Jenna's Cowboy

by Sharon Gillenwater

  “Yes, Jenna, it is. I’m sorry. But what you salvaged will be a big help to people.”

  Jenna’s mom reached up and curled her hand around her arm in comfort. “I have a truckload of food. Folks out our way have been bringing it by all afternoon. Things to eat now and supplies to take. Even if nobody stays at the shelter, we can feed the firefighters. Have you had any supper?”

  “No, ma’am.” He took off his hat and sifted his fingers through his hair. “I haven’t felt much like eating. I lost my place too.”

  “Oh, Dalton! We’re so sorry.” Sue put her arms around the tall deputy, etching a crack in his professional facade. He let her hug him briefly, then eased away.

  “Thanks.” He cleared his throat and wiped his eyes with the side of his index finger. “Reckon I needed that.” He shrugged and put his hat back on. “I have good insurance. I can rebuild. Dad rescued the horses and took them to his place. He was trapped in the pasture by the fire. Had to cut the fence to get away. But he’s safe, and so are my animals. That counts more than anything.”

  “Will you be staying with your folks?”

  “No, ma’am. Grandma is living with them, so they don’t have room. Will invited me to bunk at his place as long as I need to.”

  “Good. Now, come back here, and I’ll give you some food. You need to eat.”

  He followed her and returned to Jenna’s truck a few minutes later, holding a paper plate filled with fried chicken and rolls. A sandwich-sized bag of cookies dangled from one hand. “I’ll pull over so y’all can go by. Don’t go anywhere other than the church.”

  “We won’t. Thank you, Dalton.” Jenna’s heart ached for her friend. He was putting on a brave front—like Mrs. Dodd and Jill Harmon—but losing his home must cause a great big hole in his heart. He’d only built it a couple of years ago and had done a lot of the work himself.

  While she was waiting for him to move the car, she heard her mom on the radio.

  “Dub, can you hear me?”

  Thirty seconds later, he answered. There was a lot of noise in the background, or static on the radio. Jenna wasn’t sure which.

  “I hear you, Sue. Are you at the church?”

  “Almost. We’re waiting for Dalton to move his car and let us through. How are you?”

  “Tired and hungry. The Salvation Army and Red Cross folks brought us some sandwiches awhile ago, but that wore off already.”

  “I can barely hear you.”

  “Hang on.” There was a pause. “I moved back from the fire line a little.” There wasn’t as much noise now. “Is that better?”

  “Yes. I have a truckload of food. If you can, come by the church and rest a spell. Get something to eat. How are the boys?”

  “Tired like everybody else. But they don’t let up for a minute. I’m mighty proud of them. Jenna, you on here too?”

  “Yes, Daddy. How’s Nate?”

  “Handling a fire shovel like he’s been doin’ it all his life. He’s doing good. Real good.”

  “Tell him I love him. And to stay safe. That goes for all of you. I have to go now. Dalton is waving us through.”

  “Y’all be careful.”

  “You too.”

  Her mom signed off as Jenna drove past the deputy’s car, waving at Dalton. For somebody who wasn’t very hungry, he sure was gnawing on a chicken leg.

  27

  Pastor Brad and a couple of other men had already set up the twenty cots the church owned. The Red Cross had provided twenty more. Some were in classrooms, the rest were in the sanctuary in the open areas at the back and across the front. So far, only five people had come to stay the night, a family who had no place else to go.

  Sue and the rest of the kitchen crew fed them and comforted them. They kept a few casseroles warm but put everything else in the commercial-sized refrigerator and waited.

  Grace Community had the biggest fellowship hall in town. Jenna, her mom, Pastor Brad, and a couple of the Emergency Committee members decided to divide it in half, with one end set up for meals and the other as a food and clothing distribution center. The North Side Baptist church a few blocks over would use their fellowship hall as a distribution center for household goods, appliances, and furniture. And the Presbyterians offered space for any overflow.

  Jenna and Emily began sorting the clothing that came from the Mission, organizing it by size, type, and gender where appropriate. Lindsey showed up to help. Misty Dumont, the woman who had made a play for Nate at church back in October, arrived a few minutes later.

  Jenna had a little trouble with that. Was Misty there to try to impress somebody? Maybe some of the firefighters if they came in? But Misty pitched in and worked hard unpacking canned goods and organizing them on portable shelves someone had brought in. Her heart seemed to be in the right place, and Jenna chided herself for judging her.

  At 8:00, a Salvation Army semitruck arrived with more clothes, food, and water. “Tomorrow or the next day is when you’ll really start needing the groceries and clothing,” said Captain Carrie Carpenter, who was already in town to coordinate their efforts. “Whenever the authorities start letting people back into town.”

  They had a crew of volunteers with them who started unloading the truck. Jenna was surprised and touched when they deferred to her on where to put things. They were the experts. But they respected her as the local person in charge, right then, at least.

  Half an hour later, a Walmart semi arrived, filled with pallets of bottled water, Gatorade, batteries, ready-to-eat food like canned ravioli, peanut butter and crackers, Vienna sausages, and even pudding cups. Jenna was floored. She’d read about the company’s response during hurricanes along the coast, but it never occurred to her that they would come to Callahan Crossing.

  That’s when the magnitude of her community’s loss hit her.

  Overcome with emotion, she sought sanctuary in a corner of the room used to store decorations and props from plays they’d performed over the years. Curled up on the floor next to a life-sized wooden donkey, she began to cry.

  Nate found her there ten minutes later. When he opened the door, she scrambled to her feet and threw herself into his arms, holding him as tight as she could. How she loved this man—dirt, smoke, sweat, and all.

  He embraced her for a minute, then wheezed, “Honey, you’re squeezing the stuffing out of me.”

  “Oh, sorry.” She eased her hold and took a good look at him. Dirt and soot covered him from head to toe, except for slightly paler ovals around his eyes. “You’ve been wearing glasses.”

  “Tinted safety glasses. Dub had an extra pair.” He was hoarse.

  She drew him farther into the room and listened to his breathing. The wheezing hadn’t been merely because she was squeezing him. She’d made it worse, but there was a definite raspy whistle. “Your poor voice. And you’re wheezing. I can hear it. Did you let a medic check you out?”

  “Yes. She had me breathe some oxygen with something in it to open up the airways. It’s only minor smoke inhalation. She said I’ll be fine, but I need to stay away from the smoke.”

  “Which you’re going to do, right?”

  “Right. At least right at the fire. That’s the worst. But the whole town is full of it.”

  She gently put her arms around him, though she realized she was getting filthy. He rested his hand at her waist and leaned against the wall. “I’m proud of you for fighting the fire, but I’m so glad you won’t be going back out there. Is it contained?”

  “Almost. There’s a stretch where they’re still trying to get the control line in place. Chance was moving his dozer ahead of it when I left. He’s something to see on that thing. I was amazed at how he could operate it.”

  “He’s even better with a backhoe. Total precision. So they’re all doing okay? Dad, Will, Chance?”

  “They are. The crews are going to rotate taking an hour or two break. Come in and eat and rest.”

  “I’d better get in there and help.”

  “Th
ey can handle it for a few minutes.” He brushed a grimy finger along her jaw, then made a face. “I’m getting you dirty.”

  “I don’t care. I don’t mind your dirt.”

  He smiled, his teeth shining white against his smoky skin. “You sayin’ a Saturday night bath is all I need to take?”

  “No. Not at all. I don’t mind you getting a little of your dirt on me right now.”

  “Got it.” He leaned down and kissed her slowly and thoroughly.

  Maybe they didn’t need her in the kitchen after all.

  He lifted his head, searching her eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” She wanted so badly to give him a little nudge in the marriage direction. Thanks to Jesus, he had faced and conquered his biggest nightmare that day. Surely the other PTSD issues paled next to that.

  “I don’t want to waste any more time. I’m sayin’ the word, honey. Will you marry me?”

  Tears of joy stung her eyes. “You know I will. But I’m not waiting for a big wedding. Been there, done that. Don’t need it.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  He took a deep breath and relaxed. “Good. I don’t want to wait long enough to plan anything big.”

  “Me, either. We can run over to the courthouse tomorrow and get the license.”

  A wide grin slowly lit his face. “That quick, huh?”

  “Yes, sir. And we’ll corner Pastor Brad and ask him to keep Saturday afternoon free.” She hadn’t thought his smile could get any wider, but it did. “Your immediate family and mine. Well, the grandparents too. But that’s it. And Lindsey. She’s been too good a friend since I came home to leave her out. And we have to invite Dalton because he’ll be staying with Will.”

  “And the folks on the ranch. They’d be hurt if we didn’t invite them.”

  “True. But that’s it. I don’t want a lot of fuss and bother. It doesn’t seem right in the midst of all this, for one thing. I want it done and over with and you for my husband.”

  “And Zach’s daddy.”

  “He’s going to be thrilled.”

  “Does he know what a daddy is?”

  “He knows his friends have them. Thankfully, he’s never asked me why he doesn’t have one. Dad and my brothers have tried hard to fill that hole. And you have too.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him again. “I really should go help in the kitchen. You need to go wash up and find a cot to stretch out on. Get some rest.”

  Nate shook his head, his countenance as sad as a country song. “We haven’t even committed matrimony yet, and you’re ordering me around.”

  She winked and sashayed out the door. “I’m the boss lady, remember?”

  The fire was contained by midnight but not yet under control Wednesday morning. Nate and Jenna shared their plans with their delighted families. They took Zach with them when they drove to the county seat to pick up the marriage license. But instead of going back toward the ranch, Nate headed toward Sweetwater.

  “You missed a turn back there.”

  Nate grinned and patted her hand. “Are you questioning my driving, soon-to-be Mrs. Langley?”

  “Mostly wondering what you’re up to.”

  “Going to the jewelry store.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Really? And is there a special reason for that?”

  “Need a new battery for my watch.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “What you see?” called Zach from the backseat.

  Jenna chuckled and scanned the scenery for something that might interest a two-year-old. “That big ol’ barn over there. See it?”

  “Yeah.” He didn’t sound that impressed. He saw a bigger one every day.

  “Keep looking, maybe you’ll see a tractor.”

  When they got to the jewelry store, Nate glanced at his watch. “Why, look at that, it’s working.” Carrying Zach, he deftly guided her toward the engagement and wedding rings. “I’ve had my eye on one for a while, but since we’re here, you can tell me what you think of it.”

  “Sweet man, I’d be happy with anything. Well, maybe not something from the quarter toy machines at the grocery store.”

  “They’re probably up to fifty cents by now anyway.” He smiled at the middle-aged clerk who walked up behind the counter. “Could we see that one in the middle, please?”

  The clerk unlocked the case and removed the ring, a beautiful diamond solitaire in a yellow gold band. Jenna was no diamond expert, but she thought it might be about half a carat in size. Too much money for her cowboy to spend, though he had a nice savings.

  But then, he was marrying someone with a hefty bank account, she thought with a smile. She was secure enough in their love and in him to know he would love her just as much if she didn’t have a cent. So she wasn’t going to question him on the expense.

  The clerk held it out toward them. It caught the light, sparkling more than any other ring she’d ever seen. The ring Jimmy Don had given her had been bigger, but it hadn’t been as bright or finely cut.

  “Like it?”

  “It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen one that sparkles so much.”

  “It has to do with the cut and the clarity of the diamond,” said the clerk. “Would you like to try it on?”

  When she hesitated, Nate leaned closer, carefully holding Zach so he wouldn’t kick the glass case. “See if it fits, sweetheart.”

  “It probably will. I haven’t tried on a standard size one yet that didn’t.” She met his gaze. “But if I put it on and it fits, I don’t want to take it off.”

  Nate laughed and glanced at the smiling clerk. “Is there someplace where we can sit down so I can hold this little guy and slip a diamond on my girl’s hand at the same time?”

  “Of course. Come right over here.” She led them to a table with two chairs in front and one in back, obviously for displaying jewelry in a more comfortable setting.

  Nate sat down and settled Zach on his lap. “You need to sit real still for a minute, okay? I have to use both hands.”

  Zach nodded, looking up at some expensive figurines on a nearby shelf. Good thing Nate was hanging on to him, otherwise her inquisitive son would be trying to figure out how to get his little hands on them.

  Nate looked at the clerk, and she handed him the ring. Jenna held out her left hand, and he took it in his. “Do I need to ask again?” He gave her the lopsided smile that had won her heart at fourteen.

  “No, not again.” Jenna glanced at the benignly smiling clerk. “I’ve already said yes twice.”

  Nate chuckled and winked at the clerk. “And one time I wasn’t even asking.”

  That made the serene woman laugh.

  Nate slipped the ring on Jenna’s finger. He didn’t propose again or tell her he loved her out loud. But he said it with his eyes, his touch, the tenderness of his smile.

  It fit perfectly.

  “I think it works.” If he grinned any bigger, he’d bust something.

  “That, my love, is the understatement of the year.” She leaned up and kissed him.

  A minute later, the clerk cleared her throat. When they looked up at her, she smiled brightly. “Will that be cash or charge?”

  “Debit card.” Nate handed Zach to Jenna and shifted on the seat, pulling his wallet from his back pocket. She entertained her son by showing him how the pretty ring sparkled. Nate handed the woman the card and grumbled when she walked away. “Talk about ruining the moment.”

  Jenna caressed his jaw. “Nothing could ruin that moment, sweetheart.”

  He smiled, kissed her palm, and jumped to his feet. “Ma’am, wait. We need to look at wedding bands too.”

  •• After returning to the ranch, they ate a sandwich, played with Zach for a little while, and took him over to the ranch house. Kim was happy to play with him until time for his nap.

  Ramona agreed to watch him while they went to town. “I can’t go in there yet. I’ll do my part for now by cooking.”

  Jenna’s mom and Emily h
ad gone back to the church midmorning. Her dad and brothers came in about ten minutes after Nate and Jenna arrived. They had stayed in town all night, catching a few hours sleep at the shelter, then going back out again to work the fire line.

  “We have it controlled,” said Dub, “though they haven’t made the official announcement yet. There are still some hot spots here and there, a few homes still burning. Some fresh crews from other counties came in about half an hour ago. They’ll take care of things now.”

  The people who had been fighting the fire for twenty-four hours could go home and rest. Or in the case of many members of the Callahan Crossing volunteer fire department, see if they still had a home left.

  “The boys and I are going to drive around a little, want to double-check things one last time.” He sighed heavily, resting his arm across Sue’s shoulder. “And take a look in the daylight at what we’ll be facing in the days ahead. Judge Coleman said y’all could go with us if you want to. Knowing how things are might help you prepare a little better when folks come back in.”

  Nate and Jenna rode with Chance and Will. She felt her parents needed time alone to deal with the disaster together. Emily seemed to sense the same thing and politely declined when her mom asked if she wanted to go along. But when Chance asked if she wanted to go in his truck, she changed her mind.

  Will wasn’t too tired to pick up on the vibes between his brother and the cute blonde. He surprised Jenna when he squeezed into the backseat with her and Nate.

  They followed Dub down Oak to Main Street. The businesses in the heart of downtown hadn’t been touched by the actual fire, only the heavy smoke that still hung in the air. That would cause damage, but at least the buildings were intact.

  By the time they reached Maple, the buildings began to show scars from the fire. Jenna glanced up the side street and drew in a sharp breath. Where only part of the stores at that point on Main had been scorched, there appeared to be nothing but rubble from First Street north. The smoke was so thick, they couldn’t tell how far it went.

  “It came in at an angle,” Chance said quietly. “That’s why it hit the streets north of here harder. The wind must have shifted a little about the time it got to Fourth. It moved mainly north from there.”