Page 34 of Where the Heart Is

‘You too, young man.’ Jack released his hand. ‘You came for the wedding?’

He nodded. ‘Will caught Covid and couldn’t travel so he asked me to attend the wedding on his behalf.’

Jack frowned. ‘That young man works too hard, must be run-down.’

Sawyer didn’t point out that Will could’ve caught the virus anywhere and it didn’t necessarily correspond with his hours spent at the hospital; he hadn’t seen the old man in years, no point antagonising him.

‘He’s just got a promotion at the hospital so he’s putting in the hard yards.’

Sawyer knew he’d said the wrong thing when Jack’s frown deepened. ‘He didn’t tell me about the promotion the last time we spoke.’

Sawyer had no intention of getting caught between his best mate and his grandfather, so he changed the subject. ‘What do you think about Mila not getting married to Phil Baxter?’

‘A lucky escape.’ Jack shook his head, his mouth downturned in disapproval. ‘He’s far too old for her.’

‘Couldn’t agree more. I almost punched the guy when I saw him yesterday.’

Jack’s eyebrows rose. ‘What did he say?’

‘Nothing. It’s his smarmy face I’ve always had a problem with.’

Jack guffawed and Sawyer managed a rueful smile.

‘While they seem chummy enough, I’m not sure why she was marrying him, though the isolation affects many and they settle,’ Jack said, his expression thoughtful. ‘Unless they had intentions to merge the farms, build a solid financial base. Happens a bit out here, neighbours getting together for practicalities more than romance.’He shook his head. ‘Hills Homestead is everything to her and I wish I’d never sold it to her.’

‘She’s loved that place since she was a kid,’ Sawyer said, remembering the many times Mila told him she’d run the farm one day.‘I think it’s pretty incredible she’s bought it and is determined to make it thrive.’

Jack eyed him with grudging respect. ‘Her farm-stay project is a sound idea, but it takes a lot of work to manage that and the rest of the farm.’ He tut-tutted under his breath. ‘She’s too independent for her own good, that girl. Taking on way too much.’

Sawyer remained silent, sensing the old man was offloading. In a moment, Jack continued. ‘It would’ve broken her heart if I’d sold the place to anyone else though, so I went along with it when she got the loan from the bank. But having a big mortgage on your own … she’s tied to that place for life now.’

‘It’s not work if you love what you do,’ Sawyer said, sounding like a motivational speaker and grimacing. ‘Sorry. I agree with you, but Mila’s always had a mind of her own.’

‘She certainly has,’ Jack said, with a wry grin. ‘What are you doing with yourself these days, young man? Will said you’ve made a success of yourself in land sales?’

Sawyer nodded, proud when he glimpsed a glint of admiration in Jack’s gaze. ‘Land broking is something I enjoy, and I’ve been lucky enough to make a good living from it.’

‘We make our own luck,’ Jack said, in his own version of a motivational speaker, and held up his hand with forefinger and thumb cocked like a gun in a ‘gotcha’ sign.

They laughed and Sawyer marvelled at how easy it was to talk to Jack now the years had passed, and he didn’t feel like the old man was judging his every move as Will’s friend and finding him lacking like the rest of the town. Though that might’ve had something to do with his own hang-ups than any judgement on Jack’s part. Any time he visited the homestead, Jack had either been out on the farm or had his nose buried in agricultural books. A man of few words, he rarely smiled, but his presence calmed Sawyer.Jack’s quiet strength was a far cry from his father’s drunken, angry rants and he loved hanging around the Hayes family because of the warmth they exuded, something seriously lacking in his home.

‘With the wedding not happening, how long are you staying?’

Depending on the outcome of his plan to help Mila, Sawyer could be here a week. The thought alone would’ve made him sweat before he arrived back here, but now he’d stepped back in time and discovered it wasn’t as bad as his memories, he wanted to get his plan for Mila sorted and in place before he left.

‘Not sure at this stage. A week? Perhaps longer.’

Jack nodded, approval in his gaze. ‘Well, if you want to have a beer any time, let me know.’

‘Thanks, Mr Hayes.’

‘Call me Jack.’

They really had come a long way but the thought of calling his friend’s grandfather by his first name seemed vaguely disrespectful.Like calling Mrs Knowles Shazza.

‘I’m glad you’re here for Mila too. She deserves to have a friend like you around at a time like this.’

With one last nod of approval, Jack sauntered down the street, still spritely for a guy who must be in his mid-seventies.

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