Chapter 29
Axe
Thud.
As soon as I landed on the ground, the earth rumbled, not only from the horrific fire consuming the amazing building, but also from the applause.
Within seconds, people swarmed us, a blanket thrown over me. With Kenzie still in my arms, we were both whisked away from the aftermath.
There were loud voices coming from everywhere, unnerving screams and shouts.
Firefighters were everywhere, rushing with hoses toward the fire.
They were too late.
Too fucking late.
“Over here!”
I recognized my brother’s voice, finally able to take a deep breath.
“We’ve got her, Axe,” a female voice said.
With the smoke still stinging my eyes, I barely noticed the girl was an EMT and one I’d worked with several times. Gina smiled, trying to encourage me.
“No!” I shook my head, still clinging to Kenzie. When I was close to the awaiting ambulance, I pulled back the blanket covering her.
“Is she…” Wade appeared, shaken and toasty around the edges, but okay. He continued to shake his head. In the light of the emergency vehicles, I was able to see tears in his eyes. “Is she alive?”
“She’s alive.”
“Axe,” Gina said with a soothing voice. “It’s okay. I promise we’ll take good care of her.”
I glanced down at the sleeping beauty, brushing hair from her face. The thought of letting her go killed me.
“Let us check her out, Axe. Trust me.”
“Yeah, okay.” The last thing I wanted to do was to ever let her go again. But I followed Gina toward the stretcher that was already waiting on the ground. When I eased Kenzie down, she stirred, opening her eyes briefly.
“Axe…”
“Don’t try and talk. You’re okay, baby. You’re just fine. They’re going to take a look at you.”
She gripped my arm. “Sa…sha.”
She’d named the horse after her old one. “She’s fine. Wade saved her.”
“Wade?”
“Axe. Please. She needs her rest and oxygen.” Gina was insistent.
“Yeah. Okay. Fine. I’ll be right here, baby. Right here, Palomino Girl.” As I backed away, I fought my own emotions and they were all over the place.
Turning, I tried to figure out what to say to Wade. When I finally lifted my head, the two of us seemed to be having trouble with what to say.
As some of the jumpers moved closer, I thought about what to say to him.
“I’m sorry, man. I shouldn’t have blamed you.”
His words were heartfelt, the tears still in his eyes. I could approach this one of two ways. It came to me what I wanted and what we both needed.
So I pulled him into a bear hug, shocked when I heard another round of applause.
“Thank you for saving my sister,” he muttered.
As I pulled away, I noticed her father and mother were running toward us. “I love her, Wade. I know your family doesn’t like me or my family, but I’m in love with her. I think I have been for a long time.”
He backed further away, rubbing the soot from his hand. Or at least trying to. When he held it out, a smile crossed his face. “I wouldn’t mind having you as a brother-in-law.”
“Now, hold on. Let’s not go that far.” We both laughed, but my thoughts were drifting to why the fire was set in the first place, my anger growing. “You saved Sasha.” There were police already talking with the Sterlings.
“Yeah, well, I don’t think my sister could lose another horse.” The tension remained, but not nearly as disruptive as before. “Maybe when this is all over, we could grab a beer sometime.”
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
He nodded, the strain still there, but maybe we could repair our friendship. Stranger things had occurred. “Well, I’m going to go talk to my parents.”
“Yeah, you do that.” As he walked away, I turned to see what they were doing with Kenzie, the ache in my gut unlike anything I’d ever felt. When I shifted toward the barn once again, I rubbed my face.
A rag and a bottle of water suddenly appeared.
“That was officially called hot-dogging.” Jameson stood right beside me.
I laughed and grabbed both, wiping my face as I continued staring at the building. “Yeah, well, I had no choice.”
“I know you didn’t. I don’t think I’ll mention it to the captain.”
“It’s okay if you do. If he wants to keep me off the roster, I’m fine with that.” I shifted so I could see Kenzie. “I have a few things to do.”
“Yeah, so I heard. Like handling a new rodeo.”
Glancing toward her father, I did what I could to keep the anger controlled. “I don’t know if it’ll happen now.”
“You think he burned his own building down?”
“I think there’s a chance.”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “I don’t think so.
In fact, I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but the fire inspector called.
The accelerant was linseed oil used by any rancher and homeowner with a lot of leather.
The arsonist wasn’t that smart. The inspectors traced a link to a guy who had purchased a huge quantity with a credit card. ”
I turned toward my brother. “And?”
“Well, from what I understand, he should be in custody right about now. I guess we’ll see who hired him. But don’t be too hard on Bartholomew Sterling. At least not until all the facts come out. Besides, she is your girlfriend’s father.”
“Yeah, I’ll try, but that man has a lot to answer for.”
“Maybe so, but just remember we’re all human,” he said, chuckling as he walked away.
Why was it that my brother just had to grin at me like some loon? That was the moment I noticed Bartholomew was walking in my direction. The truth was I doubted he’d had anything to do with the fire. I could blame him for a lot of shit, but this wasn’t part of it.
I stood right where I was, watching him as he took his time heading in my direction. I had no intention of going to him.
As he approached, I thought about everything that had happened and all the shitty things he’d said over the years, accusing me of cheating and of trying to defile his daughter. I’d always looked up to him and the craziest thing of all was that I’d wanted to be on his rodeo team.
“Axe. I just wanted to thank you for saving my little girl’s life.”
“Did you have anything to do with that fire? Did you lure her here to use her and nothing else because if you did, I will personally ensure that you spend the rest of your life in prison.”
He studied me intently. “No, I did not. But I think I know who did.”
“Alright. Then I’ll expect your full cooperation with the police. In fact, I demand it. And while we’re on the subject of doing the right thing. I am not riding a motherfucking goddamn bull for you. You hear me? I wanted nothing more than to do that on your team and you treated me like trash.”
“I had no idea you wanted to be on my team, son. None at all.”
“Yeah, well, you were too busy accusing me of ruining your daughter and cheating. And…” And I sounded like a loon myself.
The past was the past. “Hear me. I love your daughter. And there’s a good chance I’m going to marry her.
I mean, if she’ll have me. There’s nothing you can do about it this time. We’re adults.”
He cocked his head. “Alright. I understand.”
“And I’m not my father, although if someone were to tell me that I reminded them of him, I’d be honored. Not embarrassed. I’m sorry that he fell in love with your wife. I mean, if things had gone differently, I wouldn’t be standing here confessing my love, but I had nothing to do with that.”
Now I had a freaking audience. Great. Including his wife.
“Say something, Bart.” Rebecca Sterling had her arms folded, her mouth pinched. “I already told Kenzie what happened back when we were in college. There is no reason for you to be carrying a grudge any longer. We are not twenty-two anymore. Grow up.”
He acted sheepish. “Fine. Yes, I get it. I was an idiot. I’m sorry. I just… I didn’t want anyone touching Rebecca. She’s all mine.”
“That much I can understand.”
The entire fucking smokejumping team was standing around listening in. If this ended up on the front-page news, I would be pissed as hell.
“Do it, Bart. They’re in love,” Rebecca chided.
The asshole was actually debating if that was okay by him. I almost walked away.
He threw out his hand. “Can you forgive me?”
“For years of being a stubborn ass,” she added, her face hopeful.
I stared at his hand for a few seconds.
“For years of being a stubborn ass.” His grip on my hand was firm.
I’d been ready to punch him, not shake hands. What the hell. I accepted the gesture, sighing when I did.
“You’re a good man, Stephen. I’ll be thankful to have your help with the rodeo.”
When he backed away, I groaned. “It’s Axe.” I glanced at the building again, wondering how things had gotten so off track.
“Not bad. I think I’m going to tell the captain your rage is cured.”
Laughing again, I dropped my head. Jameson was determined to keep me on the right track. “I’d appreciate that, brother. I really would.”
I noticed he backed away, holding up his hands. Well, shit. I had an audience and I could tell by the surge of electricity who stood inches behind me.
A few seconds later, I tipped my head over my shoulder. “And how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to hear that you love me.”
Hearing her voice brought a huge smile to my face. I turned around and as if in some stupid movie, the sounds around me faded. “You did, huh?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Why aren’t you resting?”
“Because I needed to say a few things to the man who saved my life.”
“Like what?” I cupped her face, thankful she wasn’t injured. But she was hardheaded, Gina staring at us with clear chastisement lacing her expression.
“Like I wish I could take back some time.” She crowded even closer, brushing her fingers on my shirt. “You’re burned.”
“I’m fine.”
“You walked through fire for me.”
Grinning, I shrugged on purpose. “Anything for my girl.”
“I guess I’ll keep that in mind. So you really love me, huh?”
“Maybe. Do you love me?”
“Maybe.”
Our lips were so close I could almost taste her. We clung to each other, our breathing labored.
A face suddenly appeared beside us. “For the love of fuck, kiss her already. If you don’t, I will.”