“Callahan,” I grumble, narrowing my eyes at him. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
My eyes keep darting back to the house. If Daddy heard the truck stop out front, there’s no doubt he’d be watching to ensure Wade isn’t trying to attack us or something equally ridiculous.
I don’t want to feel the wrath of my father if he thinks I’m giving the enemy secrets or something.
“Looks like congratulations are in order.”
“What?”
“What’s happening?” Destiny asks. “Is that Wade Callahan? OMGeeeeee!!!”
He hops out of the truck, boots crunching on the gravel, and saunters over to me. Wade has always moved like he owns the ground he walks on, and it’s no different now. He holds out the envelope, showing where he opened it without checking the address.
“Sorry about that,” he says, not sounding sorry at all. “Didn’t realize it wasn’t mine until I saw the acceptance letter inside.”
My breath catches.
Texas A&M.
I snatch the envelope from his hand, glaring at him even as my fingers tremble. “You opened my mail?”
“Like I said, it was an accident.” He crosses his arms, leaning casually against the mailbox. “Figured you’d want to know, though. Looks like you’re in. Kind of want to stick around and see how your grumpy old dad handles it.”
Ignoring him, I rip the envelope open the rest of the way, my eyes scanning the first few lines of the letter inside.
*Dear Miss Sutton Bishop, we are pleased to inform you…*
Not only did I get accepted to my dream college, but they’re also offering me a scholarship and financial aid that will take care of everything.
A rush of emotion floods me—relief, excitement, disbelief—but it’s quickly tempered by the sinking realization that I’ve just crossed a line my father won’t forgive. He doesn’t know I applied. He’d never approve of me leaving the ranch, let alone for a school so far away.
“Well?” Wade’s voice pulls me back to the present. “Aren’t you gonna say something?”
I fold the letter carefully and tuck it back into the envelope. I shake my head, stiffly turning on my heel to head back to the house.
That’s the most he’s talked to me in three or four years. I ain’t got nothing to say to him now.
Our fathers were best friends, and so were our mothers. Wade’s family owns the ranch next door. Four years ago, our fathers had a big falling out that came to physical blows, and the Bishops and the Callahans became the Hatfields and the McCoys of Hicks Creek.
Wade may be older than me, but we were pretty close growing up. The hardest part of our family feud is that Wade turned his back on me and acted as though we’d never even met before. He was always the one person in the world who understood the ranch life and the way it held me back from a normal childhood.
I think I hear him mutter something under his breath, but I don’t stop to ask what it is. If I do, I’ll scream at him and tell him he’s a worthless human who broke my heart. None of that matters, though. This acceptance letter is my ticket to show everyone in this town that I’m more than Frank Bishop’s daughter.
This letter is getting me into the college and setting me up for success. Eight years from now, I’ll be able to stand up and make my daddy finally see me, finally be proud of me because my degree will help him and the rest of the ranches in town.
My heart is pounding so hard, and my mind is already racing ahead to the fight that’s waiting for me inside. You see, I know that Daddy is going to be livid, but in the end, he’ll realize this is what’s best for the ranch, especially when he learns that there’s no cost to him.
“Sutton!” I hear Destiny yell on the other end of the phone.
“Shit, sorry, Dez. I got into Texas A&M, full ride. I need to go. If you don’t hear from me in a few hours, please send the police to look for my body.”
I hang up the phone and take the last few steps into the house. I feel like someone should call out, “Dead man walking!” I swallow hard.
There will be a lot of screaming. Mama will calm Daddy down. He’ll tell me not to mess up and make sure that my oil is changed, my tires rotated, and my car cleaned up before we leave for school. You know, because that’s how he tells you he loves you and is proud of you. Mama will show him how this is an amazing accomplishment and how it’s a big deal and a testament to my work ethic and brains that I got a full ride to such an amazing school.
The screen door slams behind me as I step into the kitchen, where my parents are sitting at the table. My father looks up first, his sharp blue eyes narrowing when he sees the envelope in my hand.
“Did I hear that Callahan boy’s truck outside?” he hisses.
