Page 9 of Conail (Members From Money Season 2, #150)

"What?" Yasmine stared at her mother as if she had lost all of her faculties. She should have known something was up when she hustled her dad out of the kitchen along with a packed breakfast for him and Colin. But nothing had prepared her for this.

Oh, they had been dragging her along the guilt trip ever since she got here, setting her up for this all along.

"Eat your oatmeal." Maeve clicked her tongue as she poured them both cups of coffee.

"Mama, please don't talk to me as if I am a five-year-old. You just dropped a bomb in my lap by saying that you want me to consider being a surrogate. Me! No wonder I was asked to come home—so that what? I could save the damn farm by selling myself?"

She did not back away from her mother's cool stare that could bore a hole into her confidence. Not this time.

"I don't appreciate the swearing."

"Oh?" She almost laughed at the prim tone. "Is that what you're focusing on? You told me that it is my duty to save the farm by carrying another person's baby and you're offended by my swearing? Well!" She threw up her arms in absolute amazement.

"Honey—" Pulling out a stool, her mother took a seat and handed her the cup of coffee.

"Do you think I wanted to ask you to make a sacrifice that big?

If there was any other way, we would have taken it.

Your dad is messed up about all of it and he feels so guilty, when it's not his fault.

None of it is. He did not call the sickness on himself or send the drought.

Life happens and we got the brunt of it. "

The money they would receive from the surrogacy would go a long way toward pulling them out of the hole they found themselves in." She circled the rim of her cup with a fingertip and avoided her daughter's gaze. "If I could do it, I would."

Ignoring the prick of guilt and compassion, Yasmine shoved away from the counter and started pacing. "Why me? A man like Conail McLaughlin could basically have any woman he wants popping out a baby for him. Why me?"

"You know of the trouble he had with that woman who wanted to pass off another man's child as his."

Yasmine nodded.

"Well, he wanted to avoid getting involved with anyone. She broke him in two with the betrayal and it was worse that it was with his best friend."

"And I feel horrible for him. But why me?"

"His mother and I are best friends as you know, and she finally persuaded him that he needed an heir."

"Heir as in a son. There's no guarantee that will happen."

"We know." Maeve sent her daughter a pleading look. "We're desperate, honey. The bank note is being called in and we've gotten extensions twice because of our longstanding relationship. That is coming to an end."

"Why don't you ask for a loan from Eleanor?"

Her mother's expression turned frosty. "You know us better than that. Friendship and money don't mix and even if I was to consider it, your father would rather lose this place, his home that has been in his family for several generations, than take a loan from a friend."

"Stubborn fool." She muttered as she came back to take her seat. "I wanted to help, but my idea was emptying my bank account—" She waved a hand. "Not getting pregnant." Closing her eyes briefly, she huffed out a breath. "How much are we talking?"

When her mother named the figure, her eyes popped wide open. "That's far too generous."

"Money is not an object."

"It's certainly not. And that would solve the problem?"

"Yes. I have an idea of making a greenhouse, one where we control the temperature.

Fruits and vegetables. Your father likes to plant and he's good at it.

We need to hire more people to make the farm lucrative.

As much as your father wants to deny it—he cannot do much of anything anymore.

The doctor advised him to slow down." She took a quick sip of her coffee.

"And I don't want to lose him. Not yet."

Yasmine felt her heart breaking at the desolate tone in her mother's voice. "Neither do I. God!" She rubbed a hand over her face. "A baby."

"Honey, you have time to think about it and if it's something that's not sitting well with you—" She spread her hands wide. "I don't know. But I am not going to ask you to do anything you're not comfortable with."

"How can I say no? I have not been doing my part at all.

I've seen the looks on Dad and Colin's faces.

The worries, the stress. My brother is out there doing it all by himself.

He has no life apart from the farm and that's not right.

He's up from dawn till almost midnight and I hate that.

" Sighing again, she shook her head. "I have to do my part.

It's just nine months out of my life and after that, we get to save the farm. Of course, I'll do it."

The smile that broke over her mother's face was like the sun breaking through a very dark cloud. Her eyes glistened and for a minute, she could not say a word. "You have no idea what this means. Let me call Eleanor and let her know the good news."

"Mama, wait. What if it doesn't work? And what will I have to do?"

"I'll let her explain everything to you." Maeve patted her hand and abandoning her seat, came around to wrap her arms around her shoulders. "Thanks, honey." She whispered hoarsely. "You have no idea what this means."

"I have some idea." Despite her misgivings, Yasmine returned the hug. "Go and call Eleanor."

*****

"You knew."

"Of course I did. Did I approve? No." They were in the chicken coop handling the feeding. All around them the sounds of squawking were ignored. Eleanor had been called, and she had been told exactly what would happen. She would be tested by a team of experts and go on from there.

"You never said anything to me."

Colin glanced over at her as he scooped a handful of grain and distributed it evenly.

The pigs had gotten their slop, and the rest of the animals were fed.

He had a mind to go into town and play a game or two and just sit in the local bar and watch the basketball game with some of the men. He needed a day off.

"It was not my place." He shrugged when she cast him a disgusted look.

"It's not something a brother could bring up to his sister.

What was there to say? 'Sis, welcome home.

Oh, by the way, in order to try and save our own, your uterus is required.

'" He winced when she dug an elbow in his ribs. "You get the picture."

"Oh, clearly." She snorted in disgust. She continued to ladle out the grain automatically. "I had no idea it was so bad."

"Yeah. But the last thing I want you to do is make such a damn sacrifice. Dad agrees with me."

"And yet, he hasn't said a word."

Dusting his hands off, Colin reached for the rake. It was time to tidy up after themselves. He needed a shower to wash the dust and grime off him and a couple of beers. In exactly that order.

"You have to know that would be an uncomfortable topic for him.

" He paused. "Christ, the man has a difficult time discussing body parts.

Not to mention sex. You remember when he cornered us while we were watching the cows mating?

We were teenagers and grew up on a farm and he was livid.

Especially with you. He shooed you away. "

Yasmine burst out laughing, the sound sending the chickens squawking and fluttering wings.

"I remember. He was so uncomfortable and when he came to my room later that night, he asked if I knew the facts of life. I had a hard time keeping my cool."

Colin chuckled softly, his expression sobering as he stared at her. "You don't have to do this."

"You know better than that. We need the money."

His expression turned angry. "And it makes me feel so damn useless."

"Then you're a fool." When he stared at her in askance, she continued. "You've been singlehandedly holding this place up for years."

He shrugged. "It's not enough."

"More than." Grabbing the rag, she dusted her fingers off. "Now go on about your way. I'll finish up."

He gave her a skeptical glance. "Sure you know what you're doing?"

"Go away, Colin."

Touching a hand to her cheek, he grinned at her. "Don't wait up."

She stayed where she was even after he left, her mind buzzing.

Putting away the feeding pail and completely oblivious to the ruckus the chickens were making, she sat on a crate, her mind in a whirl.

She had agreed to be a surrogate. Had agreed to carry someone else's baby inside her for nine months.

After those nine months, she was going to hand it over.

Panic gripped her around the throat and had her gasping. She could still say no, she decided. No contract had been signed yet. She could still back out.

No, she shook her head in despair. She had given her word and just hearing the joy in Eleanor's voice and the immense relief on her mother's face were proof enough to realize that she was hooked. She was going to do it. Had to do it.

She had seen firsthand what the place lacked. The machinery and farming equipment were old and outdated. Her brother was trying his best and working himself to the bone, but it was not enough.

If this was what she had to do then she was just going to have to do it.

It was just nine months and afterwards, she could go on with her life, knowing that she had done her part. She would go back home to her apartment or just stay here. The place was big enough and with her line of work, she could set up shop anywhere.

She shied away from thinking about her failed relationship. There had only been one. In high school, all she had done was fool around. Even then, she had been cautious and because of her height and weight, most boys had stayed clear of her.

In college she had been too focused on her studies, determined to prove to herself and her family that she could achieve and had not bothered with any fooling around.