Texas CHAOS (Texas Heroes Book 2) (4 page)

“Grab some extra SCBA’s. We’re not sure what we’re up against.” Logan yelled.

“How was Jenna’s birthday? Did she like the truck?” Chris asked as everyone pulled on their gear.

Logan didn’t stop what he was doing. “It was good, and yea, I think she did like it.” He answered succinctly as he flipped on the radio to listen for further updates.

“Who’s Jenna?” Ronan asked, coming up behind them. “Is that your girl, Chief?”

“Uh, no.” Logan shook his head.

Chris laughed. “The Chief is Jenna’s guardian.” He elbowed Logan. “She’s too young for him, more our age.”

Logan growled. “She’s off limits to all of you.” While Chris’ words were true, that didn’t make them any easier to hear. Letting his instincts and professional training take over, he cried out, “Let’s roll!”

As the big red fire engine roared out of the station and headed west, Logan kept his eyes focused on the horizon. When this was over he needed to have a heart to heart with Jenna, make her understand that whatever she was feeling wasn’t real…it couldn’t be.

The crack that Chris had made about Jenna being too young for him wasn’t meant to be hurtful, but it had hurt. Myra’s words from two years ago came back to haunt him. In a way, she’d been wrong. No one had made any noise about Jenna living at his place. Mainly because he’d made damn sure that no one had a reason to. But that didn’t prevent his feelings for her from growing each day. What had started out as affection when she was off-limits, a minor, had grown along with her, maturing into absolute adoration.

Logan loved Jenna.

Completely. Utterly. He wanted her so much that he laid awake at night and shook with the need to make her his. Every time he was with her, he struggled to keep his hands off of her. And today…when she kissed him.

God have mercy.

What if she really did have genuine feelings for him? The possibility was almost more than he could comprehend. Hell - if he had his way, he’d sweep her away to some deserted island where there would be no one to judge and make love with her for days. Neither one of them would be able to walk when they were through.

But that wasn’t going to happen.

Because he was responsible. It wouldn’t be the best thing for Jenna. She deserved someone her own age, someone who shared all of her interests. Not someone old enough to be her father…no matter how much he would cherish her. A warm flow of air hit him in the face as they traveled nearer to the warehouse. Logan let the breeze blow his thoughts away so he could focus on the job at hand.

* * *

Knowing where her priorities lay, Jenna had no problem sending Butch packing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to lead you on.” She had walked with him back to his guest cabin, in a group, with two other couples.

The tall soldier put a hand on the wall behind her. “If you give me a chance, you might enjoy it.”

His nearness made Jenna uncomfortable, not in an excited way, his bulk seemed smothering. Nothing like the way Logan made her feel. “I don’t think so, thanks.”

“It’s that other guy, isn’t it? The cowboy?”

Jenna didn’t answer. She didn't have to; her blush gave her away.

“I didn’t realize it at first, but the way you lit up when you saw him, no one could miss that.” Butch lifted his hand and tried to stroke her cheek, but Jenna evaded the gesture. “That older fella is bit too intense, if you ask me.”

Ducking out from under his arm, Jenna began to move away. “Well, no one asked you. And Logan is the best person in the world.”

Butch held up his hands in surrender. “All right. If you change your mind, I’m here for two more days.”

His voice rang in her head as she left. Agreeing to see Butch had been a mistake, she realized that. After Logan told her he had a date and suggested she find someone of her own to spend time with, she’d followed his instructions – not out of any desire to meet anyone new. No, she’d done it in a misplaced attempt to give Logan exactly what he asked for. And she got a reaction from him, no doubt about that. The only problem was that Jenna just didn’t know what the reaction meant. Was he jealous or was he just being over-protective – again?

Hanging her head, Jenna moved through the darkness, her footsteps sounding as she crunched leaves still on the wooded path from last fall. The security lights created circles of illumination, islands of safety. As many times as she’d explored these woods, the shadows always made her nervous. The guest cabins were some distance from the main house and barn complex, where the stock was managed. They were closer in distance to the foreman’s cabin where Logan stayed.

Drawn as if by an invisible thread, she strolled to the band of trees framing the boundary between the pasture and the yard. His truck wasn’t there. She sighed. He must still be out on the call. She wished she knew where he was and if he was all right. Jenna worried each and every time he went to fight a fire or perform a rescue. Standing there, she gazed at the cabin. A porch ran the length of the front and wrapped around the two sides. It wasn’t a fancy home, white clapboard siding and a shingle roof wasn’t the norm in this part of the world. Stone houses with ceramic tile roofs were far more common. This was a more conservative type of residence. But that didn’t matter to Jenna. What drew her to this place wasn’t the style or the amenities, it was the resident. She stared at the welcoming glow from the window and imagined how it would be to live there with him, to make a home with Logan – fix his meals, keep him company – God, warm his bed.

“You may have him fooled, but I can see right through you.”

Jenna jumped at the voice behind her. Terra McMurphy, Logan’s date, had come upon her in the night. “I thought Earl gave you a ride. Do you still need one?” She tried to be polite. After all, Gray Wolf was her home. It was her place to serve as a hostess.

“I turned him down. I’ll find my own way home, in my own time.” Terra slunk up next to her, or at least that’s the way it seemed to Jenna. “Logan is too much man for you. You’ll never be able to hold his interest.”

Jenna bristled. “You don’t know anything. I understand Logan’s world.” She got right in the other woman’s face. “I live in it.”

“But you’re not in his bed. Are you?” With a laugh, she turned away and disappeared in the gloom.

“And neither are you by the looks of it,” Jenna whispered. She waited until her rival’s footsteps faded into the distance. Now the only sounds she could hear were night birds and the ripple of the water running over the rocks in the creek. The sound of the white water was almost as noisy as the thoughts in her head. Jenna's mind was whirling. All day she’d practiced what she was going to say to Logan. This was her eighteenth birthday. In her mind, it was a milestone. Before today, Jenna knew there was a barrier between her and the man she loved. He was a gentleman, a man of honor. He’d no more take advantage of her, than he would rob a bank. But that barrier was down. Gone. She’d reached the magic number. Eighteen. Now, there was nothing standing between them. And she intended to make him aware that she was ready, willing and able to take the next step.

Taking her time, she walked carefully by Logan's house toward the front of the property. She imagined that he was inside waiting for her. They were married and soon they'd cuddle in front of the TV before he carried her to bed. With a shiver of awareness, Jenna wrapped her arms around herself. Logan wanted her...or she was almost sure he did. At times it seemed as if the attraction between them was so intense, she could feel the heat on her skin. Sometimes she would catch him staring at her with a look in his eyes that spoke to her heart. As far as she was concerned, she and Logan were destined to be together. He was her soulmate, her destiny. Jenna was as sure of this as she was her own name.

When she came to the edge of the woods, Jenna sat down on a rock by the big wagon wheel that leaned on the front rail fence where she could see down the highway in the direction Logan would be coming from. Climbing up on a big rock, she settled herself down to wait. He’d said they would talk and she was going to be ready when he arrived. Every time car lights appeared, Jenna straightened up. But as the hours wore on, it became obvious that he wasn’t coming home tonight. Could he have gone to Terra's? She shook her head, mentally dispelling the thought.

“Hey, want some company?”

Jenna jumped. It was Dixie. “You scared me.” She put a hand to her heart.

“One of the hands saw you come this way. I didn’t want to leave until I talked to you.” Scooting over, Jenna made room for her friend to sit beside her.

“I’m glad you did.” Jenna smiled. “Your time around the barrels was great tonight. Congratulations on your win.”

“Thanks.” Dixie laid back and stared up at the stars. “What are you doing out here in the dark?”

“Waiting on Logan, but I don’t think he’s coming back tonight.”

“Oh, he’s not.” Dixie sat up quickly. “The man who told me where you were, Robert…what’s his name?”

“Robert Warrick, the ranch foreman.” Jenna was listening intently. “What did he say?”

“Yea, Warrick. He said there was some problem with one of the trailers that was carrying stock to a rodeo up north around Tyler. It broke down and Logan has driven up to make sure it gets fixed.”

“Well, dang.” Jenna whispered. “I guess there’s no use sitting here.” He didn’t even call and tell her he wasn’t coming. Heck, he didn’t even really commit to talking tonight. She'd just assumed – or hoped. “I wanted to thank him again for my birthday present.”

“What did he get you? I never got a chance to ask.”

Jenna smiled. “A brand new, snow white Ford pickup!”

“No way!” Dixie yelled. “Oh, my God! You lucky girl, you.”

“That I am,” she agreed, but it wasn’t the truck she was thanking her lucky stars for.” Seeing how tired her friend looked, she grabbed Dixie’s hand. “Why don’t you stay the night here instead of driving back into Austin?” Jenna asked, needing the company. “We could have a slumber party.”

“Really?” Dixie asked, brightening. “You don’t think the Gray’s would mind?”

“Oh, not at all. Come on.” She got up and started down the path. “I’m hungry. What time is it anyway?”

“A little after eleven, not too late.” Dixie fell in step with her as they walked toward the main house. All of the rodeo crowd was gone. No one was about but ranch hands and guests and they had retired to their respective quarters. “You’re great, you know. There’s no reason you couldn’t be performing on the circuit.”

“Really?” Jenna knew she had no aspirations to leave Gray Wolf. Her trick-riding fulfilled a need to insert herself in Logan’s world. She loved to be with Stormy and the challenge of performing the complicated maneuvers was fun – but doing anything with them other than entertaining the hometown crowd was beyond her comfort zone. Jenna was a homebody and Logan was her home. “Do you think so?”

“Yea, there are groups out there, performing troupes who entertain at rodeos and parades. Women with talents such as you have are in high demand.” Dixie held up a branch as they walked underneath it.

“I don’t know…” Jenna muttered, not really wanting to spill her secrets and confess her love to her friend when she hadn't even told Logan yet.

“I know, I understand,” Dixie giggled. “I’m not clueless.”

“About what?” Jenna tried to sound sincere, but when Dixie snorted, she caved. “I’m not very subtle, I guess.”

“No, I can see the signs. I’ve had man trouble before.”

Dixie’s sad voice made Jenna glance her way. “Want to talk about it?”

“Someday,” she said as they stepped up on the front porch of the main house. “Now, how about raiding the refrigerator?”

Jenna led the way into Louisa's country kitchen and soon they were munching on pickles, chips and BBQ sandwiches at the kitchen table. There was no noise from upstairs, so Jenna assumed Earl and Louisa was sound asleep. Dixie made herself at home, checking out everything from the gingham curtains over the window by the sink to the family pictures spread out on the hearth.

“They made me a part of the family.” Jenna said as her friend looked at picture after picture, many which included her. There were even a few of her real mom and dad on display. The Grays always encouraged her to remember her parents and Jenna loved them for being so thoughtful. Logan had worked tirelessly until he cleared her father’s name. The fire was ruled to have been an accident, faulty wiring was the cause.

“You’re lucky. You’ve had two wonderful families.” Dixie didn’t say so, but her implication was that she hadn’t had even one. “So, tell me about this hunk you’re in love with. Logan Gray, Fire Chief, Cowboy and Mr. Sex-on-a-Stick.”

Jenna was taking a sip of milk to wash down a bite of Oreo. “What?” she coughed, a bit choked. “I didn't say anything about it being Logan.”

“Don’t lie to me, girl.” Dixie leaned on the table, her eyes twinkling at Jenna. “I wasn't born yesterday.”

“Ah, okay.” Jenna glanced up the stairs to make sure no one was coming. “Logan rescued me when our house was burning down. A full-fledged heroic deed with him on the ladder and me jumping into his arms. He saved my life and promised me that everything would be okay.”

“Wow, I can see why you’d develop a crush on someone like that.”

“Oh, it wasn’t a crush,” Jenna explained, bringing her feet up in the chair and wrapping both arms around her knees. “At first, he was like this big, powerful sanctuary. A place where I could hide and be safe. He brought me here, to this house. They made me feel a part of the family.” She rose and walked around, letting her fingers graze the granite counter top. “This is Logan’s house, not his parents. They moved here to help out with the ranch after Mr. Earl retired from the military. When I came, Logan moved from here to a smaller house on the property so I’d have all the space I needed. They include me in every part of their life - holidays, vacations. I wanted for nothing. It was almost a year before I received any insurance from my father’s policy and even then, they had me put the money away in a savings account.”