Page 37 of Alive and Wells

“Good morning, my valiant defender,” I tease—forever trying to downplay situations involving KJ.

“Mornin’. There’s coffee in the pot.” Austin turns in his seat. Red, weary eyes meet mine, and I’m filled with regret for making him feel like he needed to be involved. Especially when KJ clearly didn’t show up last night. Austin was out driving cattle all day; he needed his sleep more than I did.

“I’m sorry for keeping you up.”

“You don’t need to apologize for things that don’t require apologies.”

“I’m sor—”

He shakes his head, a sleepy smile spreading across his face. “We’ll work on it. Anyway, I already called Jackson, and he’s going out with the men today. You and I are going to help Kate with whatever she needs. And then you’ll stay at my house until the guys come back from Stampede. When they’re back, we’ll make sure there’s somebody outside your place every night untilheadmits defeat… or shows up here and gets a nice Wells Ranch welcome. Either way, you don’t need to worry about him anymore. He’s not getting to you.”

I want to tell him he doesn’t have to do any of this, but I’m not sure that’s true.

“That was a lot of words from you, big guy.”

“Cecily.” His eyes narrow, giving me a look that’s almost fatherly in nature.

“Thank you. Um… did you tell Jackson and Kate about what’s going on?” I gulp air.

“No. Everybody here has a story, darlin’. It’s not my place to tell yours. There’s trust between people here, and we’ll go to war for each other without any idea why.”

If I hadn’t ostensibly run out of tears last night, I would cry right now. And I really wish I could force even one single droplet to catch on my waterline so he’d lay me against his warm chest again. I could happily spend the morning feeling his fingers run through my hair, hearing nothing but his heartbeat. If last night was the rainstorm Beryl talked about, then Austin was the thick blanket wrapped around me. By a fire so cozy you can’t help but fall asleep. Keeping me warm, comfortable, andsafe.

“Let’s go have some breakfast. If I don’t get up and move, I’m going to pass out.” He rubs his eyes and yawns.

“Get some sleep. I’m just going over to the house with Kate and Odessa.”

“Yeah, no. All the more reason why I need to be there, just in case.” He stands up with a stretch that exposes his lower stomach, reminding me how close I was to kissing his bare chest last night. How badly I wanted to inch my hand from the brand above his heart to the dark happy trail. Follow it up with slow kisses down him.

“Austin? Can I hug you?”

“You never need to ask, darlin’.” He pulls me into him, laying his cheek on top of my head. Clenching the fabric of his shirt between my fingers, I take a deep breath. His hand rubbing slow circles on my back eases the stress woven into my muscles.NowI can face the day.

As we walk to the house, I pull my phone from my pocket and hand it to Austin. At this point, it seems best to lay it all out on the table. He can see the shit I’m dealing with, and I won’t fault him if he tells me to leave the ranch. Especially now, since he’s reminded me that my presence isn’t exclusively a danger to me, or to him. If KJ shows up here, it’s putting everybody at risk.

All it took was a few text messages from a blocked number to assure me that—regardless of how close I thought I was to moving on—KJ still has power over me.

Unknown Sender:Last chance, Cecily. Didn’t think I’d get your new phone number, did you? Didn’t think I’d google the area code? I’ve got your location pretty much narrowed down. One of a handful of small towns.

Unknown Sender:You know you don’t belong there, babe. I doubt you’re able to have the manicures, massages, and shopping sprees you require.

Unknown Sender:Come home and we’ll pretend this little psychotic break of yours didn’t happen.

Unknown Sender:Don’t forget we’re married, Cecily. If you don’t come home, I’ll come to you. I’ll find you in whatever shitty little town you ended up in, and you’ll be coming home one way or another. Till death do we part, babe.

Austin stops in his tracks, his boots stirring up dust as he spins to face me. “Jesus. That’s definitely a threat, if you ask me.”

I grimace. “If it’s too much, say the word and I’ll go. I don’t want to put your family in any danger by being here, and I have no doubt he’ll make good on his word. Maybe not today or tomorrow or next week. But I’m sure he’ll turn up, eventually.”

“I’m sure he will, too. I mean… I can see why he’d want you back.” He blushes, and it makes my heart skip a beat. “I can’t, in good conscience, make you leave here right now, though. When you want to go one day, I’ll understand. But it’s not going to be until after we’ve dealt with this asshole. You got it?”

“Got it.”

“You can tell Kate what’s going on if you want. But maybe don’t tell her about the gun, okay?” He starts toward the house again, not waiting to hear my answer. I assume he doesn’t want her to hear the whole story because she’s a smart woman with a family to worry about. Doesn’t matter that she and I have become friends. I’ll be removed from the property faster than I can blink if she senses any serious danger.

“What the hell?” Kate’s waiting on the front porch, and the way her hands are holding her lower back makes her belly jut out even farther than usual. “Why did you send Jackson out first thing this morning? The phone woke both Odessa and me up, by the way, asshole.”

“Sorry,” Austin mutters, pushing past and into the house.

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