Page 12 of Cinnamon Cider Whiskey
“When I first moved to the ranch, he used to bring me daisies every day. He’d tell me what a bitch JW’s ex-fiancée Bella was and how I brightened up the place. Now he brings the kids little toys every couple of weeks. I wish I could tell him to stop because he’s spoiling them, but it’s not like they are expensive. Half the time they are handmade.”
“His story makes me want to cry,” Cinnamon said. “The way his family died and all. His daughter Ashley was like him—on the spectrum. She was my friend and it always made me sad the way others often treated her.”
“He’s made this ranch his home. I just wish more people treated him better.” Kitty sighed. “Austin’s ex-fiancée was such a mean girl. I hate to say it, but I was thrilled when she left and Gage did a little jig when she drove that fancy car that Austin had bought her away. But now he feels guilty because we still have no idea what happened to her. It haunts Austin.”
“I can’t understand how anyone would believe he could kill a person.” Cinnamon shook her head. “Although, I did watch him beat the crap out of his dad and his ex-brother-in-law once. Itwasn’t a pretty sight and it’s a side of him I never want to see again.”
“I forgot the two of you were an item.”
“We started dating—if you could call it that—when I was twelve and he was fourteen. We broke up when I was nineteen. Right before I married Pete. But even when Austin and I were in grade school, we were attached at the hip. He was my best friend before he became my boyfriend. Losing him was one of the hardest things—outside of the death of my daughter—that I’ve ever gone through.”
“You know, if it’s too weird to stay with him, you’re welcome here with JW and me.”
“Thank you. JB told me the same thing. But everyone has little kids and if Pete does manage to get on the ranch, I wouldn’t want to expose any of the children to his craziness. For now, I’ll remain at the cabin with Austin.” Cinnamon had given a lot of consideration to JB and Cheyenne’s offer. Being so close to Austin made her want to forget the last fifteen years. Her heart ached to be with him in ways she didn’t understand, nor did she want to examine.
The drive from Idaho Falls to Buhl had been filled with thoughts of the past mixed with emotions she didn’t know she had. At first, she chalked it up to the idea she hadn’t seen Austin in fifteen years, but the second she laid eyes on him, the love she had felt for him all those years ago flooded her heart. It was as if it had been hidden in a vault and leaving Pete had been the key to unlocking it.
However, her battle had just begun.
Even with the charges that Pete faced, he wasn’t going to let her go easily. Pete didn’t like to lose and he viewed her as a trophy.
“That man has been through a lot,” Kitty said. “Agent Belmont comes around about once a month, asking him questions about Charity’s disappearance.”
“Austin wouldn’t ever hurt a woman.”
“We know that, but others have painted a very different story.”
“Austin mentioned that, but I still struggle with anyone believing that. If they know his history, they’d understand why he could never.”
Kitty leaned back and glanced toward the door. “Austin and JW won’t be thrilled with me telling you this. If you google it, you’ll find articles and blogs about it. There’s more out there about him as a potential murderer than there is about the other man whom Charity was involved with.” Kitty held up her hand. “It doesn’t matter that there have been a few holes poked in Tom’s story, not to mention that Tom doesn’t really believe Austin did it anymore and that Cathy—a friend of Charity’s—had stated she was going to meet Charity for drinks, but the bartender said he never saw Cathy at that bar waiting for her friend. Which is weird, right?”
“It does sound strange, but I honestly haven’t read much on the story other than she went missing.” Tears burned Cinnamon’s dry, swollen eyes. “Pete controlled many things in my life, including the amount of time I spent on the computer and he often took my phone. The last two years were the worst.”
Kitty’s face hardened. Her lips pursed and she clasped her hands in her lap. “My ex-husband was a controlling bastard. He used his money and power to manipulate me. It wasn’t as bad as what you’re describing. However, there’s one thing I know, having been in that situation, and that is it takes a little space to gather enough courage to be completely done. You can’t have any contact with him. If he calls, don’t answer, because he’seventually going to change from being a total asshole to being as sweet as a peach.”
“Oh, trust me. I know.” Cinnamon nodded. “The first time he hit me, he apologized the second it happened. He spent weeks making it up to me. And it didn’t happen again for months. He even went to a counseling session. But then something happened and the next time it wasn’t a slap; it was a punch in the gut and it took him two days to say he was sorry.” She wiped a tear that dribbled down her cheek. “The escalation was slow, but I’m so done. He’s so far gone that there is no turning back. Pete’s dangerous and I know if I were to ever return, I’d end up in a body bag and that’s no way to honor my baby girl's short life.”
Kitty reached out and took Cinnamon’s hand. “If you ever want someone to talk to, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” Cinnamon sipped her drink and waved to Gage who smiled and waved back. “I will need to find something to do once I feel a little better and get these stitches out. Otherwise, I’m going to go mad. I can’t sit on my ass and do nothing. Pete wouldn’t allow me to work and it made me feel like I was useless. I hate that feeling.”
“My ex was the same way. When I left, the first thing I did was go back to school.” Kitty jerked her head toward the house. “JW and I had a long-distance relationship for a while so I could finish my bachelor’s degree. It wasn't easy with me still living in Baltimore, but he was super supportive. And now I have the education facility here at the ranch.”
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher.” More tears burned a path down her face. “I had been going to college locally to become a preschool educator while I waited for Austin to return. But things didn’t work out.”
“He’s never talked about what happened.”
Cinnamon chuckled. “That is a long and convoluted story.”
“Curiosity killed this Kitty.”
“Oh my God. You did not just say that.” Cinnamon shook her head. Pete had isolated her from her family. She’d missed all her cousins’ weddings. The births of their children. Hell, this was the first time she was meeting some of them. She hated him for taking this away from her and loathed herself for allowing it to happen. “I’ll try to break it down into a short tale.”
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“No. It’s okay. But I’m sure my version is a bit different from Austin’s.”
“That’s always the case.”
