"Something like that," Lucas replied, shaking Joe's hand.
"Let me lay it out for you then," Joe began, gesturing for them to walk along as he talked. They moved past rows of crops, each one meticulously cared for, the result of unseen hands and tireless work. "You'll be overseeing all of this," he swept his arm across the expanse, "and more. Planting, harvesting, maintenance—"
"Animal care too?" Lucas interjected with genuine curiosity, keen to understand the full scope of his responsibilities.
"Of course, chickens, cows, horses, the whole lot," Joe confirmed with a nod. "It's hard work, but you've got a crew of ten to back you up. They know their stuff, been with me for years. They'll take your lead, as long as you show them you're willing to get your hands dirty alongside them."
Lucas absorbed Joe's words, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. He liked the idea of tangible results from the work he did. He could plant and harvest a few months later. This was exactly what he’d been needing.
"Sounds like I have a lot to learn," Lucas admitted, the gleam in his eyes betraying his readiness for the challenge.
"Yep," Joe agreed. "But something tells me you're not the type to back down from a bit of hard work."
"Never have," Lucas said with a chuckle. "City skyscrapers or Missouri soil—it's all just another puzzle to solve, right?"
"Right you are," Melanie chimed in. She was excited that he seemed to be taking his role in her business seriously.
Lucas trailed behind Joe, his boots crunching on the gravel path that cut through the verdant fields of Melanie's farm.
"See there?" Joe said, pointing toward a distant barn. "That's where we keep the equipment. Over yonder" —he motioned to the south—"is prime grazing for the cattle."
Lucas nodded, committing every detail to memory, his mind buzzing with the magnitude of it all.
"Of course," Joe continued, his voice dropping a notch, "I won't be around to see it much longer."
"Is that so?" Lucas asked, a crease of concern forming between his brows. He certainly hoped the man would be around long enough to train him properly.
"Yep." Joe sucked in a breath, squinting up at the sky. "Been doing this for more years than I care to count. Time to hang up my hat soon—as soon as we find someone who can fill these boots."
The weight of those words settled on Lucas's shoulders like a winter coat, heavy and unexpected. Could he be the one? He glanced over at Melanie, whose eyes were trained on him.
"Big boots to fill," Lucas murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
"Sure are," Joe agreed, clapping a hand on his back. "But you'll have help. And time. Nothing happens overnight on a farm."
As they walked toward the first task of the day, Lucas's mind spun with what lay ahead. The familiar confidence that had propelled him through boardrooms felt strangely distant now, faced with the reality of dirt under his fingernails and the sun on his neck.
"Here we are," Joe announced, stopping beside a tractor that seemed to dwarf Lucas.
"Ever driven one of these?" Joe asked, a mischievous twinkle in his brown eyes.
"Can't say that I have," Lucas confessed, his voice edged with a laugh.
"Today's your lucky day then," Joe said with a grin.
Lucas climbed into the cab, the seat creaking beneath him. His hands hovered over the levers and buttons, a hesitant pianist before an unfamiliar concerto. Joe's instructions filtered through the open window, a lifeline thrown to a man adrift in uncharted waters.
"Easy does it," Joe encouraged as Lucas tentatively engaged the clutch. The tractor lurched forward.
"Look at you go!" Melanie called out from where she stood a safe distance away.
Lucas felt a smile tugging at his lips, despite the awkward jerks of the tractor as he navigated across the field. It was nothing like steering through the chaos of city traffic, but it was a start.
As the morning wore on, Lucas found himself immersed in the rhythm of the farm. Each task was a puzzle, each solution a small victory. The sweat on his brow, the earthy scent in the air, the satisfaction of movement and purpose—it was all so different, so real. Far from the abstract deals and digital figures of his past life.
"Doing good, city boy!" Joe hollered, his approval floating over the fields.
"Thanks, Joe," Lucas replied, his voice steady, his heart hopeful. This land, this work, was teaching him something new about life, about himself.
