Chase slanted her an amused look. “Don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behavior. Relax, okay? Everything is going to be fine, you’ll see.”
Inwardly, Kate had her doubts, but she gave Chase a grateful smile, and then watched as the airplane stairs were rolled over to the side of the aircraft, and passengers began to disembark. At first, only uniformed soldiers made their way down the steps, but then several civilians appeared, wearing blue jeans and Western-style shirts. Kate recognized two of them as country music’s biggest stars, and a cheer went up from the soldiers on the flight line. The musicians waved at the troops, and only the military police kept them from getting mobbed as they stepped off the stairs.
Kate stood straighter, hardly aware that she clutched Chase’s sleeve. “Here they come,” she said unnecessarily.
And then they saw her. Tenley’s face appeared in the jet-way, and she made her way carefully down the stairs. She wore her signature blue jeans and cowboy boots, and a white top with sparkling jewels around the neckline. Her blond hair hung in tousled waves around her face, and she carried her bubble-gum-pink guitar case in one hand. Hearing the cheers of the soldiers, she smiled brightly and raised a hand in greeting. The wind blew her hair around her face, and as she reached the bottom step, she tripped and fell, sprawling face-first on the tarmac with her hobo bag and guitar case in disarray around her.
Kate gasped and jumped forward, but Chase was already there, picking her up and crouching down to examine her knees and then her hands, before he scooped up her guitar and belongings. Tenley’s face had turned a blotchy red, but she smiled and waved at the soldiers, and Kate could hear her telling Chase that she wasn’t hurt. Seeing Kate, she smiled hugely and ran toward her.
“Oh, Tenley,” cried Kate, reaching out and pulling the younger woman into an embrace. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Tenley said, her voice muffled against Kate’s shoulder. “Just embarrassed.”
“Well, I’m so glad you made it here. I tried calling you to make sure you had the correct flight times, but you didn’t answer.” She pulled back and frowned at her sister. “Why didn’t you answer?”
Tenley pulled free from Kate’s arms, laughing. “I can’t remember! Maybe I was over at the shelter. I’ve been trying to spend more time there, especially since they got a new shipment of dogs in.”
Tenley loved animals, but believed her own hectic schedule didn’t permit her to own a dog. Instead, she volunteered her spare time at a local rescue shelter. “Don’t worry, Russell took good care of me.”
“Well, you’re here now,” Kate said. She put an arm around the younger woman’s shoulders and drew her toward Chase. “Tenley, you’ve already met Major Chase Rawlins. He’s been my escort these past few days. He’s going to look after us while we’re here. We’ve been to three different bases, looking at the concert sites, and guess what?”
Tenley gave her an expectant look. “What?”
“I flew in a Black Hawk helicopter.”
“Wow, that’s amazing!” Tenley smiled, and then frowned. “What’s a Black Hawk?”
“It’s a military helicopter,” Kate said, grinning at Chase over her sister’s head. “Very cool.”
Tenley turned to Chase. “Thank you for helping me back there. I’m sort of a klutz, so you’ll have your work cut out for you in keeping me safe.”
Chase inclined his head. “I’m up for the challenge, Ms. Miles.”
“Oh, please call me Tenley.” She turned to Kate. “Can we get out of here, please? I’m dying for a shower and a change of clothes.” She made a face and put her hand over her nose. “What is that horrible smell?”
“That would be the Kandahar Riviera,” Chase said, his dimples flashing.
Tenley turned to him in surprise. “They have a Riviera over here?”
“No, Tenley, they don’t,” Kate said patiently. “What you’re smelling is the waste-treatment facility.”
Her sister made a gagging noise. “It smells like rotten onions. Do the poor soldiers who live here have to breathe that? I know this isn’t the States, but surely we can provide them with clean air?”
“You get used to it,” Chase said blandly. “Why don’t I grab your luggage?”
“Okay, let’s just go back to the housing unit so you can shower and eat and get some rest before tonight.”
“What do you mean, tonight?” Tenley squeaked, a look of panic flitting across her face. “Please tell me I am not required to perform tonight. There’s no way I can be ready to give a performance so soon!”
“Shh,” Kate said soothingly, taking Tenley’s guitar case from her and leading her toward the Humvee. “It’s just one or two songs, not even a full set. Every group is performing tonight, just to get the troops in the mood.”
“Are you sure they want me to?” Tenley asked, her voice anxious. “I think I heard a few soldiers booing me as I came off the plane. Why would they boo me?”
“Why do you think?” Kate asked calmly, putting her arm around Tenley’s shoulders. “You insulted them. But that’s why you’re here—to show them that you didn’t really mean what you said. Right?”
Tenley made a sound of distress. “I did mean what I said, just not toward all military. Just the ones who shipped Doug off.”
Kate knew that if her sister ever discovered that she had been the one responsible for having Doug shipped overseas after their forced annulment, Tenley would never forgive her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Chase easily dismantling a pile of luggage in his search for Tenley’s pink duffel bag. “So, listen … I told Major Rawlins that we’re sisters …” She let her voice trail off.
Tenley pulled back to look at her. “You did?” Her voice registered her surprise. “I mean, that’s great! If it were up to me, I’d tell everyone we’re sisters, but I know you think it’s better for my career if nobody knows we’re related.”
Kate nodded. “Right. But I’m not worried that Major Rawlins is going to alert the media.”
Chase caught up with them, carrying an enormous pink duffel in one hand. He put it into the back of the Humvee and opened the door for Tenley and Kate.
“Wait,” Tenley said, and glanced back toward the flight line. “What about the band members?”
“The USO is taking care of them,” Kate assured her. “See? If you look over there, you’ll see them getting on a USO bus. We’ll have dinner with them later today.”
Tenley looked in the direction Kate pointed, and a slight shudder ran through her slender frame. “Is that bus safe?”
“Don’t worry,” Kate said soothingly. “They’re perfectly safe, and they only have a few miles to travel. In fact, we won’t be too far from where they are. We have our own little trailer, just the two of us. Nice, right?”
“Absolutely,” Tenley agreed, dragging her attention away from the bus and sliding into the Humvee. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Chase held the door for Kate, and when their eyes met, he gave her a meaningful look. She wanted to kiss him for being so patient, but could only mouth the words thank you as she climbed in beside Tenley. He gave a philosophical shrug and a wink, and then closed the door firmly behind her before sliding into the front passenger seat.
“Oh, my God,” Tenley moaned when they were underway. “I am so tired. How long before we’re at our trailer?”
“We’ll be there in less than