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Jackson smiled shyly. "Yes, from your friend Beth. She was telling people at the diner about your plans to make this place into a horse ranch. Is that not the case anymore?"
She'd forgotten what a small town she lived in, how everybody knew everybody else's business.
Beth was always a bit of a gossip. It didn't mean she wouldn't trust her friend. Beth knew when not to spill the beans. But April thought her big plans may need to be kept closer to her chest from now on.
"No, that's still my plan," April replied, her unease turning into curiosity. "Why do you ask?"
As his eyes darted away from hers, he hesitated. "Well, I might be able to help you with that. I have experience with horses and ranching, and I've been looking for work lately."
April was taken aback by Jackson's offer. She had been so caught up in her own plans that she hadn't even considered the possibility of hiring someone to help her with the ranch side of the property.
"That's quite an offer, Jackson," April said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "What kind of experience do you have with horses?"
He leaned against the fence, the muscles in his arms flexing as he crossed them over his chest. "I've worked with horses for most of my life. Grew up on a ranch out in Montana. I know how to train them, and I've done just about every job there is on a ranch."
April waited for him to continue his experience, maybe tell her a few stories about his time in Montana, but he didn't. He simply stared back at her, waiting for her response.
"I appreciate the offer, but I don't even know you. How do I know I can trust you?" April asked, her voice laced with caution.
Jackson's expression turned serious. "I understand your concerns, April. But I can assure you that I'm an honest man, just looking for an opportunity to do what I love. I'll work hard and prove to you that you can trust me."
Unsure of what to do, April studied him for a moment. But she could see the determination in his eyes and knew he was serious about wanting to help her. They discussed wages, a description of the most urgent work needed, and his skill set.
After a deep breath, her mind raced as she processed Jackson's offer. She knew the property needed work before she could even begin to think about getting horses. There were debris and broken items scattered around the ranch that would need to be cleared away.
And like she was just considering, it would take her years to do on her own. She was going to need help if this would be a reality.
"Alright," April said after a long pause, "I'll give you a chance. I'll hire you temporarily until we can get this place cleared up and make sure it's ready for renovations."
A smile broke across Jackson's face as he ran his hand through his hair. He seemed relieved at her answer and thanked her with a nod.
"I'll be here first thing in the morning," he said, walking away from her and back into the forest.
April still wasn't sure what direction he'd come from. Hopefully, he lived nearby, so she wouldn't have to worry about him walking to and from the large estate each day.
April watched him go with a feeling of hope swelling up inside her. She may have just found the help she needed to bring her ranching dream to life.
Thoughts crept into her as she began to weed the tall grass yet again. There was still so much more to Jackson that she didn't know. April knew that only time would tell what kind of help Jackson could offer.
But one thing was certain, she thought to herself, there was something very mysterious about him.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Staring at her phone screen, April wondered if she should be calling Nigel at this hour. It was right at dinner time when everyone would be at his restaurant. He was probably busy, but she pushed 'call' anyways.
The phone rang five times before she heard the familiar voice recording. This time, she decided to leave a message. At least she knew that they were on okay terms now.
"Hey, I'm just calling to check in. I'm sure it's the dinner rush, but maybe we can talk later."
It was simple and perfect, so she hit ‘end call’ and stared at her phone screen again.
She sat on her bed, scrolling through social media until she saw something that made her smile. Georgia was surrounded by new friends in the park at a study session.
The photo was captioned, 'Study in the yard'. April wasn't quite sure what that meant, but she couldn't help smiling at the face on the screen. She missed her daughter more than anything.
In fact, it was probably time for a call. She opened Facetime and video called Georgia, waiting to see that beautiful face on her screen again.
As the call connected, April's heart skipped a beat as she saw her daughter's face fill the screen. Georgia's vibrant smile lit up the room, and April couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swell inside her.
