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But what would she say? Whatcouldshe say?
The uncertainty and fear welled up inside her, threatening to burst.
Janice clenched her knees together as she sat, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of the chair cushion beneath her.
Words wouldn't come.
"Janice," Chuck began, breaking the silence, "your trial period here at the ranch is over. How do you think it went?"
A torrent of thoughts flooded her mind. It was over. She could feel it. Would Chuck send her away? Had she not worked hard enough? Had Rusty told him to get rid of her?
"Sir, I . . . I know I'm not perfect, and there have been times when I felt like I was struggling," Janice admitted, her voice shaky. "But I've been trying my best, and I’m learning so much while being here." A lump formed in her throat, making it difficult to speak. "I’ve been mucking out the stables, as you requested, and I really do think I could make a difference giving physio to the horses.” She paused. “Please, I don't want to leave. I'll do anything to stay."
She began to sob.
Chuck regarded her, his expression inscrutable. "Janice, I wasn't implying that we're kicking you out," he said gently, leaning forward in his chair, concern etched on his face. “I didn't mean to upset you, little one." His brow furrowed with concern. "In fact, I called you in here to offer you a job. A permanent one."
The words hung in the air like a lifeline, and Janice blinked in surprise, her tears momentarily forgotten. She stared at him, disbelief etched on her face, as if she was afraid he might take back the offer any second.
"Really?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, as her heart skipped a beat. "A job?"
"Really," Chuck confirmed, a warm smile spreading across his bearded face. "Your work with the horses has been impressive—not just your dedication, but your intuition as well. We've noticed how much the creatures respond to you, and we think you'd make an excellent addition to our team as an animal physiotherapist."
As the reality of his words began to sink in, Janice's eyes welled up once again. But this time, it wasn't fear or desperation that fueled her tears—it was pure, unadulterated joy. The opportunity for the growth and stability she had longed for wassuddenly within her grasp, and the enormity of it all was almost too much to bear. And she'd done it all on her own terms. She hadn't relied on her father's name, or his fortune. It had all been her.
"Thank you, Chuck," she managed to choke out through her sobs, her hands trembling as she wiped away fresh tears. "You have no idea what this means to me. It's . . . it's like a dream come true."
"Your passion for the animals is clear," Chuck replied, his own eyes shining with pride. "And we're lucky to have you here, Janice."
Her heart swelled with gratitude, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Janice allowed herself to believe in the possibility of a brighter future. A future where she could stand on her own two feet, free from the shadow of her past and the weight of her father's disapproval. A future where she could finally embrace her true self, and maybe even find a sense of belonging at this ranch that had begun to feel like home.
"Thank you," she whispered once more, her voice laced with determination. "I won't let you down. I promise."
"Janice," Chuck replied, his gaze unwavering, "I have no doubt in my mind that you'll do great things here."
"Where do I start?" Janice asked Chuck, her face alight with excitement and determination. "I'll do whatever it takes to make this work."
Chuck smiled warmly, nodding in approval. "First things first, let's get you settled in. Tomorrow morning you’ll start shadowing Trent at the veterinary surgery. He’s excited about having a physio around. Says he already has some animals around that could use your help. As long as you don’t mind branching out to some of our smaller, fluffier friends?”
“I don’t mind!” Janice said, giggling. “I always wanted to be a hamster phsyio.”
Chuck laughed. “After you’ve learned some basics from Trent, I’d like you to start doing an online course in animal physio, so that you can get a proper qualification. We’ll pay for that, of course. But in the meantime, we’d love for you to take a look at our animals, and see what you can do for them.”
"Thank you," Janice said, her eyes shining with gratitude. "I can't wait to learn everything there is to know about the job and help these animals thrive."
"Knowing your dedication, I'm sure they'll be in great hands," Chuck reassured her.
Janice left Chuck's office, feeling lighter than she had in years.
As she walked down the hallway toward her room, her mind buzzed with thoughts of her future at the ranch. She imagined herself tending to the horses, easing their pain and helping them recover from injuries. It was a happy future.
The sun poured through the hall windows, and Janice couldn't help but smile as she reveled in the warmth of the light and the promise of a fresh start. The ranch felt like a real sanctuary to her now, a place where she could finally escape the harsh judgments and stifling expectations that had haunted her for so long. No matter what happened with Rusty, she'd found her home.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Rusty
Rusty took a deepbreath of the crisp morning air and sighed, trying to settle the turmoil within him. He had been dreading this day for days now. He still felt in denial, like maybe this wasn't happening. But he knew deep down, that it was for the best.
