing the girls; it had certainly been the talk of the town the following morning. Ellie was just hoping she could outlive the embarrassment.