Chapter 45 #2
The thought arrived so cleanly and completely that for one unguarded second she didn't fight it.
She would later, in the car on the way home. She would catalogue everything that could possibly go wrong and she would remind herself of every reason the math didn't add up—the secret she was still carrying, the conversation still waiting, the version of this that could end catastrophically.
But right now, with his hand warm at her cheek and Lynlee's voice carrying across the street Sutton let herself want the whole thing.
She had never in her life made a more dangerous decision and she had never been more excited.
Forty minutes later, with more than a hundred entries logged for the parade, Sutton jogged to the far end of Main Street.
The turnout dwarfed anything she’d imagined.
Even after she ran out of participant bibs, families kept signing up, so Jo planted two of her baristas at the registration table, hand-lettering numbers on the bank of flyers so Sutton could finally take her seat at the judges’ table.
The parade was minutes from kicking off, which meant Sutton needed to get herself into the judges’ table. Especially since the other two judges were Lottie and Dottie, and the only thing separating them right then was an empty chair.
“I cannot believe this turnout,” Vivi said, steering her through the crowd.
“Even the Bridlewood Mommy Club showed up with strollers and toddlers in glitter headbands. I told them the winner has to be an animal, and a few said they were prepared to plead their case if selected. And look over there.”
She pointed toward a cluster at the back of Main Street. A half-dozen retired cowboys sat atop glossy quarter horses, twirling lassos and grinning like teenagers.
Vivi kept rattling off names—every resident Sutton had ever met, plus dozens she had not.
Rescues from neighboring counties had driven in with crates full of adoptable animals, lines of spectators wrapped around storefronts, and the sidewalks were packed shoulder to shoulder with townspeople, waiting in anticipation for the parade.
Overwhelming was an understatement.
“Alright, when you’re up there, thank everyone for coming and give a shoutout to the stores and donors,” Vivi said, handing her a list. “This should help.”
“Wait, I have to speak?” Sutton stared at the sheet, palms slickening.
It looked like Noah’s ark had capsized in the middle of downtown, and they were waiting for Noah to give instructions and half the names on the list meant nothing to her.
Which begged the question—how in the world had she become Noah?
“Just remember, you’re in charge,” Vivi said, hugging her before shoving her straight toward the microphone.
Sutton stepped up, tapped the mic, and winced as the echo snapped across Main Street. The crowd went silent and, just like that, she was back in middle school, once again standing at the front of a new classroom, introducing herself to strangers who might love her or ignore her.
“Hi,” Sutton started, voice steadying. “I’m Sutton Rose and I want to thank you all for coming out for the first annual Paws for the Cause Parade.”
Cheers rose and someone whistled—it was Colter.
Sutton glanced at the front row and Vivi shot her a proud thumbs-up. Jo held a bright sign that read: Sit. Stay. Slay. And just behind them, Lynlee, wearing a My Little Pony T-shirt, looked up at Sutton like she was a real-live hero.
Despite the nerves chewing through her gut, despite every quiet fear that she would never quite fit in, Sutton felt her mouth curve into something real.
This wasn’t another temporary stop. This wasn’t another foster house full of strangers she had to survive.
This was Bridlewood, a town she was slowly learning street by street, smile by smile.
And they were learning her back.
Some would tolerate her and some would like her. And, if she was really lucky, maybe a few would come to love her.
Lie number eleven. Because she already loved more than just the town.
“So without further delay—” Sutton began.
“We would like to introduce today’s official,” Lottie announced, sweeping forward and bumping Sutton aside with a deliberate pop of her hip. “Please welcome one of the most influential and respected people in Bridlewood County, staunch defender of animal welfare, and—”
“Beloved keeper of democracy and order,” Dottie elbowed past her sister. “Mayor Carson.”
“Well, move,” Lottie said flapping a hand at Dottie. “You’re in the way.”
“I was in there first,” Dottie said and the crowd started whispering. Had the two sisters actually exchanged a word toward each other? It was fighting words, but words nonetheless, and Sutton had facilitated that.
“Can I escort you ladies to your chairs?” Colter asked.
He stood at the bottom of the stage like a man built for the kind of dependability people wrote country songs about.
Broad shoulders filling out a gray Sniff Happens shirt, forearms tanned and corded from ranch work, jeans worn to the shape of his body, boots scuffed from miles of dirt and gravel.
A backwards ball cap shoved his hair off his forehead, shadowing sharp cheekbones and a jaw built to grit through hard days.
He had the easy stance of a man who could throw a hay bale, wrangle an injured bull, carry a sleeping kid, and kiss a woman senseless without breaking stride.
He didn’t dress to impress, didn’t need attention, didn’t play at confidence.
He simply was a man, in the most elemental, old-world way—capable, grounded, dependable, and impossible to look away from.
Dr. Porter stepped out of the crowd, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable as he approached. Colter actually startled a little, blinking like he wasn’t sure he trusted what he saw.
“You came?” she heard Colter ask, honestly surprised.
Porter nodded once. “I’m not here to critique you. I’m here to support the new face of Full Barn Animal Clinic.”
Colter straightened at that, stunned into silence, and Sutton felt something in her chest twist for him.
“Thank you,” Colter managed.
Porter glanced at the line of parading animals, then back at him. “Someone reminded me recently that there’s a difference between critique and criticism. One helps. One wounds. I decided to choose the first.”
Sutton watched Colter absorb that like it was oxygen.
Porter cleared his throat. “You’re doing a damn fine job, son. I’m proud of you.”
She could tell it hit Colter the way a father’s approval hits a grown man. Sutton saw his shoulders shift, saw him look away for one vulnerable second before he regained himself.
Porter held out an envelope to Sutton.
“What’s this?” Sutton asked.
“It’s from the Bridlewood Canine Club. Parade registration fees for the entire community, plus a few pledges we gathered.”
Sutton opened it and froze. “There’s over three thousand dollars in here.”
Three thousand dollars meant animals got spayed. Three thousand dollars meant animals got medical care. Three thousand dollars meant her fosters stayed safe. Three thousand dollars meant she’d made a difference.
Her throat closed as she pressed the envelope to her chest. “Thank you.”
Porter gave a curt nod and slipped back into the crowd.
“Any chance you know who changed his mind?” Colter asked.
Sutton pretended to study her clipboard. “Some smart person, I assume.”
He huffed a laugh and stepped close enough for her ears only. “Smart,” he murmured. “And sexy as hell.”
That was the moment she knew she loved him. Cocky, stubborn, unbearably cute, and hers in all the ways that mattered. And she loved him with every corner of herself.