Page 39 of Roots of Redemption (Hicks Creek #4)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Wade

T he morning air is cool and damp as I step out of the barn.

The sun is just starting to crest the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of gold and orange.

I scan the driveway out of habit, and sure enough, Sutton’s truck is still gone.

A flicker of irritation rises in my chest. She’d vanished yesterday without so much as a word, and now she’s off again before the day even starts.

Does she even know that we lost two cows overnight? Two that just showed symptoms yesterday?

Yes, I’m a little irritated. I am worried about her—it’s not like her to ignore my text messages. I knocked on her door last night, but she didn’t answer, so I left food for her on the porch. It looked like she’d tripped over it this morning.

Shaking my head, I turn back to the barn.

There’s too much to do to dwell on it. Benny’s already saddling up the horses, and the other guys are checking feed and water.

We’ve got fences to mend, cattle to check, and the lingering worry of the sick ones to deal with.

It’s a full day ahead, and there’s no room for distractions—even if Sutton’s face keeps creeping into my thoughts.

By the time I’ve finished with the morning chores and made my way back to the house for a quick breakfast, her truck is back.

Not long after, I spot her out in the pastures, already moving among the cattle with a clipboard in hand.

She’s bright-eyed and focused like yesterday’s disappearing act never happened.

It’s maddening and impressive all at once.

I grab my hat and head out to meet her, the grass crunching softly under my boots as I approach. She’s crouched beside one of the calves, inspecting it closely while jotting down notes.

“Morning,” I say, my voice steady despite the mix of irritation and admiration swirling inside me.

She glances up, flashing a quick smile. “Morning, Wade.”

“You’re up and at ’em early,” I comment, keeping my tone neutral.

“No rest for the wicked,” she replies with a shrug, standing and brushing off her jeans. “The lab results came back earlier. We’re dealing with bovine respiratory disease.”

“At least we’ve got answers. That’s something.”

“It is,” she agrees, “but this isn’t a textbook case. Some of the symptoms don’t line up perfectly, so I’m not entirely confident the meds will cover everything. Still, it’s the best course of action for now.”

“You’ve already started them on treatment?”

She nods. “Dad’s cattle are already on the meds, and Doc Lucy is hitting the other ranches today. I’ve got your cattle covered. Everyone’s got strict instructions on medications, protocols, and monitoring.”

“So you know that we lost two overnight?”

“Yeah, I was out early and saw them. It’s why I started making phone calls to the lab first thing this morning.

This strain of symptoms went faster than the rest, and I want to know why.

I took some samples from the deceased, sent them off to the lab as well.

I wanted to know if there was something else going on. ”

“I appreciate it, Sutton,” I say sincerely. “If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word.”

She waves me off. “I’ve got it under control. You’ve got enough on your plate.”

I hesitate, then decide to broach the subject that’s been on my mind since yesterday. “How’d the meeting at the bank go?”

Her expression falters for a split second before she forces a wry smile. “About as good as I expected.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Sutton…”

“It’s fine,” she says quickly, cutting me off. “Dad and I will figure it out. Bishops always do.”

Except you’re going to be a Callahan soon, if I have anything to say about it.

I pause as if I’m frozen. Holding my breath as the realization of my thoughts hit me.

That came out of nowhere.

But did it?

I study her for a moment, noting the tension in her posture despite her casual tone. “If you need help with anything, I’m happy to pitch in. Money, labor, whatever you need.”

She shakes her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she smirks. “Nothing that FeetFinder and OnlyFans can’t fix quickly.”

I blink, caught off guard by her response. “Excuse me?”

“It’s a joke, cowboy. Chill out,” she giggles. “While I see nothing wrong with doing those things, I have a lot of other options before I get to that on my list. It is on my list, though.”

“Is it before or after asking me?” I ask without thinking.

She rolls her eyes and starts toward another cow.

“Let me rephrase that. I will do whatever is necessary before you get to that spot. Capiche?” I add.

She rolls her eyes again and doesn’t reply. I reach out and touch her arm.

“I’m serious, Sutton. Doing those things, while seemingly innocent in a way, could be detrimental to your business. I won’t allow you to do that when I’m able to help. Don’t…think that I’m not an option.”

She blows out a breath and shakes her head. “Do you think that I don’t know that, Wade? It’s a joke, but it’s not, too. I’ll do anything to keep the ranch in my family. Had I…had I come home after school, then maybe…”

“Don’t go there,” I sigh.

“It’s the only place to go right now.”

I shake my head, reaching out to grab her wrist as I stand up.

“It’s actually not. Listen, I’ll admit, and I’ve not been secretive about it either.

I thought you were flaky, heartless, and a lot of other things because you didn’t come back here after you graduated.

I thought you weren’t loyal and…I was wrong.

Honestly, had I been thinking logically, I would have realized none of those things were true.

My father saw that. You did what you had to do, and because of that, you came back when we all needed you, and you’re currently saving the day. ”

“It doesn’t feel like that.”

“I’m sure it doesn’t because you’re only thinking about the monstrous negativity asteroid that’s hurtling toward you.”

She giggles and smiles back at me. “I love the way you explain things sometimes.”

“It’s a gift.” I smile.

“I appreciate it and you. I’ll figure this out.”

There’s no sense in reiterating that I’m here; even if she knows it, she’s not listening anyway.

“Dr. Reed and two of his colleagues were here yesterday.”

“I saw your text. And I’m sorry that I didn’t reply.

I had every intention, but I went down a rabbit hole.

They went to Dad’s, too. I did a search in the database, and those colleagues aren’t listed as part of the Ag board.

Doc Lucy didn’t know them either. It seems that at all the other ranches, they were asking mostly financial questions. ”

“Financial? What do you mean?”

“They asked Dad how much he owed on the property, how much his property taxes were. He told them it was none of their business, but the female kept pushing for more information, just in different ways.”

“Who do you think they were?”

“I did a little research yesterday. Remember my best friend from high school, Destiny?”

“Vaguely.”

“She’s been out of the country; her husband was deployed in Japan.

They just got back into the States, and she texted me.

I guess her parents told her I was back.

She told me that there’s a Hicks Creek Facebook group, and there’s a lot of chatter about a company called Oakmont Holdings.

Apparently, they’ve been doing some damage throughout town the last six months or so. ”

“Yeah, but the employees of that place were arrested and…”

She shakes her head. “Yes, and…it turns out that Oakmont Holdings is one of the names of their corporation. They have about a dozen names that they go by; all of them are different depending on what they’re pedaling, so to speak. I went down the rabbit hole last night.”

“And what did you find?”

“I think Dr. Reed is working with them; possibly, he doesn’t know, but I think he may have let them pay him to come along.”

“That’s an assumption, and we’re not dealing with those today. We’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

“I understand, but listen, Cal told me that the bank was willing to work with Dad, but now they’re suddenly not. I think it’s related.”

“It’s an assumption. You’re…”

“I’ll prove it,” she says as she puts a hand on her hip.

“Why? That’s not going to save your ranch or the cattle. Let me worry about that.”

“You don’t have to come in and rescue me all the damn time, Wade,” she says haughtily. “I’ve lived this long without being rescued.”

“I’m not trying to rescue you; I’m trying to help you prioritize what’s important rather than getting lost in the distractions.”

She rolls her eyes. “I have more cattle to check for the day.”

“You cannot run off when I have a difference of opinion.”

“I have work to do.”

“And I’ll come right along with you. I’m not dropping this.

It’s not that I don’t believe you, Sutton.

But I don’t want you to get lost in conspiracy theories and not focus on the bigger picture.

It seems like we’ve got the illness figured out, but we’re not certain.

Not to mention, the next biggest thing on that list is making sure you don’t lose your ranch. Let’s focus on that.”

“I’m working on that, too.”

“I can multi-task.”

“And I can help. You need to understand that this isn’t you against the world any longer. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

She sits back a little, her eyes staring back at me all wide and shocked. She doesn’t say anything. She turns on her heel and keeps walking back out to the cattle.

Actions speak louder than words, and she’s about to see that I’m for real.