“I would have liked to have known about it sooner. I asked. Several times.” Tears backed up behind her eyes. She hated that. “Maybe you didn’t outright lie but you didn’t tell me the whole truth, either. Neither of you trusted me. How can I trust you?”
“And what would you have done if I told you?” he asked, his eyes suddenly cool.
“I don’t know, but it was my problem.” It was a poor answer but it was all she had.
“That load on your back is going to get very heavy if you never let anyone help,” he said. “I didn’t know who he was when I first saw him on my dock. All I saw was a kid heading for trouble. I saw myself at that age. I felt his anger. The only way I knew to help was to show him another way. Lectures and punishment weren’t going to get through to him. I wanted to tell you,” he added, “but this was something he needed to do on his own.”
Her cell phone dinged. She checked. A text message from Gordon.
Mr. Pierce’s cabin. Someone’s setting fire to it.
She handed it to Jubal.
He read it and sprinted for the door and she followed him. He stopped long enough to say something to Clint, then sprinted out the door.
Clint went to Nate and Josh and said something, and the latter two disappeared out the door while Clint made a call, then an announcement to the group about the fire.
In minutes the center was emptied. Most of the guests were heading down down to the cabin, grabbing trash cans or any container they could find. Andy came over to her. “We don’t know how bad it is, but it will take time to carry water from the lake to the fire and the surrounding area. There’s a fire extinguisher in the hallway. I’ll get the one in the kitchen. Meet me at my car by the door. They’re fairly heavy to run with.”
Lisa ran up the stairs, grabbed the extinguisher and met Andy outside. She jumped in Andy’s car, and Andy honked to scatter the men racing down to the cabin.
In seconds, Andy stopped the car on the road and both of them ran toward the cabin with the fire extinguishers. The moon was nearly full and she saw figures struggling on the ground. Clint was hooking up a hose to an outdoor faucet. Jubal had a fire extinguisher in his hands and was aiming it at the flames.
He was too close to them.
The sound of a fire engine grew louder. Several of the oncoming men grabbed the fire extinguishers she and Andy had brought and two others ran over to Gordon. He had a firm grip on another boy, maybe a few years older, who was cursing as he struggled to free himself.
“He did it,” the boy said. “He set the fire.”
“I was trying to stop him,” Gordon said, and glanced around with a panicked look on his face. “I swear.”
A fire truck roared into the yard with tanks of water and within minutes the fire was out, but not before half the porch was damaged.
Two men had separated Gordon and the boy he’d held captive. Gordon looked at Lisa with a plea in his eyes.
A police car arrived and a young officer walked over to where Clint and Jubal were surveying the damage. He talked to Clint, who then approached the two boys. “Earl White, you can’t seem to stay out of trouble, can you? I don’t think the judge will be lenient this time. The whole forest could have gone up in flames.”
“I didn’t do it.” He glared at Gordon. “He started a fire here a couple of weeks ago. I was just driving around, heard all the activity at the center. I was curious, that’s all. Then I saw him near the cabin. I seen him there before, trying to set fire to the dock. So did someone else.”
Gordon was watching Lisa carefully. He stiffened.
She walked over to him, put her arm around him. “Jubal has my phone,” she said as Jubal walked up to them. “It’ll prove that Gordon had nothing to do with the fire and actually tried to stop it.”
Jubal took the phone from his pocket and handed it to the officer. “Gordon texted us about someone setting a fire. If he hadn’t, the cabin would be in flames as well as the woods behind it. Why would he do that if he was the one who’d set the fire?”
“What happened, Gordon?” Clint asked gently.
“I was going to the party,” he said. “But I...wasn’t ready to go in. I thought I would sit on the bench here for a few minutes to clear my head. I heard voices. I recognized one, and I went closer. Then I saw two guys laughing as they poured gas on the porch. While I was texting my sister, one of them threw a match on the gas and the other came after me.”
Earl White tried to protest, but the young officer officially arrested and handcuffed him. He talked privately to Clint for a moment, then hustled the prisoner into the police car and drove off.
“We’ll need statements from Gordon and Jubal tomorrow,” Clint said. “I think the other kid involved might be Earl’s brother. The family moved here a year ago and have been nothing but trouble. I’ll have my officers look for him.”
Lisa waited more than an hour as the volunteer firefighters soaked what was left of the porch, inspected the interior for any hot spots, then used the rest of the water in the tanks to wet the area around the cabin.
Clint and Jubal walked around the cabin and found an unopened can of gasoline. Clint returned to Gordon and Lisa. “Apparently you stopped them just in time, Gordon. This could have started a blaze that would climb that mountain behind you.”
Gordon glanced at Lisa with apprehension. She knew there could be trouble ahead. No doubt, Earl White would tell the police about the dock, and Gordon was on probation. One violation and his record would not disappear, nor would any of the consequences.
“Kerry is still at the community center,” she said to Clint. “I should take her home. Is Gordon free to go?”
Clint nodded. “Sure. There won’t be any charges. In fact, he should probably get a medal.”
Lisa thanked him, then turned her attention to Jubal. “Should you stay here tonight? Is it safe?”
“I usually sleep outside,” he said. “Believe me, I’ll know if anyone approaches.”
She looked at him. “I’m sorry. You were right earlier tonight. I...”
He looked around, then figured to hell with it and kissed her. Long and hard. In front of everyone.
There was clapping, and even Lisa felt herself cheering internally.
“The damned cabin did it again,” someone said from the remaining onlookers.
Everyone started to leave except for a few men who volunteered to stay and make sure there weren’t any sparks left.
She walked with Gordon as he located his bike among the pines. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the dock,” he said.
“I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could tell me sooner,” Lisa said. “But you saved the cabin tonight and maybe prevented a forest fire.”
“But I’m probably why Earl set the fire in the first place. He was really angry when I wouldn’t have anything to do with him after the dock...”
She suddenly remembered the black sedan and the way Kerry had shuddered when she saw it. “Did you know he’s possibly been bothering your sister?”
“No! I’ll kill the little—”
“You will do nothing of the sort...” She suddenly recalled why they were at the community center. The engagement party...
When they reached the center, most of the cars were gone. Kerry stood on the steps with a nice-looking boy. “Is everything okay?” she asked anxiously.
Lisa nodded. “The fire’s out. There’s some damage to the cabin, but it’s mostly intact. It seems your brother is the hero of the hour. He not only saved the cabin but caught the guy who set the fire. Clint seems to think he set other recent fires, too.”
Lisa put her arm around Kerry and found Nate and Andy. “I’m so sorry about the party and...”
“Don’t be. It’ll just be a reason for another party,” Nate said, holding his arms around And
y. “I’m just grateful Gordon wasn’t hurt.”
They said good-night, and Lisa drove Kerry and Gordon back to the house. It was already after midnight.
Lisa waited until they both were probably in bed, then changed into jeans and a sweatshirt.
She then wrote a note and left, driving down Main Street to the community center. The lights were off. Everyone had gone home. She continued down the road and onto the drive leading to the cabin.
She stepped out of the car and went around to the back. There was a blanket on a lounge chair but it was empty. Then she felt arms around her. She whirled around.
“Don’t you know better than to sneak up on someone in the middle of the night?” Jubal asked roughly.
“Apparently not,” she said, lifting up to kiss him. His lips pressed against hers and the need, the yearning, between them exploded. She felt the tension in his body, the barely restrained passion in his hands, which now moved seductively at the small of her back.
Desire enveloped her. She wanted to touch and be touched. “I think we should go inside,” he said, a slight shakiness in his voice.
“Is it safe?”
“We examined every corner of the cabin,” he said. “It’s safe, but the electricity is turned off. We want to make sure none of the wiring was damaged and we can’t do that until daylight. There are lanterns, though.”
She looked at the lounge chair. “Do you really sleep out here?”
“Yeah. A lot. I don’t like feeling cooped up. Sometimes I wake up thrashing at phantoms.” He paused and added with a lecherous gleam in his eyes, “I might have to do something to change that.”
She couldn’t begin to imagine all the pain he’d been through. And yet he’d had the heart to help an at-risk kid he didn’t know.
He held her tight. “Speaking of the fire, I received a call from Clint after you left. They found Earl White’s brother. He’d parked their truck behind an empty home. A neighbor reported it. When Clint called the dad, the man was furious. Turns out there were traces of manure in the vehicle, and the tires match the tracks found everywhere cattle have been stolen. The police chief is a happy man. Mainly because of Gordon. He’s gonna be a hero around here now.”
He leaned toward her, his lips brushing her cheeks. Their lips met and clung with tenderness at first, then passion. It rose between them swiftly and they were clutching each other with a hunger Lisa had never experienced before.
He broke away and led her inside the cabin where they stayed in each other’s arms. Lisa felt her body turn molten. She clung to him, her fingers digging into his back, a river of sensation coursing through her.
Once in the bedroom, he hesitated, then they were on the bed, tearing each other’s clothes off. His hands were everywhere, stroking and kneading, and she felt her body surging under his touch. Her breasts ached as his tongue replaced his fingers and created a string of fire that ran through her like lightning.
His lips caught her mouth in a kiss that swept away every reservation, and suddenly there was warmth and power reaching into her and she felt sensations she’d never known existed. They clung to each other, savoring the intimacy...
Afterward, they lay together, holding hands. Lisa had not known there could be anything this mind-blowing.
“Is it always like this?” she said.
“No,” he said. “I can honestly say this is something special.”
“Good.” She snuggled in his arms. “Thank you for what you did for Gordon.”
“I should have told you.”
She shook her head. “No. I wouldn’t have understood then. I would probably have just been angry.” She tightened her fingers around his. “I’m finding I don’t know my brother and sister as well as I thought I did. For nearly half their lives I was in college, medical school or residency. I was seldom at home. Being a doctor was my dad’s dream. His daughter, the doctor.
“He’d even established a trust fund for the sole purpose of sending me to medical school. I was just getting started when he was killed. And then when Mom got sick, she begged me not to drop out. I shouldn’t have paid attention to her, but I heard what I wanted to hear and I thought my aunt could do what I should have done. I was their sister, and I deserted them when they needed me most. I’m just now discovering who they are, and they’re good kids. Just lonely and grieving ones.”
“So what now?” he asked quietly.
“I planned to be a pediatric surgeon,” she said. “But it would mean another two years, and worse, it would mean a practice that would take me away from them for sixty, seventy hours a week.
“I’m finding my values are changing. I like knowing my patients. I like being available to Gordon and Kerry and I can probably help as many people here as I could as a specialist.” She paused to look up at him. “I have another reason now, too. I’m falling in love with you.”
Maybe it was too soon, but she had to say it. She’d withheld saying too many things over the years.
A smile curved his lips. “We’re on the same wavelength, darlin’. I’ve been wondering what bolt of thunder hit me since I met you. It’s like nothing I’ve felt before. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
That was all she needed to know. He was buying the ranch. He planned to stay and now she could, as well. She doubted Dr. Bradley would ever return to the practice. The stars seemed in alignment. Who was she to deny fate?
They had the time to build on that instantaneous connection that still mystified her, but in a wondrous way.
“I have a lot of learning to do,” Jubal said. “I’m discovering that the world includes a lot more than being a soldier.” He leaned over and kissed her. “When the foal was born, I saw life as I never have before—full of promises.”
She snuggled in his arms. “I heard you were thinking about a name for the foal. What about Promises?”
“Hmm, I like that,” he said. He stilled, and his voice turned somber.
“There’s something else I have to do,” he said.
It sounded ominous. She tensed.
“It’s going to take a month before I can close on Ben Carroll’s ranch and move in,” he said. “And I want to give the cabin back to Josh for someone else to use.”
Lisa’s fingers wrapped around his as she waited. There was something in his tone that kept her from commenting.
“My original plan was to stay here a few days, then visit the families of the guys who died on that last mission. I sent letters when I returned, but it’s not enough.”
Lisa ached for the pain she saw in his eyes. Guilt was there, too... Guilt that he was still alive and they weren’t. She wanted to ease it, but she knew there was nothing she could say or do to help. She could only try to understand.
He hesitated as if uncertain of her reaction, then continued. “I have to do it before I start a new life,” he said slowly. “I can do that now. I wasn’t sure before coming here, before you and Gordon and Luke and the others.”
With her free hand, she traced the lines along his strong face. He was admitting a vulnerability, and she instinctively knew how difficult that was.
“I’ll be here,” she said. “I wish I could go with you, but I know it’s something you have to do alone.”
“I’ll miss you—a lot—but it’s just a few weeks. And you, pretty doctor, have your patients and your clinic and two kids that are growing up fast. And well.”
“Yes they are,” she said. “Thanks in good measure to you and the town.”
She settled back in his arms, relishing the strength in him. Loving him may not always be an easy journey, but she knew it was well worth every step.
Their faces were inches apart. He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. There was so much tenderness in the gesture that she felt as if she were melting inside.
“Whe
n are you leaving?”
“I hope in about five days. I have to contact the families first. It depends on them.”
“Then we have to take advantage of those five days,” Lisa suggested.
“That’s just what I was thinking,” he said, and they started doing exactly that.
* * *
LISA HEADED HOME before dawn. The house was still, and she looked in on Gordon first. He was sleeping.
Then she checked on Kerry. Susie was curled up next to her, and Kerry’s arm was around her. She closed the door softly.
The first golden glints of daylight were filtering through the windows. She would tell Gordon how proud she was of him, of his efforts to make amends, of how much he’d grown in the past few weeks.
She would tell Kerry how much she loved her, and how happy she was that she was in choir and making friends and how she could tell her big sister anything.
She would be there as Jubal learned how to live again.
Just as she was learning what was really important. And they’d get to share that now.
She knew she would make mistakes but she wanted to be better at recognizing them now.
She went outside and looked up. She could still see the transparent moon even as the sun rose, coloring the sky with a spray of color that promised a fine day.
It was her sky now. Hers and Jubal’s.
* * * * *
Be sure to check out the other books
in Patricia Potter’s
HOME TO COVENANT FALLS
miniseries!
THE SOLDIER’S PROMISE
TEMPTED BY THE SOLDIER
A SOLDIER’S JOURNEY
All available now from
Harlequin Superromance.
And look for more
Harlequin Superromance stories
by Patricia Potter, coming soon!
Keep reading for an excerpt from A PERFECT STRATEGY by Anna Sugden.
Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!
Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003
The SEAL's Return Page 26
