12-Alarm Cowboys

by Cora Seton

  Cole nodded agreement, but clasped his hands tight to keep from leaning across the desk and taking the file out of the deputy’s hands. “So if those charges were dropped, did they ever determine what caused the fire?”

  “Yes, I saw it here a minute ago.” The deputy shuffled the paperwork around. “Ah here it is. It was ruled accidental. They determined the fire started from hot charcoal thrown on the ground too close to the building. Probably a group of teenagers having a little barbecue. Didn’t even realize what they’d done. That girl was lucky to get out alive.”

  Cole felt the blood drain from his face and his stomach rumbled. He’d almost killed Lacey. He started the fire.

  “Hey, Lieutenant, you okay?”

  Cole forced the single word past his constricted throat. “Bathroom?”

  The deputy pointed. “Right across the hall.”

  Cole spun out of the chair and ran for the bathroom. Slamming the door behind him, he knelt at the toilet. His stomach roiled and bile crept up his throat. He took deep breaths, trying to relax his insides while his mind took off like a wild mustang. All these years he’d thought Lacey started the fire and it was him. Him.

  Stupid teenager. One-track mind. He’d cooked her dinner on the hibachi, wanting to please her. She said she’d clean up while he took care of the coals and whoever finished first had to undress the other.

  He ran outside and instead of digging a hole far away from the building, he threw the coals on the ground outside near the door, planning to cover them later. But by time he left, he’d forgotten all about them.

  And she’d stayed.

  His stomach stopped twisting and he stood. She could have died and it would have been all his fault. Shit, she’d been right to keep him at arm’s length. Some firefighter he was.

  After splashing cold water on his face, he wiped it with a paper towel and looked at who he was today, seeing vestiges of that young, dumb kid he used to be. He didn’t deserve Lacey, but he still couldn’t imagine a life without her in it. Even if he had to spend that life making it up to her, he had to have her back. She was innocent. He was the guilty party.

  Taking one more deep breath, he walked into the deputy’s office.

  “You okay?”

  Cole nodded. “Yeah, I don’t think the lunch I had at the truck stop on my way down here agreed with me.”

  “I hear you.” The deputy grimaced. “I read the rest of this file and you won’t believe what prompted the arson charge. This little town was a regular Payton Place back then.”

  “It isn’t anymore?”

  “Good point.” The deputy grinned. “But listen to this. The neighbor’s daughter had a crush on the girl’s boyfriend, so the neighbor thought if she could break them up, her daughter could go to the prom with the boy. What some people won’t do.”

  While the deputy shook his head, Cole tried to remember who the neighbor was. Hopefully, the name Hatcher was nowhere in the record. Actually, he’d bet his parents made sure that was how it was.

  “So it looks like this girl being at your fire is no more than a coincidence.”

  Cole nodded. “I guess so, but I had to check it out. It’s rare for the same person to be at two suspicious fires.”

  The deputy snapped the file shut, and held it out. “If you want, you’re welcome to make copies of this. We have a machine down the hall.”

  He stared at the damning file. His aversion to it was now as strong as his need to have it was just minutes earlier. “No, I’m good. Like you said, there’s no connection.” He stood, anxious to return to Poker Flat and Lacey. “Thank you for taking the time.”

  The deputy stood as well. “No problem. It was a nice walk down memory lane. Now,” he pointed to a pile of paperwork on the right side of the desk, “it’s back to reality.”

  Cole held out his hand. “I guess that’s what I have to look forward to if I get promoted too many times.”

  The deputy grasped his hand and shook. “Captain is good. No politics until you move higher.”

  “I’ll remember that.” Cole nodded and let himself out. He waved to the guys in the garage and strode to his truck. Turning the engine over, he set the air conditioner on full blast and leaned back.

  Shit. He’d come to Orson to learn the truth, but the truth had changed his life on so many levels. It showed him what a stupid kid he’d been and how much time he’d wasted without Lacey in his life. But it also shone a light on his parents and their selfishness. If only he’d been a little smarter, a little more observant…like Lacey.

  There was nothing he could do about the past, but there was a hell of a lot he could do about the future. Cole leaned forward and put the truck into gear. A three-hour drive back to Phoenix and another twenty-four-hour shift meant he had a long time to plan. One way or another, he would convince Lacey she was this cowboy’s match.

  *

  Cole parked his truck in the garage and looked for Billy. It was early yet, but still the older man should have been ready for guests.

  Striding past the barrier, his boots kicked up dry Arizona dust. The firefighter in him grimaced at the fire potential, but the cowboy in him just wanted to see Lacey.

  He walked to the ridge and scanned the resort. Billy was nowhere in sight. One golf cart pulled away from the main building and headed for the stables. It was probably Wade. Cole waved his arms, but the cart continued across the fork and behind the barn.

  He had two choices, piss off Kendra and drive his large pick up down over the bridge or call the front desk and risk Lacey hanging up on him. Then again he did have Wade’s cellphone number, but that would appear desperate. He wasn’t there…yet.

  Taking a deep breath, he called the front desk.

  “Good morning, Poker Flat Nudist Resort, Lacey speaking.”

  “Lacey, it’s Cole.” The silence on the other end didn’t bode well.

  “What do you want? I thought you’d left.” The coldness in her voice didn’t bode well either.

  He squinted at the horizon. “I did. I had to work, but I’m back and I need to talk to you.”

  “We don’t have anything to talk about.” His stomach fell to his toes. Shit. This wasn’t going to be easy. But his grandfather always said, “The best things in life are the ones you work hardest for.”

  “I think we do. Could you send Billy up to the garage with a golf cart?”

  “Billy’s not there?”

  “No, he’s not.”

  The silence on the other end lasted too long. “Lacey? You still there?”

  “Yes. I was looking out the lobby window at his casita to see if his cart was there but it isn’t.” Her worry for the older man was clear in her voice. “If Billy doesn’t show up for work, Kendra will fire him. That was one of his stipulations of employment.”

  That was a little harsher than the typical employment policies, but he was also aware the staff Kendra had gathered together wasn’t exactly the typical. “If you can send someone up for me, I could go look for him and no one would be the wiser.”

  “Okay.” The call ended on her end.

  He watched the main building nervously, hoping Lacey wasn’t just getting him off the phone so she could look for Billy. After a couple minutes, Lacey herself came out.

  Shit. She had said that to get him off the phone. It looked like he’d have to call Wade after all. His phone rang, but he didn’t recognize the number. It could be another horse call. “Hello?”

  “Cole?” Lacey’s voice sounded anxious.

  “Yeah, it’s me.”

  “I’m on my way. Could you check around the outside of the garage and see if Billy’s cart is parked there. He could be sleeping out of sight.”

  “Will do.”

  She ended the call again, but now he had her number. “Thank you, Lacey.”

  He strode back toward the garage, heading east of it to check out the back side, but nothing was there, only what was left of the dead campfire he’d told Sean about on the north end. Wal
king all the way around, he checked the south side, but he was pretty sure he would have noticed a cart on his way in. Nothing.

  As he came around the front, Lacey pulled up. She was dressed in a pretty lavender dress with short sleeves and lace all around the hem that hung to her knees. Her white cowboy boots and hat made her pretty enough to eat.

  She jumped from her golf cart. “Anything?”

  He shook his head. It was all he could do not to grab her up and hug her tight. But she was all business.

  “Help me check between the cars. He may have fallen asleep sitting against one.”

  He tipped his hat. “You mean he may have passed out?”

  She frowned. “Yes, that’s what I mean.”

  He took one end of the garage and she took the other and they met in the middle. Still no Billy. “Does he do this often?”

  She clasped her hands in front of her. “No. He’s never done it before. That’s partly why I’m so worried.”

  He put his hands on her shoulders, ignoring how stiff she became. “Listen, we’ll find him. Let’s check the barn next. He’s been known to pass out in there on occasion.”

  A glimmer of hope shone in her eyes. “How do you know that?”

  “Wade gave Billy his own stall so he wouldn’t piss off Kendra by being visible to guests.”

  “I hope he’s there.”

  He placed one hand over both of hers. “Come, I’ll drive.”

  She nodded, but as he moved forward she pulled her hands away. He sighed inwardly, but wouldn’t give up.

  At the barn, he and Lacey checked all the empty stalls. No Billy. Now even he was growing concerned. Wade’s cart was at his office building. Maybe they should ask him if he’d seen Billy, but then he’d be obligated to tell Kendra. They returned to the cart. “Where to next?”

  “I don’t know.” Lacey’s voice had risen with hopelessness. “What if he’s hurt? What if he got bit by a rattlesnake or tarantula or scorpion?”

  To do that, Billy would have to be in the desert. “What about the horse trails? Are there any wide enough for a golf cart?”

  Her eyes brightened. “Yes. The main trail is wide enough for a quarter mile and then only one trail that branches off is wide for another quarter mile.”

  “Which way?”

  Lacey pointed, and Cole drove. By the split in the trail he could sense her losing hope again.

  He placed his hand over her clasped ones. “He has to be somewhere here on the resort. Don’t worry, we’ll find him.” She didn’t respond, but she didn’t pull her hands away either.

  The horse trail was meant for horses, so he was forced to use both hands to maneuver the golf cart around cacti and boulders. They had gone a quarter mile when he negotiated the cart around a protruding rock and another golf cart came into view.

  “Oh, he has to be around here somewhere.” Before he could stop, Lacey jumped from the vehicle and disappeared around a mound of desert rock. “Billy! Oh no, Cole he’s here.”

  He exited the cart and strode past the rocks and around a mesquite tree to where Lacey stood. On the ground lay Billy, an empty bottle of tequila still in his outstretched hand and a smoldering campfire not a foot away.

  Chapter Eleven

  ‡

  Anger surged through Cole like a dust storm. Shit! It was Billy who started the fire. That the man was so irresponsible as to risk the lives of horses, people and the entire desert ecosystem had Cole fisting his hands to stop from throttling the old drunk.

  Lacey crouched next to Billy. “Cole, can you help me get him into the golf cart? I need to sober him up before Kendra finds out.”

  The last thing he wanted to do was save this man’s job, but it would be a moot point once Sean learned of this and Cole would make sure he knew. “Lacey, Billy’s the one who caused the fire at the new construction site.”

  “What?” She stood and faced him, an angry blush in her cheeks. “How can you say that?”

  “I can’t tell you right now because I made a promise to Sean, but I will tell you soon. I need you to bring Billy back to the staff room and keep him there.”

  “Are you sure?” Her eyes narrowed. “You thought I started the Orson fire and you were wrong, what makes you think you’re right about this one?”

  “Because I am.” He tamped down his frustration. He wasn’t about to have an important conversation with her with a drunk lying between them. “Listen, I’ll explain everything, even Orson, but right now we need to get him out of the desert before he dehydrates and I need to minimize the wildfire danger.”

  She looked ready to argue, but finally appeared to accept that now he meant business. “Fine.”

  Having her agreement, he stooped, picked up Billy and propped him in the cart. Except for a short moan, the man didn’t wake. “Will you be able to get him to the lobby by yourself?”

  “Of course. Aren’t you coming?”

  “No, I have to call Sean. Have someone go up to the garage to meet him.”

  Lacey hesitated. “Are you absolutely sure it was Billy?” Her tone had softened.

  He hated to disappoint her, but Billy had to be stopped. If they hadn’t found him, there very well could have been a wildfire and who knew what devastation it could have done, how many homes lost, how many horses burned, or how many good firefighters hurt. “Yes, I’m afraid I am. Now go.”

  Lacey’s shoulders slumped before she turned the golf cart around and headed back the way they’d come.

  He kicked away any possible fire potential and cleared the area from around the smoldering fire. Then he took out his phone.

  No cell service. Shit, he should have known. They were deep in the ravine. He hated to disturb evidence, but seeing no alternative, he covered the campfire coals with dirt before heading straight up the side of the canyon. He stopped every few yards and checked again. Finally, he caught a signal and dialed.

  “Sean, I know who started the fire at Poker Flat and I have him in custody.”

  *

  Lacey forced a smile as she explained what paperwork she needed filled out to the newly hired second security guard. The woman was as reserved as Hunter. They should work well together.

  Kendra popped her head around the doorframe. “Lacey, I want to see you in my office.”

  She nodded and quickly set all the paperwork down. “If you have any questions, I’ll be back to check on you.” She didn’t wait for an answer as Kendra’s tone was more stern than usual.

  Quickly following her boss, she walked toward the chair in front of Kendra’s desk.

  “Close the door.”

  Lacey’s heart sank. This couldn’t be good. When she turned back, Kendra still stood behind her desk.

  “Take a seat.”

  She did as instructed and clasped her hands in front of her tightly to keep from fidgeting.

  “While you were helping Selma with the lunch service, I took a call at the front desk that disturbed me. It was from Saguaro Rehabilitation Center.”

  Oh no. Her stomach somersaulted at the implication. She hadn’t wanted her boss to know yet.

  Kendra leaned on one hip. “You were going to pay for Billy to dry out. You do know an alcoholic has to want to give up the booze, right?”

  She nodded. She was pretty sure she could convince him if she dangled the carrot of coming back to work.

  “You also know even if Billy successfully completes the process, I won’t hire him back.”

  “But he could—”

  “No. There are no exceptions to the rules. I give people a second chance by inviting them to work here. If they mess up while here, that’s it. I don’t give third chances. The odds are, there will be a fourth and a fifth and a sixth. If people don’t learn from their mistakes the first time, then they won’t down the road. As much as I love Billy, I can’t risk the rest of my staff and guests.”

  Lacey sighed. Kendra was right. “What will happen to Billy?”

  Her boss pulled out her chair and sat. “I�
��m going to pay for his rehabilitation. He’s not your responsibility. I’m the one who brought him up here from Key West. He was somewhat happy being drunk and homeless down there, but I had to offer him a second chance. After the program, if he makes it through, I’ll send him wherever he wants to go. If it’s back to the Keys, then fine. If it’s somewhere here in Arizona, that’s fine too, but I will not hire him back here.”

  Her heart ached for Billy, but she understood. Kendra had been nothing but kind to all of them, but she had to draw the line somewhere. “Thank you for taking care of him. I couldn’t stand the thought of him drunk and homeless on the streets of Phoenix.”

  Kendra nodded. “I hate to think of him that way too. I should have thought of the rehabilitation first.” She looked at Lacey shrewdly. “Then again, he may not go. I’m going to leave it up to you to convince him.”

  “I will.” She wasn’t sure how now that Poker Flat was off the table, but she would figure it out. She stood. “Was there anything else?”

  “Yes, there is.” Kendra’s poker face returned, which was never a good sign. It was impossible to tell what she was feeling when she hid behind it.

  Lacey sat back down.

  “While I was at the front desk I also took a call from Cole Hatcher.”

  Heat rose in her cheeks. After Sean had taken Billy in for questioning, she’d been so upset, she’d told Cole to leave her alone. He’d reluctantly left, threatening to return, but that was Thursday. He hadn’t returned or called on Friday and by this morning she’d given up that he would. If they lost their second chance, it could be laid at her feet. She’d been so upset by Billy’s arrest, she couldn’t think straight and she’d taken it out on Cole.

  “Do you want to know what he said?”