12-Alarm Cowboys (145 page)

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am,” Titan agreed. “But what I’m saying is that I want you to stick close, which means you’re going to have to go out with me to do the ranch work. How are you with a posthole digger?”

She stared at him, then laughed. “I’m not sure, but I’ll try. I want to make sure and pull my weight.”

Titan made a show of looking her up and down. “You’re going to have to do better than that, you don’t weigh enough to anchor down a good size balloon.” When she pooched her lips out, he snorted and pulled her into his arms. “I just want you safe. And the only way I can ensure that is to keep you close enough to touch.” He kissed her on the lips. “Which is not a hardship, believe me.”

Makenna relaxed against him. “I can’t believe they let him go with just a slap on the wrist.”

“Small-town politics,” he mused. “The first thing we need to do is go down to see Sheriff Conner and find out about getting a restraining order.” A shiver of apprehension coursing through her body caused Titan to hold her closer. “Don’t worry, it won’t be a big deal, just filling out some paperwork.”

She took him at his word and over the next few hours, even if he didn’t know it, Titan began to show her what a relationship was supposed to be like. Up till now she’d had to guess what normal was supposed to be. Her only examples were the early memories of her parents’ marriage and examples in television and movies. Titan was caring, considerate, teasing—he kept her laughing more often than not. The contrast of Titan with Damien was the same as comparing light with dark. She’d learned to exist in a world where she walked a fine line, speaking only when spoken to, striving to be invisible, knowing that no matter how much she tried to please, she was never good enough.

Before leaving for town, he escorted her to the barn and introduced her to two young brown and white spotted goats. “This is Houdini and I call this little girl Cola.”

Makenna knelt down to pet them. “What odd names. How did you come up with them?” She giggled as they nuzzled her palm. “Are they hungry?”

“Here,” he handed her some nuggets, “they’re always hungry.” He squatted down beside her, his big form providing shadow from the harsh rays of the morning sun. “Houdini got his name because I couldn’t keep him in any pen I made. He could even open the lock on the gate. And I caught this girl latching on to the end of my soda bottle. She turned it up and drank it down like she’d been doing it for years.”

Makenna laughed. “They’re adorable. I saw this video the other day where these two little goats were wearing pajamas.”

“What?” Titan snorted. He picked up Cola with one hand and tugged on Houdini’s short horns with the other. “If you two want pajamas, you’re going to have to talk your mama into making them for you.” When Cola bleated loudly, Titan looked toward Makenna. “What do you say? Would you make these two each a pair of onesies?”

“I could certainly try. I used to be able to sew.” Makenna felt joy explode in her chest. Not over mothering a baby goat, although the idea certainly held appeal—it was because Titan was making a place for her.

A little later when they arrived at the Sheriff’s office, he escorted her in, a hand at the small of her back. She stepped through the utilitarian green doors, memories of her last visit haunting her. How Damien had beat her, not for the first time, but with an intensity and a savagery that sent her running to Titan. “How does this work?” she asked.

“I’m not sure, but don’t worry, I’m with you every step of the way.” His assurance meant more to Makenna than she could say.

After telling a red-headed female deputy what they needed, she directed them to the courthouse. “Go to the family law department and ask them for an application for a domestic violence order, fill it out and within forty-eight hours, the court will issue a temporary restraining order. You’ll get notice when your hearing is scheduled for a permanent order. And good luck.”

When she added the personal well-wishes, Makenna recognized the woman as the one who’d processed her the night she’d filed charges on Damien. “Thank you so much.”

As Titan escorted her across the road, he questioned the clinical instructions. “Did she say you had to get
an application
for a domestic violence order?”

She tried to make light of the situation. “Yea, it sounds like I’m asking for additional abuse.”

Titan didn’t find her joke amusing. “No one is going to hurt you again, Makenna. You have a champion now.”

As she walked beside the big cowboy, Makenna found the courage to stand up for herself. In a few minutes, she’d filled out the forms and they were on their way out. She was feeling good about everything when she heard a voice from behind.

“Look at her, hooking up with another man so soon. What kind of a woman does that? Accusing a good man like Damien Wade of being a wife abuser. Why, I bet she faked her injuries like they do in the movies with make-up. I hear she’s crazy. She’s been in a psychiatric ward.”

Makenna froze. Her feet wouldn’t move. There was no way Titan had missed the mortifying exchange. The woman had made no attempt to lower her voice. She felt him move away from her. Who could blame him? Closing her eyes, she willed herself to disappear.

“Excuse me, ma’am.” Makenna heard Titan address the older lady. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. As a woman, you should support other women who are victims of physical violence. What if you couldn’t trust the person who was supposed to love you the most?”

Hearing him defend her was wonderful, but it didn’t keep her from being embarrassed to death.

“Come on.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s get out of here. You don’t have to listen to such nonsense.”

Makenna followed him out to his truck, but once they were inside, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Not all of it was nonsense.” At his confused expression, she tried to explain. “I was under psychiatric care for a time.”

Titan asked no questions. He sat calmly by her, knowing she needed to talk.

“It’s not what you would think,” Makenna began, clenching her hands into fists. “Although I guess anytime one requires therapy, it’s a sign that all isn’t right.” Taking a deep breath, she let it all out. “I was young, nearly six when it happened.”

Titan felt his stomach roll. He dreaded what he was about to hear. “Go on, honey, I’m listening.”

Makenna sighed. She didn’t know any other way but to just say it. Years after it had happened, it was still hard to talk about. “I was one of the few children in the daycare at the Murrah Federal building to survive the Oklahoma City bombing. My mother died in the terrorist attack and my father grieved himself to death a few years later.”

“Oh, my God.” Titan reached for her, unbuckling her seatbelt and pulling her into his lap. “I’m so sorry. What you must have gone through.”

She laid her head on his shoulder, flashes of that day bombarding her mind. The deafening explosion, the white-hot blast, the crashing of her world as it came tumbling around her. “Back then, I didn’t even know what a terrorist was. I had very little idea what death meant. The blast killed a hundred and sixty-eight people, including nineteen children. I was one of the lucky ones. Allie’s mother worked there too, but Allie was sick that day so she and her mother weren’t in the building. We met at a survivor’s conference when we were teenagers.” She looked up to meet his eyes. “Something like that scars your soul.”

“Yet you survived, just like you did the hell Damien put you through.” He stroked her hair. “Makes you a hero in my book.”

“He loved to tell people about the time I spent in psychiatric care. I guess it was his way of setting me up so nothing I could ever say would be believed. He just neglected to explain the circumstances.”

Titan bristled. “Wade’s an idiot, we’ve already established that.”

Makenna laughed, hugging him hard. “You make me feel so much better. How do you do that?”

“Just loving you, baby,” he whispered. “Easy as pie.”

On the way home, Titan’s radio went off. After listening, he announced. “We’ve got another grass fire.”

Knowing he was in a hurry, she quickly told him, “Head on to the fire station, I’ll get a ride home.”

“Nope, you’re coming with me. Remember? You can sit in the fire truck.” He smiled. “You’ll be our mascot.” He flipped a switch and turned on his truck’s siren and flashing light. “Hold on.”

“While I’m sewing the goat’s pajamas, I guess I should make me a spotted Dalmatian suit.” Makenna teased him, holding on to the dash, excited to be going with him.

“You’ll look good, you’re sexy in anything you wear,” he said conversationally as he sped up.

“Where’s the fire?” she asked, helping him watch the road. It always scared her when the men had to drive fast, knowing people could disregard the warning and pull out in front of them.

“Out near Canyon Lake, that’s all I know at this point.”

When they arrived at the station, she stayed out of the way and marveled at how the guys each did their part, gathering their gear and preparing the truck. Everyone had a job, working together like a well-oiled machine. Soon they’d donned their bunker gear and were ready to load up. “Come on, baby,” Titan called, holding out his hand. She blushed, seeing the surprised yet happy faces of her friends as it dawned on them that she and Titan were together.

Soon they were on their way, the red trucks speeding toward the fire, sirens wailing. Makenna felt exhilarated. She hoped no one was in danger, but knowing these men were on their way gave her assurance all would be well.

Soon they could see the black smoke billowing up from the treetops. “I wonder what caused it?” Makenna asked no one in particular. She was sitting in the back seat of the fire engine. Titan was driving, with Dallas in the front while she was in the back with Blaze. Hotshot was bringing up the rear, pulling a trailer with a dozer onboard. The rest of the men were on the tanker truck, which led the way.

Blaze watched out the window, mesmerized by the sight of all the smoke and the flames that could be seen shooting up from the tops of the trees. The fire appeared to be spreading fast. “Could be several things, someone burning brush, lightning—although there hasn’t been a storm—could be carelessness, even arson.”

There was no more time for conversation. The trucks turned down a small dirt road and stopped where there was a gate in the fence. Dallas hopped out and opened the gate, holding it while all three trucks made their way close enough to the fire to do their job.

Makenna could see the charred undergrowth. How could they fight such a big fire? On the way, she’d heard Titan put out the call for area help and as soon as they were parked, she could hear more sirens in the distance. The sound made her feel better, she wanted every precaution taken. Putting out the fire was important, but the safety of the firefighters was paramount also.

“You stay here, well out of the way,” Titan warned her, unrolling the hose. She gave him a smile, fully intending to follow his edict. There was a difference between orders given out of love and those given out of a need for control.

Climbing on the truck so she could see, Makenna watched their progress. The men used a combination of water and foam to fight the fire. Maverick climbed aboard the dozer and used the plow attachment to dig a ditch around the perimeter so the flames couldn’t advance. Even from the distance she stood, Makenna could feel the heat and her heart clenched knowing those men were right on top of it. She always worried about them, but being here and watching made her realize she’d never really understood what they went through to battle fires. When the mutual aid trucks arrived from neighboring communities, Makenna breathed a sigh of relief.

To help, she kept water ready, running to carry it to any man who neared. Keeping them hydrated was necessary and the least she could do. Whenever possible her eye was on Titan. The fire was fueled by rising winds and drought dried grass. Part of her wondered why they just didn’t plow the barrier and let it burn itself out, but she’d heard them discuss things like this at the meetings. People’s homes and properties were endangered, wildlife and nature were at risk. Controlled burns were one thing, but this was not that—this grass fire was dangerous and out of control.

At one point, things were looking up…until a call was received. There was another fire, a similar one about five miles south. Now, their resources had to be split.

Feeling helpless, Makenna watched the brave men fight, then go on to fight some more. She watched Titan like a hawk, nervous that fatigue would jeopardize his safety. After hours of heat, smoke and back-breaking labor, he was going to be dead on his feet. And all she could do was watch and worry.

When it was all over, the sun was down and the moon had risen. Fire had eaten up the day and several dozen acres. The Fire Marshal was on the scene with Titan, trying to determine the cause of the fires. They located the origin of the blaze but any evidence of how it was ignited had been destroyed. One thing was certain, however. The fires weren’t natural—someone or something had started them.

Arson.

Makenna was glad she was with Titan. He was big and he was strong, but even he had limits. To think he might have had to go home alone, if she hadn’t been there with him was almost unthinkable. Once they were back at Skyview, Makenna pampered him. She fed him and after he showered, she tended minor burns and scrapes. And then she took him to bed. He was exhausted, but at least he was safe. So, she held him tight until morning broke.

‡