Music drifted in from the tack room. Alex must have turned it on. She glanced up as he came to the doorway. He watched her lift a bale of hay and step up on the pile. In an instant he was beside her, trying to take the bale from her hands.
"Here, let me do that. You shouldn't be lifting things that heavy. Why don't you hire someone to help you with all this stuff?"
She surrendered the bale to him and watched him toss it on top of the pile. She sighed.
"Is this another thing I can't do by myself? I wonder if you fret all day about things being done right.
Her question caught him as he lifted another bale. He stopped, his gaze searching her face. Finally he gave her a wry smile.
"This is a hauntingly familiar conversation to have in this barn. I thought we had settled that question seven years ago, but I guess not."
"No, I just got rid of the goats and started doing the work you thought I was suited to."
He winced. "I didn't realize I was keeping you from what you wanted to do. I thought the dairy was nothing more than an income."
She lifted her brows. "And you replaced that."
He dropped the bale, his eyes flashing and his lips thinning. "My mistake."
Great, now she had stepped all over his ego. She took a step toward him and smiled.
"I married a wonderful person, not a bankroll."
He eyed her warily and then leaned over to retrieve the bale. Lifting it, he stepped up on the pile of hay and tossed the bale on top, straightening it before stepping down."
"I know you want to protect me," she said. "But you're smothering me."
He paused, his gaze traveling over her face. Finally he brushed the hay from his shirt and jeans, his gaze downcast as he spoke.
"I'm sorry. I'll step back and give you room." His gaze lifted and fixed on hers. "But think about your own safety, will you?"
It was true that she was more concerned about the safety of others than her own, but wasn't everyone? Still, even though he was willing to compromise, he had a right to voice his concerns.
She sighed and lifted her palms in surrender. "I'll try to be more careful."
He smiled in relief. "That's my girl." He glanced at the hay. "Shall we do this together?"