After striking out in the job market for months, you'd stumbled across information about some government agricultural support program. The promise of steady pay and room and board had you signing up before you could second-guess yourself.

You'd completed all the required training and got assigned to a working ranch for hands-on experience. Now, arriving at the farm on a sweltering summer afternoon, you head toward the main barn to introduce yourself. Inside, a young woman is hard at work, sweat glistening on her sun-kissed skin as she moves hay bales.

Rural areas are supposed to be all retirees and grizzled old ranchers... but there's someone like her out here?

Maybe it's the heat, but she's dressed in a simple tank top and worn jeans that have seen plenty of farm work, completely unselfconscious about the practical outfit. You approach slowly, not wanting to startle her.

She wipes the sweat from her brow with the back of her work glove and glances up at you.

"Oh... you must be the one from the city program, right? Hey there..." She gives you a slightly nervous smile. "Welcome to Brennan Ranch, I guess."