Chapter 8 #2
Rush tilted his head toward an open space on the grass. "We'll set you up over there, just remember... Keep quiet, okay? We've got children here." As soon as he said that he lifted his chin toward Aylin Blaise in a greeting as she walked up to them.
"What was that, Rush?"
With her curly hair pulled back from her face she looked a few years younger than her actual age, but that only made her shrewd look all the more dangerous. "Did you just call me a child?"
Rush's jaw dropped a hint, and Sam gave him a hearty slap on the back. "I'm going to get started sorting out the tent pieces, Rush. When Aylin finishes kicking your ass, come on over and help."
Sam took the bag from Rush and continued walking.
Behind him, he heard Aylin's overly dramatic sigh.
"You think up a really good reason why I shouldn't kick your butt, Rush. When you're done, I'll be over there helping Caddo set up his tent."
SEATON
Sitting around the campfire at night was something she'd only dreamed about when she was younger. Her mom didn't allow her to go to any kind of activity that wasn't included for free. Camp? That didn't happen.
Even when Seaton had saved up the money for herself, her mom found a way to take it away.
So there she was, sitting on a blanket, leaning her head against Sam's shoulder while they listened to Sam's lieutenant, Noah Sadler, playing the guitar.
Calling him Cowboy seemed to be just a statement of truth.
He had horses on his land on the outskirts of San Antonio and Seaton had been just as excited to see his pictures of his horses as she'd been to see pictures of the kids from Sam's coworkers.
Animals. Kids. She loved them all. Maybe, she mused, because she'd never really been around them growing up. But so far, being around the kids was a never ending revelation for her. Maybe the horses would scare her if she met them, but she really wanted to take a chance.
A wind blew through and sent chills along her arms and legs.
"Cold?"
She heard Sam's question, but her focus was on his hand that was on 7 er hip. It was moving up to her waist to draw her closer.
"I'm okay."
He moved around behind her on the blanket and stretched one leg out on either side of her.
Seaton felt like her face was too close to the campfire for a moment, her cheeks heating.
A moment later, he slipped one arm around her middle and then added the other.
It was the first time that they were sitting like this.
At home, they sat beside each other on the couch, but they'd never sat down with one in front.
He hugged her closer, and she had to adjust her arms so that they fit together.
He folded his hands together and she put her arms on top of his, easing back against his chest.
His closeness warmed her and the heat that moved between them relaxed her to the point where her eyes were drifting closed.
"Hey, Chief."
She heard Chief Blaise chuckle somewhere off to her right.
"You don't have to call me Chief when we're of the clock, Cowboy."
Fish snorted a laugh and she heard Sage grumble a little. "Stop."
"Ethan," Viviana laughed softly. "You can't tell him he doesn't have to call you Chief and then you call him Cowboy. It's kind of... of a mixed message, you know?"
"I'm just telling him he doesn't have to."
"And then choosing to call him by this firehouse name," she sighed. "I love you so much, you big gruff dork."
Seaton felt like the whole group was smiling.
Milo, Fish and Sage's son, spoke up quietly. "Mom? What's a dork?"
Viviana answered him. "It's a pet name I call your Uncle Ethan because I love him."
"Ahh," Milo hummed quietly. "Okay. Mom?"
Sage chuckled in reply. "Yes?"
"You're a big dork, too."
A couple of groans reached her ears and Seaton turned slightly and leaned her cheek on Sam's shoulder. "Your friends are great."
He leaned in and touched his cheek to hers. "They're your friends, too."
She fought back tears.
She knew he meant the words.
She felt the friendship that his coworkers and their families showered on her. She just wanted to get to a point where she didn't almost dissolve into tears from their kindness.
"Chief?"
She heard Chief Blaise sigh again. "Yes, Cowboy?"
There was laughter but it was softer than before. "That song you asked me about the last time?"
"The song I asked you..."
"The one from the Nineties?"
"Whoa," another voice came from the dark, "is that old enough to be on vinyl?"
"Shut it, Abe."
"Yes, Chief."
Viviana laughed but picked up the thread. ""More Than Words" by Extreme."
Seaton opened her eyes, interested in the conversation. The fire chief snapped his fingers. "That's right. I asked if you knew how to play that at the barbecue."
"Well," Cowboy turned a little and moved the clip he'd put on the neck of his guitar earlier, "I have a little surprise for you." With a slow nod of his head, Cowboy started to play the introduction to a song.
Seaton felt Sam start to rock her gently in his arms.
Every time they rocked from one side to the other, his joined hands moved on her belly just under her sternum and the more they moved together, the more she melted back against him.
Listening to Cowboy singing was nice. He had a clear voice with an easy sound.
During the chorus, someone joined in to sing with him and the harmony that reached her ears made her relax into Sam even more.
She'd never heard any of the firefighters sing before and she had to admit it was really nice.
Sam arms moved slightly against her and with the gentle movement of their bodies together and against each other, she became aware of the warmth of his arms, brushing the underside of her breasts.
Even though they were in the middle of a group of over twenty people, Seaton felt like they were almost alone with each other.
She knew that she was exactly where she wanted to be and with the people who she wanted to be with.
Her life was certainly changing for the better.
When it was time to go to sleep that night, she went to the restroom with Sage and Aylin. Sam had offered to go with them and light the way, but Sage and Aylin had assured him that they could get her safely to and from the restroom in one piece.
They were teasing, of course, but it felt good to feel like she was a part of the group and even better than that, that the other women involved her in their conversation during their little trip.
Now, her face freshly washed, her teeth freshly brushed, Seaton was ready to comb out her hair and snuggle up to Sam between their blankets.
There was a soft light on inside their tent, but she couldn't see anything inside. The 'windows' were covered and she was glad. She had a feeling she was going to sleep hard that night and likely wake up the next morning looking like... What was it people said? Like death warmed over?
Crouching beside the tent, Seaton set her travel bag of toiletries down and unzipped the tent flap.
She slipped off her sneakers and stepped inside, shaking her sneakers off before drawing them in after her and setting them on some newspapers in the corner.
Her toiletries came next and then she zippered the flap closed.
"Wow," she said softly, "I really like Sage and Aylin. Both of them are so amazing and-"
Her words disappeared as she saw Sam pull his T-shirt off over his head.