Chapter Eight
"What favor?" She asked, curiously.
"I will tell you when the time's right, " he said and she sighed. Why couldn't he tell her now?
They finished dinner and Karen left to go to Scarlett's house. Tonight she would have to pack as they would leave for the wedding venue the day after tomorrow. She knew Jayson was invited too which meant that they would be spending four days in the ranch together.
The next morning, she received a call which made her change all her plans and rush to Austin. Her neighbour Cathy Morgan had called to say that their whole building had been bought by someone called Farrell. He had slammed an eviction notice on the door of her rented apartment. She was given a twenty-four hour time limit to vacate.
She informed everyone and Chase took her to Austin. They read the notice which gave her an alternative that she could contact the new landlord for an appointment and an alternative. Karen knew it was a ploy of Roland Farrell to make her do what he wanted.
Chase helped her pack her stuff. He called the nearest packers and movers and had all her stuff loaded onto their truck. Since her rent was up to date, they just vacated the apartment and left. Karen thanked Cathy and said goodbye to Austin forever. She would never return. If she liked Jayson's proposal, she would stay in Travis Springs else she would return to Halifax and take her brothers' help to get out of her problem.
Jayson waited the whole morning for Karen to come to work. When she didn't, he was worried. He thought that maybe she had taken offence to the kiss and left. Her phone was switched off and he was worried out his wits end by lunchtime.
He called Chase in the afternoon to enquire and it was then that he found out the actual reason for her absence. He would visit her after work, he decided.
Finally, the day was over and so was his work and he drove to Chase's house. He saw Karen sorting her bulky stuff into the outhouse of Chase's new home. "You could have asked me?" He said, unhappily. She could have asked him for help. He would have helped her with everything he had. He was jealous that she went to Chase with her problems and not him.
"I didn't want to disturb you. Chase was here when I received the phone call from my Austin neighbour," she explained.
"Oh," he said, "So, you're packed for tomorrow?" He asked as she locked the outhouse door.
"Yeah," she said, "So, when do I rejoin my office after the wedding? I'm never going back to Austin again. If things don't work out here I'll return to Halifax, to my family."
Jayson's face fell. She was thinking of going away to Canada? He would go insane if that happened. "I have a proposal for you. Hear me out. If it doesn't suit you then go," he said, in a dull tone.
"Ok," she said. "Are you coming in?" She asked and he shook his head.
"No, I need a shower. I'll head home. See you tomorrow at the venue, then?" He said and she nodded.
Jayson left with a heavy heart. He had four days to convince her. He couldn't fail. It was the biggest and most important mission of his life. He had to plan well tonight about how to approach her.
The next day, everyone left for the wedding venue. It was a huge 10000 sq ft ranch with wildflowers sprawled all over the landscaped gardens, pecan trees, oak trees providing shade spots with small ponds with bridges over them for dramatic photography venues. The ponds were stocked with fish and a beautiful creek ran around the property.
They parked their cars and went into the 5000 sq ft climate controlled main house where all the bedrooms were located. There was a 2000 sq ft covered terrace from the 1st floor hallway. There was a dance floor and a bar attached to the terrace too. This was the place where the reception party would be held.
Jayson drove his black Jeep Grand Cherokee and reached the venue in 20 minutes. He was excited to see Karen and spend four days in her company. He had devised a plan to keep her in Travis Springs after the wedding and now it was just to convince her that it was the best plan available for her. He had four days to convince her and he never failed.
The moment he climbed down from his car, his eyes searched for Karen. She was standing at the entrance of the main house with baby Austen in her arms, rocking him and talking to him. His heart clenched at the sight. It was what he wanted to know. So, it seemed she loved babies and could handle them well.
She felt his stare and looked at him. He smiled and walked towards her, but Chase and the Summers brothers, who were all his childhood friends, caught up with him and dragged him to the bar. He tolerated them for two hours, with only a single drink. His mind was solely focused on his mission.
At last Chase took him to select a bedroom for himself. He found a small room with a single bed and attached en-suite available on the first floor. He would check out Karen's bedroom after Chase left. Chase was called away to look after baby Austen and he went in search of Karen.
He found her sitting near the pavilion where the wedding ceremony would take place. There was a gurgling brook and a beautiful waterfall behind it where Karen sat, staring at the waterfall.
Jayson went to sit beside her on the bench. She turned and gasped, "Oh, you scared me," she said.
Jayson smiled, "Sorry," he said, staring at her. He wanted to just blabber out what he had in mind but just didn't know where to start. What if she misunderstood him and left forever? That was a risk he had to take. He had to try.
"So, why are you sitting here all alone?" he asked her.
"Just figuring out my life," she said, looking at the waterfall.
"So, did you?" He asked.
"No," she said.
"Then will you marry me?" He asked out of the blue and she looked at him, her jaw dropped to the floor.
