Page 16 of Roots of Redemption (Hicks Creek #4)

Chapter Twelve

Wade

T he crunch of tires on the gravel driveway pulls my attention from the fencepost I’ve been working on.

I glance up just in time to see the school bus come into view, kicking up a small cloud of dust as it rolls to a stop near the end of the driveway.

At almost the same moment, Sutton’s truck appears from the opposite direction.

Man, for a girl that used to hate running she sure is a fan of doing it. If she thinks I didn’t notice how quickly she ran out of here after our kiss, well she’d be wrong. I guess the good thing is that I don’t have to wait another ten years to see her this time.

I’ll have to figure out a way to wrangle that girl, keep her from being as skittish as a wild mustang next time I kiss her, because I do intend on kissing her a lot more. If I can tame a horse whose only instinct is to run at the first sight of human contact, I can do the same with her.

I straighten up and dust off my hands. Caleb sprints down the driveway, his backpack slung over one shoulder, looking every bit the energetic teenager he is. Sutton steps out of her vehicle with her usual air of efficiency, her boots hitting the ground with purpose.

“Hey, Dad,” Caleb calls out, waving as he heads toward me. “Hey, Doc Sutton.”

She gives him a quick nod, her no-nonsense demeanor firmly in place. “Caleb,” she says in acknowledgment, her voice neutral but not unkind.

I lean against the fencepost, watching as Caleb approaches. “How was school?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Same as always. But I did some asking around today. I learned the Nances up the road just started having issues with their herd, too. Our issues have been ongoing, as have most of the others. They thought they were spared.”

I’m about to reply when I notice Sutton’s attention sharpen. She tilts her head slightly.

“Say more.”

He grins, setting his backpack down on the ground. “I’ve been doing research. I’ve been paying attention to what’s going on with the other ranches around here—who’s having problems and what kind.”

She crosses her arms. “And what did you find out?”

“Before Clayton Nance was talking about their sick cattle. I’ve been visiting some of the other ranches, asking questions.

I listen when I go with Dad to the feed store and listen in town to some of the ranchers when they’re talking to each other.

Turns out, a lot of them are having the same issues we are—cows losing weight, strange symptoms, and even a few deaths.

And it’s not just one ranch. It’s spread out, but there’s definitely a pattern. ”

“You went to the other ranches?” I ask him.

He nods. “Yeah. Figured it couldn’t hurt to ask around. Most people were pretty open about it once I explained what we’re dealing with here.”

I glance at Sutton, who seems genuinely impressed.

“Sounds like you’ve got the best assistant you could ask for,” I say. “But this is all stuff we already knew, Caleb.”

“I know. Everyone who is having issues has similarities. All the ranches with sick cattle were on the flight path Demetri Davis used when spraying the local fields with pesticides. They all use the same feed from Marley’s.

Remember that seed and fertilizer salesman came through, and then the insurance guy? ”

“I remember them both, I thought they were working together.”

“All the ranches that ordered fertilizer from him and insurance are now having issues.”

“But I didn’t purchase from either of them.”

“You took samples, didn’t you?”

“From the fertilizer guy? Yeah, but we never used them.”

“Hmm,” Caleb said as he screwed up his face. “Back to the drawing board I guess.”

“Caleb, that’s all really good information. I don’t think Doc Lucy found any of those similarities.”

Caleb grins widely. Sutton strides toward her truck—a well-worn veterinary rig outfitted for ranch calls. I’ve seen plenty of vets work, but there’s something different about the way she moves, all business and purpose, like she belongs out here as much as the cattle do.

She swings open the side panel, revealing a neatly organized array of supplies—bottles of medication lined up in rows, syringes tucked into compartments, rolls of vet wrap stacked beside gauze and scalpels.

She rifles through a drawer, grabbing a vial and holding it up to the fading sunlight, checking the label before tucking it into her vest pocket.

“This porta-vet on your truck bed is so cool,” Caleb breathes as he touches the top of it.

“Whoever invented it sure knew what they were doing,” she replies with a smile. “It’s a game changer out in the field.”

“Are we doing herd checks now?” Caleb asks Sutton.

“Yeah, we’ll head out to the Nance Ranch and see if they’ll let us check things out. Doc Lucy said she was reaching out to all the owners to let them know that we’d be stopping by to collect samples and ask questions. So far, I’ve only been here and Dad’s.”

“Good, that’s good. Some of these guys are pretty particular about who they talk to,” Caleb says absently. “Most are more ornery than my dad.”

“Hey now,” I chuckle as I shake my head.

“It’s true.” Caleb smiles innocently.

“Why don’t you go inside and see Grandma? I’m sure she’s got a bag of snacks packed up for the two of you. I know for a fact that she’s got a piece of apple pie for you.”

“You want some, Doc?” Caleb asks.

“Your grandma made sure she stuffed me full at lunch.”

“She’ll make sure that you’re stuffed full of snacks, too,” Caleb chuckles. “You got any work you need me to do here, Dad?”

“Nope, you’re clear to go with Doc.” I smile. “I checked your chores this morning. I’m impressed. You didn’t rush through them like I thought you might have.”

“No, sir. I didn’t want anything keeping me from going with Doc.”

“Did you get all your homework done?”

“Yes, sir. All of it finished at school. I have a little reading to do, but I’ll do that before bed.”

“If your grades start slipping…”

“They won’t, sir. I promise.”

“Go inside and hug your grandmother and let her fuss over you,” I chuckle as I gesture toward the house.

He starts to run inside.

“Don’t forget your backpack!” I call after him.

He makes a quick pivot, sprints to pick up the backpack, and then scurries inside the house.

“He’s a little excited about helping you out,” I say to Sutton.

She doesn’t acknowledge me. She walks to the passenger side of her truck, opens the door, and pulls out what looks like a tackle box. She moves back to the bed as if I no longer exist.

Okay, so this is what we’re doing. I exhale slowly, standing a few feet away so I can give her some space. I’m not going to crowd her, but I’m also not going to let her continue to run away.

I make my way over to her; she is busy inspecting a box of equipment. Her movements are precise, almost mechanical, and she doesn’t look up as I approach.

Why is she blatantly ignoring me?

“Sutton,” I say, keeping my voice low. “We should talk about what happened.”

She doesn’t pause in her work, her gaze fixed on the contents of the box. “Nothing happened,” she says curtly. “So, there’s nothing to talk about.”

I take a step closer, lowering my voice even further. “You and I both know that’s not true.”

This time, she does glance up, but her expression is guarded.

“Wade,” she says, her tone clipped, “I’m here to do a job. That’s all. Let’s not complicate things.”

Her words sting more than I’d like to admit, but I force myself to stay calm.

“I’m not trying to complicate anything,” I say. “I just think we should be honest about—”

“Honest about what?” she interrupts, straightening up and crossing her arms. “About a moment that didn’t mean anything? About something that never should have happened in the first place?”

“It didn’t feel like nothing. You know that you feel something, too.”

Her eyes flash, and her demeanor softens for just a split second before she shakes her head. “I don’t have time for this,” she says, turning back to her supplies. “There’s work to be done.”

“I’m sorry that I was such an ass to you.

I…not only did I misjudge you and misunderstand why you left, but even before that, I turned my back on you when I shouldn’t have.

I let this family feud cause me to shut you out, and that was hard because you and your family were also my family.

It all hurt. I can’t imagine how you felt, though.

And when your mama died, I should have reached out.

I’m sorry that I have been such an asshole to you. ”

She’s quiet. She won’t look me in the eye as she continues to fidget with her equipment. “Our mothers were friends. Not us. You decided…”

“I’m sorry that I was an ass,” I repeat as I reach out and touch her arm.

She freezes in place, staring at my hand on her arm as if she doesn’t know what’s happening.

I start to say something at the same time she does, but the sound of Caleb’s voice from the house stops me. “Hey, Dad! Do we have any more of those protein bars?”

“Check the pantry!” I call back, my eyes still on Sutton.

She moves away and doesn’t look at me again, her focus entirely on her equipment.

“I’ve been doing a lot of research on this, too. I think I can be of assistance.”

“You’re not going on herd checks with me. Caleb is a delight. You’re not.”

She doesn’t turn around or even look up from the box she’s going through. I chuckle inwardly.

My son has way better manners than I ever did at that age.

“I don’t want to go on herd checks. I have plenty to do here now that you’re taking one of my guys.”

“You can hire another one,” she snaps coldly. “Or if I’m putting you out that much, then you tell your son that he can’t go with me. I won’t lie to him for you if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“I’m not getting at anything. I…never mind, you’re impossible to talk to, Bishop. You have to be the most stubborn woman on the planet.”

“Oh, you know that I’m a woman?” she hisses. “Irritating that I’ve stolen your most frustrating human on the planet title?”

“Of course I know you’re a woman. I’m not blind, Sutton.”

Her eyes flit up to mine. They’re dark, hooded, and I can’t tell if she’s pissed off or turned on, maybe a little of both. Her breathing is ragged.

Damn, she’s beautiful.

I take a step toward her. I’ll kiss her until she’s putty in my hands again; that seems to be the only time the two of us aren’t at each other’s throats. I can pick her up and set her down on this tailgate.

She really likes it when I put my hand around her throat. Maybe if I…

“Doc, you ready to go? Grandma packed us some pie and some other snacks. Oh, wait, is it okay to have snacks? Will that contaminate anything?” Caleb rambles as he hurries down the front steps.

Thank goodness he came out when he did, I was about to make a fool out of myself.

“It’s not going to contaminate anything.” Sutton smiles back at him. “Snacks are great. Let’s load up.”

“Bye, Dad!” Caleb calls out.

Sutton shuts the truck bed, her arm brushing mine as she slips past me.

“I appreciate your apology and that you finally see you were wrong about me, but nothing can happen between us again, Wade. I have a job to do, too many people are counting on me, and I can’t be distracted.”

She doesn’t wait for me to respond before she climbs into the truck with Caleb. She’s barreling down the driveway before I can even form words.

I let out a sigh as I watch them go. I can’t blame her for icing me out; I haven’t exactly been kind to her over the last few decades. Not to mention, she’s been under attack since she got back to Hicks Creek because I’m not the only one who felt she turned her back on her family. I shake my head.

Much like a mustang, a wild thing like her don’t need breakin’—just a steady hand and a hell of a lot of patience. And I got both.