Page 19 of Roots of Redemption (Hicks Creek #4)

Chapter Fifteen

Sutton

H icks Creek looks the same but smaller, as if the years have shrunk its edges and softened its sharp corners.

Maybe that’s the best thing about small towns, that no matter how long you’re gone, you can still come back to the familiarity of it all.

I park my truck in front of the general store, the same one I used to visit as a kid, the same one where my dad used to buy penny candy for me if I behaved during errands.

The sign above the door still reads “Turner’s General Store” in faded white paint on a wooden board that’s weathered more storms than I can count.

I can already see Martha Turner behind the counter through the large front window, her hair piled high in that same beehive she’s probably had since the Reagan administration and it was out of style then. The only difference is that it’s now fully gray.

I step inside, and the little bell above the door jingles, announcing my arrival.

The smell hits me immediately: a mix of aged wood, coffee, and a hint of lavender from the sachets Martha insists on keeping by the register.

She looks up from the counter, her sharp eyes narrowing behind her wire-rimmed glasses before recognition spreads across her face.

“Well, I’ll be! Sutton Bishop, back in town!” Her voice is as familiar as the creak of the old wooden floors beneath my boots. “I heard you were, but you know me, I don’t believe it until I see it.”

It’s hard to school my face into not screaming what I’m thinking.

Martha Turner isn’t exactly a woman who asks questions about the validity of gossip.

Nope, you could tell her a UFO shaped like a basketball landed on Main Street and fifteen aliens that looked like they were coming from the set of Space Jam walked out and she’d have the entire town notified in five minutes, except we’d be in the middle of Independence Day instead.

“Hi, Miss Turner,” I say, giving her a polite smile as I grab a basket from the stack near the door. “Just picking up a few things.”

“A few things? You’ve got to be staying longer than a few days, then,” she says, leaning over the counter like she’s settling in for a story. “I heard you were here with that fancy doctor degree of yours trying to figure out what’s causing all these cattle to get sick. That true?”

“Yes, ma’am, it is.”

“Such a shame about all these ranches losing so much money. A lot of ’em are panicking. Well, you know that. We all know if your daddy swallowed his pride and asked you for help, there’s a problem.”

I swallow hard and slowly inhale, doing my best not to physically react to her observation. I’m not quite sure if she’s saying that my dad was in the wrong or that he’s just desperate and I was a last resort.

I turn to grab a candy bar off the shelf. I close my eyes and do a couple of slow inhales and exhales.

Don’t let this woman get in your head, Sutton.

“Heard you’re up at the Callahan Ranch. How’s that going?

That’s mighty questionable considering the bad blood between your daddies.

I bet your daddy was fit to be tied when he found out you were staying there.

You and Wade…oh, never mind. Haven’t seen Wade in here for a bit. That Caleb, though. Such a good kid.”

I keep my face neutral, grabbing a loaf of bread from the shelf. “It’s going fine. Just getting things sorted.”

Her eyes gleam. “Well, you’ll have your hands full up there. Wade’s been…” She pauses, her tone turning conspiratorial. “Busy. Is he seeing someone new? You know about Heather, don’t you?”

Good to see some people never change.

She’s been gossiping about anyone and everyone for as long as I can remember.

It’s best to play along until I can get out of here. Heaven forbid she start telling people I’ve turned into a snob or something equally as ridiculous. Not that it matters; people already have their minds made up about me as it is.

“I wouldn’t know about Wade’s dating life.” I glance at her, raising an eyebrow. I think she’s already off on another tangent and ask, “Heather?”

“Oh, you know Heather Letterman,” she says, waving a hand as if that explains everything.

“She’s been on and off again with Wade for years.

Poor thing thinks they’re getting back together every other week, but let me tell you, she’s no good for him.

No drive, no ambition. Wade doesn’t like that.

He needs someone who can match him, you know? ”

I hum noncommittally, grabbing a jar of peanut butter. Martha doesn’t notice; she’s already on a roll.

“Heather goes around telling people they’re together when they’re not.

It’s sad, really. She’s convinced herself it’s only a matter of time, but Wade?

He’s not having it. Mark my words, that boy’s waiting for someone better.

” She leans closer, her eyes practically glittering.

“What about you, Sutton? I know you got bad blood, but I always thought you two would be good together. You two ever…” She pauses dramatically before she leans in with a conspiratorial whisper.

“I won’t tell a soul—you two ever hook up? ”

I cut her off with a laugh, shaking my head. “Just here to help with the local herds, Miss Turner. I’m not interested in mixing business with pleasure.”

“Hmm,” she says, clearly unconvinced. “Well, you be careful what you say around here. Folks love to talk.”

She loves to talk. She can say that the rest of the town is full of gossips, but she is the worst one. Always has been.

I bite back a grin. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

She’s still watching me as I pay for my groceries and head out the door, the bell jingling behind me. I load the bags into the truck and glance down the street. The feed store is next, and I’m already bracing myself for more small-town charm.

The place still smells like hay and leather, a combination that immediately brings me back to summers spent helping Dad load up supplies. Sam Garcia is standing by the counter, chatting with the clerk. His face lights up when he sees me.

“Sutton! It’s been ages,” he says, pulling me into a quick hug.

Sam’s been a friend of my dad’s for as long as I can remember, and his presence feels like a tether to the past. He looks as though he hasn’t aged a bit, either.

“Hey, Sam,” I say, smiling. “Just picking up a few things. You find the fountain of youth or something? I look older than you.”

“Nonsense. You’ve always been my favorite for a reason,” he says with a wide grin.

His eyes shift to the man standing beside him, and I can tell by the look on his face that he’s not happy to introduce me.

“Sutton, this is Dr. Michael Reed. He’s a regional ag officer.

Doc, this here is Doctor Sutton Bishop. She’s from a fancy lab out west in Billings, Montana.

She’s a veterinarian with a specialty in bovine medicine. ”

Damn it, there’s an ag officer in town already? That’s not good.

Ag officers are great in theory, but this man being in town can mean a lot of problems physically and especially financially for the ranchers.

They could force the owners to cull, or kill off infected livestock, causing them to lose thousands.

If the ranchers are losing money, that means they’re not spending it in town either.

It’s a quick downhill slide for the economy.

Unfortunately, most of these officers don’t see the value of treating. They don’t want to be responsible for a widespread epidemic, so they jump to culling almost immediately. They’re typically not willing to work with the local vets or even listen to anyone else’s concerns.

I’ve had other colleagues who’ve told me horror stories about officers coming in and many ranches having to shut down because they can’t financially recover from such a big loss.

I shoot Sam an amused look, impressed that he knew that much about my career. Sam winks and flashes that million-dollar smile at me.

Dr. Reed’s handshake is firm but cold, his eyes scanning me like he’s assessing my worth. “Doctor Bishop,” he says, his tone clipped. “You’re a long way from home.”

“This is home.” I shrug nonchalantly. “I just work in Montana. I was born and raised here in Hicks Creek.”

“I hear you’ve been talking to the owners and doing some testing out at a few of the ranches. That’s quite the undertaking by yourself. Surely you didn’t bring a team out all this way.”

“It is,” I say evenly. “But I’m up for the challenge.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Do you have any experience managing an outbreak of this size? Or are you planning to hire someone to handle the more technical aspects?”

“This isn’t my first rodeo,” I quip.

I hate that saying, but it seems fitting right now.

He makes a noncommittal noise, clearly unimpressed.

“It’s a different ballgame now. Regulations, environmental concerns…

It’s not just about the ranches themselves anymore.

This could be an outbreak that could affect the entire state.

I’m afraid you’re in over your head. That’s why they sent me in. ”

I smile, though it’s tight. “Good thing I’m a quick learner.”

Sam chuckles, clapping me on the shoulder. “Don’t let him scare you, Sutton. He’s just used to folks needing his advice.”

Dr. Reed doesn’t smile. “It’s not about scaring anyone. It’s about being realistic. Too many people think they can waltz into a situation like this without understanding the complexities.”

“Well, Dr. Reed,” I say, meeting his gaze. “I appreciate your concern, but I think I’ll manage just fine.”

His lips press into a thin line, but he doesn’t respond. Sam grins, clearly enjoying the exchange.

“Maybe I should have warned him that you’ve never been one to let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do.”

“Thanks, Sam.” I grin as I give him a quick hug.

I make my way to the counter, feeling Dr. Reed’s eyes on me the whole time.

“Hey, is Mack around?” I ask the younger woman behind the counter.

“Nah, he’s out for the day,” she answers quietly as she leans toward me.

“Can you let him know that Sutton Bishop stopped by, please?”

“I’ll let him know. He’ll be back in around six tomorrow morning,” she says quietly, her eyes flitting to Dr. Reed.

“Thanks,” I tell her with a smile before I turn on my heel and walk out of the store.

My phone begins ringing, and I look down to see Ronnie calling me.

I don’t have enough patience to deal with him today, either.

A thought flits into my head, and I answer the phone anyway.

“Tell me why there’s a regional ag health officer in my hometown,” I almost hiss into the phone.

“How would I know that?” he replies dismissively.

“Sounds like a move you’d make.”

“You wound me, baby,” he chuckles.

“Don’t call me baby,” I snap. “How else were they notified, Ronnie?”

“Would you stop accusing me of crap?” he groans. “I’m on the way to the airport to pick up your samples.”

“You’re coming here?”

“Yeah, is that a problem? Danny told me that your notes are extensive and that it’s rare you haven’t located the issue yet. I just want to make sure you’re not wasting government money on a trip home.”

“How about you stop accusing me of crap?” I hiss back at him. “I have never and would never. I can’t believe that you would even insinuate that bullshit with me.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as I try to calm my breathing now.

He loves to get me riled up, and I’m giving in to him with this.

“I’ll see you soon,” he practically purrs.

I hang up before he can reply. I grab the steering wheel and put my head on it as I try to breathe through my nose.

He may say that he didn’t reach out to the ag officer, but I have my doubts. Ronnie loves to try and control me, and the fact that I left and didn’t stay in the office like he wanted is probably burning his ass.

At least Wade has let up on his asshole-ness, because having to deal with my dad, the ag officer, and Ronnie at the same time is enough to put me over the edge.

I’m not sure that I’m cut out for any of this, at least in the lab, I don’t have to deal with anyone I don’t want to.