“I don’t have much of a choice,” I say quietly. “Dad’s done everything he can, but his hands are tied. If I don’t figure this out, we’re going to lose the ranch.”
“You won’t lose it,” she says firmly. “We’ll figure something out. What about Wade? Can he help?”
I hesitate, my thoughts drifting to Wade. “I don’t know. He’s got enough on his plate as it is. I don’t want to drag him into this.”
“There’s no harm in asking.”
“I need to try everything else first. This is my responsibility, Kelsey. I can’t just lean on him to fix it. I don’t want him to think that I’m using him for money. Callahan Ranch is the most profitable in Hicks Creek, but they’ve been taking financial hits, too, with the cattle.”
“You’re so stubborn,” she says with a laugh. “But that’s why I love you. Just promise me you’ll at least consider asking him if it comes down to it.”
“I promise,” I say, though the words feel heavy on my tongue.
“Good,” she says. “Now, finish your wine and get some rest. You’re no good to anyone if you’re running on empty.”
“I’ll try,” I say, though I know sleep will be hard to come by tonight. “Thanks for listening, Kelsey.”
“Anytime,” she says. “Call me tomorrow and let me know how it’s going.”
“I will,” I say.
I set my phone down and stare at the spreadsheet again, the numbers blurring together as tears prick at the corners of my eyes. Two weeks. It’s not enough time, but I have to find a way. Failure isn’t an option.
I close the laptop and drain the rest of my wine, the weight of everything pushing me under. The house is quiet, and the ranch outside is alive with activity.
I should be out there working with the cattle and figuring out what the problem is, but I’m exhausted in every sense of the word.
I don’t want to be around anyone.
I haven’t been sleeping. I haven’t been eating regularly. I haven’t been taking the time to take care of myself, and now I’m paying the price for it. I just want to sit in the house, drink my wine, and hide from the rest of the world while I brainstorm ways to save the ranch.
I’ve taught Wade, my dad, and the other ranchers well enough that they can manage the cattle without my assistance for at least one day.
It’s a tomorrow problem.
Today, I have to take care of myself and rest while also figuring out the ranch issues.
I sit there for a while, lost in thought before I grab my headphones, my phone, and walk to the bathtub. I fill it with hot water, and a liquid conconction of Epsom salt, magnesium,and lavender. Maybe a relaxed state will help me come to the conclusions I need to.
In the meantime, I’m ignoring my phone for the rest of the night. I’m sure when I explain it to Wade tomorrow, he’ll understand why I didn’t answer.
When I’m done in the bath, fully relaxed, I climb into bed.
I lay there for at least ten minutes, tossing and turning as a million different things pop into my brain. I finally pull my phone out and look at the text from Wade telling me that Dr. Reed had shown up earlier.
Why would Dr. Reed show up here, unannounced, after the way things went down at Bob Nance’s ranch?
I start to reply to Wade, but instead my mind starts reeling.
There’s something I have to be missing. If someone had contacted the Department of Agriculture, then they would have reached out to the lab for information and my research. Ronnie had no clue they were involved. Is it possible they’re not really from the Department of Agriculture?
Dang it, why didn’t I catch that earlier?
I sit right back up in bed and grab my laptop. I need to figure this out before it’s too late. Maybe my hunch is wrong, but I won’t rest until I prove that.
Looks like it’s another night of no sleep for me.
Chapter Thirty-Three
