As winter lingered they spent their nights listening to the whistle of arctic breezes and making plans for a new mountain cabin. They laid dreams down on paper, sketching out plans for a retreat where they could teach self-defense and ancient Indian lore. They didn't know if the dream would become reality but the idea cemented them, bringing with it an enthusiasm for the future neither had experienced before. Jesse was just happy to think her life might not be played out at Tony's Diner. She knew Sophie was happy to spend her old age there working beside her boss, but knowing that wasn't her end cheered Jesse. She couldn't wait till spring when they could start working on her grandfather's property for real.
In the mean time, she allowed herself to enjoy learning the art of self-defense from Logan. Her newfound strength and flexibility gave her more confidence than she'd ever had. Knowing her way around different weapons gave her a strong sense of self-assurance and peace. She combined all of this with things taught to her years ago by Charlie Ray, wondering if her ancestors had felt the way she did now, strong, brave and capable, but always keeping life's sanctity in perspective.
Her favorite thing of all was getting in the ring at the gym, sparring with Logan. Most of the time he out-boxed her, but every now and then she sent him to the mat, something she never let him live down. Those were the moments when she became the alpha female. The warrior woman rose up in her with blazing black eyes and triumphant war whoops. She knew it was silly but that silliness was needed sometimes to break up the sheer physical exertion. Logan used this knowledge to push her body to its limit, letting her think she had the upper hand, only to take her down at the last minute. They'd end up laughing and tangled on the mat, their bond strengthening as only happens to those who work together for a common goal.
It was during one of these matches that Logan threw out a familiar challenge: winner would get to plan an entire day for the loser. Jesse knew what that meant if she lost again. This time she was determined that wouldn't happen.
"You know what this means, right?" She taunted, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she adjusted her protective gear. Even over a mouth guard it was easy to tease him.
"Chick flick at the Cinema 16. And dinner at Bonefish Grill. After you dust and finish the laundry."
She bobbed, then lunged forward, trying to suck him into doing the same. He knew her better than that, ducking easily under her intended right swing. Her momentum sent her slightly off course but she used the motion to spin herself around, launching a kick that caught him in the chest. It sent him back half a step so she darted in and followed up with quick jabs to his torso.
"Playin' for keeps this time, huh?" he challenged, bringing both fists up to break her onslaught. They both took dancing steps backward, circling to size each other up.
"Last time I spent all day watching stupid TV and cooking lasagna." She saw the muscles in his thighs bunch as he stepped toward her, his left fist catching her under her rib cage. The air escaped her lungs but she recovered quickly, knowing his left jab was always followed by an uppercut with a one-two combo. She dropped to the floor, somersaulting into position behind him. From there she threw out her legs, causing him to trip and land on his knees. She was on her feet like a cat, kicking upward against his middle, then bringing her elbow down in the middle of his back. He dropped and rolled, grabbing her around the waist and bringing her to the floor with him.
"You can learn things from TV," he countered, straddling her for one quick moment. "You been watching wrestling again, I see."
They disengaged, both hopping to their feet and retreating to opposite corners. Jesse used the time to limber up her arms, throwing punches into the air.
"You're wasting energy," he reminded, lunging forward and landing a jab to her torso. She tried to fall back but he was there, pushing her against the ropes. Two more jabs to the body and an uppercut to the chin forced her spinning out from under his onslaught. Then it was his turn on the ropes. She ducked in with a one-two combo, the strength of the blows and guttural cries that escaped her as each one landed let him know she was getting frustrated.
"You're giving me an edge, you know that right?" He teased. "Don't take it personal. Don't get pissed off. You don't fight smart when you're pissed off."
She threw another left. Logan dodged right and her fist met nothing but air.
"I'm not pissed off," she insisted.
"Turned on? Cuz God knows I am." He dove for her and spun her around, effectively placing her in the corner again. She brought both fists up to protect her face as he launched a sideways kick that knocked her down. He grinned when she growled and sprang to her feet.
"Now I'm pissed off."
"Show me what ya got, Princess," he taunted. The tease in his voice got to her. Tucking her fists under her chin, she advanced, throwing a right, then a left, then another right. This time it was her uppercut that sent him back a step. She came in for the kill then, launching a kick to his side. Logan saw it coming. As their bodies connected he grabbed her leg, flipping her easily face forward onto the mat.
"Had enough yet?"
"Never." She contorted her body to send an ineffective punch toward the side of his head. When it missed, she allowed herself to fall back, twisting into a sitting position.
"You can't fight from down there," Logan insisted. "Get up."
She pulled herself up, favoring the leg he'd twisted.
"Don't try that," He shook his head, pointing toward her as she advanced. The look of determination on her face was enough for him to sense what she was feeling.
"Lemme check out the leg. We'll take a break." He turned away, heading for a corner of the ring. Jesse whooped and launched herself at him, jumping high so she'd land on his back. Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around his throat and her legs around his waist. Their sweat mingled as she breathed heavily into his ear.
"You gave up too soon," she chided as he spun slowly around and pressed her against the ropes. "You're too easy on me."
She dropped to the floor but left her arms around his neck as he turned to face her.
"Throwin' a punch at you ain't easy, kid," he murmured against her cheek. She brought down a gloved fist and patted his shoulder, grinning.
"I know."
"You use that knowledge to your advantage," he puffed as they arrived home later, trying to act as though she was using an unfair weapon against him.
"You're the one who taught me to look for my opponent's weakness to exploit it. I don't feel bad."
She pulled out her keys and unlocked the apartment door, reaching in to flip on the light. Throwing down her gym bag, she turned to face him.
"I can't help that your weakness is me."
He advanced on her, eyebrows furrowed in mock anger. Jesse backed down the hallway, taunting him with her boxer's stance.
"C'mon, you know I beat you." she giggled.
He dove for her midsection and carried the tackle all the way back to his bedroom. Pinning her on his bed, he challenged. "You wanna say that again?"
"I beat you," she whispered, sticking out her tongue. He buried his face against her neck, the wiry hair on his jawbone giving her goosebumps.
"What's rule number one in mortal combat?" His hot breath in her ear added a shiver.
"No retreat, Baby. No surrender."
"That's a Springsteen song."
She giggled. "Never give up. Never surrender?"
"Weird space movie."
"Either do or do not. There is no 'try.'"
Logan groaned but Jesse made up for her bad joke by unbuttoning his shirt and sliding her hands over his shoulders. She kissed his neck, slowly tracing the lump of his Adam's apple with her tongue.
"The number one rule of mortal combat is to never let your opponent see that you are truly and madly, forever and always in love with him. Or her, as the case may be." She jabbed playfully at his chest with both fists then pushed him onto his back, straddling him as she untied her hair and pulled off her shirt. Logan pulled himself into a sitting position, easing her forward till they were face to face.
"The number one rule in mortal combat is 'survive,'" he corrected. "I'm gonna make you a warrior, Princess. Even if it kills me."
"I wanna go to the fair," Jesse announced the next morning. "You know I beat you in the ring yesterday. So I get to pick what we do. I wanna go to the fair."
"The winner of that match is still up for debate," he reminded, reaching for her underneath the covers. Jesse squawked in mock outrage.
"If I'da held you in that choke hold you woulda gone down. You know it Wolverine."
"But you let go. Not to mention tricking me into turning my back on you in the first place. We were on break."
"I think this debate could go on forever," she pouted.
Logan raised an eyebrow. "I'll take the first half of the day and you get the second. Compromise. We both win."
Jesse smiled and slid her arms around him. "So diplomatic."
"I want breakfast in bed," he added, tilting his head so he could look her in the eye. "The works. Bacon, eggs, biscuits, coffee and OJ."
"We don't have any OJ," she protested, squirming herself against him. "You gonna make me go out and get some?"
"I hate the fair," he grumbled against the side of her head. "You gonna wanna ride the Ferris wheel?"
Jesse sighed and slid out of bed.
"Compromise," she growled, disappearing into the bathroom.
"Makes the world go round, Pocahontas."
Except for having to go out for orange juice, Jesse couldn't really complain about how they spent the day. When it came time for the fair she pulled on her favorite skintight jeans, donned a turquoise peasant blouse and tied a feather and bead-laden leather thong around her braid. A dusty straw cowboy hat and silver tipped boots finished out the look. She smiled when it became apparent Logan liked what he saw.
"Your exercise program really works," she quipped, pretending to sound like one of those weight loss commercials they always played on the radio.
Logan picked out a fat cigar, looking her up and down. "You better stay very close to me tonight. Anybody tryin to squeeze in on my girl is gonna be sorry."
They hit the road on Logan's Harley, driving close to 40 miles before coming to Silverton, a town more than twice the size of Cedar Ridge. Logan followed Jesse around acres of livestock pens, watching as she petted calves, chased down chickens and coo-ed over little pink piglets. He shook his head no when she held up a pit bull puppy, and again when she showed him a black and white bunny. He softened the blow by taking her to the center of the fair grounds and submitting to line dancing to music by a guy named Keith Urban.
As darkness fell, the fairgrounds came alive. Loud music had to compete with screams from people on the rides. Hawkers tried their best to get every person who passed to play their games. Jesse won a goldfish at a ring toss, only to pass it on to a little girl standing behind her, explaining to her mom that the fish would never survive a ride home on a motorcycle.
Logan had to admit that even though he hated crowds and noisy chaos, he loved how Jesse sparkled in the night. He noticed every sideways glance sent in her direction, spending most of the evening with an arm draped possessively over her shoulder. He puffed on his cigar, proud to be the man at Jesse's side. This was a different girl than the one he'd first met outside Tony's Diner. She was confident and joyful, overflowing with life. When she looked into his eyes, it was to try and convey to him that he was the author of those changes. And when he bent to kiss her on the fairway and she blissfully wrapped her arms around him, he lost himself, memorizing the scent of cotton candy, sawdust, and Jesse's perfume.
Her last request was to ride the Ferris wheel. They got sidetracked in so many different directions on the way to the huge contraption that it was close to midnight when they got in line. Overly-tired children argued with parents, sugar highs crashing as they tried to squeeze in one more ride. Over-worked carneys helped people off when the great wheel stopped, then loaded more, one seat at a time.
"I promise I won't rock us," Jesse giggled, tipsy from too much beer and fresh air. Her feet couldn't contain the nerves that began to jangle as they waited their turn. She danced from one foot to the other.
"Marley?" They heard a mom calling for a child behind them. She pushed her way through the line, alternately bending and stretching to try and catch a glimpse of one who must have gotten separated. A groan went up from a group of four ahead of Jesse and Logan as the ride was stopped in order to find the child.
"Marley!" This time there was desperation in the cry. Jesse's heart went out to the young mother who already had a baby clutched to her chest.
"Marley where are you? I can't find you. Marley!"
A gasp went up from the crowd beneath the Ferris wheel as a tiny cry of "Mommy!" was heard high in the sky. At about that same moment a stuffed bear came careening from the Ferris wheel's highest point. The carnie in charge of the ride reached for the gears to put it in motion but Logan pushed forward, grabbing his arm. He pointed up to where a little girl clung to the outside of the ride, her pink dress barely showing between a seat and the wheel's vertical frame.
"You'll lose that kid if this ride moves an inch."
"Oh Jesus," Marley's mom dropped to her knees and Logan sprang into action. He jumped onto the light-encrusted Ferris wheel, carefully climbing from one metal support to another.
"Logan be careful!" Jesse screamed, moving to put an arm around the sobbing woman. The Ferris wheel rocked uncertainly from Logan's extra weight. Marley's car began to shake and the little girl screamed in terror. How she'd managed to get out of the seat was anybody's guess. With the wind picking up and her fear getting the best of her, it was clear the child wouldn't be holding on much longer.
"Come on kid, hang on one more minute," Logan said. He could see the fear in her huge saucer eyes. Tears coursed down her cheeks as she cried for herself and her fallen bear. He positioned himself so that even if she let go he would be able to catch her, then climbed the last few feet to the top of the ride. A cheer went up as his arm encircled the girl.
"You're gonna have to hold on now," he hugged her tight. "Don't let go."
Marley didn't have to be told twice. She wrapped both arms and legs around Logan as he made his decent, burying her face against him. His motions made the Ferris wheel rock in ways that were never intended. Steel began to groan and shake as a car above them came loose and popped out of its frame. This caused a chain reaction as pressure shifted and the already shaky apparatus began to come apart. The entire upper half of the ride bent forward and dropped toward the ground, scattering onlookers. Jesse pulled Marley's mother back as they both watched Logan twist to avoid the metal and glass raining down on him. Marley screamed and so did her mom, as they dropped, jerking to a temporary halt as the network of lighting wires caught them, then let go. The Ferris wheel gave a moan of metal against metal then fell into itself. Jesse left the older woman's side to race toward where she'd last seen Logan. A group of carnies and a State Trooper held her back, creating a wall of men she couldn't fight her way through.
"Logan!" she screamed his name, pushing ineffectively against the men in front of her. Metal debris continued to fall for a moment or two, then everything went quiet. No one could believe what they'd just seen. Jesse dropped to her knees and yelled for Logan again, eyes still wide in disbelief. Then the ride began to shudder. From underneath came the crashing sounds of metal into metal. Jesse stood to her feet.
"Come on Logan, get out of there."
One of the officers gave her a sorrowful look, reaching for her shoulder. Jesse shook him off. Darting around him, she advanced on the glittering pile of twisted metal. As she watched, three blades pierced through the wreckage and cut it aside like a sardine can. Logan bent the ride's steel foundation away with one hand and set the little girl down safe on the ground with the other. Jesse flung herself at him as he retracted his metal claws, brushing glass and metal off his shoulders.
"I'm alright, I'm alright," he assured her, wrapping both arms around her waist. They remained rooted to the spot, silhouetted by the ride's glaring spotlights, till Marley's mother and one of the Troopers approached them.
"We need to get out of here," Logan bent and spoke into Jesse's ear. He grabbed her arm, leading her away from the ride. One of the officers joined them, matching step as they pushed upstream through the crowds. He acted as a buffer, keeping Jesse and Logan separated from those who had witnessed the event. More people came running as the ride crashed to the ground and soon the grounds were a swirling chaos.
"You two need any help?" The Trooper asked. He gave Logan a look that Jesse didn't quite understand, until she realized that they were surrounded by some sort of energy field. The people they passed didn't acknowledge their presence, as if they were invisible.
"He's a Mutant?" Jesse leaned over to whisper in Logan's ear. His grip on her arm intensified as he nodded her forward. Before she knew it, she was hopping onto the back of the Harley.
Logan thanked their bodyguard. They spoke in quiet conversation that Jesse couldn't hear, then she and Logan sped off into the night.
