Maybe it was the thrill of the chase.Maybe it was that I’d injured his pride when I left him and he was embarrassed, and that made him act a fool.I had no idea.I didn’t care to know, but what I did know was that there was a determination in his eyes now I’d never seen in him before.
For whatever reason, Cody wanted me back, and it seemed clearer and clearer to me that he wouldn’t stop until I gave in.Which would be never.I liked my life better without him in it, without his constant need to control everything I said or did.Both Gran and Mama couldn’t stand him, probably because, since the first date, they had been able to see through his charms and how bad he was for me, and my relationships with them began to break down until I dumped his ass.
When we were dating, it never would’ve occurred to me he could be violent or inappropriate, but like the clearing of debris after a fire, I knew it was true.He’d never hit me or hurt me in that way.But I knew it was inside him now, especially because he was used to getting what he wanted, and I found myself looking over my shoulder for him at every turn.
That night, the sheriff had given me her cell number and her deputy’s and told me, if I ever needed to, I could call and they’d come.Even if I wasn’t sure Cody was lurking nearby, “Call or text,” she’d said, “day or night.”
This morning, when I’d seen her brother for the first time in almost twenty years, I had to stop myself from imagining Dixon coming to my rescue.
It was difficult; he was all brawny muscles and tall steadfastness, but I knew that was just his outward appearance.Inside, I had a feeling Dixon was still the little boy I remembered from childhood, the little boy who never wanted to go home and who would sneak out of his house at night and sleep in between the bales of hay my grandpa kept for his horses.
“Are you okay, Avery Jane?”Gran asked.“I know this whole Cody thing weighs heavy on you.”
“I’m okay, Gran.I’m sorry I snapped at you.It’s just that I don’t know what else to do.”
She hummed behind me.“Sheriff Lee told you to file a restraining order.You should do that.”
I scoffed.“A piece of paper?That’s the weapon you think I should use against my creepy ex-boyfriend?What good will that do?”
“I said nothin’ about weapons, but that piece of paper is a shield.You need to have that in place for when he crosses the line.And when he does and he violates the order, then the sheriff can lock him up.Right now, all you’ve got is your word against his.His family has money.You know this.They’ve got clout around here.A restraining order won’t hurt him physically, but it would give clear boundaries to all those dicks.”
Spinning, I tried not to let surprise show on my face, but Gran never cussed.
“What,” she drawled.“you think I can’t come up with some swear words of my own for that foul man and his foul family?Please.”
“Okay, Gran.I’ll do it.I’ll file a restraining order,ifhe shows his face again.You have to have just cause and proof that someone has been doin’ bad things.You can’t just slap anyone with a restraining order ’cause you feel like it.”
“Next time might be too late, Avery Jane.”
I ignored that warning.“In the meantime, I’ll do somethin’ else to protect myself.At the last Small Business Association meeting, Manny Perez told me he’d teach me some self-defense.That’s a good thing to know, right?”
Gran nodded and looked back down at her knitting project.I had more knitted gloves and beanies than I cared to admit, but I would never refuse something Gran made for me because everything she created was made with love.
“Don’t tell Mama Cody called again, okay?”I said as I turned around when the bell on the front door jingled, indicating a customer.The squeaking of Gran’s chair rocking on the floor stopped.“She’ll just get up in arms, and it’s not good for her stress level.”
Gran mumbled something under her breath as I greeted my customer.I knew she hated keeping things from her daughter, but she’d keep this to herself because she knew I was right.
“Everlea, hi.Long time no see,” I said to the woman who walked into the store with a little boy following and her daughter perched on her hip.We’d become friends six years ago when she asked me to help her with her wedding at Cade Ranch.Somehow, I managed to procure thirty tall, skinny potted pine trees and a boatload of peonies in the dead of winter.
Gran mumbled her usual “H’lo” behind me.
I handed little Mirabelle a loose daisy from the bunch I’d been using to make a bouquet a local cowboy had ordered for his wife, and Mira immediately stuffed it in her mouth.Jack Jr.went directly to the display of cacti and succulents I kept in the window for maximum sun exposure and began pressing his finger against the spines.
“Ow!”
Everlea sighed and tried to dig the daisy petals out of Mira’s mouth with her finger.“Jack, c’mon.Do you have to toucheverything?”
Jack shrugged, touched the cactus again, then pulled his finger away and stuck it in his mouth to suck away the sting.
“Sorry,” I said.“I didn’t think she’d eat it.”
“Hi.”Everlea took a deep, stress-releasing breath and laughed.“Two months ago, I was worried she’d starve because we couldn’t get her to even eat candy.She’s at the end of her terrible twos, and I just know they’re gonna follow her to her threes.She’s more stubborn than her dad, but now she eats literally everything.”
Mira smirked all too knowingly.
“Well, what can I do for you?Need somethin’ to brighten your day?”
Everlea smiled.“Yeah, actually.That’d be nice, but what I really need is a centerpiece.We have some new people starting the veteran program at the ranch next week and a new employee, and I thought it might be nice to add some color and cheer to the bunkhouse.”
