Page 41 of Roots of Redemption (Hicks Creek #4)

Chapter Thirty-Five

Wade

“ I ’m sorry,” I say as I catch up to her.

She doesn’t reply. Instead, she puts the other AirPod in her ear and continues walking as if I don’t exist.

I deserve that. She’s being stubborn, yes, but I also royally messed up.

I lost my cool. I’m normally great at pausing and thinking before speaking, but I went through a roller coaster of emotions.

I was scared she was hurt, and then so relieved to see her.

The fear of losing her and never speaking the words I love you out loud to her was more than I could bear.

I lost my cool without thinking, and now, I’ve made a fool of myself.

All the hard work I’ve put in to show her that she can trust me and that I’m different was obliterated in a matter of seconds.

“C’mon, Sutton. Please.”

I reach out and touch her arm, but she barely flinches. She hurries up the steps and into the guest house, locking the door behind her as she does.

Damn it.

I’m fuming as I pace the barn, replaying Sutton’s stubborn streak over and over in my head.

She’s infuriating, thinking she can handle everything herself without asking for help.

I’m about to head back out when Caleb walks in, leaning casually against the barn door, arms crossed like he’s got something on his mind.

“You okay, Dad?” he asks, but there’s a knowing look in his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I grumble. “Just frustrated.”

“With Sutton?” he chuckles.

“What?” I snap.

Shit. I’m a little too hyped up.

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly.

He doesn’t flinch. Instead, he stands a little straighter and looks me directly in the eye.

“Dad, you’ve gotta back off her a little bit. That wasn’t cool.”

“What wasn’t cool?” I ask, genuinely confused.

“Grabbing her and kissing her in front of everyone, then chewing her out like she’s a kid,” Caleb replies. “It was probably incredibly confusing for her. We all can tell you two like each other, but you’re treating her like a child, not a partner.”

That’s exactly what she said. Shit, if Caleb thinks it, too, then maybe I was even more out of line than I originally thought.

I stare at him, stunned. “I didn’t mean to…”

“I know you didn’t mean to,” Caleb interrupts. “But it’s what you’re doing. She’s strong, Dad. She’s smart. She doesn’t need you hovering over her like she’s helpless. She needs you to trust her.”

I let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I’m just… I’m scared, Caleb. I’m terrified that something will happen to her, and I don’t know what I’d do.”

“I get that. Things aren’t good with her dad. As far as I can tell, he never trusted her instincts or even gave her credit for all the good she’s done. Well, at least not to her face. You treating her like she’s a child, like she doesn’t know any better, is kind of just like her dad.”

I blow out a long breath, feeling as though my son just slapped me across the face with his truth bomb.

I take a deep breath, nodding slowly. “You’re right. Damn it, you’re right. How did I not realize that?”

He smirks. “Glad you finally admitted it. It’s easier for me to see than you, especially when so much emotion is involved.”

I chuckle, clapping him on the shoulder. “Thanks, kid. When did you get so wise?”

“Learned from you,” he laughs. “Unfortunately, you’re blinded by Sutton or something because you seem to have forgotten how to act.”

That’s an understatement.

He walks out of the barn, and I’m left alone to gather my thoughts. Caleb’s words hit harder than I’d like to admit. He’s right—I’ve been so focused on protecting Sutton that I’ve been smothering her. That’s not what she needs from me. If I’m going to help her, I need to do it the right way.

I head into the house and sit down at the kitchen table, pulling out my laptop. Outside of the ranch, I’ve got a solid nest egg from consulting work and some lucky investments, including Bitcoin. I’ve always kept it separate from the ranch finances, a safety net for emergencies.

I trust her judgment and that she’ll figure anything out.

She’s the most resilient woman I’ve ever met.

She’s already admitted that she can’t pay the entire amount to the bank, so it’s not that I don’t trust her.

I’m just putting in the action to show her I’m serious about us handling problems together.

Okay, maybe I’m doing this alone, but this feels like an emergency.

After double-checking my accounts, I close the laptop and grab my truck keys. It’s time to take action.

When I walk into the bank, I go up to one of the windows.

“Is Cal still in today?”

“Yes, sir,” Tanya, an employee, says. “I’ll let him know you’re here, Wade.”

“Thanks.”

She disappears and then comes back a few minutes later.

“Cal said to go on back.”

She gestures down a hall, and I make my way to his office. He is sitting behind his desk, his usual friendly smile in place. “Wade, what brings you in today?”

I shake his hand and sit down across from him. “I’m here to take care of the debt on the Bishop Ranch.”

Cal raises an eyebrow. “Sutton’s not with you? Does Frank know?”

“She got pulled away to another farm,” I lie smoothly. “Asked me to handle it for her.”

He hesitates, his hand hovering over his phone. “I should probably confirm with her…”

“You don’t need to,” I cut in, keeping my tone even. “We’re engaged. That’s why I’m paying out of my account.”

Well, that’s a lie I can’t come back from. It’s okay, though; it’ll be true eventually, just not right in this moment.

Cal studies me for a moment before nodding slowly. “All right. Let me get the total for you.”

He types into his computer, and I can feel my pulse pounding in my ears.

Sutton doesn’t need to know that I told Cal we were engaged.

The bigger picture is that I’m taking something off her plate.

One less thing for her to have to worry about.

If Frank were to lose the ranch, there’s no telling who would buy it or what would happen to it.

I’ve heard about resorts coming in and eventually causing enough problems that they wipe out entire communities and turn them into casinos, strip malls, or whatever.

Maybe that’s dramatic, but I don’t want to take the risk. If the ranch is gone, she may not want to stay in Hicks Creek any longer. I can’t take that chance.

When Cal finally gives me the number, I don’t hesitate. I write the check and slide it across the desk.

“You sure about this?” he asks, his tone cautious.

“Positive,” I say firmly. “It’s the right thing to do.”

He nods, taking the check and entering the payment into the system. “All set. I’ll make sure everything’s updated on our end.”

“Thanks, Cal,” I say, standing up and shaking his hand again. “I appreciate it.”

As I walk out of the bank, a sense of relief washes over me. It’s not a permanent solution, but it’s a start. Now, I hope Sutton will understand why I did it—and that she’ll forgive me for the lie.

Maybe I should butter her up by bringing her takeout.

“Hey, Wade,” Martha Turner calls out from in front of the general store.

“Hey, how are you?”

“Blessed and highly favored,” she replies with a giant smile. “How are things with Sutton? She sure is a gorgeous girl. Looks just like her mama. I hope she doesn’t race back to Billings when this is all over.”

“She’s good,” I say with a nod before I wave and hurry across the road to the diner.

I am not about to get stuck in gossip with Martha Turner. I will never be able to get away.

“Well, howdy, Wade!” Miss Betty calls out from the kitchen as I walk in. “It’s good to see you in here. It’s been a while.”

“Hey, Miss Betty.” I grin. “It sure is nice to see you in the kitchen.”

“That daughter of mine sure tries, says it’s better for my health to relax, but I don’t agree.”

I chuckle and nod. “I understand that.”

“One of the girls will take your order real quick. We’re running a little short today.”

“No worries, take your time.”

“Hey, Wade.” Sheriff Clark smiles as he sidles up next to me. “I was just about to give you a call.”

“Uh oh,” I chuckle. “That usually doesn’t bode well.”

“I heard Dr. Reed showed up at yours and Frank’s place. They’re supposed to let me know before they go out to any of the ranches, but he’s been failing to do so since the Nance fiasco. He’s been threatening owners, and his colleagues have been asking questions they shouldn’t be asking.”

“They did. I didn’t let them push me around, but I’m not sure how some of these newer guys fared with them. They weren’t asking me the financial questions that I heard they were asking Bishop.”

He nods slowly. “Seems they were only asking the owners who got tricked into the second mortgage and the balloon payment.”

My eyes widen in surprise. Seems like Sutton’s research was probably right on the money.

“That seems convenient.”

“I’ve been doing a little digging and am only working on assumptions, of course, but I’d appreciate it if you’d keep this between us. If they come out to your ranch again, will you give me a call when they arrive?”

“Absolutely. Why don’t you want anyone to know that?”

“Well, I think they have someone in town giving them information, and I’m trying to surprise them. I don’t believe Mr. Reed or his colleagues are who they say they are, and I’d like to get to the bottom of that before someone loses their home over it.”

“I think you should talk to Sutton. She had similar thoughts. Knowing her, she’s got more research than she knows what to do with.”

“I’ll do that. I’ll call her as soon as I leave here. She’s a spitfire, that one. I was real impressed with how she stepped up for Bob.”

“She is.” I grin proudly. “I’ll definitely let you know if they show up again.”

A waitress comes up to the front counter, and I step up to give her my order.

This has been a productive trip into town in more ways than one.