Epilogue
SIX WEEKS LATER…
A ustin lay sprawled out on the sofa with the television remote in his hand. He’d flipped through the channels three times and still couldn’t find something to hold his attention for more than five minutes. His cell buzzed on the coffee table. He reached for it and groaned. The doctor told him it would be another good three months before he was one hundred percent. The bullet had been lodged in the bone, making the injury more complicated. It required a delicate surgery to remove it and he had to stay in the hospital for two full weeks after.
He wasn’t sure what was worse.
The hospital stay or being bedridden at home.
“Hey, Tom.” He set his phone on his chest. “How was the service?”
“It was nice. I’m sorry you couldn’t be here,” Tom said.
“Besides being unable to put weight on this leg, I’m not sure the family would have wanted me there.”
“Everyone asked about you,” Tom said.
“I’m just glad we could give them—and you—closure.” Austin might not have loved Charity, but he never wished her dead. He could only offer her family the ability to find her body and help them lay her to rest. He’d been grateful to the FBI and the local sheriff’s department for all their hard work locating where Pete had buried her body.
“How are things with you?” Tom asked.
“I’m healing,” he said.
“And Cinnamon?”
A smile spread across Austin’s lips. “She’s happy to be back with her family. She’s all enrolled in college. While she still has nightmares and a shit ton of guilt over things that aren’t her fault, she’s doing well.”
“What about the two of you?”
“For the most part, we’re good.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Tom asked. Since Pete’s death, a day hadn’t gone by where Austin hadn’t spoken to Tom. They had become close friends, which to some seemed odd. However, Austin enjoyed the camaraderie. The more he got to know Tom, the more he realized how much they had in common outside of Charity.
“She has a lot of emotional healing she needs to do and I’m doing my best to give her the space. Sometimes that causes a disagreement.”
“That makes no sense.”
Austin chuckled. “She thinks I often pull away. But I’m not. I’ve gone to a couple of her therapy sessions and don’t do well.” He adjusted his pillows and sat up taller. It was hard for him to discuss this shit with her cousins. It didn’t matter that JD was one of his closest friends. Or JW and JB had been in his life since he was a kid. Or he and Irish had been friends forever. They were Cinnamon’s cousins and he didn’t want to burden them with their problems, which weren’t big ones, but still things they needed to work through. “I worry we’re rushing things, especially since I need help and she’s living here with me. She needed to stand on her own two feet while we discussed how to handle the situation with Pete. However, since I was wounded and he died in the shootout, she’s done a bit of a one-eighty.”
“She got scared she could have lost you.”
“That’s what her therapist said, but I’m not going anywhere. I want her to feel like she’s in control of her own destiny. To understand she doesn’t need me to be whomever she wants. I’m just here to support her.”
“You’re a good man,” Tom said. “I started seeing someone a couple of months ago and I was thinking—when you’re feeling up to it—maybe the four of us could get together.”
“I’d love that and I’m sure Cinnamon would like it too. But why wait? You should come out to the ranch. I’m going crazy sitting on my ass. I’d love the company.”
“Talk it over with Cinnamon and we’ll set up a date and time,” Tom said. “I still have some of Charity’s family here, so I best be going. I just wanted to check in on you.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Austin ended the call. He tossed his phone to the coffee table, found his crutches, and groaned as he hobbled to the kitchen for a snack. He was supposed to stay off his leg for another two weeks. But he was going nuts doing absolutely nothing but watching television, reading books, and waiting for Cinnamon to return from work.
However, today she embarked on a new chapter in her life.
College.
He was so excited for her and couldn’t wait to hear about her first day. She’d always wanted to be a teacher and now she’d get that chance.
The front door swung open.
Shit. He was going to hear hell for being off the sofa. Georgia Moon had come over to feed him lunch and Annette had been by two hours ago to make sure he hadn’t needed anything else. Outside of that, he wasn’t supposed to do anything.
Two more weeks and he’d be able to put weight on his leg.
But it would still be at least another month before he could return to work.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Cinnamon tossed her backpack on the chair by the fireplace and raced to his side.
He eased onto the stool. “I was thirsty.” He lifted his big water bottle. “And hungry.” He pointed to the bag of popcorn he’d pulled from the cupboard.
“And how did you plan to return that to the sofa?”
“I was going to sit right here,” he said like a defiant child.
“You’re going to make the healing process longer.” She grabbed his drink and the bag. “Do you want help back to the couch?”
“I know how to use these.” He waved at the crutches. “They do have me doing things in physical therapy, you know.”
She laughed. “I hear you’re a big baby.”
He rolled his eyes. “How was your day?”
“Amazing. Wonderful. I can’t wait to go back tomorrow.” She helped him onto the sofa, lifting his bad leg and resting his feet on her lap. “But I feel so old.”
“You’re far from it.”
“Tell that to the eighteen-year-olds who thought I was either the professor or the PA.”
He laughed. “I thought you would have been home an hour or so ago. Did you get hit on by all the young studs?”
“That’s gross.” She shook her head. “I had a doctor’s appointment.”
He arched a brow. “Therapy? You didn’t tell me you had that today. You know I’m always happy to go.”
“No. I went to the gynecologist.”
He pounded his chest and coughed. “I guess I didn’t need to go to that one.”
“Not this time you didn’t.” She squeezed his foot, rubbing gently. They’d slid into an easy time of living together and he more than enjoyed it. He thrived in their relationship.
Whenever she felt he was too far away emotionally, she told him so and he did his best to adjust. He wanted to please her more than anything, giving her whatever she needed. His biggest concern was never making her feel like he was the one in the driver’s seat, which was the dance that had become difficult.
She was used to being in a controlling and manipulative marriage. Pete had stripped her of her ability to make her own decisions. Austin would never be that man, but she often told him that she felt as though he tiptoed around the harder conversations and begged him to stop.
Something that he’d been working on.
“I can’t imagine there’s any time I’d need to go with you to see that doctor.”
“Then you don’t understand women or their bodies as much as I thought you did.” She poked his good leg.
“Excuse me?”
“I have an appointment for an ultrasound in a couple of weeks and you will want to be there for that.”
“An ultra what? And why? Is something wrong?”
“Are you really that stupid?” She shifted, setting his feet back on the sofa. Straddling his hips, she leaned over and kissed his lips. “Am I hurting you?”
“You asked me that last night when we were in this position and what did I tell you?” He smacked her ass.
“You might have said no, but then you groaned.”
He laughed. “That was in throes of pleasure and I’m more than willing to have a repeat of the action. But the bed would be more comfortable.”
“I’m sure you are, but what we do in the bedroom is what led me to see the doctor.” She pressed her hands on his chest and held his stare. “I can’t believe you aren’t getting this, so let me recap. I went to see an OB/GYN. That’s a doctor who?—”
“I know what kind of medicine that doctor practices and there is no reason I would need to go with you…” He let his words trail off. His heart lurched to his throat. His eyes grew wide. “Why do you need an ultrasound? Isn’t that something that is used to see babies?”
“Exactly.”
“Are you trying to tell me you’re pregnant?” His mouth went dry. “I need to sit up.”
She moved to the side, helping him to the edge of the sofa. “I haven’t gotten my period since returning to Whiskey Ranch.”
“And you’re just telling me this now?” He tossed his good leg over the side of the couch.
“We’ve been a little busy between you having surgery and the complications from that surgery. And then there was dealing with the settlement from Pete’s death with his family, which came in the mail today, so I can pay you back for my tuition.”
“I don’t think so.” He raked a hand across the top of his head. “If we’re going to have a baby together, then whatever is mine is yours.” A baby. He couldn’t believe it. They had been using condoms, except for that first time.
“For a minute there, I thought you were going to freak out about this.”
“Oh, I’m freaking out.” He took her hand. “We knew this was a possibility, but when you never brought it up again, I’d sort of put it out of my mind.” He kissed her palm. “How are you feeling?”
“Other than I’m a little tired, fine. But I’m more worried about you and whether or not you’re happy about this. You’re giving me the biggest non-reaction a man who is about to be a dad could possibly give.”
“Babe, I’ve been fantasizing about this moment my entire life. You’re the only woman I’ve wanted to have a family with. I couldn’t be more thrilled.” He reached for his crutches. “Help me to the bedroom.”
“We are not going to go have sex right now.”
“Wasn’t going to suggest that.” He chuckled. “I have something else in mind.” He hobbled down the hallway. “I want to give you something.”
“What?”
“My mother’s engagement ring. It was always supposed to be yours. I know we said we would take things slow, but a baby changes things. Besides, I love you and I always want to be with you.”
“Did you just ask me to marry you?”
“It wasn’t the best proposal, but that’s my intention.” He found the ring in the dresser's top drawer and pulled it from the box. He took her hand and placed it on her ring finger.
It was a perfect fit.
“I love you, Cinnamon Cider Whiskey. Will you do me the honor and be my wife?”
“Oh, hell yes.” She wrapped her arms around his middle. “But I’m not doing some big-ass wedding. I want a small one right here on the ranch and as soon as possible—before I’m as big as a house.”
“Whatever makes you happy.” He tossed his crutches to the side and pulled her tight. “I’m going to have to put an addition on this place.”
“Oh, I have ideas.”
“I’m sure you do,” he said. “I need to sit.” He plopped his ass on the edge of the bed.
She joined him, resting her head on his shoulder. “We’re going to make a wonderful home for our family.”
“Our family,” he repeated. “You’re going to have to keep pinching me, because all of my wildest dreams have come true.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Cinnamon Cider Whiskey. Please feel free to leave an honest review.