“I’ll second that.”
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and goes back to the iPad.
“What’s the plan for tomorrow? More research? More tests?”
“Both.” She smiles. “And maybe a little sleep, if we’re lucky.”
“Sleep is overrated,” I tease, earning another laugh from her. “But seriously, you’ve been working your ass off. You should take a break even more. It’s easy to miss something important without sleep.”
“I could say the same to you,” she counters, her gaze meeting mine. “You’re the one running this place. You’ve got way more on your plate than I do. I have an appointment at the bank in the morning. Cal, the loan officer, wasn’t in today; they put me on his schedule, though.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“I already told you no, Wade. I appreciate it, I really do, but I need to do this on my own.”
I nod. I understand why she needs to do it by herself, but it doesn’t mean I like that she is. I want to help her way more than she wants me to.
It’s hard to turn off that protective switch she’s flipped in me.
“Well, it’s okay to change your mind at any time, and if you do, I’ll be there.”
She shakes her head, but there’s a smile on her face, and for a moment, the weight of the ranch and the cattle and everything else fades away. It’s just us, sitting on the porch, sharing a quiet moment in the middle of the chaos.
“All right,” she says, setting her cup down and grabbing the next book. “Enough chit-chat. Let’s get back to work.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, grinning as I pick up my laptop.
We fall into a comfortable rhythm, the silence between us filled with the click-clack of the keyboard and the occasional comment about something we’ve read. The hours slip by, but I don’t mind. As long as she’s here, I’ll keep going.
I’ve never enjoyed research more than I do now. Looking up and seeing her beautiful face across from me is nice.
There’s nothing cuter than Sutton concentrating on something.
The next morning I step out of the barn, the smell of hay and leather still clinging to me. No new deaths overnight, so that’s a good thing, but there are about a dozen more showing symptoms. The guys are already moving them into quarantine pens, but I can feel the frustration mounting again. If we don’t figure this out soon, it’s only a matter of time before they die too.
My mom’s voice calls out from the porch, and I glance over to see her wiping her hands on her apron. She’s been baking—probably her famous cinnamon rolls, judging by the faint scent wafting through the air.
“Good morning, baby,” she calls out. “I missed you at breakfast this morning.”
I nod, brushing the dust off my jeans as I make my way over. I can see that twinkle in her eye; she’s well aware of why I missed breakfast with the family this morning. Sutton was missing, too.
“Good morning, Mom.” I grin.
She waits until I’m close, then gestures for me to sit on the porch swing with her. I do, the wood creaking slightly under our weight. She looks at me for a long moment, her eyes soft but searching.
“You and Sutton have been spending a lot of time together.”
I lean back, letting the swing sway slightly. “Yeah, we have. She’s been helping me figure out what’s going on with the cattle.”
Mom nods, but her expression doesn’t change. “I’ve noticed. And I’ve noticed the way you look at her, too.”
I feel a heat rise in my neck, but I don’t deny it. “She’s… different,” I admit. “Smart, funny, stubborn as hell. She keeps me on my toes.”
“I can see that. And I can see that she cares about you, too. But Wade… she’s from Montana. She’s got a life there.”
I let out a slow breath, running a hand through my hair. “I know.”
“Do you?” she asks, her voice soft but pointed. “Because I know how you are. When you care about someone, you give them everything. And I don’t want to see you get hurt if she decides to go back.”
