by Sable Hunter
TEXAS C.H.A.O.S.
(Chief Has Arrived On Scene)
TEXAS HEROES – BOOK 2
BY
SABLE HUNTER
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.
Copyright © 2015 Sable Hunter
sablehunter.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. 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 any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.
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. In his late thirties, Logan is a confirmed bachelor. While he may adore the young Jenna from afar, at 18, 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.
CHAPTER ONE:
PROLOGUE
“Trust me.” Logan held up his hands to the scared young girl, who stood just yards away from a wall of red-hot raging flames. “I’ll catch you. I promise. I’ll never let you go.”
Jenna Travis was petrified with fear. The fire had her cornered, she had nowhere to go but out the window and into the arms of the big firefighter who had come to her rescue. “I’m afraid,” she admitted with a shaky voice. Tears were streaming down her face. The heat was so intense, she could feel blisters forming on the backs of her legs.
“Come on, honey. Just let yourself go. The next thing you’ll know I’ll have you wrapped up tight and safe as can be.” Logan stared into the beautiful face of the frightened girl. She couldn’t be more than sixteen or seventeen. Her parents hadn’t made it, but he swore she would, she’d live if he had any choice in the matter. “Put your faith in me, sweetheart, I will not let you down. I give you my vow.”
Jenna held his gaze. He seemed to be so strong, as if he could slay any dragon that threatened. She froze for a moment, but there was really no other option. Staring into the kind eyes that were wordlessly pleading with her, she gave herself into his care. “Okay, here I come.” Spreading her arms, she jumped. The free fall was only a few feet, but the confidence she placed in him was the same as if it had been a mile. With hell at her back, he was her only salvation. Holding his gaze, she let herself go and just like he promised, he caught her.
“I’ve got you.” He held her tightly and began to climb slowly down the ladder. The two story brownstone was almost fully engulfed now. “I’ve got you. Everything will be fine. I’ll send you with my men to a safe place, then I’ll come and check on you as soon as I can.”
Jenna clung to him, not knowing what would come next. The big firefighter’s strength gave her courage and for some reason…she believed him when he said everything would be all right.
* * *
“Chaos! Chaos!” Ronan Greer called out loudly as he hung up his turnout gear. He’d recently transferred from the Hays County VFD to the Stonewall Fire Department, only a distance of forty-eight miles, but a totally different atmosphere. More laid back. Leaving Titan Sloan and the others had been difficult, but since he’d been transferred at his regular job and this was where he was living now, the area of the Texas Hill Country known as Little Tuscany was his new home. Working with Chief Logan Gray and his team would be an honor. Gray was a legend. He’d amassed a spotless record and a reputation of going above and beyond to save lives and protect his friends and neighbors. So, when Ronan Greer called out the word ‘CHAOS’, he was telling all within earshot that the ‘chief had arrived on the scene’.
“Easy, Greer, you’re taking away my element of surprise.” Logan muttered dryly as he strolled past the younger man. Gray’s jacket was thrown over his shoulder, his helmet under his arm. “Has anyone heard about the Travis girl? What happened after I got her safely to the ground?” He’d worried about her. “I promised her everything would be fine. I want to follow up.”
“Social services came after her, Chief.” Chris came from the showers, a towel thrown over his shoulder. He’d changed into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. His long blond hair was slicked back.
“I’m going over there to check on her. Would one of you put up my gear?” Logan placed it all on the green painted concrete floor. “I’ll clean up in a while. It’s more important I keep my word.”
“Sure thing.” Chris picked up the chief’s turnout suit. “Do you want some company? I know how these things bother you.”
“No, thanks. I’ll handle it.” Anytime they lost someone in a fire, the whole unit took it hard. “Was she still there when they brought her parents out?” Logan had been fighting the fire, trying to keep it from spreading to a neighboring home.
“No, she didn’t see a thing.” Ronan assured him, arms crossed over his chest. “We got her away as fast as we could.”
“That’s something I guess.” Logan changed his boots, removing the thick insulated ones he’d worn all day and slipping on his comfortable Justin’s. His feet were sweating like crazy. “I smell like a wet dog,” he muttered. “Oh well, maybe she won’t notice.” Rising, he stretched his sore muscles. God, he was getting old. Thirty-four. The big 40 would be here before he knew it. Stopping by his office, he sighed at the mound of papers on his desk. Chief Hodgins would have his hide for making such a mess. Logan knew better, if he let the paperwork get out of hand, catching up would be a bitch. Jay Hodgins had taught him well, the man had been his mentor. He’d learned so much from his former boss, mainly to view each case, each situation with empathy. Logan intended to follow his example, which was one reason he couldn’t let this young woman face an uncertain future alone.
* * *
Jenna sat in a green vinyl chair with her hands folded tightly in her lap. She was shaking. Her world had just imploded. They said her parents were dead. She’d never see them again. Hiccups of sobs tore through her chest. All she could think was how they must have suffered. A sympathetic woman brought her a cup of water and a box of tissues.
“Thank you,” she took them and sipped the water. Everyone was watching her. She felt exposed, vulnerable and sad beyond measure. A cop even questioned her about her dad’s business dealings. She didn’t know what to say, he never shared things like that with her. If she weren’t so sad, Jenna might have been embarrassed. Every time the door opened to admit someone, she looked to see if it was the big firefighter who rescued her. He was the one she wanted to see. In her mind, if he would just come to check on her, she’d be able to handle all of this.
“Can anyone tell me if my horse is okay?” she called out to anyone who was listening. A kind-faced man gave her a sad smile and shrugged his shoulders. Jenna bent forward and held her head in
her hands. A wave of uncertainty and fear bore down upon her. Where would she go? What would she do?
In the adjacent office, Logan leaned on the edge of Myra Jenkins desk. He’d had dealings with Social Services before, Myra was a reasonable woman. “So, you’re telling me there’s no place in Gillespie County for this girl?”
Myra shook her head. “She’s sixteen, Chief. Jenna has no one, no living relative, not even a distant cousin. All of the local foster homes accept children under twelve only. She’ll have to go to the central home in Travis County.” The heavy-set woman tilted her chair back, it protested on its over-burdened wheels. “She’s begging to see her horse. Do you know anything about that? Did the barn burn?”
“You know me.” Logan smiled. “No horse is gonna die on my watch if I can help it. I sent it to Gray Wolf temporarily, until we see where Jenna is going. No girl should be separated from her horse. And since she just lost her parents, I suggest we do something to keep these two together if we can.”
“You’re a marshmallow, Chief.” Myra rose and laid down the folder. “Look, I don’t have a choice. Unless someone steps up and offers to take her in, someone the county will approve–my hands are tied.” She held up her hands, wrist to wrist, illustrating her point.
Logan thought a minute. “Let me talk to her. I might have an idea.” He rose and peered through the glass panel in the door before going in. “Damn, I hate this.” His heart just broke for her. She looked so lost and alone.
Letting out a long breath, he wondered at the wisdom of what he was about to do. There had been a lot of changes in his life in the last few years. His father had retired from the military. Due to their nomadic lifestyle, they’d never put down roots. Since he was an only child, it had only seemed right that he encouraged his folks to move close to him. When he’d gotten the idea to turn his property into a guest ranch, it had made sense to Logan to bring his folks to his home. Their being there solved a lot of his problems, he could keep all of his projects going–using the land to raise rodeo stock, bringing in extra income with the rodeo and guest ranch, while still leaving time to serve on the fire department. Louisa and Earl Gray pitched in, took some of the responsibility off their son’s shoulders...and now he was about to ask them to take on more.
Pushing open the swinging door, Logan walked toward the small female who had managed to touch his heart. He didn’t know why he felt so compelled to go the extra mile for her–but he did. Upon seeing her sitting alone, looking so forlorn, he squared his shoulders and mentally put on his shining armor. “Hey, Jenna.”
Jenna’s head flew up. Seeing who stood in front of her, she hopped up and launched herself right into his arms. “You came. You came.”
There wasn’t anything for Logan to do other than enfold her in a loose embrace. Holding her close felt right and for some reason that bothered the hell out of him. Jenna was young enough to be his daughter. He held her as long as he could justify in his mind before pushing her gently away, far back enough for him to see her face. Using one big finger, he tipped up her chin. “Hey, I told you I would. I came as soon as I could.”
Big fat tears were rolling down her cheeks. “My parents died.”
Her voice held all the despair and longing the world. Logan could feel his heart breaking. “Yes, sweetheart, I know.” He caught the tears with the pad of his thumb. “I’m so sorry.” Studying her face, he noticed her skin was a little too cool. He needed to send her to the clinic for an exam, Logan thought she might be in shock.
“They think my dad set the fire on purpose. He wouldn’t do that. Would he?” She looked up at him as if he possessed the answers to all the questions in the universe.
He wished he did have those answers. “I’m sure he never intended to hurt you or anyone.” Logan had no idea if his words made any difference or not. “We’ll sort it out after the investigation. But it’s not anything you should be worrying about right now.”
She nodded, seeming to take him at his word. “What about Stormy, my horse? Did she die too?”
“Of course not.” He gave her a warm, encouraging smile. “She’s at my ranch and I’ll keep her safe for you until we know where you’ll be living.”
Jenna knew it didn’t make sense, but this man seemed to be her lifeline. She took his hand in both of hers. “I’ve heard them talking. They’re going to send me away. I don’t have any family. Do you know what will happen to me?”
Logan stared down into her eyes. He couldn’t tell if they were blue or green or gold, they were all three, shimmering like jewels. She wasn’t asking for anything and that hurt him more than a punch in the gut. “Let me see what I can do.”
“Really?” The hope that flared in her eyes made him want to throw a lasso around the moon and drag it down as a gift for her.
He placed his hands on her small, slight shoulders. What he was about to do might be crazy, but it was what he wanted - needed to do. His heart wasn’t giving him a lot of choice. “You sit tight. I’ll be back.”
“Promise?” she held his gaze.
For half a second, Logan saw Jenna through different eyes - as a woman, or rather, as the woman she’d become. And he knew in his heart he was setting himself up for a wild, wild ride. “I promise.”
When he returned to Myra’s office, she was waiting. “I’m not sure I like the look on your face. What are you thinking?”
Looking at her frowning face, he grabbed a chair and sat down across the desk from her. “Listen, I have a plan. My ranch is big, my parents need someone to dote on. We have room for this girl and her horse.”
Shuffling papers on her desk, Myra let out a low whistle. “Do you know what you’re doing, Logan? This girl has just lost everything. Right now, she’s holding on to you because you saved her life. You did your job, you don’t owe her anything else.”
Leaning over her desk, he studied his own hands for a moment. They were big and rough with calluses. The skin was chaffed, the nails clean but short. A working man’s hands. His life was rewarding, but it wasn’t easy. The ranch was doing well and his rodeo stock contractor gig was growing each year. Money wasn’t a problem. He wasn't paid much more than a pittance serving as fire chief, but the reward he earned from helping people in need was better than money. Women were a joy to him, but he wasn’t even close to settling down. Logan didn’t have anyone special in his life, but he had a lot to give, a lot to offer. “All right, I’ll be honest, Myra. I can’t explain why I feel led to offer this girl a home. But I do. From the moment I saw her, it was as if I had some sort of connection to her. What do I need to do to make this happen?”
Myra opened a drawer and pulled out a form. “I presume you aren’t talking adoption. So, you’ll need to get approved in the foster care system. If everything works out after that, you can file to be her guardian.”
“Okay.” Logan took the paper and began reading it.
“Your parents are getting up in years, so you’ll have to be primary.” She handed Logan a pen. “And I don’t have to tell you that people are going to talk. You’re a bachelor, she’s a lovely sixteen-year-old and folks don’t have anything better to do than speculate.”
Logan penned her with a stare. “I would never do anything to harm this girl. In fact, I’ll move out of the house into another place on the ranch.”
Myra held up her hand. “I know, I know. And believe me, I’ll make your case. I’m just telling you what to expect. And as our Fire Chief, you’re a public figure. You know how times are, nothing is private, everybody thinks they sit as judge and jury for everybody else. I’m just warning you.”
As he began to fill in the blanks, Logan knew he’d have no problem selling the idea to his folks. As for what people would say or think, he’d handle it. “I’ll deal. Her future is more important than whatever people’s small minds can conjure up.”
“All right, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Just make sure you keep yourself above reproach. An unmarried man of your age in charge of a girl
in her teens is gossip fodder.”
“I’m used to fighting fires, bring it on.”
Myra raised a brow at the handsome hunk who seemed so determined to become a knight in shining armor. “All right, but don’t say I didn’t warn
CHAPTER TWO
Present Day
“Logan’s here, Jenna!” Louisa Gray called up the stairs. “Hurry, he has a surprise for you.”
“Be right down.” Jenna yelled from her bedroom as she scrambled around, changing clothes, brushing her hair and putting on lipstick. “He’s here, he’s here, he’s here,” she whispered, dancing around. Nothing brightened her day more than when Logan came around.
For the last two years, Gray Wolf Ranch had been her home. Losing her parents was harder than she’d ever dreamed, but the Grays had done everything in their power to give her a good life. And no young girl could ask for a more loving environment. Logan and his parents welcomed her. She’d immersed herself in their lifestyle, learning the ropes of rodeoing and helping run the guest ranch. Stonewall wasn’t a big place, but it was friendly. The people had opened their arms to her. She was a part of the community now – and if Jenna had her way, she always would be.
Gray Wolf kept the whole family busy. As a guest ranch, they hosted families who wanted a taste of ranch life and still be taken care of and entertained. Her days here were so different than they’d been with her parents. While she’d loved them dearly, her folks had been professionals who had little time for a daughter. Louisa and Earl opened their hearts as well as their home, teaching her everything they could. Jenna had taken to things like a duck to water. She could bake, make homemade ice cream, Jenna could even drive a tractor. To an outside observer, people would think she was just trying to fit in. But it was much more. Jenna was striving to be a part of Logan’s world. The only world she ever wanted to live in.
