Chapter 17
Hot Times
The flashing lights caught Raylan's eye as Adam turned the Lincoln into the subdivision. Two fire trucks and a police cruiser were parked in front of Gayle's house.
"Shit," he said. Adam had barely slowed to pull to the curb when Raylan had the door open, hopping out and heading toward the small cluster of people huddled on the front lawn. "Winona?"
"Here!" she called, walking toward him with Willa in her arms. He gave her a quick kiss and wrapped her in a hug. "What happened?"
"Everyone is okay," she reassured him. "Gayle was in the shower, and Willa and I were outside sitting on the porch swing. Evidently, Daddy got cold – who knows what he was thinking - and tried to start a fire in the fireplace." She glanced toward the ambulance where Davis Reeves sat on a stretcher, looking bewildered. "He caught his sleeve on fire and put it out with one of the pillows from the couch. Then, he left the pillow smoldering on the floor and went to change his shirt." She gave a short laugh. "A lot of smoke, but no real fire."
Gayle walked up, and much to Raylan's surprise, hugged him. "I'm glad you're here," she said. "Winona's missed you." She turned to her sister. "Daddy's fine. Well, as far as the fire is concerned. Wade opened all the windows and turned on the fans. The place should air out pretty quickly."
By this time, Margery, Adam, and Anna were heading across the lawn. "Are you alright? Is everyone alright?" Margery demanded.
"We're all fine, Mama," Winona said.
"Give me my girl," her mother said, reaching for Willa. "Grandma's missed you!"
"Da-da-da-da," the baby girl squealed with delight upon seeing her father.
"So has Daddy," Raylan said, intercepting Winona's pass. "C'mere you." Willa grinned and batted at him with her hands, reaching for the hat.
Margery let out a disapproving, audible, "tsk." Adam and Anna walked over to the other side of the lawn to give them all a little privacy. They had some catching up of their own to do.
"Sorry, Mama. You'll get your turn," Winona tried to console her mother. "It's just that Willa has been asking for Raylan for days now."
Gayle chimed in, supporting her sister. "It's true, Mom. Willa's been a little on the fussy side, crying 'Da-Da-Da.' Give Raylan a little time with her and then, you can have some quality Grandma time. Davis and Kyle will be so happy to see you. They should be home in about twenty minutes. They went to a birthday party for one of Davis' T-ball teammates."
"Well, I must say, it's good you've been spending time with Willa," Margery said to Raylan. Her granddaughter actually knew who her daddy was. There'd been a time not long ago when Margery had doubted that would ever happen. Now, the baby adored her father, and even Margery could see that he was smitten, too. "It's good for you, and it's good for her."
Winona wrapped her arm inside Raylan's. "It's good for me, too," she said, looking up at her man, longingly.
He turned his head towards Winona and leaned in to give her another kiss.
"Welcome home, Cowboy." She smiled and cocked her head. "Have you been drinking?" she whispered in his ear.
Bouncing Willa in his other arm, he answered, "We had a bad flight. Anna and I did throw back a few on an empty stomach, no less. Any chance we could get somethin' to eat, soon? I know Anna is hungry, too."
"I'll go check with Wade and see how the smoke cleanup is coming along," Gayle volunteered, taking the hint.
"And I'll come with you, Dear," Margery concurred, following her eldest daughter to the house.
Finally, somewhat alone, Raylan went in for another kiss, as Willa watched her parents with wide eyes. Winona stood up on her tip toes to keep it going for some time. When they finally broke for air, she said, "I hope you're not planning on passing out on me, early tonight. I've got plans for you."
"That's what I wanted to hear," he smiled and gave her another kiss. He was counting on his body to react to hers, as it always did. He was not disappointed and pressed her closer. "I know it's only been a few days, but God, I missed you." It was all he could do to control himself, so he abruptly changed his tone and the subject. "How has it been here, with your Dad? I mean, really."
"Well. Look at him over there." Her gaze went back to the paramedics, who looked like they were about to release her father. "His cognition goes in and out. He tires easily." She held on to him tighter. "I don't know. We're just going with the flow. That's all I know how to do."
Raylan drew her in for a hug and gently kissed the top of her head.
She said, "I know you came back to work on a case . . . but I'm so glad you're here."
"Me, too," he echoed. "To get here, I'm back on the payroll of the Marshals Service. No more per diem."
"We can stay here," Winona beat him to the punch. "It's probably just as well we do, under the circumstances."
"Thin walls," he complained, a little.
She chuckled. "Since when has that ever stopped us?"
Gayle was soon at the front door, waving everyone inside, as Wade went outside to talk to the paramedics. Raylan handed Willa back to her mother and walked over to join him.
"Hey there, Raylan," Wade extended his hand.
"How are you holdin' up with all this?" Raylan asked.
"You can imagine," Wade answered. "But it's a hell of a lot easier on me than it is on Gayle and Winona."
The two men approached the senior Davis. "Raylan," the older gentleman said, suddenly tracking normally. "Can you tell these guys that it's okay for me to go back in the house, too?"
Wade stepped up, knowing Raylan had no idea of what had been going on the past few days. "Are you feeling better?" he asked his father-in-law. "You look like you're feeling better."
"I don't want to go back to the hospital," Davis told Raylan with pleading eyes. "I'm sorry about the fire."
The light was dimming in those tired, old eyes, reminding Raylan of when Arlo was declining, before he went to prison. He placed a firm hand on Davis' shoulder, bracing him . . . giving him strength . . . something he was never able to do with his own father.
"Don't worry about it, Pop," Wade said. "More smoke than fire. It'll be fine."
One of the medics pulled Wade aside. "I understand the gentleman has dementia and is under Hospice Care. If that's so, why wasn't someone watching him?"
Keeping his voice down, Wade explained. "At this stage, the workers are here during the day. We're to call them in more frequently as he declines." He shifted his weight. "Look, we're new at this. Never been in this situation before. It is clear to us now that he can't be left alone. We'll call Hospice in 24 hour care . . . at home."
"Good," the medic concurred. "Because that's what he needs."
"Can I come with you, Raylan?" Davis asked.
Amazed that he could remember his name, Raylan answered him. "Looks like. But you can't be goin' off on your own, settin' fires. Deal?" Raylan extended his hand for a shake.
"Deal," Davis answered and shook Raylan's hand.
"C'mon," Raylan said, helping Davis off the gurney, to a standing position. And he offered his arm for the older gentleman to hang onto.
"Raylan?" Wade called from behind. "Would you take him into the living room, and tell Gayle I'm calling the Hospice . . . to see if we can get someone here, tonight?"
"Sure thing," Raylan nodded, leading the old man inside the house.
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
"I can't wait to get you alone," Adam whispered, pulling Anna in for a quick kiss. They were in Gayle's kitchen, having shooed everyone else out onto the backyard patio. Since the interior of the house was still a bit smoky, and it was a lovely evening, Gayle had suggested dinner be moved outside. Everyone went out to get things ready, but Adam insisted Anna remain as his 'helper'.
"I've missed you, too," Anna told him.
She glanced out the window. The long picnic table was already set for dinner, and Gayle and Winona were sitting on the porch swing, heads bent together, talking. Wade and Raylan, beers in hand, stood at the grill with the older man between them. While Wade watched the chicken, Davis was bending Raylan's ear about something talking animatedly with his hands. Margery was sitting in a lounge chair patty-caking with baby Willa.
"How soon after dinner do you think we can take off without being rude?"
"Since I'm not sure how long I can control myself," Adam said. "It might be rude not to leave." He came in close and pressed his hips to hers. "If you get what I'm saying." He grinned.
Anna smacked his fanny and moved away. "Then, we'd better get going on these tacos."
Soon they headed outside, Adam carrying a tray filled with tortillas, homemade salsa and guacamole, and chopped veggies. After the chicken was sliced, everyone loaded up and the conversation ceased as they ate. Kyle and Davis, tired from a day of swimming in their friend's pool and full of party food, slept through dinner.
After supper, Gayle insisted on cleaning up. Anna and Adam made their excuses and left for their hotel.
"I really appreciate you guys staying here," Gayle said while Winona helped her clear the table. "It's going to be a big help."
"Yes," Wade echoed. "Especially since hospice tells me they won't start 24 hour care until we're a bit further along."
"Now, I know you two want some privacy, and with Mama here that'll be in short supply. I have a suggestion." She glanced at her husband, and he nodded. "We really haven't used the room upstairs where, well, you know."
"The nursery." Raylan nodded, remembering the day Nicky Augustine's goons had threatened Winona. He reached for her hand as she stood beside him, giving it a squeeze.
"It's been cleaned up and repainted of course, but we thought we could set up an air mattress, we have a pretty nice one we got for camping, and there's room for the port-a-crib. You'd have a bathroom to yourselves up there, too."
Wade added, "But if that would be uncomfortable, we understand. We can shift things around and put you in the boys' room."
Raylan shrugged his shoulders and looked up at Winona. "Up to you," he said. "I got no problem with it." He adjusted Willa on his lap where she sat, gumming the monkey.
Winona bit her lip. "Okay. The best way to chase away bad memories is to make new ones."
"Good, then it's settled." Gayle linked her arm through Winona's. "Let's get the port-a-crib set up, Willa looks like she's about ready to nod off."
The sisters and Willa went up the stairs together.
"Wow!" Winona exclaimed when Gayle turned on the light to the room. "This doesn't look like the same room, at all."
"That was the idea," Gayle lamented.
"You changed the wall color. New curtains." She looked down. "New carpet."
"Oh, yes. We had to replace the carpet," her sister reminisced.
"But your homeowner's insurance took care of it. Right? Was the money we gave you for your deductible enough?" Winona asked, holding tight to Willa who had fallen asleep. She'd been afraid the room would give her the creeps, but it was so changed that it really didn't.
"Yes, of course it was," Gayle patted her sister's arm. "I just meant that everything needed to be replaced. Even the dry wall and the flooring underneath the carpet was replaced . . . the ceiling fixtures." After a beat, she added, "It's all gone," referring to the bloodbath that occurred in that room. "I couldn't have stayed in this house if everything hadn't been replaced."
Winona looked her sister in the eyes. "We are so sorry it happened. In your home . . . that you were so very nice enough to share with us."
Gayle leaned in and gave her baby sister a hug. "We're past all that now."
Wade, who lugged the port-a-crib up the stairs and into the room, interrupted them. He opened it up and set it in the corner. Winona placed her sleeping baby in the crib, on her back.
"I'll inflate the mattress in our room and bring it in," Wade said. "If I do it here, I'm afraid I'll wake the baby."
"Good idea, Hon," Gayle said to her husband.
"Where's Raylan?" Winona asked.
"Oh, your Dad cornered him," Wade answered. "He's talking to him about maybe going fishing this weekend."
"Raylan? Fishing with Daddy?" Winona was surprised in so many ways. "First of all, Daddy can't go fishing. Can he? And Daddy can't even remember Raylan's name half of the time."
"I think that scene with the ambulances shook your Dad up," Wade offered. "For once, he was glad to have a law enforcement officer in the family."
"Ohhhhh," Winona nodded. "That sort of makes sense."
Gayle giggled. "Daddy'll probably be back to calling him Gary by tomorrow."
Winona wrinkled her nose. "How's Raylan handling it?" she asked her brother-in-law.
"Fine," Wade answered, shrugging his shoulders. "He poured himself a bourbon and is down there BSing with Davis. Telling him tales about some of the bad guys he's hunted down."
"Oh, Lord." A smile came over Winona's face. "Raylan's got some stories."
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
Adam rolled onto his back in bed, huffing for air.
"Whoa," Anna said, panting, beside him. "That . . . was . . . incredible."
"Yeah," Adam nodded, unable to speak.
Their lovemaking was combustible.
Anna ran a finger down his side, and he shivered. "Guess you missed me." She grinned.
"Uh-huh." He was still catching his breath.
She rolled onto her stomach, supporting her weight on her elbows, chin in hand and gazed at him. "I missed you, too."
Emotional vulnerability was rare in his Anna. They had been separated before. It was a common occurrence because of her job, but this time was somehow different. Perhaps because this time, it was Adam who went away.
His eyes searched hers. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Marry me."
"What? Adam, I. . ."
He sat up, taking her face in his hands. "I love you. I know you're worried because you've failed at marriage before, but you won't . . . WE won't." He kissed her softly, encouraged by the fact that the word 'no' had not passed her lips. "I love you. I want us to spend the rest of our lives together, and I want the whole world to know that we're committed to each other."
Anna shook her head, laughing. "I ought to be committed for even considering. . ."
"Say yes," Adam interrupted. "Just say yes."
"Yes." Anna's face flushed. "Yes, I love you. Yes, I'll marry you." Under her breath she added. "Crazy. I'm crazy." After a beat, she murmured, "I'm crazy . . . for you."
She leaned in, and Adam kissed her. It was as if he was kissing her for the first time. It vacillated from a hungry kiss, to one that was so tender, he literally took her breath away. She simmered and then, smoldered as Adam sensually kissed her again and again, from the tip of her nose, all the way to her toes.
Usually in control, this time she relinquished it by closing her eyes and letting him have his way with her, as she whimpered with pleasure. Her breathing was heavy when finally, he finally positioned himself over her, his eyes glistening in the dark. She helped him enter her and let out a moan when he filled her in one powerful motion. Leaving her in limbo for a time, he repeated the motion again and again until she went over the edge.
She held on tight while he waited for her waves to subside. When he moved again, she couldn't believe how badly she still wanted him. She mirrored his movements underneath until she crested again. So strong, so patient, he waited yet again for her come down. When he slowly began to move, she was in disbelief that he could bring her to that place yet again, where she had to have him.
"Adam . . . please," she begged, holding on to him even tighter.
He covered her mouth with breathy kisses as she went over the edge a third time. He gasped when he followed her. Breathless and totally spent, he collapsed on top of her. She held him until the quaking quieted. "Happy?" she asked.
"Happiest I've ever been." He kissed her forehead, soft.
She placed her hands around his face and kissed him on the mouth. "I love you," she said.
(To be continued . . .)