Page 76 of Alive and Wells

My shoulder leans against the post at the top of the porch stairs. I’m aiming for an uncaring demeanour, actually needing the stability to keep from toppling over again. Kate rests her elbows on the railing next to me, close enough I can feel her seething. There’s no melody from the windchimes—the air oddly still with the impending tornado in front of me.

“It’s been long enough, Cecily. I hope you had your fun making me search all over the damn countryside for the past few months, but it’s time to come home now.”

“No.”

“No?” He grits his teeth. “I came all this way to get you and that’s your response?”

I look past him, at Austin’s home—ourhome. This is where I belong. With him, in our comfy bed or on our worn couch watchingHappy Daysand eating KD with hot dogs. I don’t want to be anywhere else. “I didn’t ask you to look for me. And I’m sure as hell not going back with you. I’m staying here. I’m done, KJ. I’ll file for divorce as soon as I can.”

His eyes flash from me over to Kate. She was right about needing to stand out here with me. He’s always on his best behaviour when other people are present.

Except, I guess, when it comes to the D-word.

“The fuck you will, Cecily.” Both the volume of his voice and the anger behind it increase drastically. I guess he’s done, too. Done playing nice, that is. “You’re my wife and I’m not signing any fucking divorce papers. You’re coming home with me right now. Cut the shit.”

“I’m not.” I bite the inside of my cheek, and Kate’s hand slips across my lower back. “I’m staying here. This is my home now.”

“Babe.” He says the word like it’s an insult, and I tense in response. “You’re coming with me. One way or the other. Don’t make me force you.”

He gives Kate a playful eye roll and smirk, as if to say, “damn wives just never listen to what’s best for them, eh?”.I don’t need to look at her to know she doesn’t return the pleasantries. The drop in his face, from sociopathic grin to murderous scowl, says it all.

“The cops are on their way. I suggest you get off my property,” Kate says with a cold tone.

“Cecily, let’s go. Enough is enough. Quit being a fucking cunt. Don’t make me do anything to embarrass you in front of your little friend here.” He takes a step in our direction and my spine stiffens against Kate’s hand. Her fingers curl on my shirt, gripping as if she’s going to be strong enough to keep him from grabbing me and running.

Thank fuck for Kate.

“I’m not coming with you. You’re an abusive, worthless, piece of shit and I wish I had never married you. A few months away have made me realize you never deserved me. You never loved me. You never treated me the way you should have. I’m not yours anymore. Leave me the fuck alone.”

Fuck yeah. I’m pleasantly surprised by my boldness. I’ve spent hours imagining what I might say if he showed up here, but I never thought I would actually have the guts to stand up to him if the time ever came.

“Let’s fucking go,” he shouts as he starts toward us.

“Leave!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “Leave me alone. Go fucking die and rot in hell.”

“Don’t make me do something I don’t want to do, Cecily.”

The steady clomping of fast-paced horses makes the jittery muscles around my heart ease. KJ doesn’t have the faintest idea what he’s about to be in for, but he stops in his tracks and turns toward the sound.

Austin.

Austin comes around the corner of the stables at a breathtaking pace. On horseback, flying past the bunkhouses with Denny and Jackson flanking his sides. I struggle to stop myself from running toward them. Climb up on his goddamn horse and ask him to take me to the lake. Take me anywhere but here. Not far behind, Red, Jacky, and Colt are hot on their heels.

I look at KJ in time to see his nostrils flare and a single laugh burst from his lungs. “Ah, so this is why you came here, isn’t it? Fuck, you always have been such afucking whore, haven’t you? Came here to let a bunch of cowboys take turns with you or what?”

Austin’s horse, Jubilee, isn’t even fully whoa’d up yet and he’s leaping to the ground. Dust clouds around where he lands, and he strides toward us with a fire in his eyes.

“You okay, darlin’?” he calls out to me.

I give him a shaky, uncertain nod. I think I’m okay.

Then he turns and says, “You KJ?” And Austin,my fucking cowboy, smashes his fist straight into KJ’s nose.

29

Austin

Afteralongdayin the blazing heat, all I’m thinking about is a cold shower and Cecily’s hands on my tired muscles. The final two-kilometre stretch back to the barn is always the slowest. Once you crest the ridge, there’s a clear view of home for the rest of the ride. Knowing she’s there, so close yet so far away, makes time drag.

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