Page 13 of Treated to a Mountain Man (Fall for a Mountain Man #11)

Sawyer

Sunday morning came with clear skies and that crisp October air that made the mountains look sharp enough to cut glass. I woke with Cinn curled against my chest, her hair tangled across my pillow. For a moment I just watched her sleep, still amazed she was here, in my bed, in my life.

"Stop staring," she mumbled against my chest, not opening her eyes.

"Can't help it." I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "We should get moving though. Lucy's expecting us."

We showered together—efficiently, mostly, though I couldn't resist pressing her against the tile and kissing her until we were both breathless. She laughed, pushing me away. "Later, I promise. We have a festival to get to."

The fast-food drive-through was nearly empty this early on a Sunday. Cinn ordered hash browns and an egg sandwich while I stuck with black coffee and a breakfast burrito. She ate quickly, not saying much.

"Nervous?" I asked as we pulled into the alley behind Sugar & Spice.

"Terrified." She wiped her fingers on a napkin.

Lucy was already there, her Honda packed with supplies. "Morning!" she called, then her expression sobered. "How are you holding up after... everything?"

"Better," Cinn said. "Thanks for coming in early again."

While Lucy and I loaded vehicles with the remaining regular candy and booth supplies from yesterday, Cinn ran upstairs to change.

She came down wearing dark jeans and a cream-colored sweater, a vintage red wool scarf wrapped around her neck.

Her maple leaf brooch was pinned to the scarf, glinting in the morning light.

"Beautiful," I told her quietly as she passed.

The smile she gave me could have powered the whole festival.

The second day's setup went smoother. We knew the rhythm now. Lucy arranged yesterday's decorations while we set out the regular candy selection. Without competition truffles to showcase, we focused on what we had left.

By ten, the festival was in full swing. If anything, Sunday brought bigger crowds than Saturday. Our booth stayed busy from the moment we opened.

"Is this the booth that's supposed to win?" a woman from Montpelier asked, examining our display.

"We find out today," Cinn said, managing a smile despite her nerves.

The woman selected several bags of different candies. "I want to say I was here when it all started."

Word had spread about the competition. Customer after customer asked about it. Lucy could barely keep up with the sales.

"We're almost sold out of the Bonfire Toffee and Ghost Pepper bark," Lucy reported around noon, beaming. "Everyone's asking about those competition truffles."

"I'll make more this week," Cinn promised, though her eyes kept drifting to the courthouse clock.

Three o'clock came faster than expected. Then four. The sun started sinking behind the mountains, orange light slanting through the trees. Festival-goers began gathering near the gazebo where Mayor Finch would make the closing ceremony announcements.

"Should we pack up?" Lucy asked.

"Let's wait until after the ceremony," Cinn said.

Four-thirty. The crowd thickened around the gazebo. Josephine Caldwell stood with the other judges, their expressions serene. Belinda had closed her booth, standing near the gazebo in a rose-colored dress.

"Come on," I said, taking Cinn's hand. "Time for your moment."

Lucy stayed with our booth while we joined the crowd. I kept Cinn close, feeling her hand tremble slightly.

Mayor Finch climbed the gazebo steps, tapping the microphone. "Folks, what a festival it's been! The best attendance we've had in years."

He went on about tradition, community, the importance of supporting local artisans. Cinn's grip got tighter with each word.

"Without further ado," the mayor finally said, "I'll turn things over to our head judge, Josephine Caldwell, to announce this year's Halloween Candy Competition winner."

Josephine stepped forward. "After careful consideration of all entries, which we sampled yesterday at each booth, we selected a winner whose candy best captured the essence of our maple heritage while showing exceptional craftsmanship.

The winner is Cinnamon Moretti of Sugar & Spice, for her Midnight Maple Shadows! "

The crowd erupted in applause. Cinn's face lit up with joy as people cheered. I lifted her and spun her around, both of us laughing.

"Go on," I urged, pushing her gently toward the gazebo. "Accept your prize."

She climbed the steps on steady legs. Josephine handed her the check and a wooden plaque. "Congratulations."

Then Belinda climbed the gazebo steps.

She grabbed the microphone from Mayor Finch's hand. "Excuse me, but I think the judges might want to reconsider their decision."

The crowd quieted. Mayor Finch frowned. "Mrs. Quimby, please return the microphone—"

"Not until everyone knows the truth." Her British accent had vanished, replaced by sharp New England consonants. "The judges just gave ten thousand dollars to a drug-addicted whore."

The silence that followed was absolute. I started moving toward the gazebo.

"Cinnamon Moretti sold herself online as 'Sweet Cinn.' She's a sex worker and a drug addict. Is that really who should represent our competition?"

"It was you." Cinn's voice was quiet but it carried. "You vandalized my shop."

The woman's carefully composed mask slipped. "I don't know what—"

"Thursday night. You broke in. Destroyed everything."

"No one wants someone like you here," she snarled, abandoning all pretense. "Woodbridge Falls doesn't need your kind."

"Hold on." Mayor Finch stepped forward, his face red. "Are you admitting to vandalism? Breaking and entering?"

I'd reached the gazebo steps. "Sugar & Spice was broken into Thursday night," I announced to the crowd.

"Someone completely ransacked the kitchen—ingredients, equipment, everything.

Cinnamon didn't report it because she wanted to win the competition fairly and didn’t want to risk being favored out of pity.

We worked through the night to remake those truffles with whatever we could find. "

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Is this true?" Josephine asked Cinn.

Cinn nodded. "I didn't want special treatment. Just wanted my candy judged on its merits."

"You made those truffles after being vandalized?" Conrad adjusted his spectacles. "From scratch?"

"Yes, sir. We did the best we could."

The crowd's murmuring grew louder.

"As for Cinn's past," I said, looking directly at Belinda, "everyone deserves a fresh start. She's worked harder than anyone to build something good here. She won fair and square, despite what happened to her."

"Hear, hear!" Ida's voice rang out from the crowd.

Mayor Finch turned to the judges. "Does any of this change your decision?"

Josephine spoke firmly. "We judged each entry on taste, presentation, and technique. Ms. Moretti's was superior. Our decision stands. In fact, knowing she created that quality after sabotage frankly makes it even more impressive."

The mayor nodded. "Then it's settled. Welcome to Woodbridge Falls, Ms. Moretti." He turned to Belinda. "As for you, Mrs. Quimby, I'll be asking Chief Morrison to investigate—"

"Actually," Garrett Pembroke pushed through the crowd, his face twisted with anger. "I can save you the trouble. She asked me to break into the shop. Gave me the crowbar, told me to destroy all the supplies."

"Garrett, you bastard—" Belinda started.

"I'm done covering for you!" He climbed the steps. "You said if I helped eliminate the competition, we'd expand your business together. You promised—"

"You wanted to corner the maple market! It was your idea to—"

"Enough," Mayor Finch interrupted. "Chief Morrison?"

The police chief stepped forward with two officers.

"Garrett Pembroke, Belinda Quimby, you're under arrest for breaking and entering, destruction of property, and conspiracy."

She tried to run but tripped over her heels. The officers cuffed them both as the crowd watched in stunned silence.

"My husband will hear about this!" she shrieked as they led her away.

"Your husband moved out months ago!" someone called out. "He's not helping you!"

The tension broke with scattered laughter. People surged forward, surrounding Cinn with congratulations. Ida patted her shoulder. Even the other competitors came over—Caleb shaking her hand, Miriam offering collaboration.

Cinn pushed through the well-wishers to reach me.

"Thank you for standing up for me," she said softly.

"Just doing what’s right," I said, pulling her close.

Then I kissed her, right there in front of the whole town. The crowd cheered and whistled.

When we broke apart, Lucy appeared, practically vibrating with excitement. "You won! And that scene was better than reality TV! Plus, a man from Albany wants to talk about wholesale orders—"

"Breathe, Lucy," Cinn laughed.

The Albany buyer owned a specialty food distributor. Within an hour, Cinn had tentative orders from him and several other vendors. The future of Sugar & Spice suddenly looked very bright.

We packed up as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. Lucy talked excitedly about all the orders they'd need to fill as we loaded boxes.

"You know what this means?" I asked Cinn as Lucy drove off.

"The shop's saved?"

"You're officially part of Woodbridge Falls now. The town just claimed you as one of its own."

She leaned against me. "I should call my parents. Tell them about the win. Maybe it's time to try reconnecting."

"Big step."

"I'm feeling ready for big steps." She turned in my arms. "Thanks to you."

The square had emptied, just the gazebo lights remaining. I pulled her into the empty gazebo, holding her close.

"Dance with me."

"Still no music."

"Don't need any."

We swayed together under the stars, her head on my chest.

"Thank you for believing in me," she whispered.

"Thank you for not giving up on us."

We stayed until we were shivering from the cold.

"Ready to go home?" I asked.

"Your place or mine?"

"Doesn't matter, as long as we're together."

As we drove up the mountain, her hand in mine, I marveled at how much had changed. Two weeks ago I'd been alone on this mountain, convinced that's how I'd always be.

The cabin lights glowed warm as we pulled up.

"This is real, isn't it?" she said suddenly. "You and me?"

"As real as it gets," I said, pulling her close.

"I'm really here. You're really here."

"Yeah." I kissed her forehead. "You've gotten completely under my skin, Cinn. Can't imagine my life without you now."

"Even when I drove you crazy?"

"Especially then."

We went inside together, wrapped up in each other and the promise of what came next. Sugar & Spice was saved. Cinn had found her home. And I'd found something I hadn't even known I was missing.

All because one stubborn woman had demanded my maple syrup.