The morning had lead to the normal chaos of loading, prepping, and hopping in with coffee mugs half full to make it to market in the gray of the morning before sunrise.

In the end George, Alex and May had all joined her for morning market, and had helped set up the booth.

"He seems like a spitfire," May murmured to Jessica as George snapped to Alex and Jessica laughed lightly.

"Yeah he is defensive. But he has been one of my most loyal and adamant to learn helpers. He is working very hard to start his own farm, and still living with his mother to offset living expenses. I think it makes him grumpy," Jessica grunted as she pulled another cooler from the back of the truck.

This wasn't a lie.

More and more as of late George seemed to snap easily, anger even easier, and she had found on more than one occasion needing to step in between him and Alex since the older man didn't seem too keen to let up on his teasing the younger man.

"Yeah but, well, he's just down right rude. Alex was just trying to help," May countered as Jessica closed the back hatch, having grabbed the last of that days sales and May was planning on heading to town early for 'some much needed shopping'.

"I'll talk to him," soothed Jessica as she saw the blonds feathers ruffled," but I'm sure he doesn't realize how he is coming off. He is just stressed. And, you don't see it yet, but Alex does like to tease the poor guy. I think its a sort of 'bro' thing."

May just nodded and hopped in the truck waving a last goodbye off to the group as Alex grabbed some of the boxes from Jessica.

"What did you say to piss him off now?" she grunted as he relieved her arms of some of the weight.

Alex blew out some air," Nothing! Or at least I didn't think it was anything! I just asked if he had been looking for work anywhere else. He's been saying how he needs more cash and land here is becoming more expensive every day."

Jessica didn't disagree with that.

Her own plot had nearly doubled in value since she had purchased it, and that was not counting the house she had built on it.

"I wouldn't fault him for getting another job," she said absentmindedly watching as the boy rolled out the tablecloth and set up the register," He deserves far more than what I can afford. He is a hard worker."

"He is that," Alex trailed off and her brow furrowed.

She knew that Alex and George had never been close, and recently their relationship had been rather tense. But she didn't ever think Alex truly thought poorly of the other man. She just had seen him as an older man sort of doing the older brother 'bullying' to try and square up George so the boy matured.

"And? "She pressed.

He looked down to her but before he could say anything George had made his way over and grinned to her offering to take her burden.

The discussion would have to be held later, she reasoned. But with the rush of the market, the large number of sales, Georges now positive demeanor and lack of arguing with Alex, it was forgotten and no explanation was ever given.