by Cora Seton
He was instantly awake. “What is it, love?”
“Listen. Do you hear it?”
He tilted his head, then he jumped up, dressing as quickly as he could. “You stay here.”
“What is it?” She was up and dressing too, jeans and a T-shirt from the bag of clothes he’d brought.
“Stampede. Something spooked my cattle.”
Makenna was right behind him as he went out the door. “Oh, my God,” she murmured, frozen as she saw huge shadows of running cattle, all charging through the darkness, running right in front of the cabin. “Titan, be careful!”
“Stay there!” he commanded, running to the corral after his horse. This had never happened before. Titan didn’t stop to saddle or even bridle Valiant. He mounted him and slapped his hindquarters, sending him in a high jump over the fence. As he raced alongside his herd, his mind went to all of the movies he’d seen, things he’d read about stampedes. If his horse tripped and he was thrown in front of the pounding hooves, he’d be trampled. He remembered hearing of cattle running off cliffs, whole herds of buffalos running into a speeding train and knocking it completely off its tracks.
The Backbone was steep with drop-offs, if the herd kept on their current track, they’d come to a steep hill, covered in fist size rocks. He was afraid calves would be killed, thrown down and trampled by hundreds of others running over the top of them.
Leaning low over Valiant’s back, he urged him to go faster. He needed to get in front, to turn them to the right. If he didn’t, he could lose everything he had.
No, that wasn’t right. Even in his panicked state, he could reason this was not all he had. As of the last few days, he had something far more valuable.
He had Makenna.
Through a cloud of dust, he could see the heaving sides of the frantic beasts. Valiant was gaining on them, but he had no clue if one man could stop so many frightened animals. And then he had an idea…maybe a foolish idea, but it was all he had. “Freight Train!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. “Freight Train!”
Back at the cabin, Makenna stood and watched the last of the cattle run past. Staring out into the night, she strained to see the hulking shapes. Instead she saw…a man, a familiar silhouette. She gasped and stepped back into the house, slamming the door and locking it, terror swamping her like a rogue wave. Was it her imagination? Could it have been Damien?
She pressed against the wood, trying to hear any noises from outside, afraid to move. As she stood there, shaking like a leaf, the heavy pounding of a fist sounded to the left of the door. Makenna covered her mouth to stifle a scream. “Titan, Titan, I need you,” she whispered.
BOOM! Another blow a few feet down. And then another. Whoever was beating on the sides of the house was moving around it—to the back door! Adrenaline spiked in her blood, causing her feet to move. She ran across the room, trying to reach the other entrance before whoever was outside did. Sobs spilled from her lips as she cried, scrambling to find the lock with shaking fingers.
BOOM!
“Oh, God!” She felt nauseated. “What do you want?” she screamed.
BOOM! Was her answer. And she knew what he wanted.
Damien wanted her to die.
Makenna stepped back into the room as the door knob began to shake. “No, no!” she cried. “Go away!”
She listened, but no human voice accompanied the shaking or the scratching noises on the wooden surface. Had he caused the stampede just to make sure she was alone, that Titan wasn’t with her? Had Damien been watching them all this time?
BOOM!
“Titan!” Makenna screamed at the top of her lungs.
Chapter Nine
‡
Titan was walking Valiant back to the barn. His horse was winded. A cloud of dust obscured everything. His cattle were safe, at least the majority were. When the sun rose, he’d check to see if any had been injured or killed. His lead cow had come through. She’d heeded his call and turned the herd, breaking out and following the sound of his voice. Titan owed her an extra handful of nuggets. But what caused the stampede? He had no idea. When he was a few hundred yards from the house, he heard Makenna’s terrified voice.
“Titan!”
He broke into a run, dropping Valiant’s reins, heading toward the cabin at a dead-run. “Makenna!” He jumped up on the porch and pulled on the door handle only to find it locked. “Makenna! Baby, it’s me.” He dug in his pocket for the key, but the moment he inserted the key, she threw open the door and launched herself into his arms.
“What’s wrong?” He pulled her into his arms. She was quaking, trembling and crying.
“Someone was here. Beating on the walls.” With frantic fingers, she clutched at his shirt.
Titan hugged her tight, then tried to put her from him. “Who? Let me look around.” He started to walk away, but she grabbed him again. “It was Damien. When I was watching the stampede, I saw a figure. I could tell by his walk, by his shape. It was him!”
For the first time, Titan wished he had a gun. “What did he do?”
“He just walked around the cabin, beating on the walls.”
Titan felt helpless. “Here, lock yourself back in. I just need to put up Valiant.” Part of him wanted to head back to the house, but it was too early and too dark. Tomorrow he vowed to get to the bottom of this.
Makenna went back in, did as he said and waited for him. She didn’t even step very far into the cabin. In her imagination, Damien was lurking just on the other side of the wall, listening for her footsteps. When Titan came back, he said her name as he was letting himself in. “Makenna, honey, I’m here.”
As soon as he was in reach, she latched onto him. “I’m sorry, I may be going nuts.”
“Something sent my herd running madly over rocks and ridges.” He rubbed his face against hers. “Come lie down with me, I need to hold you.”
“What happened with the cattle?” She felt ashamed. “I should have asked first instead of freaking out and rushing into your arms the moment you walked through the door.”
“No, that’s what I’m here for,” he told her. “I want you to run to me. Always.”
As they undressed, Makenna asked him again. “What happened with the cattle? Are they okay?”
“Come sit with me while I wash up. I’m sweaty.” He went to turn on the shower, stripping off and grabbing a towel. “I was able to stop the cattle. I rode Valiant alongside them, trying to turn them. It wasn’t until I thought to call Freight Train and get her attention that I was able to slow them down. I won’t know the full extent of the damage till the sun comes up.”
She sat outside the shower while he washed off, thinking how wonderfully normal and domestic they would appear to an outside eye.
*
Despite the chaos of the night, Makenna woke up happy. She had slept safely nestled close to Titan’s rock-hard body. Kissing him on the side of the cheek, she rose to see if she could find coffee. Pulling a T-shirt over her head, she passed by the window. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of someone riding by.
Who would be on Titan’s land? Remembering all that had transpired, she was drawn to look out and make sure nothing else was going wrong or Damien wasn’t planning an ambush.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked toward him. He was coming toward her, stretching, a sleepy contented look on his face. “Come look.” She pointed out the window. “What in the world is that?”
“What do you see?” Titan joined her, not knowing what to expect. But what they saw made them rethink everything—for when they looked out the window it was to see a rag-tag band of Confederate soldiers riding by. Holding one another, they stared…until one by one, they became transparent and faded away.
In about an hour, they were on their way home. Trying to explain what they’d both seen was beyond their comprehension. “Were they ghosts?” Makenna asked, rubbing her arms, which were tingling with chill bumps.
Titan tied Luna’s
lead rope to Valiant’s saddle horn. After checking on the herd and riding the ridge where the stampede had taken place, he was glad to find there were no casualties. He’d also investigated outside the cabin and found footprints in the soft earth beneath the roof overhang. Whether or not they belonged to Damien, he had no way of knowing. But like Makenna, he suspected his ex-Captain.
“Ghosts?” Titan mounted, then held out his hand to bring Makenna up in front of him. “I don’t know about that, but I do think it was remnant, a memory. I’ve read how a place can be stained by events when the emotions involved are powerful.”
“But one of them looked right at me,” Makenna said, remembering the sad gray eyes of the young soldier.
Titan snorted. “Well, I don’t know. Did you think he was cute or something?”
Despite the tension they’d been under, Makenna giggled. “Are you jealous of a ghost, Titan Sloan?”
Cupping the side of her face, he turned her head so he could kiss her. “I’m jealous of the sun’s rays when they caress your skin.”
Makenna couldn’t speak for a moment, then she felt tears come to her eyes. “Titan, that was the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
Titan opened his mouth to see if he could say something else to make her smile when his pager sounded loudly.
“Oh no, is there a fire?” Makenna took the reins while he listened to the message. They weren’t too far from Titan’s place now.
“Yea, we need to hurry.” He urged Valiant to strike up a trot. “The alarm came from the nursing home.”
“Titan! No! How will they ever get everyone out?” She thought of all her friends, the elderly ladies and gentlemen who looked forward to her visits. Miss Rosa, Miss Ethel and Mr. Winfred. Some of them didn’t have family or their family never bothered to come around.
“The trucks are probably already on their way, we’ll get there as soon as we can,” he assured her.
She could tell he was anxious. “I’m slowing you down. Why don’t you let me ride Luna in and you go—”
“No, I’m not leaving you, not after last night.”
They hurried, barely taking time to get the horses in the barn before running for his truck and speeding to the fire. When they arrived, the central building was engulfed and fire was coming out of the windows of the west wing. The Hill Country Rest Facility was built in a standard pattern of four wings, one pointing each cardinal direction. “This is bad,” she whispered as Titan donned his gear stored on the main fire engine.
“I guess I don’t have to tell you to stay out here,” Titan warned as he ran to take his position.
“I’ll be safe,” she promised, but the truth was she was scared to death. In horror, she watched as the men worked the fire. She could see the nurses frantically bringing the residents out of the north wing, so she ran to them to see what she could do to help. Even in her haste, she tried to see if her friends had been rescued. She was relieved to see Miss Ethel, but not Miss Rosa. She knew how stubborn the little old lady could be. She never wanted to be a bother. There had been times she’d called Makenna at home to tell her she needed to be changed because she knew the nurses were too overworked to check on her often enough.
“Makenna!” A voice called to her and she turned. It was Mr. Winfred. “She’s still in there, Makenna. Rosa is still inside. They think they’ve evacuated everyone, but she’d rolled her wheelchair into the chapel. I’m afraid they didn’t check there.”
Looking around, she saw no one to ask for help. Titan was in the building, trying to bring out everyone he could. Every man was at their station, and more units from other communities were arriving. Even so, there was no time to waste. Not wasting another moment in debate, Makenna ran into the smoke filled hallway. She knew the facility backward and forward, so she knew which doorway to take that led to the chapel. The farther she ran, the harder it became to breathe. Soon she was coughing every breath. Still, she pressed on.
CRASH!
Part of the ceiling fell, exposing air conditioning pipes and water pipes. Makenna dodged, hanging her shirt on one and ripping the material. “Oh!” she cried as a sharp edge cut into her skin. “Miss Rosa!” she cried. “Can you hear me?” Holding her shoulder, blood ran down her arm. “Miss Rosa!”
“Here, I’m in here.”
Makenna heard her weak cry. Placing a hand over her mouth to keep as much of the fumes from her lungs as she could, she ran to the chapel. Sitting in her wheelchair, the old lady was prevented from moving because one of her wheels was hung on a rug “Miss Rosa! Are you all right?”
“I’m about to be roasted like a marshmallow,” she muttered, sputtering.
Though their circumstances were dire, Makenna laughed. “I think it’s time we got you out of here.” Taking the chair by the handles, she began to push her out into the hall. They didn’t go far before the hall was blocked by the fallen debris. Having no other choice, Makenna helped her up and they began making slow progress toward the door. “We’ll make it, I promise.”
On one side, flames were licking up the wall and the wound on her shoulder was bleeding profusely now. Makenna prayed as they made their way to safety.
“Makenna! Where’s Makenna?” Titan had stopped briefly for a water break, expecting to find her waiting on him. But she was nowhere to be found. “Makenna!” he yelled, trying to make himself heard over the pandemonium.
“She went inside.”
Titan whirled to see an older gentleman speaking to him. “What did you say?” he asked with disbelief.
“She went inside after Rosa.”
“God, no.” Titan turned, about to head in when he saw her making her way out. Running to her, he caught the old lady just before she fell. “What are you trying to do, kill me?” he yelled.
Makenna could see he was worried. It just made her love him more. “I had to help,” was all she managed to say before she fainted.
*
“Will she need blood?” Titan asked Doc Procter as he stitched up the cut in Makenna’s shoulder.
“I don’t think so.” The doctor finished the last stitch. “Her heart rate is good. Her lungs aren’t damaged. I think she just got too hot.” He stood and looked at Titan. “Of course, if she ever does and you’re with her, make sure the attendants know she has a rare blood type, the same as yours.”
Titan looked shocked. “I didn’t know. At least there’s a supply kept in storage here for me. I want you to make sure she’s added to the list to use it.”
The doctor smiled. “She knows. Who do you think donated it for you?”
“Makenna,” Titan whispered. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Kiss me,” she murmured.
Hearing her speak, Titan jumped to her side. “I ought to paddle your butt. Don’t you ever scare me like that again!” He kissed her. “Do you hear me?” He kissed her again.
“Hold me tight.” She wrapped her arms around him and he lifted her close, following her directions to a T.
As soon as he could take her home he did, placing her in his truck like she would break at the least little jolt. “How do you feel?”
“With my fingers,” she said, dryly.
He rolled his eyes. “Smart ass.”
“You like my ass.”
“Yes, I do,” he agreed. “I think your pain meds have kicked in, suddenly you’re a comedian.”
“No,” she sighed, “I’m just happy we’re both alive.”
“Me too.” He went around and climbed in the driver’s side, shutting the door and starting the truck. “Do you want to get a hamburger on the way home?”
“Could we get it to go?” she asked. “I just want to go home and cuddle with you on the couch.”
“Sounds good to me,” he agreed.
As they drove toward the burger joint, Makenna began to feel sick. “Damien knew how I felt about the nursing home, Titan. I think you all need to take that into consideration.” No one had died, but to think she was ultimately responsi
ble for all the cost and devastation was paralyzing.
“I already thought about it,” Titan admitted. “The Fire Marshal knows what to look for. We’re just dealing with a much bigger area. The guys told me when they arrived the fire seemed to originate from more than one place.”
He pulled up to the front of the small café. “Fries?”
“Tater tots.” She grinned at him. “And extra pickles.”
“Sure thing. You’re not pregnant, are you?” He teased, shutting the door before she could answer.
It was probably a good thing he had walked off, he didn’t hear her squeal. “Oh, my God!” She certainly could be pregnant. She wasn’t on birth control and they had done absolutely nothing to prevent pregnancy. When Damien had slept with her, he’d always insisted on a condom. In his sick mind, Makenna had never been quite good enough for him, nor clean enough. Her period wasn’t heavy, and she wasn’t terribly regular. So, she tried to think back to when her last period had actually come. “Allie, Allie, I need to talk to you.” Makenna dug in her purse for her cell phone. When her friend answered, she just started yelling. “I can’t believe this! I might be pregnant! How are you?”
Allie started laughing. “Sounds like I’m better than you. Are you pregnant?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t taken a test. I just realized I’ve been having unprotected sex.”
“With Titan.”
“Yes, with Titan.”
“You lucky woman.”
Makenna laughed. “True.”
“And if you are pregnant, is that such a bad thing?”
“Well, no.” She took a deep breath. “Although I’m not so sure Titan would agree.”
“Have you asked him?”
“No, I just thought about it,” she confessed. “We’ve been at another fire. This time it was the nursing home.”