I hurried out to reception as I hit my brother’s contact in my phone. I waved at Dolores. “Addie’s coming in with Cora, take them right to my office when they come in.”
Dolores’s eyes widened but she nodded. “Want me to move your next couple of appointments if they can swing it?”
“Please.”
Hayes answered with a gruff, “Hey.”
“Can you get to the clinic as soon as possible?”
“Did Brandon show again?”
I moved into my office, clearing a stack of papers off one of the chairs. “Addie’s bringing Cora here now. Says she wants help.”
“Maybe I need to hire that woman.”
“She’d be an amazing asset, but I don’t think she wants to be a cop.”
There was movement in the background on Hayes’ end. “Probably not. I’m on my way.”
I hung up just as a knock sounded on my open door. “I’ve got Addie and Cora here to see you,” Dolores said softly.
Cora’s gaze darted around the room as if someone might jump out at any moment.
I stayed behind my desk but motioned them in and towards the couch. “Please, have a seat.”
Dolores hovered in the door. “Can I get you ladies something to drink? Water? Tea, maybe?”
I blinked a few times. Dolores had never offered to get me or anyone else a beverage once in my time back in Wolf Gap.
Cora just shook her head, but Addie smiled at Dolores. “I’m okay, thank you.”
Dolores looked to me. “You let me know if anyone needs anything.”
“We will,” I assured her.
Cora bounced Jack on her knees as he started to fuss. Addie leaned over and tickled his belly. His fussing turned to giggles. She lifted a pillow, covering her face and then peeking out from different sides. Those giggles turned to peals of laughter.
I had the sudden image of Addie chasing little blond-haired kids around the property I’d bought as they laughed. The picture in my mind startled the hell out of me. I hadn’t seen a future with any of the women I’d dated in the past. It was a large reason why I had never gotten serious with any of them. But with Addie, I could see it all.
A knock sounded on my open door, and Hayes stepped inside. He gave me a chin lift as he shut the door behind him, then he nodded at the women. “I’m Sheriff Easton, but please call me Hayes.”
The expression that lit Cora’s face was one that could only be described as panic. Addie dropped her pillow and squeezed Cora’s knee. “It’s okay. Hayes is the one who helped me. Didn’t let my dad keep me at the ranch like he wanted to.”
Cora’s gaze shifted to Addie. “But your father is still walking around free.”
Addie’s fingers wove together in a tight hold. “That was my choice. I didn’t want to deal with a trial. I just wanted to be free.”
Cora shifted her stare to her son. “He’ll never let us go. In Brandon’s mind, we’re his property.”
Hayes took a chair and pulled it closer to the couch. “You have a number of choices. One of my female deputies and I can accompany you to your home while you get your belongings and then take you to a shelter—there’s one a few hours from here that I think would work especially well for you. They will help you get a divorce and file for custody without Brandon ever knowing where you are.”
Cora nibbled on her bottom lip. “But there’s a chance that Brandon might get some custody of Jack, right?”
Hayes’ mouth pressed into a thin line. “It’s possible but unlikely with Beckett’s testimony.”
“I can’t let him get Jack.”
Hayes leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “The best thing you can do for that is to file charges against him for domestic abuse. We’ll arrest him today and get you an emergency order of protection. He won’t be allowed to come within one hundred yards of you or Jack. You should be able to stay at your home.”