“I biked. I helped pack as much as I could before I left, just in case, but we really didn’t think it would come to this or I’d have stayed.”
Noel made a snap decision. “Are you done here? Want to come with me?”
She started. “Give me five minutes?”
“You have until I get the trailer unhooked. Five minutes tops, then I’m leaving.”
“You got it.” She sprinted for the stairs.
Noel jogged back to his unit and backed it in at the rear of the lot. By the time he had the trailer jacked up and disconnected, Sierra had locked up the door to Nature’s Pantry. He pulled beside her and she clambered in.
He couldn’t think what more to say to Claire’s roommate, so he didn’t bother. He navigated the few blocks to rejoin the highway then noticed the flashing lights of a squad car at a roadblock up ahead. He groaned.
Three vehicles in front of him were waved back toward Galena Landing. The driver of the fourth stuck his head out the window and yelled at the state patrol officer standing beside his car. The cop shook his head and pointed south.
Noel drummed his fingers on the wheel.
Sierra clutched his arm. “They’re not going to let us through, are they?” Her voice shook.
The car in front changed direction and flew back toward town, tires squealing.
“Is there a back way to get through?” Noel asked as he pulled the truck closer to the cop. Surely he’d know if there was.
Sierra shook her head. “It’s a dead end road. No access other than this highway.”
“Yeah.” Noel pressed the button to roll down the window. “Good morning, officer.”
The cop harrumphed. “Road’s closed due to fire danger. No admittance.”
Noel turned his hand to indicate Sierra. “She lives at Green Acres Farm at the end of Thompson Road and needs to get back to help her friends and family off the place.”
“No can do.”
“Look, officer, with all due respect, that’s an unacceptable answer. I’m Noel Kenzie of Enterprising Reforestation. I know my way around the woods up there, and the fire crew on the mountain needs me as much as Ms. Riehl’s people need her.” He revved the powerful engine slightly. “We’re going through.”
The officer didn’t budge, though his eyes narrowed. “Show me some paperwork. Prove to me you can be an asset.”
Noel shifted to his left hip to pull his wallet out of his pocket. He flipped it open and pointed out a card proving his credentials.
The officer scrutinized it for a moment, glancing back and forth between Noel and the paper. Likely determining if he was the same guy. Then he leaned in and took a closer look at Sierra. “We’re about to move Thompson Road to a full evacuation order. The fire isn’t far.”
“More reason for me to help get irreplaceable items and people off the farm.” She laid a hand on Noel’s arm. “I need this truck to do that.”
Panic slithered across Noel’s skin. She was asking to borrow his wheels? But if he were commandeered to fight the fire, he wouldn’t need it. Anything to get Claire to safety. Mom. Amber. All of them must be at the farm.
The officer’s radio crackled and he stepped aside to speak into it. Try as he might, Noel couldn’t overhear. Maybe he should gun the engine and blast through the wooden barrier. It wouldn’t damage the truck. Much. He’d be really tempted if he hadn’t handed his wallet to the guy.
When the cop returned, he jotted down Noel’s drivers license number. “This truck had better be back in town within the hour.” He looked at Noel. “And you better not be. Report to the fire crew on Lindsay Road, then she gets the truck, grabs her stuff, and drives straight back to town.” He squinted northeast. “Don’t know if even Galena Landing is going to be far enough, but it’ll do for now.”
Noel nodded and plucked his wallet out of the guy’s hand.
The cop stepped back and waved them through, then held up his hand to the vehicle behind them. As Noel pulled away, he saw the officer lean into the driver’s window of the next car.
“Whew.” He glanced at Sierra. “You sure you’re up for this?”
She leaned forward. “Step on it.”
**
Claire shoved the last of the wedding food into the trunk of Eileen’s car. “I called Pastor Ron, and we can store all this in the fridge at the church. You’d better get going.”
Eileen glanced up the crackling mountain as she headed for the driver’s door, but Amber hung back.
“Get in the car, Amber.” Claire pushed her shoulder. “This is your ride out. Everything you brought here is in that vehicle.”
Amber parked her hands on her hips. “Everything except my friends. Like you.”
Panic swelled. “I don’t have time for this. Get going. I won’t be far behind.”
“You don’t have room for that pile in the great room. Not in that little hatchback.”
“I’ll do the best I can, okay? I’m not allowing your wedding to be ruined any more than it already will be. But go. We’re nearly out of time.”
“Where’s Zach? Jo took their truck without him.”
Claire shook her head. “He’s out on a farm call somewhere, maybe helping get some animals to safety. He’s got his vet truck. I can’t count on him getting back here in time to help.”
Amber’s jaw firmed. “The farm should come first to him. I mean, after Jo.”
Claire pushed Amber. “Can we not argue about this? We’re wasting time. Just go, please, and let me deal with what I can.” At least Domino was safe. He’d been in Jo’s truck when she pulled out.
Tears poured down Amber’s face. She hugged Claire, but Claire pushed her away.
“I’m going, I’m going. See you at the church?”
“I’ll be there.”
Claire gave herself a few seconds to wave as Eileen’s car disappeared down Thompson Road. Then she strode back into the house, not allowing herself to look up at the mountain. Flames were visible — she knew that. The smoke had thickened, threatening to hurl her back to that night in Seattle. She’d loved Graham’s little house.
How could God do this to her? She stood to lose everything all over again — her beautiful new home they’d only been in for a few months. Zach and Jo’s cabin. The garden, the pole barn, the business they were trying to build. That would suffer with no place to host events. Everything.
A still small voice spoke into her rattled mind. Not everything. Not God. She still had Him, her faith, her friends. But not Noel. He was gone.
Now why had he come into her mind? A familiar rumble from outside caused her to run to the door.
Noel! He was here. His truck peeled down the driveway and skidded to a stop right by the deck railing.
Claire flung the door open and ran down the steps. “Noel!”
But why did Sierra jump down out of the cab?
Claire lurched to a stop. “Sierra? Isn’t this Noel’s truck? Where is he? How’d you get it?”
“I ran into him in town. Come on. Help me load up. We’ve got lots more room in this than just the car.” Sierra charged past Claire, the screen door banging in her wake. “What’s the top of the list? Got everything out for the wedding?”
Claire jogged into the house. “Didn’t you pass Eileen and Amber? They left just a few minutes ago.”
“No. I came in from the north and cut through Elmer’s field. Thank God for four-wheel drive. We can take a bunch of the kitchen stuff. It’s more valuable than anything else that’s portable. Is the computer packed up?”
“It’s in the car already.” Claire snagged Sierra’s arm. “Talk to me. Where’s Noel? Why did you come in that way?”
Sierra shrugged off Claire’s hand and ran into the kitchen. “You know they’re not letting any traffic north on 95, right? So Noel had some trouble convincing the officer we had the right to come through. I dropped him off at the fire fighting marshaling point on Lindsay Road. He told me to get you out of the danger zone. Now move it!” She wrenche
d a drawer out of the kitchen cabinets and stacked pots and pans inside it.
And Claire had been stymied by the lack of boxes. Drawers were a great idea. She followed her roommate’s lead, loading drawers and running them out to Noel’s truck.
He’d come back. Even in the midst of her terror — she could hear the flames crackling outside — her heart lightened just a bit. A fire had separated her and Graham. Could one bring Noel back to her?
Of course he’d come for Amber and Shawn’s wedding. But he’d known she’d be here. If he were really trying to avoid her, he wouldn’t have come, right? Especially not the day before. He could’ve just come for the ceremony itself and disappeared again right after, but he hadn’t. He’d come early. Only—
“How did you find Noel?”
“What?” Sierra looked up from her crouch on the floor. “He was looking for a place to park his RV and pulled in at Nature’s Pantry.”
“He brought his trailer?”
“Isn’t that what I just said?”
Claire gave her head a quick shake and ran another load out. A loud crack from up the mountain riveted her attention upward. A tree exploded, sending a shower of sparks around it. Claire screamed.
“What happened?” Sierra appeared at her side.
“We’re out of time.”
“But the truck is half empty!”
“The car is loaded with bedding and clothes and the computer. We’ve got half the kitchen in the back of the truck.”
“But our canning! The freeze —”
“Sierra! Look.”
Her friend turned and peered up the mountain into smoke that blocked out all memories of sunshine. A siren shrilled from the southwest.
Claire sucked in a deep breath and choked on the smoke. “It’s time.”
The wail of emergency vehicles came nearer.
“I guess you’re right. But how can we leave everything else?”
Tears burned Claire’s eyes, whether from grief or from smoke was hard to say. “Zach turned the sprinklers on the cabin roof and the house roof. It’s all we can do.”
A squad car peeled in the driveway with an officer yelling into a loudspeaker. “Everyone out! Evacuation order is now in effect.”
Claire glanced back at the straw bale house and closed her eyes for a second as Sierra latched the door. The night in Seattle blurred with today. Fire. Her worst enemy. She ran down the steps to the old VW hatchback, turned the ignition with trembling hands, and headed down the driveway. A glance in the rearview mirror showed Noel’s truck looming right behind her.
With Sierra driving.
“Oh, God, I don’t want to lose everything we’ve worked for all these years. Please keep our home safe. Please, please, please.” She blinked back tears.
It’s only stuff. It’s only a place. It’s all just temporary.
Claire knew that. The words of the old hymn slid into her mind and she belted them out with gusto. “This world is not my home.” Maybe the sound of her voice would drown out the sirens and the flames behind her.
Maybe all that was truly important was up ahead.
Chapter 29
If only Noel knew for sure Claire was safe. He couldn’t jump into danger without that knowledge. The crew boss in front of him barked directions at the motley band of guys, but Noel hung back. What had he done? He wasn’t prepared, wasn’t dressed for this. He’d come for a wedding, not a fire.
“You there! Name? Experience?”
“Noel Kenzie. Owner of Enterprising Reforestation. My crew planted half that mountainside this past spring.” They’d probably have to redo it, too. Along with the rest of the hillside if the fire was as big as it looked. That could put him in Galena Landing for a good long time.
Funny how wonderful that sounded.
“Ever fought fire?” The guy’s voice sounded desperate.
Noel nodded. “Ran a crew in Colorado a couple of seasons, a few years back.”
“And you know this hillside?”
“Like the back of my hand.”
“The county is hauling out some heavy equipment. Any advice as to where we could use a D6 to cut a fire break?”
They had a Cat bulldozer in already? “Maybe. Depends on how far down the flames have moved. It’s impossible to tell from here.”
A helicopter thrummed in the distance, and the crew boss tilted his head to listen to it. “That’s your ride coming in. I pray to God you know what you’re talking about, Mr. Kenzie, because if you’re wrong, we lose all these farms.” He shoved a business card into Noel’s hand. “Call me.”
Noel gulped and nodded. The chopper hovered and came in for a landing in a nearby field, beyond the power lines. Noel ran toward it, ducking from the draft of the rotor. He’d always loved flying in one of these birds.
He clambered into the cockpit. “You’re here to show me the extent of the fire?”
“Yes, sir.”
The ground dropped and Noel thrilled to the sensation. A few seconds later all thought of the joy of flying shattered as he focused on the flaming forest beneath him. “Wow. When did this start?”
“Last night.”
“Spreading fast.” Noel bit his lip. “Ground’s too dry.”
“Not much snow pack last winter up high, nor a lot of rain this spring.”
Noel nodded. “Yeah, my crew put in a block of trees on the south side of this mountain. I don’t imagine they’ll make it.”
The helicopter swung around the mountain. “We can have a look.”
Down below, Thompson Road drew a straight line from the mountain to just past Elmer’s before twisting south toward Galena Landing. A small hatchback and a big pickup — his — barreled down the road. Noel’s gaze lingered. Claire and Sierra were headed for safety. Good.
When he glanced back at the mountain, his gut clenched. The flames were way too close to Green Acres. “They’re going to have to create a back fire right there, above that log cabin. See the fence? It surrounds a spring. Best to get above it if possible.” The cabin had a sprinkler rotating on the metal roof. Not likely enough, but it couldn’t hurt. “Never mind a back fire. Dig a trench right down to mineral earth. No point in trying farther up the mountain. There isn’t time.”
The pilot glanced at him. “Tell the chief.”
Noel blanked for a moment. “I don’t have his number.”
“Didn’t he give you his card?”
“Right.” Noel punched the code into his cell as the chopper skimmed over the blocks of newly planted trees. Though the flames hadn’t reached them, the small firs already drooped in the heat.
He gave crisp orders into his cell and was gratified when the voice at the other end replied, “Yes, sir. Good place to make a stand.” The chief shouted orders as he ended the call.
“Which way’s the wind blowing?” Noel asked the pilot.
“Out of the west, but it’s still pushing down the mountain instead of up and over.”
Noel shook his head. “There are quite a few farms tucked in against the length of the hillside. Probably should get crews down all the roads to try and protect those properties.”
“Looks closest at the end of Thompson though.” The pilot circled around.
“Yeah. It does.” Noel took a deep breath and let it out slowly. How would Claire manage if the home and farm she loved so much went up in smoke? Even if a stucco straw bale house couldn’t exactly burn, the structural integrity would surely be compromised. Did the girls have good insurance? Could they rebuild?
Would losing everything make Claire remember this was only a place?
But Claire hadn’t closed the doors to a relationship. He had.
**
Amber huddled, trembling, in a corner of the church’s library, face buried in her drawn-up knees.
Claire didn’t have time for this. She dug for linens through a jumbled heap in a garbage bag. Everything would need ironing. But wait. What was really the most important? A salvaged wedding, made to look like
it’d always been meant to be held at the church rather than at the farm, or a radiant bride?
So much easier to block the thought of a burning house if she could keep busy. Focused. But Amber needed her. Claire dumped the mound of tablecloths on one of the tables strung out the length of the library. “Can someone get these ironed? And no, I don’t know where an ironing board might be.”
“On it, Claire!” someone hollered from the other end of the room.
“Thanks.” She glanced over at Amber. The young woman had become like a sister to her over the months they’d planned her big day.
Now that was a dangerous line of thinking.
Claire prayed for wisdom, patience, and love as she grabbed two glasses of water and headed across the room. She plopped down on the floor beside the bride and bumped her lightly with a shoulder. “Hey, girl. How are you holding up?” As though she couldn’t tell.
Sniffle. “Okay.”
“I brought you a glass of water. If you want a coffee, I think someone’s making a pot.”
“Thanks.” Amber swiped her face with her arm and reached for the glass. “Why does this kind of drama always have to happen to me?”
“Um, sweetie? It’s not your house that’s in the path of a forest fire. I don’t think you can claim this as a personal disaster.”
Red-rimmed eyes met Claire’s. “I’m sorry. I can’t even think straight. It must be ten times worse for you.”
You think? But it wasn’t Claire’s wedding. She could give a little. “I don’t think there’s any need to figure out who got the worst end of this stick. It’s pointy no matter which way we look at it.”
“Everything is ruined.” Amber sniffled.
Claire prayed for patience and tried a lighter tone. “You came to us for a wedding to remember. I think we’re giving you that. How much more memorable can it get?”
“Very funny.”
Okay, well, she’d tried. “Amber? What is the purpose of a wedding day?”
Amber stared at her blankly. “To get married.”
“Right. So are you going to get married tomorrow?”
A Farm Fresh Romance Series 1-3 (A Farm Fresh Romance Box Set) Page 49