Page 9 of The Dairy Farmer's Daughter

She ignored her father and raised her eyebrows at Justin.

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

Nina returned with drinks, and Justin gratefully accepted his beer.

"Justin's staying at the farm tonight." Freya told her mother, who perched on the arm of her husband's chair.

"Oh good. You should stay for a few days and get to know the area."

"No, I should get back to work. But I will need to talk to the staff first. The lawyer said they should be able to keep everything running until we find a buyer."

Mark leaned forward in his chair. "If you’re interested in leasing the farm, we'd be keen. I wish we could buy it, but it's not a good time for us right now. Maybe next year though."

Justin sipped his drink thoughtfully. Stephen had said leasing would be easier to do than finding a buyer in this market, but he wanted to keep his options open for a while.

He smiled at Mark. "I need to do some research and find out what it's worth. Is it true that the milk comes here?"

"That's right. Emerald Hills consists of our farm and dairy shed, plus my brother’s factory where they pasteurise the milk and make cream, cheese, and yogurt."

"Plus, we've got the cafe, animal farm, and dairy tours," Freya said, and Justin detected more than a little pride in her voice.

"That's quite the enterprise you have," Justin said.

"Emerald Hills has been in the Montgomery family for generations," Nina said. "Our ancestors were some of the original founders of the area. Mark's brother, Bill, wanted to expand the dairy farm, so he started making cheese andcommercial-grade milk. Then when Greer was finished cooking school and travelling, she and Freya opened the cafe."

"Greer does all the work—I just come up with the ideas," Freya said.

"So, farm tours and animals too?" He loved how her face brightened up with satisfaction.

"That's for the tourists; they love seeing a working dairy farm in action. We offer them rides on a trailer pulled behind a tractor. They can look inside the factory too and see how Emerald Hills products are made."

Justin gazed in astonishment at Freya-who could just be the perfect woman. Intelligent, creative and entrepreneurial all in one beautiful package.

"We're also a popular wedding venue," she added.

Weddings equalled money.Well played, Freya.

"Freya runs the businesses and organises all the events and marketing,” Nina explained.

Freya shrugged. "It's a family company. When one part does well, we all succeed."

"You must be very busy," he said.

She shrugged. "I enjoy what I do, and I get to stay on the farm and help my family."

"She still helps with the milking too. Even the morning shifts." Mark beamed.

"I've gotta keep my eye on you," she teased.

Mark leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “It’s a difficult life, working on the land. It’s not for everyone and it’s hard on families. Divorce rates are high, and every year we see more and more kids head off to the big smoke in search of an easier life. One where you get paid a decent wage for your time and effort. A man can end up trapped, owing too much, and then forced to sell, walking away with nothing more than the clothes on his back to show for a lifetime of working all-day, every-day."

Justin's lips thinned. The truth of Mark's words were written on his face. Years of early mornings, hard work, and outdoor life had left him weather-beaten, with a face full of freckles and broken capillaries. Except Mark's family was still intact, his daughters back on the land after taking time away. If Boyd had been forced to choose between his farm and his family, he had chosen wrong.

"Dinner's ready," Greer said as she placed a huge bowl of steaming pasta in the centre of the table.

They all stood and moved to sit around the huge wooden table where a freshly tossed salad was waiting.

"Sit here." Nina motioned to the vacant seat between herself and Freya.

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