Claiming the Enemy: Dustin (Porter Brothers Trilogy 3)

“Yes, we love camping. Do you?”

“I’ve never been before.”

Dustin stretched his legs, watching the firelight play on Jessie’s hair.

Her earnest expression made Logan feel special for having her attention on him.

Since Rosie’s birth, Logan had had to share the adults’ attentions, which was why he started taking Logan camping more often. He even let Holly and Greer take him to the state fair and parks while keeping Rosie for them, so that his bond with Holly wouldn’t be broken. To Holly, Logan would always be her son, and she wanted to make sure that, no matter how many children she and Greer had, he would always be just as important to her.

“Why not?”

“I always chicken out at the last minute.”

Dustin could see her looking at him from underneath her lashes.

“You came with us because you know we’ll keep you safe?” Logan’s face filled with pride before he raised the hot dogs out of the fire.

“Of course. Who would try to jump out and scare me with two strong men to protect me?”

Logan’s eyes darted to the bushes around them. “There ain’t. No one’s out here but us.”

“Did you know that little green men live in Kentucky?” Jessie took a big bite out her hot dog, prolonging Logan’s curiosity that had him warily looking toward the bushes again.

“Jess, behave,” Dustin admonished her, trying to keep from laughing.

“It’s not me who you need to worry about behaving.” Her voice went so low that Logan had to scoot closer to her. “It’s the little green men.”

“What do they look like?” Wide-eyed, Logan sat in suspense.

“Some are about your height, but I’ve heard tell that some are smaller. I think some are children.”

“And they’re green?”

“Yep, or … that’s what I’ve been told,” she whispered. “Holt and Asher think they’re goblins. You know what I think?”

“That you’re pulling his leg the way you did mine when I was his age?” Dustin reached for the hot dogs to make himself another one.

“I’m not pulling his leg!” Jessie haughtily reached for her backpack. Unzipping it, she took out a folded newspaper that Dustin recognized from his childhood. “There were sightings in Hopkinsville, but when the police showed up, they were gone.”

“Dad, where’s Hopkinsville?”

“Not close.”

Logan directed his attention back to Jessie. “What do you think they are?”

“I think they’re aliens and used their spacecraft to hide from the police and the people who saw them.”

Awestruck, Logan jumped at the popping of the fire.

“Don’t be worried. They won’t hurt you, because you live on their mountain. And as long as you live on the mountain, you protect them. Like Dustin and I.”

“Are Uncle Greer and Uncle Tate afraid of them?”

“They’re scared to death of them, and so are Asher and Holt.”

“Uncle Tate and Uncle Greer aren’t afraid of no little green men.”

“I can prove it.”

“How?”

“Did you ask them to camp out with you tonight?”

“Yes ….” Logan’s forehead scrunched up into a frown.

“What did they say?”

“No.”

“See? They’re scared.”

“Dad, are they scared?”

“Terrified.” Terrified that they’d have to sleep on the ground instead of in their warm and cozy beds, Dustin said to myself.

He enjoyed seeing the mischievous Jessie appear, sharing her whacky opinions with his son. He watched her through slit eyes, trying to decipher her motive. He knew damn well that Jessie had outgrown her belief in the little green men. What was stumping him was why she was encouraging that belief in Logan.

“You’re just joking … If I tell anyone at school about little green men, they’ll laugh at me.”

“Who wouldn’t believe you?”

“Everyone, but especially Fynn.”

Jessie made a disappointed face, then she suddenly snapped her fingers. “The next time you go camping, you could invite some of the boys in your grade.”

“What if we don’t see the green men?”

“I’m sure a couple of them will show up. They like you and wouldn’t want you to be disappointed.”

“Can I, Dad?”

“I don’t see why not,” he agreed, despite dreading the numerous calls he was going to receive from the parents. “Who’s ready for some s’mores?” Dustin asked, finishing off his second hot dog.

“Me!” Logan ran to the canvas bag in the tent to get the chocolate and the marshmallows.

“You know there aren’t little green men running around this mountain, don’t you?”

Jessie rolled her eyes. “Of course.”

“Then why …?”

“Just make sure Fynn is invited, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Don’t you trust me?” As she gave him a pitiful look, Dustin couldn’t hold his laughter back any longer.

“Jess … you always said that right before hell went to shit.”

“I’m older now.” Feeling cross, she speared another hot dog on her stick. “I know how to plan ahead.”

“You never had trouble with the planning stage. It was executing you had a problem with.”

“It’s better than the plan you have.”

“I’m letting the kids handle it.”

“Exactly. That plan sucks. Mine is much better.”