“Yes, baby. I’m your mama,” Ava said softly, her heart swelling with love.
After a little while, Ellie declared her hunger, expressing a desire for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“Okay. I’ll get that in a minute,” Ava promised.
Deacon stood up, gently setting Ellie down on the floor. He turned to Ava. “I should get going. I want to talk with your dad, then I need to get on the road.”
“Alright.” Ava rose and accompanied him to the door.
Deacon removed his hat from the peg, casting a glance back at Ellie and offering her a tender smile. “Bye, sweetheart,” he said warmly.
“No!” Ellie screamed, her little face crumpling in protest.
Deacon’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Ava. “She doesn’t want you to go,” Ava explained softly.
“I have to,” he whispered, a hint of regret in his voice.
“I know. Just go. She’ll get over it,” Ava reassured him, though her own heart ached withunderstanding.
“But...” Deacon hesitated, his gaze shifting between his daughter and Ava.
“Deacon, she has to learn she doesn’t always get her way. You have to go, so do it. I’ll see you soon,” Ava insisted gently, her voice firm yet compassionate.
“Alright.” Deacon gave Ellie one last, lingering look before returning his gaze to Ava. “I’ll call or text you,” he promised. He leaned in for a swift kiss, opened the door, and stepped out, the sound of Ellie’s cries echoing behind him.
Ava knew the departure was tearing at him, as it had torn at her before, but Ellie needed to understand that sometimes things didn’t go her way. She listened to the rumble of Deacon’s truck as it started up and then faded into the distance.
****
As Deke eased his Silverado pickup onto the dusty road, his stomach knotted at the memory of Ellie’s tears. He hated that feeling, hated knowing he’d made her cry, but Ava had been right, Ellie needed to learn that life didn’t always bend to her wishes. The afternoon sun slanted low across the fields as Deke steered toward Rudy Hollister’s house. When he spotted a second truck parked by the barn, his heart sank. He’d make this visit quick if there was company.
He cut the engine, let the silence settle, then climbed the porch’s steps and knocked. The door swung open, revealing Tyler in faded jeans and a T-shirt stretched over broad shoulders. Deke straightened up and took a deep breath.
“Hey, Tyler,” Deke said, shifting his weight. “Is your dad around?”
“Deke. Come on in.” Tyler stepped aside. Deke stepped inside after removing his hat and wiping his boot on the mat. He entered through the doorway into the kitchen. Rudy sat at the table with one hand wrapped around an enamel mug. He stood the moment he saw Deke.
“Hey, Deke. How’s it going, son?” They shook hands. “Take a seat.”
Deke pulled a chair out and sat down. “Good. I’ve got some news, if you’ve got the time.”
“Of course.”
Tyler hovered at the edge of the room. “Do I need to leave?”
Deke shook his head. “No. Stay.” Tyler relaxed and slid onto a chair beside him. He glanced between the two men. “Smith talked today. He implicated the Winchester boys.”
Tyler’s knuckles whitened on the table edge. “But not Chet?”
Deke shook his head. “He mentioned Chet, but unless the boys admit it, it’s his word against theirs.”
“Shit,” Tyler muttered, staring at the oak floorboards. “I know Chet’s mixed up in it. Where else would they get the money to pay Smith?”
“Exactly what I’m thinking,” Deke said, rubbing his chin. “But we need their testimony. Their phones, laptops, nothing showed. I’m betting they used burner phones.” He exhaled. “I hate to admit it, but they were smart about it. They, most likely, destroyed their laptops and their personal phones were clean.”
Rudy leaned back, his chair legs scraping. “Nodoubt. I just don’t understand why they’d mess with me.”
Deke set his elbows on the table. “Smith knew your land’s layout, how to reach the cattle without being seen. The Autumn Falls office took possession of the other cattle located with yours and returned those. They still had their ear tags, so it was easy to identify them. We need the ear tags for yours. Brands can lie; tags don’t.”
