Page 11 of Cinnamon Cider Whiskey
He should either ask her to go back to the guest room or leave himself, but he didn’t have the self-control to do either. Instead, he held her in his arms while he made the difficult phone call to JW.
“What the hell are you doing calling me at two in the morning?” JW asked with a gruff voice.
Austin quickly went through the details. JW cussed on the other end.
“No. It’s not necessary for you to come over now,” Austin said. “She’s sleeping.” It was only a half lie as Cinnamon’s breathing slowed and exhaustion overtook her body.
“I can’t believe she went to you and not one of us,” JW muttered.
Austin lifted the sheets and comforter over their bodies and clicked the light off. “I could give you a thousand reasons why, but none of them matter. She’s filed for divorce and she’s here at the ranch.”
“But you said he’s out on bail. That doesn’t make me feel good about the situation. I’ve seen firsthand what that asshole can do.”
Austin wasn’t about to tell JW how badly Pete had beaten Cinnamon. “Brad’s in contact with the Boise police. If he shows up, Brad can arrest him. Pete’s in a shitload of trouble. Don’t worry. I’ll keep a watchful eye on her tonight. And we can all take turns until Pete is behind bars for good.”
“How are you doing with this?”
Austin lowered his gaze. In the dark, he could barely see Cinnamon. Her head rested on his chest. Her hair was draped across his body. “I’m just glad she’s home where she belongs.”
3
Cinnamon sat on the main house front porch where her cousin JW Whiskey and his lovely wife, Kitty, lived. Their two toddlers, Cheye and Manny, ran around the front yard. It brought so many emotions to Cinnamon’s soul. She missed her little girl so badly. Rosy would have been fourteen. Hard to believe.
“Here you go.” Kitty handed her a tall glass of lemonade. She eased into one of the Adirondack chairs and sipped her beverage.
Cinnamon had only met Kitty once and it hadn’t been under the best of circumstances. “Your kids are so adorable.”
“They’re on their best behavior today, but trust me, they can sometimes be holy terrors.” Kitty brushed her red hair from her face. “I don’t know if Austin or JW told you any of what I went through with my ex-husband.”
“Only that your ex had done some shady things.”
“That’s an understatement.” Kitty laughed. “It was a difficult time and there were moments that I wasn’t sure I’d get through it.” She leaned forward. “I don’t pretend to understand what you’re going through. My ex-husband hit me once. His abuse was more emotional. However, I’m happy to listen if you everwant a girl to chat with. I know how overpowering, though well meaning, some of your male cousins can be.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Cinnamon raised her glass. “I feel lighter now that everyone knows I’ve left, filed for divorce, and am here. But it’s all nerve-racking now that Pete’s been bailed out and no one has seen him since then. I worry he’s lurking in some bush, waiting to attack.”
“We have hired extra security and JD, JB, Luke, and Irish are all installing more cameras around the ranch as we speak. No one will get on the property without us knowing about it.”
“Not to mention I don’t think Austin will leave my side.” Cinnamon wasn’t sure what to do about that. She appreciated his concern and she was the one to go to him for help. Her feelings for him had never died. Waking in his bed, alone, had been both a blessing and a curse. She would have wanted to kiss him, and maybe more if he’d been there.
That’s the last thing she needed.
This entire mess began because she’d jumped into bed with Pete before things had truly ended with Austin. The cause and effect of her actions had always left her with a major moral dilemma. She couldn’t wish her daughter away. She’d never regret those three beautiful years.
However, in some ways, it had robbed her of a life with Austin.
Maybe.
She’d never know now.
“Or Gage.” Kitty pointed to the handyman working on the fence in the distance. “When he heard you were going to be here this morning, he asked if he could work on the fence versus other projects.”
Cinnamon laughed. Some people found Gage to be an odd man. And maybe he was a little. He’d always had a fondness for her and followed her around like a little lovesick puppy. The fewtimes she’d come home, he’d shown up with handpicked flowers. It was a sweet gesture, one that Pete hated and he’d let Gage know. Pete treated Gage like he was a weirdo or a pervert.
Whereas Austin accepted Gage’s kindness and often encouraged it. Gage would nod and smile and say,Yes, Mr. Sawyer. I understand. I just want to make the ladies here smile.
And that’s what Gage did. It wasn’t just Cinnamon who got special treatment from Gage. It was everyone. He was a kind man who had lost his family in a tragic fire. He’d always been a bit odd, even before his family died. However, there was a story there and if anyone had ever cared to sit down and chat with Gage, they’d understand why he was different.
“He’s such a sweet old man,” Cinnamon said.
