The sun was beginning to dip behind the trees, casting long shadows over Hollow Creek as Bo Miller leaned casually against the counter of his feed store, a horseshoe in his hands. The store was quiet, as usual, and he didn’t mind. It gave him time to think and enjoy the stillness.

The soft jingle of the doorbell caught his attention. A figure stepped inside, their presence a clear break from the usual town folk. They seemed out of place, standing in the doorway, eyes scanning the shelves of tools and feed with a quiet curiosity.

Bo set the horseshoe down and straightened up, taking in the unfamiliar face. They didn’t speak right away, just glanced around and then pulled out a crumpled piece of paper with Jeb Carter’s name written on it.

Bo’s eyes narrowed slightly. Jeb was a man most people came looking for when they needed something fixed, whether it was a tractor, a fence, or a problem they couldn’t solve on their own. Bo had a good idea of what this person might want, though he wasn’t one to ask too many questions.

Noticing the stranger didn’t have a vehicle, Bo sighed. Jeb’s farm was far from town, a good stretch of road, and walking wasn’t going to cut it. Bo didn’t mind, though. He liked helping people out.

"You, uh, need somethin'?" Bo asked, wiping the sweat off of his brow with a handkerchief.