by Cora Seton
They didn’t have to ask, Hotshot had radioed ahead.
“We didn’t see her, Chief. If she’s there, she’s buried beneath the rubble.”
Titan turned on him, almost attacking him in his incomprehensible sorrow. The horse whinnied and danced on its feet, its remaining at the scene untethered a statement of its loyalty.
Standing there, staring at the destruction, Titan felt hopeless. He’d lost the most important thing in the world to him. And…the baby! He’d lost her and their child. “No, God, no!” he shouted to the heavens, then bowed his head in utter inconsolable grief.
“Maybe she’s not there, Titan. Maybe she escaped.” Maverick shadowed him, trying to offer his friend something to hold on to.
Titan stared at the cabin, remembering the time they’d spent together here. “Damien said she was tied up.” His heart sank at the idea.
“We need to go back, Chief.” Maverick touched his arm. “There’s nothing you can do here till it cools off where we can search.”
His radio sounded again. Titan raised it to his ear slowly. He had lost all heart to fight. “Sloan. Go ahead.”
“Your cattle are safe and we’ve plowed a barrier. You won’t lose your house.”
Titan recognized Ronan’s voice. He sounded so happy, he thought he had good news. Ronan had no idea that Titan would give everything he had just to hear the sound of her voice.
“Titan?”
Titan’s whole body clenched. He was hearing things.
“Titan?”
There it was again. Bracing, Titan turned—and there she was. Black soot on her face. Her hair was askew. Her clothes were torn. She was the most beautiful sight he’d ever beheld in his life.
“Makenna,” he whispered, staring, trying to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
“Go to her man, she’s waiting. She needs you.”
Maverick didn’t have to tell Titan twice. He mounted his horse, clicked the reins and rode toward her. When he drew nearer, she held up her arms and Titan pulled her to safety.
“Titan!” she cried, her arms going around his neck. “He did this. He destroyed your ranch. I’m so sorry. It was my fault. He was trying to kill me.”
Titan buried his face in her neck. “You’re alive.” He raised his head and kissed her with all the love in his heart. “You’re alive and that’s all that matters, you and the baby are safe.”
“You know!” She wiped her tears. “You found my note and the test.”
“Yes,” he said, trying to control his horse, who was still spooked from the chaos. “Let me get you to safety and then we’ll talk.”
She clung to him as he carried her out of the danger zone. All around him, the waste of the wildfire proclaimed the work of a madman. But he had all that mattered in his arms. As the cowboy/firefighter rode by, his friends saluted him. Today the hero had prevailed.
When they arrived back at the house, he helped her down, reluctant to let her go for even a moment. “Are you hurt?” He began to run his hands over her face, her arms, her body.
“No, just a few scratches and scrapes.” She smiled at him. “Titan, you’re shaking.” Her big, powerful giant of a man was shaking.
Titan sank to his knees and pressed his lips to the soft flesh beneath her breasts. “I thought you were dead. He told me you were dead. He said he’d tied you up and set the fires so the cabin was in their path.”
She cradled him to her, taking off his hat so she could kiss his head. “The knife you made for me, I had it in my back pocket, Titan. I cut myself free.” In her arms she felt him tremble. “Then I ran to the springs and hid in the cave from the fire.” She kissed him again. “I was safe. You gave me what I needed to be safe.”
Titan stood to his feet and picked Makenna up. His heart was near to bursting. “You’re my everything, Makenna. I would never want to live without you.” He kissed her. “You and our baby are my world.”
Chapter Thirteen: Epilogue
‡
After the fire was put out, the rains came. In a few days, Titan and Makenna rode out to survey the damage. “We’ll have to feed the cattle hay and grain for the rest of the year.”
“Can we make it?” she asked.
“Piece of cake,” he assured her. Compared to what they’d been through, compared to the prospect of losing her—nothing seemed insurmountable. Damien was behind bars and Makenna was safe with him.
When they arrived back at the house, a brown mail delivery truck was waiting. “They’re here!” he announced happily.
“What’s here?” Makenna asked as she watched Titan dismount and stride over to accept a package.
“He left me up here,” she grumbled, becoming amused at herself as she tried to get down off the tall horse.
“Be careful, baby!” He grabbed her just before her feet hit the ground. This was becoming a habit.
“What’s in the box?” she asked with curiosity. He looked like the big cat that ate the canary.
“Come in and I’ll show you.”
Like a kid with a really good secret, he herded her toward the door. When she was inside, sitting on his couch, he sat beside her. “Give me your knife.” He held out his hand.
“I’m never without it.” She took it from her pocket and offered it to him, lying in the palm of her hand.
He smiled, cutting the tape and pulling the top off. “Now cover your eyes.”
She did, listening to him moving around. “What are you doing?”
“Proposing.”
“Titan!” she squealed, removing one hand and holding it out, keeping her eyes covered with the other one.
“Now what are you doing?” he asked her teasingly.
“Uh, usually men ask for a woman’s ‘hand’ in marriage…” she spoke uncertainly.
“I don’t need your hand,” Titan spoke slowly.
“No?”
“I need your pretty little foot.”
She felt him pick up one leg, his big hand holding her right above the ankle. He slipped off her shoe. “What are you doing?”
Makenna felt something being placed on her foot, then he began to do the same with the other leg. “Makenna Tess Flynn,” he said her name reverently when he was finished. “Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?”
Opening her eyes, she looked down and on her feet was the beautiful pair of white cowboy boots she’d imagined wearing to their wedding. Tears came out of nowhere. “You are the perfect man.” She cupped his cheek, kissing his sweet lips. “Yes, yes, I will marry you. I want nothing more in this world than to belong to you.”
“You already do,” he whispered. “You always have.” He sat back, smiling at her. “I ordered the boots right after you told me about them. I want to marry you at the vineyard and I want you to wear these boots and a beautiful white dress. And don’t worry, you’ll still get a ring.”
Slipping from her seat, she joined him on her knees. “All I want is you. I love you, Titan Sloan. I love you more than my heart can hold.” She threw her arms around his neck and Titan clasped her close, closing his eyes.
Dreams do come true. He had the proof in his arms.
The End
If you liked TEXAS WILDFIRE – Book 2 of TEXAS HEROES will be:
TEXAS C.H.A.O.S.
The letters C. H. A. O. S. don’t just refer to reality out of control, it’s an alert – the Chief Has Arrived On Scene! Logan Gray is that chief. He covers the ground he stands on and people show respect when he walks by. At 38, Logan is a confirmed bachelor. While he may adore the young Jenna from afar, at 20, he considers her to be a lifetime too young for him.
Jenna is of another opinion. Logan Gray is everything to her. He rescued her from a fire at 16. His parents took her in when she had nothing and no one. Raised on his Gray Wolf guest ranch, Jenna learns how to trick-ride and perform in the rodeo. When Logan’s not looking, she even loves to try her hand at bull-riding. And now, she is ready to go after what she wants most – Logan Gray.
; Ignoring the fact that his heart and body craves Jenna like a drug, Logan does what he thinks is best and gently turns her down. What happens next turns his world on end. Logan learns that love can’t be defined by a number and life without Jenna is no life at all.
Here’s the link to the series.
sablehunter.com/texas-heroes.html
About the Author
Sable Hunter writes romance, some of it quite spicy. She writes what she likes to read and enjoys putting her fantasies on paper. Her stories are emotional reads where the heroine is faced with challenges, like one of her favorite songs – she’s holding out for a hero – and boy, can she deliver a hero. Her aim is to write a story that will make you laugh, cry and sweat. If she can wring those emotions out of a reader, then she has done her job.
She has spent time in south Louisiana along the mysterious bayous where the Spanish moss hangs thickly over the dark waters. The culture of Louisiana has shaped her outlook on life and made its way into her novels where the supernatural is entirely normal. Presently, Sable lives in Texas and spends most of her time in wild and wonderful Austin. She is passionate about animals and has been known to charm creatures from a one ton bull to a family of raccoons. For fun, Sable has been known to haunt cemeteries and battlefields armed with night-vision cameras and digital recorders hunting proof that love survives beyond the grave.
Join her in her world of magic, alpha heroes, sexy cowboys and hot, steamy, to-die-for sex. Step into the shoes of her heroines and escape to places where dreams can come true and orgasms only come in multiples.
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Sable’s Books
Get hot and bothered!!!
Hell Yeah!
Cowboy Heat
Hot on Her Trail
Her Magic Touch
Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Badass
Burning Love
Forget Me Never
I’ll See You In My Dreams
Finding Dandi
Skye Blue
I’ll Remember You
True Love’s Fire
Thunderbird
Welcome To My World
How to Rope a McCoy
One Man’s Treasure
You Are Always on My Mind
Moon Magic Series
A Wishing Moon
Sweet Evangeline
Hill Country Heart Series
Unchained Melody
Scarlet Fever
Bobby Does Dallas
Dixie Dreaming
Come With Me
Pretty Face
Texas Heat Series
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
My Aliyah
El Camino Real Series
A Breath of Heaven
Loving Justice
For A Hero
Green With Envy (It’s Just Sex Book 1)
Love’s Magic Spell
Wolf Call
Cowboy 12 Pack: Twelve-Novel Boxed Set
Rogue (The Sons of Dusty Walker)
Be My Love Song
Hot in the Saddle
Heroes in the Saddle, Book 1
Randi Alexander
‡
“HOT IN THE SADDLE”
Copyright © 2015 Randi Alexander
*~*~*~*
Edited by E Felder
*~*~*~*
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to place of purchase and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the web – without permission in writing from the author.
Chapter One
‡
Treven Arnett pulled his white straw cowboy hat down tighter on his head as a breeze blew across the infield of Wild Oak Speedway. The roar of the super stock cars’ engines surrounded him as drivers jockeyed for the lead in the race’s final laps. Dirt track racing had become his favorite live sport now that this part of Texas had installed its very own oval.
He’d volunteered to serve on the firefighting crew today, and had put in his hours during the morning race. Despite all the work he needed to get done at his ranch, here he sat, sipping a beer with another off-duty firefighter, watching the end of the race.
“One more, buddy?” Treven’s friend Clint reached into his cooler and pulled out a can of brew, water dripping from both the beer and Clint’s hand.
Treven could almost taste another ice cold pilsner slipping down his throat, but he shook his head. He needed to get home and get some work done. “Thanks, but I should get moving. The horses don’t breed themselves.”
Clint laughed as he opened the beer then ran his wet fingers through his short blond hair. “Not in this day and age, they don’t.”
The dozen thoroughbreds Treven owned and/or stabled on his property three miles away kept him busy and in property-tax and vet-bill money, but he had to work his ass off twelve to sixteen hours a day, most days.
“Ms. Delta Pennington.” The announcer’s voice blared from the speakers. “Our southern belle in the number thirteen car has taken third place from Randy Vinter, and is moving up fast to challenge Beau Trudeaux for second.”
Treven had gotten a peek at the lovely Ms. Delta as she’d inspected her car before the race. With her sunglasses on, he couldn’t see her trademark eyes, but her brown hair touched her shoulders in thick layers, and those sexy bangs blew around her forehead. She’d looked at him for long moments, nodded, then moved on.
Delta being the first woman to compete on this new track, Treven hoped she’d take first, or at least one of the top positions. He liked that she went after her passion in a male-centered world like stock car racing.
Treven stood. “I’m gonna make my way out.” He needed to cross the oval to get to the parking lot where emergency responders left their vehicles. “See you next weekend.”
“Next weekend, not before.” Clint responded, his blue eyes going serious.
Treven got moving, his boots kicking up dust as he strode across the newly-planted grass. The Wild Oak volunteer firefighters kept good karma coming their way by never admitting there might be another chance to see each other—like a fire at a local home or business.
The race cars circled the track for the second-from-last lap. As he walked, Treven rolled down the sleeves on his blue denim shirt and buttoned them, figuring he’d stop and pick up a few dozen bales of hay on his way home.
Nearing the oval, he slowed and waited, not stupid enough to cross the track until the race was over.
“Oh, lordy, look at that!” The announcer’s voice squeaked.
Treven swiveled his head as a car spun into the infield about fifty yards from him. He prepared to bolt one way or the other, but the dark blue car with yellow lettering slid to a stop.
Then exploded.
“Fuck!” He ran toward it as flames shot out the side windows.
“Aw, folks.” The announcer shouted. “That’s Delta Pennington’s car.”
Sirens blared and in his peripheral vision, Treven saw people running toward him, but no one was near enough to help.
He was on his own.
He threw off his hat as he skidded around the front of the vehicle, ran to the driver’s window, and heard choking coming from inside.
She was still alive, but engulfed in flames.
He didn’t have gloves with him, not the ones he’d been wearing earlier when he was on duty, nor the ones he’d be using for hay later. Nothing to cover his bare hands or his face.
Taking a deep breath, he removed the net from the window and reached inside the car anyway.
Hot, blistering flames—his hands would be a mess, but he could do this.
Heat licked at his face, singeing his skin as his fingers found the five-point harness release and pushed.
Nothing. Had it melted shut?
No, wait, this was a latch variety. He felt for the piece of webbing that would release it, tugged on it…
A click sounded and she was free.
Treven grabbed the shoulders of her fire suit and pulled. She was lighter than he’d imagined. At just a few inches shorter than his five-foot ten inches, she’d been a strong-looking woman when he’d seen her earlier in her yellow and blue fire suit. The one that curved over her nice behind.
He pulled his thoughts back from wherever the hell they’d just gone and focused on tugging her out the window, into his arms, and keeping her limp body from hitting the ground.
Her helmet banged against his cheek as he pulled her higher against his chest, spun, and ran as fast as he could. That gas tank could go any second. Why hadn’t it already? And why was the interior of the car on fire when the tank hadn’t gone up? And why hadn’t he at least paused before he’d rushed in to save her to consider that he could be blown to his eternal reward?
The firetruck reached the car, and half the firefighters that jumped off came running his way with their med bags.