Chapter 2
2
A ustin climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling.
Cinnamon was back and the first thing he’d done was pick a fight. Or maybe she had, but it didn’t matter. They were right back to where they’d been fifteen years ago. There was so much unresolved conflict between them, and there shouldn’t be any issues anymore.
They both had made their choices.
“Austin.” Cinnamon came barreling into his room. She stood at the side of his bed with tears rolling down her battered face.
Rage filled his veins. If he ever saw Pete again, someone would have to restrain him because he couldn’t control himself.
He bolted upright. “What’s wrong?”
She held her phone out. “It’s Pete. Someone bailed him out.”
“In the middle of the night? How the hell did that happen?”
“I don’t know, but he has a lot of wealthy friends in high places. He’s been trying to reach me for the last hour. He’s left nasty voice and text messages.”
“Can I see?” He reached for the phone.
“Sure.”
He patted the side of his bed. “Sit down. Try to relax. I know it’s hard, but you’re safe here.”
“I’m not safe anywhere with him out of jail and those messages prove it.”
Austin started with the texts.
Pete: You bitch. I can’t believe you did this to me. I will get you for this. And if you think these stupid charges will stick, you’ve got another thing coming.
Pete: Answer your damn phone.
Pete: Where the fuck are you? How dare you turn off your location. You think I won’t find you? As if there are a ton of places you’d go? You’re probably back in Buhl. Ha. If you think your idiot cousins can keep you from me, think again.
Pete: You fucking little whore. I know who’s back at Whiskey Ranch. You think I’m a monster? He killed his fiancée. He’ll do the same to you because you’re damaged goods. I’m the only one who will ever want you. I’ll give you a day to come home, and then I’m coming to get you.
Pete: Pick up the damned phone, you little cunt. I’m tired of this game. You’re never going to leave me. You like my money too much. Fucking bitch. Get your ass home now and make sure these cops drop the charges. If you don’t, you’ll pay.
Austin had read enough. He set the phone on the other side of the bed. He certainly didn’t want Cinnamon to read or listen to any more from Pete. It would only stress her out. “I’m going to call Brad now.” He reached for his phone.
“I don’t want you to wake him or Tina up. Don’t they have a newborn?”
“Gabby’s one and Ben is four.” He tapped his screen. “Neither one of them will care if I call about this. Besides, I’m not risking that Pete will wait a day or two to show his face in Buhl. He’s irrational and this is harassment. Brad and his department need to know. The next call we are making is to JW.”
“Absolutely not.” She jumped to her feet. “I will deal with my family on my own terms.”
“It’s almost two in the morning,” Brad said when he picked up on the second ring. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Cinnamon. She left Pete after he beat the crap out of her. He was in jail but has since been bailed out and is now sending her threatening messages. I’ll text you screenshots.”
“Do that now so I can take a look.”
Austin did as instructed and waited.
“Does she have a restraining order in place? If she doesn’t, we can file one here just in case.”
“Let’s do that.”
“All right. She’ll need to sign it,” Brad said. “I can bring that by first thing.”
“Wonderful, but I think the ranch needs a little extra security.”
“I’ll make sure units are patrolling the entrances,” Brad said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Thanks.” He tapped the screen and pulled up JW’s contact information.
“I swear to God, I’ll walk out that front door if you call any of my cousins.” She groaned when she folded her arms across her middle. “I’m not ready to face them.”
“Ready or not, they have a right to know that he could be on his way here. Not to mention they love you and only want you to be safe. That’s all they care about.” He stared at her for a long moment. “Is there something else you’re not telling me?”
She turned, swiping at her cheeks.
He climbed from the bed. “Cinnamon. What’s going on?” Gently, he took her by the arms, forcing her to face him. “Whatever it is, I can’t help unless you tell me.”
“A few months before you moved back, Pete and I visited the ranch. It ended badly.”
“I heard.”
“I doubt they told you everything, especially Irish.” She shrugged off his embrace and crawled into his bed, hugging his pillow. “It was a real shit show. At first, I had planned on coming by myself. Pete hates this place.”
“I remember. He moved you away from Buhl the second you got married, and according to Georgia Moon, you barely came back.”
“At first, Pete had me convinced the only way we had a shot at a real marriage was if we had a clean break from everyone. I believed him because my family all believed I was making a mistake. They didn’t think being pregnant was the right reason to marry someone. Not to mention, all Pete ever wanted was to work for his father and when I got pregnant, his dad offered him a job.”
Austin had wanted to interject, but kept his mouth shut.
“I was so focused on being a good mom and wife that I was okay with it. Things weren’t great, but I had Rosy. Then my baby girl got sick. She was only two years old. The next year was fucking hell.”
“I can’t even imagine.” Austin eased in next to Cinnamon and rested his arm around her hip.
“Both Pete and I were devastated. Believe it or not, he was a devoted dad. He loved his little girl. She was his world. He would have done anything for her and for a few short years, we were happy-ish.”
“It’s the ish part that bothers me.”
She let out a dry laugh. “Pete and I never truly loved each other, but Rosy brought us close. Her death sent Pete into a downward spiral that was compounded by my inability to get pregnant again.” The tears poured out of her eyes like a waterfall. “I didn’t want to start trying again so soon, but Pete was relentless. That’s when he started hitting me.”
Austin reined in his anger. He wondered what else might have happened and couldn’t allow his brain to go there. The guilt he felt was too strong. He’d let down the only woman he’d ever loved and he loathed himself for it.
“Every time I had to tell him I wasn’t pregnant, he’d slap me. It wasn’t bad at first.”
“Don’t make excuses for his bad behavior.”
“You know how this works.” She squeezed the pillow. “We were both in a bad place. I had been seeing a therapist but couldn’t get him to go. I tried giving him an ultimatum. Either he went or I was going to leave, and that’s when things took a really bad turn. I stopped going to counseling.”
“You stopped, or he decided for you?”
“I didn’t want to fight him or get hit, so I didn’t go anymore. I also avoided my family even more. It was a really dark time. Anyway, when we came here the last time, everyone was trying to get me to leave him. Every second someone had me alone, they’d start talking exit strategies. The pressure was insurmountable. But it was Irish who got in my face. Pete overheard us. He was livid. The fight between him and Irish was something I will never forget.”
“Irish told me about it,” Austin admitted. “He said that you left in the middle of the night, but he wasn’t sure if you went willingly or not and that you haven’t spoken to anyone since, except the one time you accidentally called me.”
“I did not want to go. Pete woke me up and told me that if I fought him on this, he’d make sure my family was ruined.”
“He’s tried to do that before. He’s never been successful.”
“Pete’s family has money. Lots of it.”
“I’m well aware.” That had always been a bone of contention with Austin. He’d listened to whispers around town about how Cinnamon had run off with Pete because he could give her more than a broken cowboy with a questionable past and not even two nickels to rub together. Deep down, he didn’t want to believe it, but some days it was hard.
“They have a lot of power in this state. Pete has done and said things to undermine my family business. If I stay away, he leaves them alone. When I contact anyone in my family, he stirs the pot. He’ll call anyone he can think of and send them out here.”
“We were pretty sure he was the one who caused all the trouble for Kitty and the educational facility two years ago.”
Cinnamon nodded. “Pete has cut me off from my family and my friends. I only want a few days to figure things out, and then I’m leaving. I can’t put my family at risk. Do you understand?”
“Yes and no.” Austin leaned back and stared at the fan. “I get you want to protect everyone, but they want to do the same for you. Besides, Pete can’t hurt them because they aren’t doing anything wrong. He can send all the inspectors and anyone else he wants. Everything at Whiskey Ranch is on the up-and-up and you know that. Running from this is only putting yourself at risk. You’re staying put. I won’t be the only one who feels that way. So let me call your cousins.”
“They don’t want to hear from me.” She sniffled. “My last words with Irish and JD weren’t pleasant. They told me I had to leave Pete.”
“I believe their words were to call them when you were ready.” He turned his head, arching a brow. “You forget that JD and I were once best friends and we’ve rekindled that friendship. I got the entire story when I moved back and Charity moved out. I doubt they left anything out and they did say they were harsh, something they’ve regretted. However, tough love is sometimes necessary.”
“Looks like you’ve returned to your logical self.” She curled up next to him, wrapping her arm around his middle and draping a leg over his knee. “The last time we were together, you acted like a moron.”
“I was angry and hurt.”
“So was I,” she said.
“It’s all in the past. All that matters now is making sure Pete doesn’t ever hurt you again.” He waved his phone. “I’m calling JW now.”
“Okay.” She sighed. “Pete’s not going to go away quietly.”
“I know. But you have an entire family who will be by your side. You’re not alone in this.”
“I’m sorry that I dumped my problems at your feet. I should have been brave enough to go to my family to begin with.”
“Don’t be silly.” He kissed her temple. “I watched my mother and sister go through what you’re living. It makes sense that you’d come to me first.”
She lifted her head. “Not with our history it doesn’t.”
Setting his cell on the mattress, he took her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “No matter what happened between us, I never stopped caring about you. I’m glad you felt you could come to me. You can stay here as long as you want or need to.”
“You’re a kind man, Austin.”
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.”