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 stubble shadowed 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.
Boone spoke first. “You think this is all tied to Rios?”
Trace met his oldest brother’s gaze. “I know it is.”
Rubbing his hand over his jaw, Chance growled, “I’m thinkin’ someone should’ve put a bullet in him years ago.”
Boone’s eyes never left Trace. “That can still happen.”
“Chance,” Joy hissed at the same time Tildi cried, “Daddy!”
Tanner shot them both a dark glare. “Enough.” Turning back to Boone, he added, “I’m ready anytime, brother. Just say when.”
Trace lifted his good hand. “Hold on. This is on me. I brought Kip here. I should’ve seen…”
Every word the men said hit Kip like a sledgehammer.
And even though nobody accused him, she knew her daddy would take the blame for this on himself.
If anyone was to blame, it was she. All because of Rios.
The thought that she had brought this danger upon them made her physically ill.
She fought to keep from losing the small amount of breakfast she had eaten.
“No, it’s not on you!” Kip had to stop him. He couldn’t take the blame for her mistake. She should have run when the phone calls started again, when she got that first bad feeling. Then none of this would have happened. And it would have hurt a whole lot less. “This is my fault, not Trace’s.”
“Stop.” Boone’s single word cracked like lightning, shocking everyone into silence. “Nobody at this table blames either of you. Not for the bison. Not for Rios. And not for the bastard who followed her. You hear me? No one at this table is at fault.”
Tanner nodded once. “We stand together, brother. Always have. Kip may not know that yet, but you will.”
Tears pricked her eyes hot and fast. She blinked them back, staring at her plate, hoping no one would notice. Who were these people who had such love and loyalty to each other?
Ruby set a fresh platter of bacon in the center with a thud. “Eat. All of you. Planning goes better on a full stomach.” Before heading back to the kitchen, she pressed a kiss on top of Kip’s head. “You’re part of us now, so don’t worry, these boys can handle just about anything.”
Kip forced down two bites of eggs as the conversation shifted to the day’s chores and who would ride where.
The girls planned to drive to Wilder and distribute the gift baskets Ruby had spent half the night assembling.
The men argued about who would go with the girls and who would stay behind to watch the north pasture.
Eventually, Trace looked at Kip. “I don’t think you need to go. I have to be here today with everything going on, and I don’t like the idea of you being off the ranch without me.”
She met his eyes. “But Daddy, I worked just as hard on those baskets as everyone else. I want to see the faces of the people who get them. Please? We’ll all stay together, and everywhere we go is in town. Nothing bad will happen.”
His jaw clenched. “Maybe if you pass out the baskets tomorrow, one of the Daddies can go with you.”
“But Daddy!” Kip did her best, but even she could hear the whine in her voice.
“All right, everyone. Listen up,” Ruby said, voice warm but firm. “The girls are delivering the baskets today. I know the ranch needs every one of you here today with those poor bison, so I’m driving. I’ve got my phone, my pepper spray, and thirty years of watching your backs. Now that’s plenty.”
“We can always count on you, Ruby,” Kenzie said, throwing her arms around Ruby. “Group hug, everyone!”
Kip joined everyone else, then grabbed a basket from the counter. “We should go before the Daddies come up with a reason to keep us here.”
Boone began to protest, but when Ruby raised an eyebrow, he stopped mid-sentence. Chance tried next and received the same look. Tanner simply gave a small, resigned nod.
Trace rubbed the back of his neck. “Ruby, it’s not safe—”