Chapter 19
Juniper
Rhett and I slip into a world where we’re the only two who exist over the next two weeks. Each day I fall more in love with him—the way he makes my coffee just the way I like, the way he feeds me before he eats himself, the way he holds my hand when we walk the ridge at dusk. It’s heaven.
But heaven never lasts. Not in a place like Ruin Ridge.
Especially not after what I heard while he was in his office today. The door was ajar. I didn’t mean to hear. But I did. And now I can’t look back.
We’re at the table when I set down my glass of water.
“What are we doing?”
His gray gaze lifts from his plate, cool and unreadable. “Having dinner.”
“That’s not what I mean.” I exhale slowly, pulse thrumming in my ears. “What are we doing here, Rhett?”
He leans back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight. “You’ll have to be a little clearer than that.”
“You know exactly what I’m asking.” My voice trembles. Not from fear, but from the ache of wanting to believe in him, in us. “Are you planning to send me away?”
Something shifts in his face. Not shock. Not denial. Just the faintest flicker of guilt. He sets his fork down with care, like he’s afraid of saying the wrong thing.
“Juniper…” He runs a hand over his jaw, eyes falling to the table. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have said it,” I bite out. “You were talking to Beau and Sawyer and said I needed to be gone by tomorrow.”
“You don’t understand what’s going on.”
“Then explain it,” I push. “Because from where I’m sitting, it sounds like you’re making plans that don’t include me.” I hate to even say it, but I ask, “Does this have something to do with Tilly? Or Chester?”
He stands abruptly, chair scraping against the floor. “It’s not what you think.”
“Then tell me what it is.”
Silence stretches between us, taut and dangerous. The storm outside presses against the windows, thunder rolling low over the hills.
Finally, he exhales through his nose. “The boys have found some information on Chester.”
My stomach drops. “What does that have to do with you sending me away?”
His eyes meet mine. “He recorded you that night.”
I still, feeling sick. “No.”
“It’s true, Juniper. And when I go after him there’s a chance the video will end up in the wrong hands.”
“What does that mean?”
“He’s involved with other scumbags online who like to trade videos like that.”
I shake my head, heart pounding. “So your solution is to run me off? What good will that do, Rhett? The damage has already been done!”
“I’m trying to protect you,” he says, voice low and rough. “You think things were bad then? Imagine what happens when that video gets out.”
“I’m stronger than you think,” I whisper.
He looks at me for a long time, and in that moment I realize the man standing in front of me is worried. But this isn’t his fight. It’s mine.
He drags a hand through his hair, pacing to the window like he needs distance just to breathe. The storm outside flashes, lightning cutting through the dark, and for a moment his reflection glows against the glass—broad shoulders, clenched jaw, every line of him tight with frustration.
“You don’t get it, Juniper. This isn’t something you can just be strong through.
Chester’s not some small-town bastard running his mouth.
He’s connected to people who make their living ruining others by selling pain like it’s currency.
If that video surfaces, they won’t stop.
They’ll come after you until nothing’s left and spin the story to suit their needs. ”
I push up from the table, my chair tipping back on two legs before thudding to the floor. “Then let them come. I’m done hiding from what he did to me.”
Rhett turns, eyes flashing with something between fury and love. “And what? You think you can fight them? You think you can stand there and let the whole damn world see—” He stops himself, jaw locking tight, the words burning out on his tongue.
“See what?” I demand. “See what he did? That’s on him, not me. I’m not the one who should be ashamed.”
He’s silent for a long moment. The only sound is the rain pounding harder, the wind howling across the ridge. Finally, he exhales, a broken sound caught in his throat.
“You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t see how strong you are? But I can’t—” He steps closer, voice rough. “I can’t watch you get dragged through hell again, Juniper. I won’t.”
“So you’d rather pack me off somewhere safe while you go play hero? That’s your plan?”
“If it keeps you breathing? Yeah.”
“You’re not my savior, Rhett, and your plan is shit.” My voice cracks, but I don’t back down. “You can’t protect me from the fallout. You can’t erase what he did. All you can do is stand beside me when it breaks open.”
“I can protect you. And I will.” He swallows hard. “Now I’m going to end this with Chester. But not with you here.”
I shake my head slowly, tears stinging my eyes. “You don’t get to make that call for me.”
Lightning flashes again, and in that white-hot second, I see it. Rhett’s already made up his mind.
“Rhett,” I whisper. “Don’t do this. We won’t be able to survive if you send me away.”
“I have to,” he says quietly. “He crossed a line. And I’m not letting him hurt you again.”
He turns toward the door, grabbing his jacket from the hook by the door.
I step forward, my voice breaking. “If you walk out there, you don’t get to tell me you’re protecting me. You’re just leaving me to clean up the pieces.”
He stops in the doorway, rain blowing in behind him, his silhouette framed in the lightning.
“I’m not leaving you,” he says, without turning around. “I’m making sure there’s something left for you to come back to.”
Then he’s gone into the storm, leaving me standing there barefoot on the cold floor, the sound of the door slamming behind him louder than the thunder outside.
“Hell no,” I mutter.
I grab my boots, sliding them on and then I’m running after him. The ground is slick, but I manage to reach him, grabbing his arm.
“It was a night like this,” I say, looking up at him as rain falls between us. “That should have been my first sign not to go, but mom insisted.”
His lips part, but I rush on. “I was wearing the gown I’d picked out for the Miss. Cream of the Crop contest. Do you remember what it looked like?”
God, I do, The moment I slipped into the dress, it felt like stepping into a dream I hadn’t realized I’d been chasing.
The fabric caught every flicker of light, scattering it across the room like starlight come to life.
Even my mom approved of it. It was heavy, but in the kind of way that made me feel anchored to something beautiful and fleeting all at once.
The bodice hugged my waist just right, the glittering straps gliding over my shoulders before giving way to the endless sweep of the skirt.
When I moved, it whispered across the floor, soft and shimmering, like the world itself was holding its breath.
When I looked down, I barely recognized myself.
For a heartbeat, I wasn’t the girl I’d been before.
I was someone brighter. Someone who could walk into any room and make it go still.
“He was at the pulpit, going over notes and said I looked beautiful. He also said he’d heard that I had a fight with Caleb.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Do you know what we fought about that night? You.”
His eyebrows lift, but I go on.
“Caleb thought there was someone else. I don’t know if you knew that.
I don’t think he ever said your name out loud.
But he knew. He saw the way I looked at you when I didn’t think anyone was watching.
” I shake my head. “And I guess maybe Chester saw it, too, because that’s what he said to me in the church that night.
Said I needed to pray with him to atone for my lustful sins. ”
I close my eyes, telling Rhett what happened as the memories take over.
Thunder shook the church right after he said that, making everything seem eerie.
“Come now, Juniper. Pray with me.” Pastor Hilbert said.
I joined him, clasping my hands in front of me and lowering my head. I felt silly doing this in my dress, but I knew that if mother found out I’d said no, there’d be hell to pay. More thunder. Both of us jumped.
“I was thinking,” Pastor Hilbert said. “There’s something that I need your help with.”
“My help?”
“Yes, yes. You are the perfect person for this. You see, I need someone the town looks up to. And who better of a person than our very own Miss. Cream of the Crop.” He reached over and touched my arm. “Will you help?”
There was something about his touch that made me uncomfortable, but I found myself nodding. “Of course. I’d love to help. Should I stop by before church services?”
“Heavens no. We should start tonight.”
I glanced at the window. “Tonight? But it’s so late. And I’m supposed to meet Caleb.”
He scoffed at that. “I’m sure Caleb Slade needs time to cool off. Now, let’s get started.”
I was so stunned by his comment that I found myself following him to the back room, where his office was.
He let me pass, closing the door behind me.
I was just turning to tell him this was a bad idea when he attacked.
That’s the only way it can be described.
One minute he was by the door, the next he had me against the desk, tugging my dress down.
When I tried to get him to stop, he slapped me across the face. When that didn’t work he punched me.
I came to face down on his desk just as he entered me. I wasn’t aroused. Of course I wasn’t. So the pain that I felt was… god, it was unbearable. I screamed, which only seemed to fuel him on. He uttered sinful words as he raped me, never caring that I was begging him to stop.
It felt like it lasted forever, but, in reality, it lasted maybe ten minutes. But those ten minutes ruined me.
He pulled out with a loud, satisfied groan. “If you tell anyone, they won’t believe you.”