Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jack
Doc Sutton tightens her jaw as she stands by her truck, arms crossed, eyes scanning the cattle with a mixture of frustration and concern.
“You see that?” she asks, nodding toward a few cows swaying slightly on their feet, their hides dull under the midday sun. “Some of them have the signs—labored breathing, sluggish movements. This isn’t just a virus, Jack. I’ve seen cases like this before. It’s poisoning.”
I fold my arms and exhale hard. “Poisoning? You sure?”
She nods grimly. “I’m not saying someone went and dumped arsenic in their feed, but it’s something unnatural. Could be deliberate.”
“Could it be because of the drought?”
“I mean…it could be. That’s why I’m doing the toxicity reports, but none of the other ranches are having this issue.”
“We’re the biggest ranch in the area, though, so maybe?”
“Anything is possible.”
“Lane.” His name tastes bitter in my mouth.
The fire wasn’t enough. Now he is coming for the cattle?
Doc Sutton watches me closely. “Wouldn’t be a stretch to think so. You got any of that feed left from the last few days? I want to test it.”
“Yeah. I’ll get it loaded in your truck before you leave.”
She sighs, rubbing the back of her neck. “Jack, I know you don’t want to hear this, but you need to be careful. If Lane’s behind this, he’s not gonna stop at the herd.”
My fingers curl into a fist. “Let him try.”
She shakes her head but doesn’t argue. “He was running his mouth in town, you know that right?”
“I think I’ve had at least five people tell me as much. He’s out for blood and…he’s a hot head. That entire family is.”
“I’ve heard. The sheriff is looking for him. Maybe I’ll look into getting cameras set up on the property or something.”
“Most of the other ranches do. With Oakmont Holdings running around before, it seemed safer to be ready if they came swinging in.”
“Oakmont Holdings?” I ask.
“Yeah, they were a development company. They’ve approached people with about five different names, promising something different to everyone. They set fires. They were responsible for the outbreak before. They’re pretty shady.”
“Are they still around?”
“I don’t know for certain, but I do know that Dad has cameras everywhere, as well as my in-laws. You might remember how stubborn my dad is,” she says lightly.
“That I do,” I chuckle. “If you want to send me a link to the cameras your dad got, that would be helpful.”
“I’ll do that in the morning. I’ll get all of this to the lab, and then I’ll call you when I have the results.”
I nod, watching as she climbs into her truck and pulls away, kicking up dust as she heads toward the main road.
I stand there for a second, looking around the ranch, when I realize a vehicle is coming down the driveway.
It’s a car. A sleek black sedan that doesn’t belong here.
My stomach knots as it rolls to a stop in the driveway.
I stand there, trying to see if I can tell who it is.
Maybe the adjuster decided to come back out to ask more questions.
The driver’s door opens, and Savannah steps out.
I go stiff. My breath slows, my jaw tightens. For a moment, all I can do is stare.
Did I take too many pain meds today? Is she really standing here?
I close my eyes and open them again. There she is. The woman I used to love, the one who walked away without looking back, is standing here like she belongs.
I used to think she was flawless—blonde hair, bright eyes, the kind of beauty that made a man feel lucky just to stand next to her. Now, all I see is someone I don’t recognize. Someone I don’t want to recognize.
Before, I’d get so angry and hurt when she talked to me or I had to see her, but right now, I don’t feel anything.
That’s a lie. How did I ever think she was so beautiful when I can just see how ugly she is on the inside now? How did I miss that in the beginning?
She steps toward me, arms outstretched like she’s about to hug me, but I put my hand up, stopping her cold.
“Jack,” she breathes, a little taken aback by my reaction. “Aren’t you even gonna say hello?”
“What the hell are you doing here?” My voice is flat, emotionless.
She huffs, rolling her eyes. “It’s not exactly hard to find someone in this trashy little town.
Not a lot of places for someone like you to go.
And, of course, everyone knows who you are and directed me to this…
” She opens her hand and gestures around, rolling her eyes as she does.
“…ranch. God, I’ve never understood how you could stand to smell cow shit all day long. It’s atrocious.”
My jaw tightens. “You always were good at looking down on things you didn’t understand.”
Her lips press together, but she doesn’t deny it. Instead, she crosses her arms, shifting her weight like she’s settling in for an argument. “I came to talk to you.”
“I guess you made the trip out here for nothing. I wasn’t answering your phone calls, even blocked you, Savannah.
That’s not me playing hard to get. Our divorce has been final for some time, and the alimony check total has been changed at the courthouse.
If you came here looking for money, I ain’t got it. ”
She harumphs and rolls her eyes again.
“I didn’t come here for money. You weren’t replying to me, and I…I need to talk to you. I flew all this way out here for you, Jack. The least you could do is listen.”
I don’t owe you shit.
I bite my tongue and clench my fists. I should walk away. I should turn around and go into the house and leave her out here without a second thought. She’ll follow me into the house, and I don’t want to bring her drama in to John and especially not around Olivia.
“Then talk.”
Something shifts in her expression—annoyance giving way to something softer. Her chin trembles slightly, her gaze flickering away before she meets mine again. “Jack… I made a mistake.”
Oh, this is rich. I always thought this day would come. I didn’t think the sound of those words would make me disgusted, though.
I stare at her, the words barely registering before I let out a breathless, disbelieving chuckle. “You made a mistake?”
She has a lot of damn nerve.
My entire body is hot with rage. I have so much that I want to say to her.
I shake my head. There’s no point in telling her anything because it’ll fall on deaf ears.
She also doesn’t get to change her mind now, not after we went through court and everything.
She was relentless in that courtroom, making up lies about me and then trying to get as much alimony as she possibly could. I lost my house to her.
There’s no going back to that.
Her eyes shine, her voice trembling just enough to make it clear she wants me to believe her. “I shouldn’t have left you. I was stupid. I thought I wanted something else, something better, but—”
I let out another laugh, shaking my head.
“Better?” I scoff. “Savannah, you left me like I was nothing. Didn’t even look back.
You slept with my best friend. I can’t trust you, ever.
Now you’re standing here telling me you made a mistake?
” I take a step back, turning toward the house. “Too damn bad.”
“Jack, please!” She grabs my arm, but I pull away, shaking my head.
“No. Whatever you came here for, you’re not getting it.”
I’m starting up the porch steps when headlights sweep over the yard, washing everything in bright white. I know that truck—I’d recognize it anywhere. This time, it’s not some unwanted ghost from my past. It’s Brynn.
And the last thing I want is for her to see this and get the wrong idea.
I glance at Savannah, my expression is hard as stone. “You need to leave. Now.”
She blinks, looking between me and the approaching car. “Jack, I—”
“Go.” My voice is sharp, cutting through the night like a blade.
Her lips part like she wants to argue, but the look on my face must tell her I’m not playing games. With one last glance, she turns, climbing back into her car. The engine hums to life, and I watch as she pulls out, disappearing down the road.
As Brynn’s truck rolls to a stop, I take a steadying breath, shoving my hands into my pockets. The past is done. I’ve got bigger things to deal with now.