“So, did you give them what they needed?”
Snorting softly, Quinn muttered, “First I went to the manifest inside the office to see if their names were on it, to make sure they hadn’t already been given their daily ration of water and food. Once I saw they weren’t listed there, I gave them supplies. Otherwise, I would have simply had to tell them that a navy helo was coming this afternoon with more supplies, and to come back after 1500 today.”
Reaching out, Kerry laid her hand over his, which rested on his thick thigh. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’m relieved they sent you, of all the marines available. You have a heart and soul that’s in touch with the people here. Someone else might have fired at them, or denied them, but you didn’t.”
Her hand was warm on his, and Quinn laced his fingers through hers, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I have a good teacher—you.” He held her gray eyes, which swam with sudden, unshed tears. How easily touched Kerry was, he was discovering. She was such a breath of life in his tight regimental world. Somehow, she was opening the door to his heart. The boldness of her touch, the coolness of her fingers made him want her even more. As his gaze moved from her eyes to her softly parted lips, the urge to lean over and kiss her nearly overwhelmed him. Kiss her? Would she allow it? Quinn thought so, judging from the warmth and admiration shining in her eyes.
Petula stirred and whimpered.
The magical moment dissolved. Instantly releasing her hand, Quinn muttered, “You’d better take care of our little rug rat.”
January 15: 1600
“I can’t believe this!” Kerry’s voice was filled with wonder as she stood with Quinn behind the makeshift table, where several men and women were doling out food, water and medicine to needy quake victims who stood in ragged lines to receive the goods. The U.S. navy helicopter had left an hour ago, and the many supplies it brought had been carried to the center. Now, as she looked at Quinn, who stood with his usual scowl on his stony face, his M-16 resting on his right shoulder, she could barely contain her excitement.
“We’ve been given three times the amount of supplies we usually get!” she whispered. Not only that, but plenty of insulin, heart medication and antibiotics had also come with the shipment. It was like Christmas in January.
“What I like is that they’re promising one flight a day by that navy helo,” Quinn said. “That’s even better news.” He motioned with his left hand toward the waiting people, saw the hope burning in their dirty, drawn faces. Hope. Yes, the sight of those supplies made him feel good, too. His men stood at ease on either side of the table as each person approached, was looked up on the manifest, and then given supplies for the family he or she represented. Each bag given out contained bottled water, food and whatever medicine was needed.
“Yes,” Kerry sighed. “But even more exciting is that the National Guard is up north of us, teamed up with Navy Seabees in huge Caterpillar bulldozers. They’re beginning to open up roads into the basin!” Sighing, she added in a wobbly voice, “If they can make dirt roads into this area, that means trucks carrying supplies can get in and out. It also means ambulances and other vehicles can start taking out those most in need of medical help.”
“Roads are the key,” Quinn agreed. From talking to the copilot, a lieutenant by the name of Cynthia Mace, Quinn had learned that the efforts of the National Guard were going to be three-pronged. There were now enough bulldozers and navy construction personnel in place—north, south, and east—to start some major road building. Today was the kick-off date for plowing new routes through the rubble to the first four areas. Area Five wasn’t targeted yet, unfortunately, for it lay at the heart of the quake zone. It was the hardest hit, and therefore would be most difficult to get to. But even though Area Five would be one of the last to get roads, the fact that the surrounding areas would soon be accessible by land vehicles meant that most of the helos could then concentrate on supplying aid to the hard-hit areas like theirs.
As well, there would be more aircraft available to fly out serious medical cases. The hospital at Camp Reed was chock-full. Even if a person was badly injured, he or she would have to be flown to the marine base first, and then to a hospital somewhere along the West Coast. That meant an extra flight, and right now, the airport at the base was still the only one available, and only so much traffic could come in and out of it. At the moment, many emergencies had to be wait-listed. But that would all change soon, and Quinn was glad, because there were so many people who were suffering terribly.
“Come with me,” he told Kerry in a conspiratorial tone. When she tilted her head, a question in her gray eyes, he added, “Trust me?”
Laughing, she said, “With my life. Okay, I’ll follow you.”
Quinn knew she would normally stay at the center as the distribution began, but his marines were here to ensure the process went smoothly, quickly and quietly. Moving out the back of the center, through a door that hung askew on its hinges, he slipped his hand around hers briefly, when no one could see them.
“I have a surprise for you.” Though he didn’t want to let go of her hand, he knew he had to, despite the softness he’d seen in her features when he’d spontaneously reached out to her.
Kerry’s heart skipped a beat as she hurried along the side of the shopping center toward her home. “I love surprises! What did you do, Quinn?” She grinned suddenly, feeling like an elated child. Quinn made her feel so light and wonderful.
“Oh,” he said teasingly, with a wolfish smile, “I had that helo bring in a couple of things for you and our rug rat. By now, Beau should have everything up and in place. Come on….”
Her shack was on the other side of the center, near a department store that had pancaked in on itself. The day had turned warm, the wind had dropped and the sun felt great on her head and shoulders. Kerry had come to appreciate the afternoon warmth as never before. As she walked, her arm sometimes brushing Quinn’s, she smiled gaily. “Why do I feel like a child who is getting a surprise birthday party thrown for her?”
Chuckling, Quinn said, “Because you are. This is from me to you.” As they rounded the end of the department store, he pointed toward the area where she had made her home since the earthquake had hit.
Gasping, Kerry halted. Her eyes bulged. “Oh, Quinn!” Her hands flew up to her parted lips. No more than a hundred feet away stood a large, dark green tent, erected in front of her old shelter. Lance Corporal Beau Parish came toward them, a wide smile on his face.
“Got it all done, Corporal Grayson. Just in time, I see.”
“Great, Parish. Thanks. Go help one of the men pack those grocery bags so those lines move faster now,” he ordered.
“You bet.” He nodded deferentially toward Kerry. “Ma’am? I hope you like what we’ve done.” And he took off at a jog toward the center.
“What have you done?” Kerry whispered as she hurried toward the newly erected tent.
“Go look,” Quinn urged, pride in his voice. He watched Kerry hurry to the tent flaps, which were open. Hearing her cry out with joy, he smiled widely.
Just seeing the blush of color sweep across Kerry’s cheeks made his day. Quinn halted in front of the tent and watched her enter as if in a daze. Inside were four cots, with plenty of blankets to keep off the cold at night. The floor was a raised wooden platform, so rain would run under it and not through it, as it had in her hovel. Toward the rear was a small two-plate stove. Outside, a small gasoline-fed generator had been set up, to supply electricity for the stove as well as a small refrigerator, and best of all, a heater. The tent was snug and fully capable of withstanding the elements.
Quinn stood at the opening and watched with quiet joy as Kerry moved around inside, her hands spread open, her eyes huge as she touched everything as if to make sure it was real and not a figment of her imagination.
“I figured, since you’re the leader of Area Five, you deserve to have nice digs,” he said. “I talked to Morgan Trayhern a couple of days ago, and he agreed. I tol
d him what conditions you were living in with that little girl, and he promised he’d do something worthy of your position in the community.”
“Oh, Quinn!” she gasped, turning toward him. “This…this is beyond my wildest dreams! A stove! A refrigerator! That means no more fear of food poisoning!”
“Look in the fridge,” he urged her quietly, stepping forward and laying his rifle on one of the cots. He sat down on the opposite cot and watched her as she knelt and slowly opened the door.
“Oh…I don’t believe this!” She sat back on her haunches and looked over her shoulder at Quinn, who was smiling like the proverbial Cheshire cat. “Milk! For Petula! Oh, this is wonderful!”
“There’s more…. Remember you mentioned how much you like chocolate cake? Well, you see that box in there? There’s a chocolate cake in it. Morgan called up the chow hall, talked to the gunny, and they made it special—for you.”
Tears flooded Kerry’s eyes. She sat down and gazed in awe at the small refrigerator crammed with goodies. There was milk, yogurt, fresh eggs, at least five pounds of bacon, fresh fruit and vegetables. It was an unimaginable feast. And all because of Quinn. He missed nothing. He had heard every word she’d spoken.
Sitting there in stunned silence, her hand on the door as she stared at the treasure trove, Kerry had no words. Her heart lifted, vibrating with such joy at his thoughtfulness that she couldn’t even say thank you.
Gently closing the fridge door, she turned to him. The floor of the tent was made of thick plywood, and it was dry and solid. Placing her hand on it, she twisted around and met his half-closed eyes. He sat on the cot, his elbows resting on his thighs, his hands clasped between them. The gentle smile playing across his lips infused her with the kind of happiness she’d once felt years ago, with Lee. There was a special chemistry between her and Quinn, filling her with light and joy.
“You are…” she choked out “…incredibly wonderful. I was right, Quinn—you truly are a knight from King Arthur’s round table. This is too much. Too much…”
“No, it isn’t. Morgan said it for me. He said you need to start eating and sleeping regularly. You can’t lead if you’re weak and tired all the time, sweet pea. So now you have no excuse. You have a fridge, a stove and real food. You and our little rug rat can eat well. And when we’re away from the tent, I’ll post a guard to ensure no one steals anything. This belongs to you and Petula.”
Whispering his name, Kerry got up off the floor. Following the promptings of her heart, she approached him and leaned down. Sliding her hands across his prickly, bearded cheeks, she framed his face and pressed her lips against the smiling line of his mouth. Her actions were completely spontaneous. Kerry hadn’t kissed another man since Lee. Something old and hurting dissolved in her heart as she brushed Quinn’s mouth with her own. As, after a moment of surprise, his hands came to rest on her shoulders.
“Thank you…” she whispered against his strong mouth as he returned her tentative caress. “Thank you a million times over…” And her lashes closed as she drank deeply of his own proffered kiss. His hands tightened on her shoulders, and Kerry relaxed. She trusted Quinn with her life. He was giving her life, she realized belatedly as his mouth wreaked fire across her lips. He was just as shocked by her bold kiss as she was, but swiftly responded with surprising tenderness.
Her world spun and dissolved beneath his mouth, his searching exploration. Kerry knew in the back of her mind that she shouldn’t be kissing Quinn at all, but the man deserved it. He was showing her daily how wonderful, how sensitive and thoughtful he was toward her and everyone else. Maybe marines were a special breed if they were all like him!
Gradually, Kerry eased away and opened her eyes. She drowned in his smoldering blue gaze, which spoke eloquently of his desire for her. Feeling suddenly shaky and unsure of herself, Kerry released him and stood up.
“I…gosh, I didn’t mean to do that, Quinn….”
His brows rose. “I liked it. And I’m not sorry.”
Laughing unsurely, Kerry took a step away, her hand on the tent flap. “I don’t know what got into me….” She shook her head, breathless. The branding heat of his strong mouth lingered on her lips, making them tingle warmly. Deliciously.
“Are you sorry?” he demanded hoarsely. How beautiful she looked standing there, her hair unruly, her cheeks stained with a blush. It was her eyes, though, that told Quinn she’d enjoyed the spontaneous kiss just as much as he had.
Laughing a little, Kerry touched her brow. “No…I’m not sorry. Just shocked that I did it. This isn’t like me, Quinn.”
Shrugging, he felt a grin crawl across his mouth. He could still taste the sweetness of Kerry on his lips. “Maybe it’s the times. The pressure. Who knows? One thing I do know, though, sweet pea—I’m not sorry it happened.”
Chapter Six
January 16: 0630
“I don’t want you to go with me,” Quinn said in a low voice outside the tent the next morning. Dawn was just crawling across the eastern horizon. Above him the last of the inky darkness was fleeing before the coming sun.
“Too bad. I’m going with you, Quinn, so stop being so protective, okay?” Kerry, too, kept her voice low. The morning was crisp and chilly. Today she was wearing her new marine cammo jacket and she felt much warmer—thanks to Quinn, who had radioed in for extra warm clothing for so many in Area Five. He had made sure she got a jacket, as well.
Pulling her away from the tent, where Petula and Sylvia were still sleeping, Quinn scowled. Yesterday, he’d tried to persuade Kerry not to come with him as he began to hunt for Diablo. She’d balked then, as she was doing now. After that soft, unexpected kiss, he found himself not wanting to put her in the line of fire for any reason. He had slept restlessly last night on his new cot, beneath several blankets. Kerry had asked him to stay with them. He knew Diablo was around and the new tents might draw their interest. The heater had warmed them all, and he’d noticed that Kerry, Petula and Sylvia all slept deeply and soundly. Usually, they were cold beneath their threadbare blankets and moved sporadically to keep warm.
“No one knows Diablo better than me,” Kerry told him with grim determination. She pulled the pistol she carried from the black holster at her right hip. Checking it to make sure a bullet was in the chamber, she replaced the safety and strapped it back in place. “And in your uniform, you’ll be a prime target for those guys. They hate authority.”
“Like they won’t spot you, too?”
She grinned as they stepped farther away from the tent. “Well, since I’m wearing this marine jacket, they’ll probably think I’m one of you. Either way, it doesn’t matter, Quinn. We’re both targets, because we represent authority. I’ve tangled three times with members of this group since the quake hit, and believe me, they take no prisoners. You’ve seen that from the reports I’ve made. I’ve attempted in every case to talk to witnesses who were there. We’ve gotten some names. After this disaster is over, I intend to hang these guys in a court of law. They’re not going to get away with these atrocities.”
“They’re already up on murder charges for two marine helo pilots.” Halting, Quinn slung his small knapsack, filled with water and food for a day’s worth of hunting, across his shoulders. Picking up the M-16, he switched the safety off, then kept the barrel pointed downward, the gun ready to fire in his hand.
“I know,” Kerry whispered sadly. “Can I help you carry anything?”
Giving her a dark look, he growled, “You aren’t going to stay behind, are you?”
“No.”
“Sometimes I wish you could be like other women,” he groused, his umber brows dipping.
“Ouch. That sounds so old-fashioned to me. Didn’t your hill women do anything but stay home and raise the kids?” she teased lightly as they began to walk toward a flattened neighborhood ahead.
“My sister, Katie, is a crack shot. She always went with Pa and me, and usually ended up bringing home more squirrels for the stew than either of us.”<
br />
“And is Katie married now?”
“Nope. She went on to Glen, Kentucky, the closest town out of the mountains where our clan lives, and got an education like I did. She’s a teacher now,” he said proudly. “The first in our family to get a college diploma. They built a small school for the hill children about five years ago, and she teaches there.”
“I see. So not all hill women are expected to just stay at home and do domestic things?”
Giving her a disgruntled look, Quinn said, “No. But it’s still…odd when they don’t.”
“Hmm, odd as in bad? Or odd as in unique and apart from what most other women do?” She flashed him a smile, warmly recalling his heated, hungry mouth upon hers. Kerry had slept deeply last night, partly because she’d been warm for the first time since the quake hit, with that wonderful heater in the tent. Last night, she’d dreamed of Quinn. He was making love to her in a glade deep in the mountains, near a pool. It was wonderful, so primal and natural. Kerry wasn’t about to tell him that, however. The look in his normally glacial blue eyes had changed. That kiss she’d given him had changed everything, she was discovering. Was that what she wanted? Had she kissed Quinn because of her own shock and trauma over the quake? To alleviate some of the stress from the horrendous responsibility she carried daily? Or was it out of relief at having a partner who would help shoulder it all? Kerry was uncertain.
She was still letting go of Lee, of their wonderful marriage. Grief didn’t just suddenly end a year after your spouse died, Kerry had discovered. Her emotions were like a roller coaster, going up and down. When grief surfaced, she felt it for days or weeks, and then it would submerge again, and she’d be okay about going on alone once more.
Quinn noticed the faraway look in Kerry’s face as they left the shopping center and walked carefully along a chewed-up asphalt avenue toward a long line of stucco homes that lay in shambles. In front of each home, families still slept in whatever makeshift shelter they had pulled together.
The Will to Love Page 7
