Jumping Feet First

by Melissa Stevens

  “I thought you’d left.” She stopped short before walking into him.

  “What’s that?” James nodded toward the valves she’d just opened.

  “The well.” Her tone made it obvious she thought it was a stupid question.

  He looked at her and frowned. “I know that. What did you do?”

  “I turned on the pump to flood the pasture.” She sighed. “In case you didn’t notice, the house and barn are slightly raised. The pasture surrounding them is lower. The man I bought the property from had set it up so he could flood the pasture to water it. It’s not the most efficient manner to water during a drought, but it will help today.”

  James glanced at the well head behind her. “You’re not afraid of running out of water before the fire gets here?”

  The woman before him rolled her eyes. “Not really. I did my homework before I bought this place. This well is over three hundred feet deep, they hit water before that, but it wasn’t enough to suit the driller, so they kept going. When they hit the water they wanted, the water level in the hole rose to seventeen feet.”

  “You mean it rose seventeen feet.”

  “No, I mean it rose TO seventeen feet.”

  James blinked. That was a lot of water. “But that was what? Fifty years ago?”

  “Try ten. This isn’t the only well on the place, just the newest.” She slipped out the door past him and stalked away again. This time she headed toward the small pond at the other end of the pasture.

  James wanted to ask where she was going, but knew it would just piss her off worse. Instead, he followed. It didn’t take long to find she was headed for what he assumed was the other well, if there were only two, this one didn’t have a tank, just several wrapped pipes disappearing into the ground. She did the same thing there, opened a valve, listened for the click then left. As she walked away she pulled a smartphone from her back pocket and set a timer.

  “Different aquifer?” he asked.

  “Yeah, and this one will pump dry. But if I can soak the pasture it will be worth it.” She continued walking as if he wasn’t even there.

  “Why haven’t you already soaked it?”

  “What makes you think I haven’t?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “I’ve been turning both pumps on and letting the water soak in for three days.” She waived an arm toward the pasture they were passing once more. “I cut it all off just above ground level before I started watering. I just hope the danger passes before it needs to get cut again. The ground’s so wet the mower would sink to the axles. But if the fire passes and it’s not a worry, I can just let the animals loose. They’ll have plenty of food and it won’t need to be mown.”

  James shook his head. She really had thought this through and planned ahead to do everything she could to protect her place.

  “How long do you think you can keep this up? The animals, the watering, all of it.”

  “As long as I need to.”

  “And if this goes on for weeks? What will you do then? Can you maintain this pace that long?”

  She spun around and confronted him, hands fisted again on her hips.

  “It won’t last that long, at least not as a threat to me.” Her narrowed gaze full of animosity. “The fire itself might last that long, but it’s too close to be a danger to me for weeks. It will either come and burn me out or it will move on. Either way I won’t have to keep this up more than a few more days, a week at most.” She spun on her heel and marched away, seeming even more determined to ignore him.

  She was right, but James would never admit it, especially not to her.

  “Are you sure you won’t need help before then?”

  She didn’t bother to stop this time as she shot him a look that could have frozen him in place. “I’ve been running this place all by myself for the last two years. I’m not sure why I’d need help now.”

  James shook his head and turned away. He hated giving up, but he could see he wasn’t going to get through to her. He’d have to send Sheriff O’Brian out. James hated to see someone arrested for trying to protect what was theirs, but they needed to get her out of danger. He wasn’t sure he could arrest her though, even if he had the authority. She’d actually done a decent job, but they couldn’t let her stay.

  He gave one last glance at her as she made her way across the pasture, rubber mud boots sending small splashes of water with each step. James sighed and climbed up into the seat of the truck. He’d done what he could, now it was time to turn it over to someone else.

  Chapter 4

  He had a job to do, Ally knew, but she wished he could have given up trying to convince her to leave sooner. His following her around had slowed her down and distracted her while she’d been trying to get things done, and now that he was gone she could get back to doing what needed to be done. There were a lot of things that could be done, even if she didn’t know if she’d have to time to finish them. Every little bit of progress helped, even if she didn’t get the job finished. Whatever it took to save her place, she would do it. No matter what anyone else said or who tried to stop her. She didn’t care how hard she had to fight. She wasn’t going anywhere, she wasn’t letting her babies, the animals here, nor her dream of the little farm she was building die in the raging flames of this wildfire. She’d worked too hard and she wasn’t about to watch it all go up in flames. No matter what it took.

  “Look, it’s not safe here.” His voice startled her. She thought he’d left, but he must have come back after going to the truck to have another try at talking her out of here. She hated to have this fight again. He wasn’t being unreasonable, she knew it wasn’t safe. This wasn’t news.

  “I know. But there’s no way I can walk away. I can’t leave them to die.”

  “Who?”

  “My animals.”

  “Then let’s get them out. I’ll help.”

  “How?”

  “Do you have a trailer we can load them into?”

  “No. And even if I did, there’s more than would fit in a single trailer.” She shook her head not seeing why he couldn’t understand. She’d tried to find a way to leave. The property was insured. If she could take the animals, even if every building on the property burned to the ground, she would be okay. Rebuilding would take time, but she could make it. Without the animals though she’d lose everything.

  “Have you asked if any of your neighbors would be willing to help?”

  Ally shook her head. “Nope. They’ve all got their own herds to get moved. Besides. No one’s real happy that a sheep rancher’s moved in next door.” She kept moving, noticing that he wasn’t having any trouble keeping up as she marched across the pasture.

  “They wouldn’t help?” He stopped.

  She glanced back and found him frowning at her.

  “I’ve only been here a few days, but everyone seems to help everyone.”

  “I haven’t asked.” She resumed her pace. There wasn’t anyone to help, so she didn’t have time to stop and chat. “I’m sure they help each other. Most people have lived around here for generations. They all know each other and have for years. I’m the newbie. I’ve only been here a couple years and I brought in not just sheep, which are already unpopular with cattle ranchers, but goats too. I’m not after the meat like they are, though I’ll use it when it’s time. My business revolves around more renewable sources.”

  “Renewable sources? Breeding the animals isn’t renewable?”

  “Maybe renewable’s not the right word. Sustained? Long term? I’m not really sure. I breed my herd, yes. But not with the intent to butcher them like the ranchers. I’m growing it for what I can harvest from it while it lives.”

  He looked toward the large pen beside the barn filled almost to bursting with longhaired sheep and goats. “I’m stumped.”

  “For starters, I milk them all, every day, most twice a day. I make sheep and goat cheese and soaps and sell them locally and online. In addition, I chose breeds known for their coats. It was a
trade off because those breeds often give a smaller volume of milk, but I’ll still be better off in the long run. Every spring, after sheering, I spend all spring and summer working on making the wool ready for market. I sell that too. I offer it locally, but I sell more online.”

  “Big market for wool these days?”

  “Actually, there is. Knitting and fiber arts are making a resurgence. As is dying and spinning. When people can afford to, they want to use good products. I do my best to supply that.” She opened the barn door and stepped inside, leaving the door open behind her to let light in. It took a few minutes, but she managed to box up all her dying supplies and store them out of the way, or at least she hoped they’d be out of the way, to make more room to bring her herd inside when the fire got too close. She wasn’t sure the water pouring over the roof would keep the place from burning, but right now it was her only hope.

  Her loom and spinning wheel were already packed and hauled up into the loft for safe keeping. They were protected in the corner with her cot, bedding and clothes. She had a good amount of food stashed too. It wasn’t the healthiest fair, but it would keep her alive. For once in her life she was glad her father had insisted instilling in her keeping at least a month’s worth of supplies on hand, along with at least one case of military MREs for emergencies. While this might not have been the kind of emergency he had in mind, it more than fit the bill.

  The fire fighter fell silent for several minutes as he followed her around, watching everything she did with what she felt was a critical look.

  “I’ll help you get to safety if you’ll just come with me.” He tried again.

  “Thanks, but I’m good here. I’m as set as I can be. If it’s my time, I’ll go. Right here on my place with my animals as taken care of as I can make them.”

  “I don’t understand why you won’t let me help you.” He sounded frustrated.

  It annoyed Ally to no end because she was frustrated herself, and tired of dealing with people who kept trying to get her to leave. “I’m not refusing help. I’m refusing to leave my animals behind to die. Whether they die from lack of care or the fire, it’s all the same to me. I won’t have it either way.” The words tumbled out with more venom than she’d intended. Her frustration with not being able to get as much done as she wanted, on top of being slowed down by having to deal with the people wanting her to leave, was getting to her. Normally she would never snap at anyone. Especially not a stranger or someone trying to help her. It just wasn’t the way she was raised. But here she was. The words were out, and they weren’t wrong. She wouldn’t take them back.

  Ally’s mother had taught her to treat everyone with kindness and care, but her father had made sure she knew how and when to stand up for herself and what she thought was right. Sometimes the two lessons battled with each other, but Ally had no doubt which she needed to stick to today. The only way they were going to get her away from her animals was to drag her away, and she’d fight every moment if she had to.

  She fought the urge to sigh as she turned away and went on with what she was doing. She realized now he would never see it her way. No one did. She wasn’t blaming them, but she didn’t have time to waste trying to get them to understand either. There was too much to get done to waste it on what she knew was a lost cause.

  He kept talking, but she had stopped listening. What was the point? He wanted something she just wasn’t willing to give. And if he decided to push the matter, then they’d probably both end up hurting. She was not going anywhere, not without a fight.

  Chapter 5

  James wanted to scream. Why wouldn’t this woman see sense and get the hell out of the path of this fire? Didn’t she understand as hard as they tried, they often couldn’t save everything? If it came down to a choice between lives and structures, the lives would win. If those could even be saved at all.

  Too often winds and natural forces changed so swiftly the firefighters like himself were lucky to get out alive, and they didn’t always. The last thing he wanted was someone dead. Even if it was a stubborn woman who could have been saved if only she’d listened.

  For just a moment he was tempted to pick her up, toss her over his shoulder and physically haul her away. James quickly dismissed the idea. The determined set of her jaw told him she’d probably fight, meaning one or both of them could get hurt. On top of that, she might press assault charges and that was a mess he just didn’t want to have to deal with. It wouldn’t cost him his job, but it could cause problems. A couple guys in his unit had ended up with assault charges after forcing an old man to leave a dangerous area last year. The higher ups in the system had counseled them to be more careful and diplomatic in the future, but they understood sometimes shit like that happened when they were trying to save lives. Sometimes people don’t want to be saved.

  James hated when he encountered those people, but he did occasionally. He followed Miss Keeting through the barn as she seemed to ignore him and checked on several things as if he wasn’t even there.

  He fought the urge to cover his face, call it a day and be done with her. He had to try again. He had to convince her to leave. “Ma’am. You’ve got to pack up and go.”

  “Sorry, I’m not going anywhere.” She didn’t even slow down. “And don’t call me ma’am.”

  “I’m sorry Miss Keeting, I’ll try not to.” James hated having to remain polite, but he’d long since learned that you convinced people to do what you want a lot easier with kindness and polite voices than with the yelling and cursing he really wanted to indulge in at the moment.

  James struggled to hold on to his temper. Miss Keeting was more than a little trying. He stood for a moment watching her as she went about her business and noticed for the first time how attractive she was. When he saw her through the filter of her not doing what he wanted. Or more accurately, needed her to do, then he saw her appearance more clearly.

  She was more than a little pretty, despite the severe way she had her hair pulled back from her face and wearing dirty, grubby, work clothes. He blinked, realizing he found her more attractive because she wasn't worried about his opinion of her appearance as she worked to save her home.

  If only they weren't here and now.

  If only she wasn't determined to stay here and die on her property.

  If only they'd met under different circumstances. They might find themselves attracted to each other rather than at odds. James shook his head and forced himself to think realistically about what was going on instead of mooning and thinking with his dick. He needed to find a way to get her to leave.

  “What will it take to convince you it's not safe here?”

  “It's not that I'm not convinced or aware of the danger.” She didn't look at him as she spoke. “I know it's not safe. But I'm not leaving my herd and I have no way to get them out. I will stay and do my best to protect them, and my home as best I can.”

  The radio on his belt crackled, buzzed then the dispatcher called his sign and said he was needed back at headquarters.

  “This isn't over. You need to leave. I have to go see what they need, but I'll be back, or someone will.”

  She didn't answer and the only acknowledgment he got was a vague wave in his direction as she didn't even look up. James shook his head again before returning the call on his radio, hustling to his truck and heading back toward town.

  “I tried.” James sighed. “I used every tactic I’ve ever learned. Every single one failed.” He hated having to admit failure, at anything, but here he was having to do exactly that for his assignment to get one Miss Allison Keeting to leave her property before the wildfire the Forest Service had dubbed the Wichita Fire for where it had started, got too close to get her out safely or blocked the road making it impossible.

  “Damn. She’s good people, but damn she’s stubborn.” Sheriff Patrick O’Brian shook his head and looked down at the map spread out on the makeshift table in the school gym. The gym had become their command center in Garrett as they work
ed out the best way to fight this thing and keep his citizens safe.

  “Unlike most of the people I have to do this with, she’s not ignoring the danger. She’s done a lot to prepare and has a plan in place to shelter her and her animals should the fire reach her place.” James shook his head. “I’m not sure it’s the best plan, but, by far, it’s not the worst.”

  “I’ll add her to the list of people I need to visit again, but she just got dropped down the list as the wind’s changed again. Her place is no longer in imminent danger. Check with your commander, but I think they’re getting ready to send you out on the fire line.” O’Brian shook his head again. “I’ve got three people in the path now, not just one. I’m gonna have to recruit a couple deputies to help me go out and remove them. I hate doing that. I hate having to send more people out there, into danger.”

  “You willing to arrest them?” James knew from experience, sometimes that’s all that worked. Sometimes you had to arrest people to save their lives.

  “If I have to. It’s a last resort, but I’ll do it to get them out.” The sheriff sighed. “Some of these guys I’ve known since I could walk. I’ll hate to do it, but I will to save their lives.”

  Satisfied that the sheriff wouldn’t leave her out there, James left him to figure out the best way to do what he needed to get done and reported to his commander. Sure enough James spent the next eighteen hours working on back cutting a border. They hoped they could enclose the fire and keep it from spreading any farther.

  When he got back to the school he was so exhausted he fell onto one of the cots set up along one wall and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.