| October 2, 2023 – 4:00 AM
Tom led them toward the barn, his pace quick but uneasy. The aftermath of the emergency was still settling in, but now they had a new problem—figuring out what caused it.
Lin's boots crunched against the dirt floor as they stepped inside.Neat rows of feed bags were stacked against the wall, some already open, scoops half-buried in the grain.
Helen crouched, grabbing a handful from one of the open sacks. She rubbed it between her fingers, sniffed it, then scowled.
"This smells off."
Lin grabbed a handful herself, lifting it toward the dim overhead light. The texture seemed normal, but the scent was subtly wrong—faintly musty, a little sour.
Lin's stomach tightened."How much of this have you fed them?"
Tom swallowed hard. "They've been eating it since Monday."
Helen dropped the grain from her fingers. "Stop feeding this immediately. It could be spoiled, mold-contaminated, or worse."
Tom's face went pale."Mold? But I just bought it!"
Lin folded her arms. "Where from?"
Tom hesitated.
Lin's eyes narrowed."Tom, I swear—"
"Some guy from two towns over," he admitted, sighing. "Neighbor said he had extra, and the price was good. I didn't think—"
Lin let out a slow breath. "You didn't think."
Tom ran a hand through his hair, looking miserable. "I just wanted to save some damn money."
Helen stood, brushing off her hands. "Well, now you're about to lose a lot more than you saved."
Tom winced."Can you test it? Make sure it's really the feed?"
Lin nodded. "We'll take a sample back to the clinic, but I'd bet money this is the culprit."
Helen picked up one of the unopened bags. "In the meantime, where's your old supplier?"
Tom sighed. "Over in Maep's. Costs more, but they've never given me a bad batch."
Lin smirked. "Guess you're going back to them."
Tom let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, yeah. Learned my lesson."
Helen crossed her arms. "We'll send you a proper treatment plan in the morning. For now, keep the sick ones separated, and get rid of this feed. Burn it if you have to."
Tom nodded. "Understood. And… seriously. Thank you."
Lin clapped him on the back as she turned toward the truck."Next time, don't gamble on your cows."
Tom sighed. "Believe me. I won't."
| October 2, 2023 – 4:30 AM
Lin climbed into the driver's seat, stifling a yawn as Helen loaded the sample into the back.
Helen buckled in, stretching her neck. "You know, for our first day, that wasn't too bad."
Lin snorted. "Mom, it's not even morning yet."
Helen grinned, leaning back against the headrest. "Still counts."
Lin smirked as she pulled onto the road. "Welcome to the business."
| October 2, 2023 – 5:00 AM
Lin pulled the truck into the driveway, headlights sweeping over the farmhouse. The place was still and quiet, the sky just beginning to hint at dawn.
Helen stretched in the passenger seat, rubbing her eyes. "Alright, let's get this sample tested before I collapse."
Lin snorted."Thought you'd be used to this. Didn't you used to pull all-nighters at the clinic?"
Helen sighed, grabbing the feed sample from the back. "Yeah, but back then, I had interns to do half the work."
Lin smirked, locking the truck. "Guess I'm your intern now."
Helen patted her cheek. "That's right, and you work for free."
Lin rolled her eyes but didn't argue.
They walked into the clinic, flipping on the lights. The space already felt lived-in, professional, like it had always been here. Helen had set it up perfectly—sterile, efficient, ready for anything.
Helen moved toward the small diagnostic station, pulling out test strips and preparing a slide for the microscope. Lin watched as she worked, methodical and sharp despite the exhaustion.
"You think it's mold?" Lin asked, leaning against the counter.
Helen didn't look up. "If it is, we'll see spores under the scope. If not, then it might be a chemical contaminant, which means we'll have to send it to a lab."
Lin rubbed her temple. "Either way, Tom's screwed."
Helen sighed. "Better to catch it now than after losing half his herd."
Lin couldn't argue with that.
| October 2, 2023 – 5:30 AM
Helen peered into the microscope, adjusting the focus, then sighed.
"Yep. Mold."
Lin exhaled. "Bad?"
Helen sat back, rubbing her eyes. "Enough to make them sick, but if he stops feeding it now, they should recover. He'll need medication, probiotics, and a clean diet to get them back on track."
Lin grabbed her phone, already drafting a message. "I'll let him know. You gonna write up a treatment plan?"
Helen yawned. "Yeah, but after a nap."
Lin chuckled. "Fair."
| October 2, 2023 – 6:00 AM
By the time they stepped out of the clinic, the sun was starting to rise, bathing the farm in soft gold.
Helen stretched, blinking at the light. "We should sleep."
Lin patted her shoulder."Go ahead. I'll handle the morning deliveries."
Helen gave her a look. "When's the last time you actually slept?"
Lin smirked. "Doesn't matter."
Helen sighed but didn't argue, heading toward the house.
Lin turned toward the barn, hands on her hips, watching the farm wake up.
It wasn't just a property anymore.
It was a working business.
And this was only the beginning.
| October 2, 2023 – 9:00 AM
Lin had just finished checking on the dogs when she heard the unmistakable crunch of tires on gravel.
She wiped her hands on her jeans, stepping onto the porch just in time to see a black and white patrol SUV pull up.
A uniformed man stepped out, tall, lean, late thirties, with sharp blue eyes that missed nothing. His badge caught the morning light—Deputy Eric Dawson.
Lin's eyebrows lifted slightly.
Dawson.
As in Tom Dawson.
As in the farmer whose cows she had just saved five hours ago.
She folded her arms, waiting."Morning, Deputy."
Eric shut the door, studying her with the easy confidence of a man who'd spent years reading people."Morning. You must be Lin Zhang."
Lin tilted her head. "I must be."
Eric smirked. "My dad told me you made quite an impression last night."
Lin leaned against the porch railing, unbothered."Did he also tell you he almost killed his cows trying to save a few bucks?"
Eric huffed a short laugh."Yeah, that part didn't get left out."
Lin nodded, motioning toward the house."You here to give me a thank-you donut, or should I be worried?"
Eric smirked. "No donut. Just questions."
Lin's eyes narrowed slightly."Questions?"
Eric pulled a small notepad from his jacket."You bought the old hotel, right?"
Lin nodded slowly. "Yeah. Legally, if that's what you're asking."
Eric chuckled."Not doubting that. But we've had… some reports."
Lin's smirk faded."What kind of reports?"
Eric flipped a page."A few townspeople mentioned you've been buying a lot of supplies. A lot of construction, a lot of renovations. Someone even said you've got security fences going up."
Lin exhaled slowly."And?"
Eric closed the notepad, meeting her eyes."And, small towns talk. People get nervous when new folks show up with money and start building fortresses."
Lin grinned, slow and sharp."Tell them it's just a really fancy glamping site."
Eric tilted his head, watching her."Is it?"
Lin didn't blink. "That's what I put on the permit."
Eric studied her for a long moment. Then—he slipped the notepad back into his pocket. "Alright. Just doing my job."
Lin smirked. "You always investigate every new business owner, or am I just lucky?"
Eric's blue eyes glinted with amusement."Just the interesting ones."
Lin chuckled. "Noted. Anything else, Deputy?"
Eric tapped the side of his SUV."Nope. But I'll be around."
Lin raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried?"
Eric grinned. "Not unless you're doing something illegal."
Lin flashed a charming, unreadable smile."Then I guess we'll get along just fine."
Eric shook his head, amused, before climbing back into his SUV.
As he pulled away, Lin leaned against the porch railing, watching the dust settle.