“Don’t be naïve,” Violet barks. “Voters don’t careabout the truth, Landon. They care about appearances. The appearance of a Mercer scandal could cost you everything. This is not the time for Cade’s whore of an ex to make waves.”
“She’s not making waves,” I grit the words out, forcing calm, not liking Violet calling Sarah a whore. Not even a little bit. “She’s doing her job.”
Landon leans forward, elbows on his knees. His tone is softer but no less pointed. “Violet’s right about this. Ifshestarts talking, it could bring the past roaring back. We can’t afford that. Not now.”
“And what do you proposewedo?” I ask, arching an eyebrow.
Landon nods thoughtfully. “I’ll talk to Hugh.”
I fling my arms in the air. “About what?”
“Abouther.”
When Sarah falsely accused Landon, Hugh Dillon was the sheriff, but he hadn’t been in Wildflower Canyon that night. We kept everything out of the official records because Deputy Porter Montgomery was a friend of our father’s.
Sheriff Hugh Dillon runs his office like a cattle drive—strict, orderly, and with no patience for strays. Always clean-shaven, boots polished, his badge gleaming on his belt instead of pinned to a uniform because he bucks tradition and works in jeans, a starched shirt, and a Stetson.
I’ve never known Hugh to bend the rules for anyone.
“What’s Hugh gonna do?” I ask, jaw tight.
Landon leans back, a cold smile tugging at his mouth. “Keep things calm. Remindherthat she’s better off staying quiet. He’s got a way of making folks…cooperative.”
Hugh and Landon have always been friendly, but that's to be expected in Wildflower Canyon, where everybody knows everybody.
Still, I can’t see Hugh doing Landon’s bidding.
Sarah’s living in the house her father left her, running the clinic that’s now rightfully hers. Like it or not, she has every right to be here.
Landon can make it sound like she’s trespassing on the whole damn county, but I’m sure even Hugh wouldn’t buy that.
“If you go to Hugh, you’ll be bringing attention to the past,” I advise. “My recommendation: ignore her and pretend she doesn’t exist. Don’t give her any oxygen. Now, I need to get back. It’s the middle of calving season, and I don’t have time for this.”Or Violet. Or…the past.
“I understand.” Landon comes to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. “You take care, okay? I’ll see you soon.”
He gives me a brief hug.
It’s his way of making up, and I soften. “Yeah, Landon. See you soon.”
CHAPTER 4
sarah
Emergencies, for some reason, no matter what kind of doctor you are, always come in the middle of the freaking night. It’s like a rule.
So, obviously, while I’m eating cold cereal in my sweats, bone-tired because it’s calving season, Dr. Bodie Tiller’s number flashes across my phone.
I almost don’t pick it up. It’s past midnight for the love of everything holy.
But professional courtesy and blah blah, so I do.
“Got a heifer in trouble,” he says without preamble. “Breech calf. I’m at Lyle Dunn’s place and could use another pair of hands. She’s not stayin’ still.”
I know exactly what that means.
I’ve had that happen when I got one arm buried trying to turn the calf, and no way to brace her or keep the uterus from clamping down. Sometimes you just can’t do it alone, not without losing a cow or a calf.
Ugh!I am not a fan of the Dunns, and they are notfans of mine. Not since Landon, and definitely not since Cade started dating Noelle Dunn.
