His breath fogged the windshield. He wiped it clear with his coat sleeve. The plan settled in his mind, sharp and clear. He smiled into the darkness. Trace Daniels believed he was untouchable behind those big gates and his pack of loyal dogs. He thought his money and his name kept him safe. Silas flexed his fingers on the wheel.
Trace was about to learn something different. And pretty little Kip, who had messed everything up, would be the first lesson. He hit the gas pedal. The Dodge fishtailed, regained traction, and roared into the storm.
He had a nine-thirty deadline. He had plenty of time.
CHAPTER 16
Kip woke up alone at five-thirty the next morning, which was a miracle since she’d tossed and turned all night. Trace had done the same once he finally came to bed. He’d gone straight to the barn after they got back to the ranch. She’d asked to help, but he told her it would be better if she didn’t. She’d looked up brucellosis when she got inside and decided he was right. It was a horrible disease.
At least she managed to get some sleep when he came to bed and pulled her into his arms. When he held her against his chest, his strong arms and the steady beat of his heart relaxed her enough to drift off. She still felt the ghost of his fingers stroking her hair.
The enticing aromas of strong coffee, bacon, cinnamon, and the faint sweetness of Ruby’s overnight caramel rolls drew her into the kitchen. It was already noisy—Boone’s low rumble mixed with Chance’s laugh and Tanner’s sarcasm. Plates clattered as George Strait’s "All I Want for Christmas" played on the radio.
Trace sat at the head of the table, shoulders tight, coffee untouched in front of him. His white, bandaged hand stood as a sharp contrast to the dark, scarred oak table. Dark stubbleshadowed his jaw, and the dark circles beneath his eyes made him look like he’d been in a fight.
Spatula in hand, Ruby glanced over from the stove. “Sit, child. You look like death warmed over.”
“Thanks,” Kip muttered, but she managed a half-smile and slid into the chair beside Trace. His knee pressed against hers under the table, steady and warm. She needed the contact more than food.
Tildi was already halfway through a stack of pancakes, syrup dripping off the edges. Joy poured orange juice for everyone, whether they wanted it or not. Kenzie buttered toast like she was mad at it. Probably because Tanner watched over her shoulder, giving instructions. By the twinkle in his eyes, he was doing it just to tease her. Not having had her first cup of coffee, Kip hoped Kenzie didn’t turn around and stab him.
Boone waited until Ruby finished doling out more bacon, then turned to Trace. “All right, little brother. You dragged us in here before the sun. Talk.”
Trace drew a slow breath. The room quieted. Even Ruby turned down the burner.
“Yesterday was bad,” Trace started. His voice scraped against her ears as if he’d swallowed gravel. “I know you know what’s going on, but I wanted to make sure everyone had the latest information. The north pasture feed bins were doctored. Testing showed it was limited to two bins. As we suspected, the state vet confirmed last night… well, early this morning, that it’s Brucellosis.”
Kip’s gaze bounced from person to person, assessing their reactions. She noticed concern but not anger. Maybe everything would be fine.
But Trace wasn’t done. “We caught it early, which is good. I had Javi start isolating the herd that could have eaten from those bins yesterday. We’ve cleaned and sterilized all the bins on the ranch,refilled them with pellets we tested, and taken care of the land. I’m thinkin’ we’ll lose at least fifteen to twenty head, maybe more if any are pregnant. I know it doesn’t feel like it, but we’re lucky. We could’ve lost the whole herd.”
Low curses came from Chance’s end of the table. Tanner jabbed his fork into the table, though Kip wasn’t sure he’d noticed. But Boone was the scariest. His face turned stone cold.
Trace didn’t shy away from them. “Javi is setting up daily ride-throughs to check the herd. And we’ve already put GPS collars on the ones that may possibly have been exposed but have tested negative so far.”
He paused, staring down at the table. Kip slipped her hand under his, and he squeezed it before continuing. “Look, I know this is my fault. I’m the ranch veterinarian. I should have caught this before the feed ever went out, but?—”
“You need to shut that shit down,” Chance said, cutting him off before Trace could finish his sentence. “You check the bins on a regular rotation. Hell, you just checked those exact bins last week, right?”
Trace nodded. “But I must have missed something.”
Kip’s heart ached for him. He felt responsible, but how could that be true? Wild River Ranch was huge, and he was good at his job. And evidently, she wasn’t the only one to think so.
“Bullshit,” Tanner said in the most serious voice Kip had ever heard him use. “You’re a damn fine vet, and we’re lucky you’re here. The only reason we caught it at all was because of you.”
Trace shook his head. “That’s not the worst of it."
Kip braced himself as Trace recounted everything that had happened the day before. It didn’t sound any better when he explained it than it had when it happened.
Trace told them everything—the doll at Kip’s apartment door, the threatening note, and driving to the sheriff’s office amid the blizzard.
She removed her hand from Trace’s long enough to take a drink of her coffee. It tasted like ash. She set the mug down before her hands shook enough for anyone to notice. Trace took her hand again before she could hide it in her lap. With a lift of his chin, he indicated she come to him. She obeyed him without hesitation.
He guided her to his lap and settled her so her back rested against his chest with his arms around her waist. Her Daddy always knew exactly what she needed, sometimes even before she did.
Trace’s voice dropped, but somehow it sounded better when his breath tickled her ear. “Zhou was picked up yesterday just before midnight. Some fancy lawyer pressured them to let him go or charge him, and since they didn’t have any concrete proof, they had to release him. Sam doesn’t know where he is.”
Silence pressed against the windows. Kip bit her lips to hold back her scream.
