new place,new friends

The ranch

Brytal sighed as she hung the last of her clothing. She wiped sweat off her brow.
It was a Friday evening and she had plans for tomorrow. By late evening most of the clothes would be dry.
She carried her buckets across the car parking lot to her apartment.
She put the buckets in the bathroom.
She got out some crisps and went through her phone.
"What?"she stared at her phone in shocked silence.On the social media account someone had posted a picture of Jorgenson hugging a woman. She could not see her well because she was facing sideways but she clearly saw her afro hair do and her strapless red dress.
   She had always thought that Jorgeen was single. This picture clearly showed that he was not. She also recounted a day that he had sworn he was single when he had come visiting with Diam.
Men.
This silent admiring had to stop. She had to tell him or somehow  find out the truth. She had to call him.
She dialled his number.
"Hallo" he answered abruptly.
She had no courage to tell him. She quickly cut the call.
He called after a minute. She switched off her phone.
She put her phone down and switched on the telly. Luckily there was a soap opera playing on one of the channels.
She had to think about something, for now.
"Brytal? You are crying. Is there something wrong?"
She looked up to see Chrystal standing at the doorway. The clock chimed six pm.
"Oh, nothing I was just watching this program about a Mexican ranch.Jorge is leaving Bianca for another woman. Just when she had fallen for him. How can he not see the love she is showering him.I guess it's fate, destiny."
"Uhh okay. I just wanted to ask about tomorrow. When are we leaving?"
"At around seven. Where have you been?"
"I was at Karie's."
She went to her apartment.
Chrystal had come from Diam's to be exact. After meeting Karie's Brent who was a charmer they had tea.
She had taken a liking to Brent with his country boy looks and medium build. When she had asked about his brown hair he had told her that it was natural.
His father was from England.He had gifted him the ranch.
Just as she was about to leave Diam arrived. He was writing a blog about some crops Brent was growing. Brent requested they follow them along. She followed them to the farm. They saw the farm which had different sections with tomatoes, potatoes, fruit trees,plump strawberries, cauliflower veggies,young maize ,beans and french beans.
On the edge of the ranch was a paddocks where brown cows grazed.
Karie picked the strawberries and offered some to Chrystal. They edged the farmed areas.
Young oranges were not yet ripe for picking ;the guavas,an old apple tree and tomato trees were heavy with blooms. Busy bees moved among these flowers.
She followed behind. Karie busied herself by picking the ripe tomatoes. Chrystal avoided a pit with fresh manure. This was truly a well organized farm.
Brent talked as Diam took notes. Chrystal stood alone as she gazed at the grazing cows.
"Chrystal! Help me carry the tomatoes to the house."
They went back to the house and waited for the men.
The men soon came in chewing sugarcane.
Diam offered her a ride home. They ended up in his house.
It was a big house. He left her to the big metal doorway. He opened the door and showed her around. It had three bedrooms. She loved the big fireplace in the table room.
She borrowed a book from the well stocked library cum office. He finally escorted her to the gate. She walked the rest of way home and by six she was home.
It was when she found Brytal crying.
She heated last night's soup and went to bed.