Page 18 of Roots of Redemption (Hicks Creek #4)

Chapter Fourteen

Wade

T he porch steps creak under my weight as I lean back in my chair, boots propped up on the railing, a half-empty glass of iced tea sweating on the table beside me.

The sun dipped below the horizon an hour ago, leaving streaks of orange and purple in its wake.

Crickets chirp from the tall grass, and the air is cooling off after another long, hot day.

I can hear the faint hum of an engine before I see the headlights.

Sutton’s truck rolls into the driveway and pulls up near the barn, engine rumbling to a stop.

I sit forward, resting my elbows on my knees as Caleb hops out of his truck, backpack slung over one shoulder.

He looks beat—hair mussed, dust streaking his jeans—but there’s a grin plastered on his face like he just won a championship.

Sutton steps out of her truck with a little less enthusiasm, but her presence is unmistakable, all business even at this hour.

I push to my feet and head down the steps, gravel crunching under my boots as I make my way toward them.

“Late night,” I say, eyeing Caleb as he trudges toward me.

Caleb wipes a hand across his forehead, still grinning like a fool. “Yeah, but worth it. I learned some great stuff today, Dad. Doc Sutton is really smart.”

Sutton smirks as she rounds the back of her truck. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I look at her, then back at Caleb, who’s practically bouncing despite how tired he looks. “That so?” I ask, lifting a brow.

He chuckles, slinging his backpack into the crook of his arm.

“Yeah, Dad, you would’ve had a conniption if you’d seen some of these other ranch’s feed areas.

I mean, I know that we weren’t perfect, but man, some of these places don’t have any sort of housekeeping in place.

I’m surprised their herds haven’t gotten sick sooner.

They really should have hired you as their consultant instead of doing it on their own. ”

“Is that right?” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

He nods enthusiastically. “Doc was really kind to all of them about it, too. She made them want to make the changes; it was pretty impressive.”

“Comes with the territory and years of hitting brick walls,” she jokes.

“Thanks a lot, Doc,” he says, turning to Sutton. “I had the best time today.”

She smiles at him, and it’s one rare, genuine smile that surprises me.

I suck in a breath, tamping down on the urge to say that tired line about her needing to smile more.

I cringe at my own thoughts and shake my head.

I’ve sheltered Caleb from any woman I’ve ever held an interest in before, and that’s not been possible here.

It feels good to see they get along so well.

“You were great today, Caleb. You want to help out tomorrow, too?”

His face lights up like the Fourth of July. “Of course! I’ll be your assistant for as long as you’re here.”

I chuckle at his eagerness, but before I can say anything, Caleb’s already headed for the house.

“I’m gonna grab something to eat,” he calls over his shoulder.

“Take a shower first!” I yell after him. “You smell like a barn.”

He just laughs, his voice trailing off as he disappears through the front door. I shake my head, still grinning, then turn back to Sutton. She’s at the back of her truck again, rifling through a box of tools and equipment. The woman’s always moving, always working.

“You’ve got a really great kid,” she says without looking up. “He’s so smart—he reminds me a lot of me at that age. Questioning things that most people wouldn’t, thinking outside of the box.”

I laugh, glancing back toward the house.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I pause for a second, then add, “He’s really taken to you. I appreciate you letting him tag along.”

She shrugs, pulling out a clipboard and flipping through some papers. “He’s a big help. Sharp as a tack, too. Not many kids his age would be interested in this kind of work.”

“Guess he gets that from me,” I say, grinning.

She snorts softly but doesn’t argue, which I’ll take as a win. I step closer, tucking my hands into my pockets.

Sutton told me earlier that she can’t get distracted and that she’s here to work, which I understand.

She has a lot riding on her shoulders. I haven’t been the nicest to her since she got back, and I think I have a way to extend an olive branch.

Telling someone you’re sorry is only one step; changed behavior is a second.

I need to show her that I’m here to help and that we make a better team than anything.

“Actually, speaking of work—I wanted to show you something.”

She glances up, one brow raised. “Oh?”

“I’ve been putting together some notes,” I explain, pulling my phone out of my back pocket.

“I made a Google Drive folder with all the research I’ve done on the herds around here.

Symptoms, ranches affected, timelines—you name it.

I was using it for myself, but I figure it might help you piece things together, too.

I know you’re really good at your job, but it wouldn’t hurt to have some information you might not have thought about or, this way, you’re saving time by not having to look up or ask the same things I’ve already worked through. ”

Her expression shifts. She closes the clipboard and leans back against the truck, crossing her arms. Here’s the moment of truth. She’s always been little miss independent, and I’m not sure if she’ll accept my help.

“Um, thanks, Wade. Most folks wouldn’t go to that kind of trouble.”

I shrug, scrolling through my phone to pull up the folder.

“I’m not most folks.” I glance up and catch the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips before she masks it.

“Here,” I say, holding the phone out to her.

“One thing I noticed—some of the ranches that reported issues started using a new fertilizer on their fields this season. I’m wondering if there’s a connection. ”

I watch to gauge her reaction. She scrunches her nose as if she’s thinking hard about the information.

She takes the phone, her eyes narrowing as she scans the data. “A new fertilizer?”

“Yeah. Some of the bigger suppliers have been pushing it hard, claiming it boosts pasture growth faster. Caleb had mentioned that a salesman had come through and I’d forgotten that.

I started digging into it a little more.

I didn’t think much of it at first, but the timing lines up.

The symptoms started showing up not long after the fertilizer was applied. ”

She nods slowly, scrolling through the notes. “That’s a good lead. Fertilizers can be tricky—if there’s a contaminant or it’s not applied correctly, it could cause issues in the herd. I took soil samples from all the ranches. I’ll cross-check the ingredient list and test that specifically.”

“Exactly what I was thinking.” I watch her as she focuses on the screen, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“There’s something else, too,” I add. “I’ve been hearing about some ranches reporting water contamination.

It’s not widespread, but it’s enough to make me wonder if there’s a bigger problem here. ”

Sutton looks up sharply. “Dad mentioned runoff from a development corporation. Why didn’t you mention it sooner?”

“Didn’t think it was connected,” I admit. “But now, with everything else going on, it’s starting to feel like more than just bad luck.”

She hands my phone back, her expression thoughtful. “I’ll need to look into that. If there’s an environmental factor, it could explain a lot.”

I nod, tucking the phone back into my pocket. “Let me know if you need any more details. I’ll keep digging, too.”

She gives me a small smile. “You’re not bad at this, Wade. I appreciate you sharing it with me. Do you think you could text me that link?”

I chuckle. “I’m just trying to keep my herd alive. Give me your number, and I’ll send it to you. I’m sure Caleb has some info to share, too.”

I can share the link with her and get her phone number at the same time, win-win here.

She laughs softly, and the sound catches me off guard. It’s rare to hear her laugh, and I find myself wanting to hear it again.

“Thanks, Wade. I really appreciate it. This will help me to solve this a lot faster. There’s a lot riding on figuring it out.”

“Yeah, fighting you on any of it only hurts the ranch in the long run. I think we could make a pretty great team.”

She doesn’t respond, but immediately she turns back to her truck, unlaces her boots, and kicks them off one by one. I’m about to make a joke about her calling it a night when she shrugs out of her coveralls, revealing a pair of black leggings and a fitted tank top underneath.

I freeze, mid-thought, and suddenly my brain feels like it short-circuits.

I’ve seen Sutton in work clothes, covered in dust and sweat, but this is different.

The curve of her hips, the toned lines of her legs—it’s enough to make a man forget how to speak.

She bends to fold the coveralls, and I have to force myself to look away before I embarrass us both.

“You okay over there?” she asks, her voice teasing.

I clear my throat, scratching the back of my neck as I focus very hard on the tailgate of her truck. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just—uh—didn’t realize you were hiding gym clothes under all that.”

She smirks, tossing her boots into the truck bed. “A girl’s gotta be comfortable. Did you think I was naked under it?”

Shit. Did she have to say that, because that’s all I can see right now?

“Right,” I mutter, still not trusting myself to look directly at her. “Comfort’s important.”

She laughs again, and I swear it does something to me—something I’m not sure I’m ready to admit.

“You’re a funny guy, Wade,” she says, leaning against the truck with her arms crossed.

I finally meet her gaze. The porch light casts a soft glow across her face, highlighting the freckles on her nose and the way her hair’s come loose from its ponytail. She’s beautiful, and it takes my breath away.

“Thanks, I think.”

She holds my gaze for a second longer before looking away, breaking the moment. “I like this version of you better. It’s nice, and I think we do make a pretty good team.”

I stare back at her in shock. It’s like I’ve forgotten how to speak.

“I should get back to the guest house,” she says, pushing off the truck. “Early morning tomorrow.”

“Right,” I say, stepping back. “Thanks again for letting Caleb tag along. You could have taken my behavior out on him, and…you didn’t.”

She nods, grabbing her boots and coveralls. “I would never do that. He’s a good kid, Wade. You’ve done a great job with him.”

“Means a lot,” I say honestly.

She hesitates for a moment like she wants to say something else, but then she just gives me a small nod and heads for her truck. I watch as she grabs a duffel bag and starts for the guest house. I stand there for a minute, hands in my pockets, staring at the empty driveway.

There’s a definite shift in the energy between us. It’s no longer an angry tension, but more of an easy-going attraction. It’s like we’re seeing each other as allies instead of enemies. Apologies and building trust by actions go a long way.

“Yeah,” I mutter to myself, turning back toward the house. “I’m in trouble.”