Logan's Salute

Chapter 3

Logan's POV

Logan lays awake most of the night, just thinking. He smiles as he remembers kissing Kristin. She looked so beautiful, when he opened the door. He did not expect to see her standing there as the neighbours were very helpful that week, so Logan was expecting one of them to be on the other side of the door. The mere sight of her made his pulse race. Even though he was very angry with her for taking chances with Matthew, knowing what and who he is, his heart leaped when he opened the door. He never brought her to meet his family before this day and he did not want them to meet this way either. In fact, he never really brought any girl home, ever. He knew, however, that both his mother and father would love Kristin, once they get to know her. 

The sound of his father coughing and makes him rush to his parent’s room. He opens the door and finds his father sitting upright in bed. 

"Pa?" He says and enters the room. His father turns to him and shushes him. 

"Your mother is asleep," he whispers. 

Logan kneels in front of his father and asks, "Should I bring you some water?" His father shakes his head and points to the bedside pedestal, where a full jug of water was standing. 

"Go back to bed," his father says, placing his feeble hand on his son’s muscular shoulder. 

His father, Jonathan Logan, is a tall and lanky man, mainly due to his illness. Jonathan was once a  muscular and mighty as his son is. Jonathan was a qualified house painter and worked for years at the Gabriels' House Of Paints. His loyalty for the company has kept the Logan family afloat and Logan prays that the recent feud between him and Matthew will not jeopardise that. 

Ever since he found the second tumour, three weeks ago, Jonathan has not been eating properly. He has lost a lot of weight and seems to be deteriorating daily, thus Logan chose to stay home and help. Logan was afraid that he would return from school and his father would be gone. Logan helps his father back into bed and tucks him in. They nod at each other and Logan returns to his room. 

Logan's thoughts return to Kristin as he lays in his bed. He fondly recalls their first encounter when she fell on him. She made an adorable clown and when she smiled, his heart stopped. He found himself staring at her and knew right there and then he loved her. Always when he was in her presence, he would be awestruck by her. Her amazing smile, her love for life even her crazy stubborn nature. He close his eyes as he recalls her kiss, arousing him. He looks at the time on his alarm clock and sees that it is almost three am. He close his eyes again and drifts off to sleep.

 Kristin's POV

The next morning was a blur in the Stevens house, as Kristin did not get much sleep. Paula and Jacques went off to do their wedding planning and Kristin helped her mother with the laundry. Once they completed the task, Kristin asks her father to drop her at Logan's place. Her father prepares to fetch the car, when there is a knock at the door. Kristin's father goes and answers finding Logan standing there, looking very nervous. Kristin smiles at the sight of him. He was wearing a dark red golf t-shirt with a pair of dark beige slacks and a pair of black dress shoes. His hair was neatly combed and was wearing a side path. He looks very different but still handsome. 

"Good afternoon, sir," Logan says and extends his hand to shake her fathers. Her father takes his hand and shakes it. "I am John Logan, sir," Logan introduces himself. Kristin's father turns to look at his daughter and then back at Logan, saying, "Yes, son. I know who you are." Logan flashes a brilliant smile at him and asks, "Sir, may I please come inside?" 

"Sure," her father tells him and steps aside. Logan then sees Kristin and smiles at her. She smiles back. Kristin's mother makes an appearance at that moment, and as Logan sees her and greets her as well. Her father and Logan makes there way to the living room. 

"Are you getting married as well?" Her mother asks her and she shakes her head. "Well, then what is he doing here?" Her mother asks.

 "I am supposed to meet his father today, but I don't remember him telling me that he was fetching me." Kristin says, confused by Logan's odd behaviour.

Just as fifteen minutes pass by, the two men immerge from the living room laughing. Kristin and her mother both watched in awe as they talked like old buddies. Kristin's father then turns to his daughter and asks, "Are you ready, princess?" Stunned by the recent events, Kristin just stares at the men in the room. "Princess!" Her father shouts and she responds finally. "Huh?" Sorry, yes, daddy." Logan's eyes twinkling with laughter. "Are you ready to go with Logan? He says that you are meeting his father today?" Kristin looks at Logan and then her father and then back at Logan. 

"Yes! No, wait. Let me get the bag." Kristin says and runs to her bedroom. When she returns, both her parents where laughing with Logan. 'What the hell is going on', she thought to herself. "Well, sir, I want to thank you for your time and our little talk. Mrs. Stevens, lovely chatting with you as well." Logan shakes their hands as he addresses them and turns to Kristin, smiling broadly. "Shall we, Kris?" Kristin eyes him curiously and nods in agreement.

Both Kristin's parents see them off as they make their way to Logan's house. 

"What was that about?" Kristin asks as he takes the corner. 

Logan smiles at the road ahead, and says, "I have asked permission from your father to openly court you." Kristin looks at him in shock, "What did he say?" 

He glances at her and focuses on the road again, saying, "Well, he allowed you to leave with me, didn't he?" 

"Wait," Kristin says, "You didn't even ask me if I wanted to be 'openly courted', as you say." Logan smiles slyly and pulls over to the side of the road. He turns to her and takes her right hand into his. Looking deep into her eyes, he asks her, "Kris, would you be my girlfriend, officially." Kristin acts coy and says, 

"My, my, Logan. This is all so sudden. I really don't know." The sound of a sad American southern accent makes Logan throw his head back and laugh out loud. Kristin loved the sound and laughs with him. Then she looks at him and covers his hand with her left hand as well, saying, "Logan, I would love to be courted by you. I will be your girlfriend." With that Logan leans in and kisses Kristin. Gently, softly and so beautiful. Logan pulls away, he places his hand in his slacks pocket and removes a little black box. Logan looks at her anxious face and smiles. 

"What is this?" She asks him. 

"Open it," he says, his gaze never leaving her face. She takes the box and opens it. Inside is a beautiful silver necklace with an unusual symbol as a pendant. It looked like a tree in a circle. 

"Logan, this is beautiful," she says. He takes the box and removes the necklace, placing it around her neck. "What is the symbol?" She asks him. 

He smiles at her and says, "This is called 'The Tree of Life', the jeweller said. It is quite unique and when I saw it I thought of you." She looks at herself in the mirror and smiles back at him, saying, "I love it." She kisses him on the cheek and he smiles. "Let's go," Logan says and drives on.

On their arrival, Gabriella comes running to her brothers car. "Hi Kris," she says and takes the bag from her. Kristin explains that her clothes are in there along with some things she thought would look good on her. Gabriella thanks her with a hug and they make their way into the house. Logan greets his mother and says to her that Kristin has agreed to be his girlfriend. His mother hugs her and kisses her on her cheek, saying how happy she was that he finally got a nice girl. 

"Did you ask her parents, Johnny?" She asks almost immediately after the welcome. Logan smiles at Kristin and says, "Of course, ma. Is dad awake?" His mother nods and Logan takes Kristin by her hand. "I want to introduce my girl to him." He says. Logan leads Kristin through the door where the curtain hangs and down a wooden floored corridor. At the end of the corridor was three doors. The first door was the loo then beside it was the bathroom. Then it was his parents room. The door was already open. Logan peaks in and smiles, saying, "Hey pa, you're awake." He moves into the room and tows Kristin in behind him. The man in the bed was very thin. "Pops, this is Kristin Stevens," he turns to Kristin and places his arm around her. "My girlfriend." Logan sounded proud and happy. His father looked at Kristin as he sat up in bed. He was supported by a huge continental pillow. He had black eyes, like Logan, short, black sleek hair, neatly combed and a moustache. She could see he was a tall man, as he lay in his bed. He eyes Kristin curiously from head to toe and smiles nodding slightly. 

"I am pleased to meet you Mr. Logan. I can see where John gets his handsome good looks from," Kristin says and reaches for his hand. 

"Hello, Kristin," he says softly, "I know your father. Good man." She thanks him. He places his left hand onto her hand that covers his right and says, "Please, look after my son." Her smile fades as she looks at Logan's father and sees the seriousness on his face. "He is going to need you." He says, in a low whisper, so that his son could not hear. Kristin nods and releases his hand. "Son," his father calls to him and he kneels down to hear his dad speak. 

Kristin was disturbed by Mr. Logan's words and did not pay much attention to the interaction between father and son. Logan kisses her on the cheek and says, "Let's go for a drive." Kristin nods in agreement and greets his father, kissing him on his forehead. He was burning up. "It was so lovely meeting you, sir. Please rest now." Kristin says and leaves the room, with Logan waiting for her in the corridor.   

Kristin's thoughts were revolving around Logan's father and his words the whole drive. Logan glances at her every few moments, but does not say anything. He pulls up in the same parking lot they were at earlier that week. Kristin catches Logan looking at her and smiles. "What did he say to you?" He asks, finally. "You have been lost in thought the whole time." 

Kristin looks at the open sea and asks, "What kind of cancer does your father have?" 

"Lung cancer," Logan says, still facing her. "It was in remission, but it has somehow returned. The doctor says that he refused to do the chemotherapy, for some reason." Logan shrugs, "I think he is tired of feeling sick all the time. The chemo ruined him the first time around, so I think that might be the reason he refused it this time." Kristin removes her seatbelt and turns towards Logan. 

"When did he stop eating?" She asks him, as he removed his seatbelt as well. Logan pulls a face and asks, "Why are you asking so many questions?" Kristin shakes her head and says, "No particular reason. Just curious." Logan eyes her for a few seconds and then answers. "He has been eating badly, but I won't say he hasn't been eating." Kristin nods. "Do you know what he said about you?" Kristin smiles, shaking her head. Logan takes her right hand into his and smiles, "He said that you were really pretty. He also said that you will make a gorgeous wife." Logan chuckles and says, "My dad says that you are a keeper and we look good together. He basically gave his blessing." 

"I think he is just happy that his son no longer hangs out with dodgy looking girls." Kristin jokes and He fake laughs at her joke. 

"Funny, Kris. Pass me the cigarettes in the glove compartment, please." Logan says. Kristin shoots him a look. 

"Don't you think you should stop smoking?" She says.

"Seriously?" He asks and she nods, "Yes. Your fathers condition should be a lesson in this." Logan stares at her with a blank expression. Kristin then rolls her eyes and passes him the cigarettes.

They spent the whole day at the beach, walking hand in hand and talking about everything. He was so handsome, smiling broadly, she thought to herself. His eyes twinkled and she noticed he had dimples. They ended the day at the nearest KFC. He loved hot food and always carries a bag with chilli powder with him. He covered his food with the chilli powder and ate it. She watched in awe, as he sprinkle and ate his food with so much gusto. She enjoyed their time together.

Logan's POV

He watches her eat her food slowly and chewed properly. She sneezed when he sprinkled his chilli powder over his food. She looked adorable when that happened. Her small finger was in the air as she eats a piece of chicken. Logan smiles at this. She also lingered on her bones, ensuring that there was no juice in them at all. She was easy to talk to, always was, and a very good listener. 

Logan avoided kissing Kristin. Each time they came close, he would pull her hair or make a joke. She laughed so loud at his jokes that she struggled to breathe. He loved making her laugh, though. Her laugh made his day. He has not seen her this relaxed in a very long time and he enjoyed this side of her. They even had a sing along to the radio as they made their way home. Each one singing badly, with very elaborate actions to suit each song. 

"I had a really nice time today, Kristin. Thank you," Logan says as they sat in the car in front of her home. 

"I should be thanking you," she says with a smile. "I don't know when last I laughed so loud. my stomach still hurts." He smiles and she chuckles. 

He walks her to the door and kisses her cheek. She closed her eyes and blushed. Even that was too much for him, as her very scent made him swoon. He very reluctantly walks back to the car and drives off. On his return home, he makes his way to his father's side before retreating to his room. His father was asleep, breathing heavily. Logan then undresses into his sparring clothes and goes to the garage. There he spent a few hours on his punching bag, letting off some s****l tension. 

Kristin and Logan spent that Sunday together at her place, eating ice-cream under this huge evergreen tree in their front yard. The rest of the week, they kept meeting each other at a certain spot and walking to school together. Kristin insisted they walk so that they had more time to spend together and talk. Logan loved every minute he spent with her. She made him laugh like no one could. The s****l tension between them grew daily, making it very difficult to focus on school, but Logan refused to give in to his urges. He wanted their relationship to be more than just s*x. It became so bad that even the simple touch of her hand in his almost made him lose control.

 Kristin's POV

Kristin enjoyed the way he made her feel. Even though she could see and feel his attraction towards her was great, he did not force her into anything she did not want to do. He was a perfect gentleman, but sometimes even his scent made her want to jump on him and ride him like a horse. 

When the next Friday arrived, Kristin knew that she was in love. She could not stop thinking about him. She could not wait for school to finish to see him after or even to wake up in the mornings, to she see him before. When she does see him, she smiled so bright that her eyes are closed. 

They made plans to see each other that Friday night, wanting to make the most of their time together before the school work gets to serious. Logan pulls up with his car and comes inside to greet her parents. Soon there after they were off. Logan takes her to the nearest cinema for the movie she always wanted to see. Kristin had her head on his shoulder the whole movie through. Kristin loved having him that close. She wished that he was closer, much closer, but loved just having him there. His aftershave made her crazy. He always smelt so nice.

After the movie it was just before twelve am and Logan took her home. When he pulled up, her father peaked out the window. "So, I will see you tomorrow again?" Logan asks. 

"No, I have to do some college applications this weekend," Kristin says, "I told earlier in the week. And then Paula has arranged for us to meet the dressmaker. So, I will not be able to see you. But I am available Sunday." Logan frowns a bit, and eventually nods in agreement. "Okay, Sunday then." He leans in to kiss her and places his lips onto hers. She kisses him back, placing her arms around his neck and pulls him closer. A knock on the driver side window breaks their kiss. Logan turns around and shouts, "Look out," then covers Kristin with his body. Kristin screams as she hears the window break. Logan keeps her head covered as the person continues to break the rest of his car windows. After all the windows were knocked in she heard a car speed away. 

"Princess!" She hears her father calling. 

"Daddy?" She calls back. 

"Are you okay, Kris?" Logan asks, sounding unnaturally calm. 

"Princess! Are you fine?" Her father is at her window. 

"Yes, dad I am fine. Who was that?" She asks shaking the glass of her clothes. Logan does the same as he emerges from the car, saying, "Matt!" 

"What?" Kristin says, and her father says, "Matthew Gabriel's? Why?" Kristin also gets out of the car and says, "Of course. He came back to school today, after his accident." Kristin looks at her father and explains that she and Matthew were in an accident two weeks ago, when they broke up. She explained everything, except the fact that she and Matthew were sleeping together. Logan looks at his car and grabs his head. 

"My car! What am I going to do?" Kristin's father walks to Logan and places his hand upon his shoulder, saying, "We'll sort it out tomorrow. I know a guy. First we have to report this to the police." Her father turns to her and says, "I am not happy that I had to find out this way about a car accident that happened almost a month ago. Did you not think that was important information?" Both Logan and Kristin nodded guiltily. "You and I need to chat young lady. Logan, let us go to the police station," he father says and takes her inside their house.

 After securing Kristin in their home, Her father and Logan makes their way to the police station and by the time they returned, Kristin was fast asleep on the couch. 

The next day, Mr. Stevens explained to Kristin that the case has been made against Matthew and expect that he will be arrested Monday. Kristin was relieved. Her father and mother then sat her down, before she had to leave with Paula for their excursion, and gave her an ear full. Her father explained it all to her mother that morning and her mother was furious. Kristin was very apologetic and vowed that she would never omit important details like this again in future.

The rest of day with Paula was dramatic and tiring. She however, loved spending time with her sister and the other bridesmaids that day. They only returned late afternoon, almost evening and Kristin took a bath and went to bed early.

Sunday came and off to church the whole family went. Paula and Jacques had to attend church regularly as per the rules of the Catholic faith. After church, lunch was prepared by the ladies of the house, together. Mr. Stevens and Jacques took this time to bond. Lunch went by Kristin feels fatigued again. Jacques insisted on cleaning the dishes and Paula helped. Kristin then goes to her room and takes a nap.

Logan's POV 

Logan has spent the whole Saturday helping his mother with his father. He was doing bad that day. At least, he tells himself, he had something to to. He also rested early that night, as he returned home late the previous night after laying a case against Matthew. The next day was better as his father started moving around from the bed to the loo all on his own. Logan barbequed that day as to make it easier for his mother, who still insisted on preparing his fathers food herself. Logan watched as his mother and father interact with each other and smiles. The love between them was very evident. He would kiss her on her cheek and she would blush and giggle, like a school girl. He also whispers in her ear and she looks at him in a way that Logan has not seen before. 

His thoughts would then travel to Kristin. He believes that their love is just as eternal as his parents and maybe even more passionate. He remembers her kisses and her smell. He closes his eyes, while sitting on the couch in the lounge area, laying his head back. Kristin would moan softly as he would kiss her neck. That drives him crazy. It is becoming more difficult for him to resist her. His desire for her grows more and more each day. With that thought, Logan feels a familiar ache in his groin, and he makes his way to the loo fast. After getting his emotions under control, Logan takes a shower and gets dressed to meet his lady love. Within minutes he was at her house, where he found the Stevens family, excluding Kristin, and Jacques sitting on chairs under the big evergreen tree in the garden in front. 

Mr. Stevens face broke into a huge smile on the site of Logan and makes his way to the gate to welcome the boy in. "I am so glad to see you, this French boy is driving me nuts," Mr. Stevens says as he takes Logan's hand. Logan suppresses a laugh and greets the rest of the family. Mr. Stevens guides him into Kristin and Paula's room. Kristin was fast asleep. Logan insist that he will wake her up and waits for Mr. Stevens to leave. Once he was gone, Logan kneels before her bed and and gently places his hands on her shoulders. With the force of a very angry, disturbed animal, he shakes her awake and shouts, "Wake up! Wake up! It's an earthquake!" Kristin screams her lungs out and looks around, very disturbed by the way she was woken up. Logan was rolling on the ground in laughter and then Kristin threw her pillows at him. He could not stop laughing. 

"Crazy boy! What is wrong with you?" She shouts at him. Paula then runs into the room as they could hear the commotion from the garden. 

"What is going on here?" Paula asks and Kristin explains, as Logan was still rolling on the ground, literally. Paula also starts laughing and leaves. Logan eventually stops laughing and tries to kiss Kristin, but she pushes him away. 

"Oh, come on, that was funny!" Logan says, trying to defend himself, but Kristin did not want to hear any of it.

He does however smooth things over with Kristin by producing a chocolate he had kept aside for her. They spent the rest of the day with her family, sitting and discussing Paula's wedding. Kristin caught Logan gazing at her lovingly on many occasions and she smiled back shyly. Jacques and Paula were displaying affection for each other and their father almost grabbed Jacques by hid collar. If it was not for Logan, Jacques would have been sent home in a coffin. Paula and their parents then argued and Kristin and Logan laughed. Over all, it was a day well spent. The night grew cold and their parents retreat to the house. Jacques and Paula sought privacy in his rental vehicle and thus sat in it with his fiancé until it was time for him to leave. Whereas, Kristin and Logan stood kissing by the tree. He did have his father's vehicle, an old dark blue Ford pick-up, due to his cars windows still need to be replaced, but did not trust himself alone with Kristin in the vehicle. 

He kisses her, holding her bottom in place as he pushes his arousal up against her soft body. His desire begins to flare up, feeling her hands trail down his back and to his groin. He allows her hands to stroke him intimately and groaning at her touch. Kristin moves her lips to his neck and he allows her to nibble at his ear seductively for a few seconds before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss once again. Logan's left hand was on the tree and right was on still holding her bottom in place and begins thrusting himself up against her, first slowly then faster. Soon, he moves up against her more violently and very abruptly he pulls away. He faces the fence, grabbing hold of the metre and a half wall, as he orgasms, shuddering in silence. Logan avoids facing her as he groans with each shudder.  

"You drive me crazy."  He says in a thick voice, keeping his face away from her. He then flinches when she touches him again, Feeling her hand on his back, gently caressing him, he turns to face her. He was very taken aback by his outburst, he notices and smiles sheepishly. He hugs her, burying his head in her hair and whispers again, "You drive me crazy." His kiss that followed was more passionate. His breathing was still heavy. 

"I have to go, before I take you here and now," he says, still catching his breath. Kristin hugs him and holds him for a few minutes. The sun sets soon after and Logan greets her parents before Kristin and Logan said their goodbyes at the gate. 

Kristin's POV

Kristin lays in bed, remembering their encounter in the garden . She smiles knowingly as she recalls him asking her to be patient with him once again. 

"It was not my intention to orgasm like that,"  Logan says, as they stood at the gate, saying their goodbyes for the umpteenth time. Kristin shoot him a smile and says, "Maybe I should not have taken matters into my hands, in a manner of speaking." Logan chuckles and says, "Excellent choice of words." Kristin lowers her gaze as her cheeks shoot full of colour. Logan lifts her face back up to him and kisses her lips gently.

"Good night, Kris," he says and walks to his fathers pick-up. Seconds later he was gone. 

"Are you still thinking about your lover?" Paula asks her, walking into the room from the bathroom. Kristin looks at Paula and says, "He is not my lover!"

"Not Yet! By the way he kissed you under the tree today, he will be very shortly." Paula says, climbing into her bed with a self satisfying smirk. Kristin blushes and Paula laughs. 

"Love is a beautiful thing," Paula says, turning off the light and they drift off to sleep.