“The smartest thing to do is to accept my help,” I say as I roll my shoulders.
“How do I know that you’re not going to pretend to help us and then dart off into the sunset the first chance you get at something that will make you money, leaving us all behind holding the bag?”
I’m holding my breath, cussing him out in my head. I’m not sure where he’s gotten the idea that I do this for the money, but he’d definitely be wrong. I want to smack him and tell him to shut up, but instead, I take a few deep breaths and remain calm.
“I’m not going anywhere, Wade. I’m going to stay in Hicks Creek until I figure out what’s going on with the cattle. You can accept my help, or you can not, I’m not going to fight you about it. I’ll get my things out of the guest house, and I’ll find somewhere else to stay if you can’t get over yourself.”
“I didn’t say you needed to leave. You turned your back on your family, on this town, a long time ago. This…this is too important for me not to know if you’re all in. If we lose any more cattle this ranch…” He stops and swallows hard. “This community can’t afford to lose any more cattle. If my ranch is in trouble financially, then these other ranches in town are probably drowning. We are the reason this community thrives and if we can’t figure this out, Hicks Creek will be a ghost townbefore the year is out. How do I know that you won’t get a better offer and leave again?”
“Turned my back? You’re kidding me, right? I left for college and started a career. Nobody else has ever been ostracized for that. Heaven forbid a woman doesn’t want to stay in her hometown and…” I take a step forward so that I’m toe-to-toe with him.
“Whoa,” Benny says as he comes between us. “Ain’t nobody said you shouldn’t be out here chasing your dreams, Doc. Wade is just stressed out over everything that’s happening and he’s coming off as a jerk, and that ain’t who he really is. Let’s take a breather. We’re all so damn proud of you, Sutton. It’s only fitting that you’re the one to come home and save us all.”
“You’re welcome here, Doc Sutton,” Caleb adds as he shoots his dad a funny look. “We need your help.”
Wade raises his hands up a little as if to surrender. “I guess we’re going to find out if all of those awards you’ve been given are legit.”
He turns on his heel and walks away while everyone stares after him. Wade Callahan researched me, saw all of my awards? Color me shocked.
I take a deep breath and walk back to the truck. Dealing with Wade is going to seem like a walk in the park once I’m done seeing my daddy. The best thing for me to do is to figure out what’s going on here, and fast, that way I can get away from this hostile environment as quickly as possible.
Chapter Six
Wade
“Doc Sutton seems like a real nice lady. Smart, too,” Caleb says as the two trucks leave a trail of dust in their wake. “I think she’s going to be the one that figures this out. Who knows, maybe she’ll stay in town, too.”
“Why do you say that?” I ask with a chuckle.
“Mr. Frank misses her.” He shrugs nonchalantly.
“How would you know that?”
“You may have beef with Mr. Frank, but I don’t. Granny brought me over there when Miss Caroline died, and we brought him some dinner. He was so sad and…I kept going back. When Morgan Wallen first got sick, and Doc couldn’t figure it out, I went to ask him about it.”
Why did I let this kid name our cattle?
I knew my mother and Miss Caroline were still friends, even with the rivalry between our families. The two of them just didn’t understand the betrayal and the strain Frank Bishop’s actions had on our family or why his actions were unforgivable.
I’m irritated that my mother brought Caleb into the mix. My son, though. He’s a kid with a giant heart, and I shouldn’t be surprised that he is trying to be the one to extend the olive branch to the Bishops. I should be furious, but I can’t be mad at the kid for trying to be a good human.
This will be his first lesson on how not everyone is a good person who deserves your kindness, though.
“I can’t believe you named a cow after a country singer,” I laugh. “Son, you can’t just walk up to a rancher’s house and…”
“I did. He’s not nearly as bad as you guys all said. He’s really smart, too. He gave me some tips. How do you think I figured out why Johnny Cash was limping?”
“Benny told mehefixed the black stallion,” I reply.
“I told him he could take the credit.” He shrugs again. “I was there when Mr. Frank called Doc Sutton and told her he needed her help a few days ago. I don’t think he would have done it if I hadn’t.”
“Caleb, I realize that you’re fifteen and…more mature than most kids your age, but you need to tell me where you’re going and when. It’s not a safe world out there and…”
“I’m always safe, Dad.”
“Not the point, Caleb,” I sigh.
“He had to let his ranch hands go because he was afraid he couldn’t pay them. He’s lonely. I help out, too.”
