He laughs. “No catch. My dad has always sung your praises. They’ve been watching your work since day one. It’s double what you’re making now, plus a relocation stipend to cover the move. They’ll even help you find housing near the lab.”
“Double?” I echo, still in disbelief. “Ronnie, that’s… I don’t even know what to say.”
“Say yes,” he replies simply. “This is what you’ve always wanted, Sutton. You’ve worked your ass off for it, and now it’s here. Don’t overthink it.”
I bite my lip, my excitement warring with doubt. “Did you tell them that I’m in Hicks Creek right now figuring out this mess?”
“They’re aware, but I’ll send someone out to cover you. We need you there ASAP.”
“Ronnie, I can’t. I’m not leaving before I get this figured out.”
“They’ll find someone else,” he says dismissively. “You can’t hold yourself back because you’re worried about letting people down. This is your life, Sutton. Your career. You’ve got to think about what’s best for you.”
“I need to think about it. This is… a lot.”
“Of course,” he says, but there’s a note of impatience in his voice. “Take a day or two. But don’t take too long. Opportunities like this don’t come around every day.”
“I know,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
There’s a pause, and then he adds, “And hey, look at it this way: we won’t have to work together anymore. I’m sure that’s a bonus for both of us.”
I laugh despite myself. “Wow, Ronnie. Way to ruin the moment.”
“Just keeping it real,” he says.
“Thanks, Ronnie,” I say after a moment. “Really. This means a lot.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he replies. “Thank me when you’re in your new office, leading groundbreaking research and changing the world. That’s where you belong, Sutton. Not in some tiny town fixing cows.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good,” he says. “I’ll check in with you in a couple of days.”
“Okay. Talk soon.”
“Talk soon,” he echoes, and the line goes dead.
I stare at the road ahead of me, my hands trembling slightly. My dream job. The opportunity of a lifetime. And all I need to do is say yes.
Am I really ready to leave Hicks Creek all over again?
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Wade
When I pull back up to the house, Sutton’s truck is gone, and Caleb is nowhere to be found. My first thought is that he’s out doing herd checks with her. That’s fine. There’s plenty to keep me busy here. The guys and I start unloading the feed and supplies we picked up in town. The cattle look good—better than they have in days. The meds are working.
Tommy walks up, wiping sweat off his brow with a rag. “Hey, Wade. You hear what’s been going around town?”
I glance at him, tossing a bale of hay onto the pile. “What now?”
“Dr. Reed’s been running his mouth,” he says, lowering his voice like we’re sharing some big secret. “He’s telling people Sutton’s about to lose her vet license in Montana. Says that’s why she came back here.”
I pause, my jaw tightening. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
He shrugs. “Neither do I. But Bob Nance does, and he’s been spreading it around. Says she killed off his herd. A couple of others are starting to buy into it, too.”
I shake my head, irritation bubbling under my skin. “That’s just great. As if she doesn’t have enough to deal with.”
