by Sable Hunter
“How the hell are you, big man?” Hotshot asked with concern.
“We can’t turn our back on you for a minute,” Maverick muttered.
By the time he’d reassured his friends, the Captain was gone and Titan had a bad feeling he didn’t really understand.
* * *
For the next week, Titan took it easy, puttering around his ranch and allowing his back to heal. Tammie called to check on him, reminding him about their date in a few days. “I remember. I’ll be by to pick you up at seven. I’m on call, though, so don’t forget I might have to leave at any time.” If she discerned the lack of enthusiasm in his response, Tammie said nothing.
Being a volunteer member of the fire department as well as the search and rescue team was different than being a full-time employee in the field. In rural communities like theirs, neighbors had to band together and do whatever needed to be done. So he lived his life, taking care of his land and cattle until the fire alarm sounded and if it was where he could go, Titan sprang into action. It was the same with all the volunteers. They each had careers, held down jobs—be it ranchers, business owners, construction workers or whatever. Most of them could respond easier at night but there were those, like Titan, who usually could turn loose of what he was doing during the day to help someone in need.
While he was injured, it was a different story. Right now fighting fires was out of the question, as was dangling from the end of a helicopter cable. He couldn’t risk people’s lives and livelihoods by being less than a hundred percent. Thank goodness there were things he could do around the ranch, chores he could manage until the burns healed enough that he didn’t have to go into town once a day to have the dressings changed at the clinic. It was times like this when he missed having a wife or at least a steady girlfriend to keep him company. All wasn’t lost. He might not be able to do any blacksmithing until he healed, but he could ride his horse and drive his tractor, move hay with the fork lift and check on his livestock.
Right now he was sitting atop Valiant, his big red Quarter Horse, traversing Lookout Ridge. His stock was grazing below on grass he’d planted in the winter. Despite the heavy rains they’d had in May, they were right back in drought conditions in August. The rocky soil just didn’t retain enough water. That’s why he always planted Bahia grass. It seemed to thrive when nothing else would. “Easy, boy,” he spoke low to his horse, who’d stepped on a loose rock and set off a mini-avalanche of fist size pieces of limestone skittering down the steep hill. Several of the Angus glanced toward him, as if to ascertain whether or not they should stampede or go back to chewing their cud. Seeing Titan appear to be unaffected by the sudden noise, they returned to their business. This made Titan smile. People seriously underestimated the intelligence of cattle. He’d seen them open gates, come to the aid of calves stuck in the mud and even play a game with an old ball one had found in the pasture. That was why he raised breeding stock. He enjoyed a good steak as much as the next fellow, but he drew the line at eating someone he ‘knew’. Titan chuckled at his own thoughts.
Oh well, most would think him to be a bit sensitive…until they got a good look at him. Titan was a former body builder, his biceps measured nineteen inches around and he had a nine-pack of abs that could sub as a rubboard if necessary. Competing, and winning, had been the way he’d put himself through college. He had made it on his own since high school. His parents would have given him the money, they were successful people. Being independent and on his own was important to him. As for as the body building was concerned, Titan didn’t practice the lifestyle any longer, the regiment was just too strict. Nowadays he kept his muscles intact with just a good workout, honest labor and hard work.
“Let’s go, Val.” He nudged the stallion with his knee and they headed down the hill. He picked his way between the juniper trees, whistling a low tune to keep himself company. Titan loved his ranch. He’d acquired it six years ago from his uncle, his father’s brother. His folks lived in Austin, but he’d spent many happy childhood days on this ranch. When his uncle Brad decided to sell, Titan had been ready to commit.
The sign over the gate read ‘Skyview’, and he thought the name fit. The sky was big here. A limestone ridge stretched twenty miles through the Backbone. At 1270 feet above sea level, his ranch was surrounded by canyons and valleys. Looking out over the vast landscape, it was easy to believe just about anything was possible. And he wasn’t referring to ghosts—he was thinking about Makenna and the future.
He hadn’t seen her since the night he’d been in the hospital. One day last week, Blaze had brought by some cookies for him that she’d sent to the station. He said she’d whispered to him that if he’d bring them by Titan’s ranch, she’d appreciate it. Her making cookies for the men was nothing unusual. She was always doing things for people, and she was always low-key, giving the unit the credit instead of taking any for herself. He liked to think the cookies might mean she felt something for him. But as wife of their Captain, he knew this was all too normal for Makenna.
From the moment they’d met, Titan knew he was playing a dangerous game with himself. He could’ve walked away and let someone else take his place, found some other way he could serve the community. Remove himself from temptation. Instead, he’d chosen to stay, knowing he was helplessly attracted to a woman he could never have. A woman he couldn’t even hint he had feelings for.
Titan pushed his summer Stetson back on his head, wiping the dampness from his hairline. His memory from the other night after the fire was a bit hazy, but he thought he might’ve said something he shouldn’t have—or at least started to say it. Now he was worrying. Damien had acted strange, but it wasn’t jealousy. He just couldn’t pinpoint what the man had been getting at when he said he’d have to ‘straighten’ Makenna out.
Lost in thought, when Titan finally noticed his surroundings, he discovered Valiant had carried him home. He loved his house. It wasn’t huge, a split-level ranch style made from local stone and cedar. Titan had built it with his own hands. Heading his mount into the red two-story barn, he made sure the stallion was settled with fresh oats and water. Trying to figure out what he was going to fix himself for supper, he finally decided to grab takeout when he went into town to have Meg check his dressing. The doctor had wanted him to stay another day or two in the hospital to avoid infection, but since he refused to go along with that, he’d finally compromised with the check-ups.
Stomping his boots on the porch steps, Titan knocked as much dust off of his feet as he could. He winced, ignoring the pain as the tight flesh on his back pulled with the exertion. When he opened the screen door it creaked. The sound was loud, crashing through the silence. Stepping over the threshold, he flipped on the light attached to the ceiling fan.
Damn, he needed to pick up a little. Housekeeping was never his strong suit. To appease his conscience, Titan gathered up a couple of Austin-Statesman newspapers and three empty coffee mugs. Carrying them to the kitchen, he threw the papers in the trash and put the cups in the dishwasher. Pausing to drink some water right from the sink, he stared out the window, snorting when he saw his two little goats butting heads and bouncing around. He kept a whole menagerie of animals at Skyview. If he’d had all of these critters when he was a kid, Titan would’ve thought he was in hog heaven. As he gazed out into the distance, he imagined seeing a little boy running through the grass wearing cowboy boots and a plaid shirt or a little girl with dark pigtails tied with pink ribbon…
“Get a grip, Sloan,” he whispered, turning to go upstairs. He washed off as best he could in the vanity sink, promising himself a full blown hot shower as soon as he got cleared. When he was dressed, Titan headed to town.
Their community was lucky to have a medical clinic folks could come to for non-life-threatening issues. Even though they were no more than sixty miles from Austin, an hour was a helluva long time when every minute counted. He hadn’t taken three steps through the door of the red brick facility before he saw Makenna. She wa
s coming out of one of the side rooms, walking slowly.
“Makenna?” She stared at him for a second, then dropped her head. She was still beautiful, of course, but there seemed to be a gray pallor to her skin. “Are you sick?”
“Ah, no,” Doc Proctor said, putting his arm around Makenna’s shoulders. “Ms. Wade just bruised some ribs. She’ll be fine.” He looked down at her. “Is Damien picking you up?”
“Yes,” she answered quietly.
“How did you hurt yourself?” Titan asked, concerned. “Were you in an accident?”
Blushing, she shook her head. “No, I mean, yes.”
The doctor chuckled. “I don’t know how well you know this little lady, but she’s notorious for taking falls and slipping down. She runs into things all the time. Why I bet she’s had a half dozen broken bones in the last few years, haven’t you? How did you do this? Jump out of an airplane?”
“I…uh…I...”
Titan didn’t smile. He tried to remember if the doctor was right. He’d known she’d had a few mishaps over the last few years, but there was always a good explanation for them. And she never complained. The doctor was smiling and Titan realized he was making a joke. This didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t like people finding humor at Makenna’s expense. She looked to be in pain. “I’m so sorry. Did you fall?”
“She slipped on the stairs.” Out of nowhere Damien walked up, answering for Makenna.
Titan didn’t know what to say. Whatever had happened, he wanted to take her in his arms so bad he could taste it. “I hope you’re okay,” was all he managed to say before his Captain headed his wife toward the door. “Go on out and get in the truck. I want to talk to Titan.” All three sets of eyes followed her out the automatic doors. “So, how’s the burns?”
Titan turned to his Captain, a man he’d stood beside as they fought hellish blazes. Shaking the thoughts from his head, he smiled and offered his hand. “I’m on the mend. Should be back on call in a few days.”
“Good. We need you.” As if he wasn’t thinking, Damien took his hand, but with his other, he slapped Titan on his back, high up on his shoulder blades—right over the blistered raw wound.
The contact was agonizing…but Titan never flinched, never let on. “Looking forward to it.” After exchanging a few pleasantries with the doctor, Damien Wade left and Titan went on it to get his appointment over with. “How are we, Mr. Sloan?” The middle-aged nurse patted him on the arm.
“You tell me.” He gave her a friendly smile.
Slowly, she removed the gauze and tape, giving him a quick examination. “Well, you’re healing nicely. I think one more day and you’ll be able to forego the bandages. Sometimes letting a burn breathe helps.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He certainly wasn’t going to argue. But all the time he was sitting there, letting the nurse clean his burn and change his dressing, he was remembering Makenna’s face and feeling like he was missing something important.
Once he was through, Titan signed the paperwork so they could file with his insurance company, then he started toward the door to hunt a meal. His stomach was growling. A pizza sounded good.
“Sloan, Mr. Sloan,” a voice called from behind him.
“Yes?” He stopped and turned, finding the receptionist hurrying toward him with a phone in her hand. “Ms. Wade left her cell. We tried calling her. No one answered. I know you work with her husband. Could you see that she gets it?”
Titan smiled. “Sure thing.” Great. This gave him just the excuse he needed to stop by and check on her. “I’ll be glad to.”
* * *
Hunger wouldn’t let him forego food, but as soon as he was through eating, Titan drove the five miles or so to what used to be the Kendrick place. When Damien and Makenna had moved here several years before, they’d bought the two story home that sat on about twelve acres across the north pasture from Skyview. Going around the road, it was a mile and a half from his house to hers, but if you cut across the pasture only about a quarter mile separated them. But that quarter mile was across rough country.
The Captain used to be a full time firefighter. He’d changed careers, and the big city’s loss was Hays County’s gain because he’d brought a lot of knowledge to their group of volunteers. Pulling up into their driveway, Titan picked Makenna’s phone off the seat. A momentary weakness made him take note of Makenna’s number and enter it into his own phone. When he’d finished, he exited the truck and walked up to the door. Despite the heat of the evening, it stood open and Titan could hear voices. He started to announce himself, but what he heard gave him pause.
“You are nobody!” Damien was yelling. “Do you hear me? Nobody wants you, you are nothing!”
What the hell? Who was the Captain yelling at? Did they have an intruder? Titan was about to rush in to help when he heard a response—a response he wouldn’t have expected in a billion years.
“Damien, please don’t. Please don’t talk to me this way.” Titan recognized Makenna’s voice. She was pleading with her husband. What the fuck? Rage billowed up in him like a wildfire. He tugged on the screen door but it was locked.
“Makenna!”
“Say it!” There was a scuffling noise. “You heard me, say it!”
“I am nobody. No man wants me.” More scuffling. “I am nothing.” Her voice ended on a note which had Titan about ready to tear the door down.
“Makenna!”
“Say it again, bitch!” Damien’s voice was slurring, yet he sounded like a madman. “I won’t tell you again, say it!” Titan couldn’t wait any longer. He took hold of the door handle and gave it one mighty tug, tearing the door completely off its hinges.
“I’m nobody.” He could hear Makenna begin to cry. “I’m nothing.”
As he came into the foyer, he could see Makenna standing at the top of the stairs. Her face was pale and she was backing up toward the wall. “Makenna, what the hell is going on?” he yelled up at her.
With a start, she whirled toward him, her face morphing from a mask of fear to one of shame. Before he got three steps in the door, she came hurrying down the stairs, holding her side with a panicked look on her face. “Titan? What are you doing here?”
“What’s going on? Are you all right?” He repeated, searching her face. “Do you need help?”
Glancing back up the stairs, she whispered, “You must leave, hurry! He’s unsteady on his feet, but if he comes to the top of the stairs he’ll see you.” Her eyes pled with him. “Nothing’s going on, everything’s fine. You have to leave. Now. Please!” She took his arm, pushing, beseeching him to go. “He’s been drinking, that’s all. We’re just having an argument. I can handle it. This is nothing.”
“What was all that stupid nonsense I heard? It sounded like more than an argument to me.”
Makenna placed her hands on his chest. She felt like her soul was being torn in two. She was so tempted to just lean into him, tell him the truth and beg him to defend her. But she had no right to drag him into this. “He gets angry and mouths off when he’s been drinking. I’m used to it.”
Titan wondered if she thought her explanation would make him feel better. “No woman should have to get used to something like this. Are you sure?” He’d been in their house before. Now he looked around, trying to figure out what was amiss. The Wades had no children. They didn’t even have a dog since their black lab had gone missing a while back. He knew Damien drank a bit, but every instinct Titan possessed told him not to listen to Makenna’s insistence that nothing was wrong. “I think it would be better if you came with me, give him time to cool off.” He had to jam his hands in his pockets to keep from pulling her into his arms. “He has to be out of his mind. Any man who thinks you’re nothing has got a screw loose.”
Makenna wanted to cry. “Please, you need to go. If he sees you here, it’ll just make it worse.”
“Makenna!” Damien’s voice bellowed from upstairs. “Where are you?”
“Go!” she whispered desperate
ly, pushing him toward the door. “I can handle this. And please, please don’t tell anyone what you saw.”
It was her begging him not to tell anyone that convinced Titan to leave. If she truly needed his help, shame and embarrassment wouldn’t be her first priority. Would it? “All right. Here’s your phone.” He handed it to her. “You left it at the clinic.”
“Thank you.” When she saw how the screen door was destroyed, a ripple of terror flowed through her. She’d be paying for that—and not with money. Her only hope was getting Titan out before Damien could realize what was happening. “Now go, please!”
Makenna all but pushed him out the door, then she shut the solid wooden one behind her, putting a barrier between them. Titan lingered for a few moments, listening to her footsteps as she climbed the stairs to the second floor. And then he heard shouting again, but Titan turned to walk away. Intervening against her wishes wasn’t his place.
Reluctantly, he climbed in his truck to leave. This affair was none of his business.
Too bad his heart didn’t agree.
* * *
Over the next few days, Titan had a hard time getting the sound of Damien’s voice out of his mind. You’re nobody. No man would ever want you. You are nothing! What kind of husband said things like that to the woman he loves? If she were his, he’d treat her like she was made of spun glass. The what-ifs were driving him insane.
In the interim, there’d been another fire, a small one. Since Montana had been out of town on business, Titan found himself driving the fire engine to a brush fire set by two boys who’d been trying to camp out, ignoring Forest Service guidelines. The Captain had acted like nothing was wrong at home, laughing and joking. When he wanted to be, Damien was the most pleasant guy in the world to be around. But the way he’d screamed at Makenna, insulting her, humiliating her. Titan couldn’t begin to fathom it.
And now here he was at the county auction barn, sitting about midway up on the old wooden bleachers, waiting for the last of his Angus to go through. The sounds and smells of the cattle sale were familiar and comforting. He watched the auctioneer raise his hand, his brittle clipped fast-paced speech almost gibberish to the unschooled. Single and in pairs, cows, calves and bulls were guided through the arena to be bid upon by area ranchers and feed lots. Cattle prices weren’t the best in the world, but Skyview was flourishing. Titan had brought twenty head and he’d leave with enough to pay his monthly bills, catch up on some repair work and have quite a bit left to go in the bank.