by Elsie Davis
A knock on the door startled her. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and she didn’t have time for visitors. She and Cory needed to get cleaned up and changed to meet Trent and David in town tonight.
Ashley was thrilled when she discovered her surprise visitor was Trent. She threw herself at him, realizing just how much she’d missed him over the years. Computer chats just weren’t the same as a good old-fashion hug. “You’re here!”
“I am. I wrapped up some things faster than I thought I could and wanted to surprise you.” He grinned, stepping back to get a good look at her. “And from what I hear, it’s a good thing I’m back.” Her brother looked good in a suit and tie, not something she’d seen very often growing up. No wonder the judge’s daughter was interested. Trent was a handsome, successful guy.
“Hi, Uncle Trent,” Cory said, hugging his uncle’s leg.
“Hey there, kiddo. You sure look bigger and taller than the last time I saw you on video chat.” Trent ruffled Cory’s hair, something lots of people couldn’t resist because of her son’s thick curls.
“Talking on the computer makes everybody look small. You were only this big,” Cory said, holding up his hands to indicate the size of the computer screen.
Trent laughed. “Good point.”
“Watch this, Uncle Trent. I’m a big boy now, and I can do handstands.” Cory moved to the center of the living room and proceeded to show his new acrobatic abilities. Her son hadn’t stopped practicing them since Chloe showed him while he was over at Tricia’s, but his little legs and arm strength weren’t enough to make the move into anything more than what appeared to be a floundering fish.
“What did you mean when you said it sounded like it was ‘a good thing you’re back’?” just in time?” Her curiosity about his comment wouldn’t let her dismiss it without an explanation.
“I stopped at the post office to get my mail and got an earful. Is there something going on between you and David?” Trent drilled her with a look that gave her pause. It was almost as if he wasn’t happy about what he’d heard.
Not that the rumor was true, but still, why wouldn’t Trent want his best friend and his sister to be together? He hadn’t said a thing when they were kids, so why now? “You know the Hallbrook gossip chain. It’s normally more gossip than fact.”
“Normally, but I know you two had a thing a long time ago.” Again, it wasn’t his words that worried her, but the way he said them. There was something odd going on.
Ashley shook her head, trying to reassure her overprotective brother. “It was a long time ago. David and I are just friends now.”
Trent snorted. “Just friends doesn’t describe what I’ve been hearing. It sounds like you two can’t decide between being enemies or lovers.”
“We are neither. Just because we went up against each other in court doesn’t mean we weren’t civil about it. He even tried to help me find the eagles today. So don’t worry too much about it. I’m sure you heard I lost the injunction hearing, but I appreciate everything you did to try and help me.”
“I did hear,” Trent said, turning back to watch Cory, and clapping on cue. “How are you handling that? I know you hate to lose, and I know your motive is pure.”
“I’m okay. David offered a compromise to move the line. It’s not enough, but every little bit helps. Ideally, the burn needs to be put on hold for another week or so. The smoke will drive the eagles away if it gets too close. I feel like there’s something else I need to be doing, but I don’t think I have a choice other than to give up.”
Trent grinned. “The judge’s orders are pretty solid. I’d hate to see my sister end up in the slammer.”
Ashley nudged her brother’s shoulder with her own. “I wouldn’t go that far, and you know it. I have Cory to think about.” It was good to see Trent again, the teasing reminding her of the fun they once had.
“Good. I’m not ready to take on the responsibility of playing daddy while you’re an inmate.” Trent ducked and moved away, avoiding the punch she was about to land against his shoulder. All in fun, of course.
“Well, I hope you are ready to step up for your responsibility toward the festival. We’ve been picking up your share of the load while you were out having a good time wining and dining clients,” Ashley teased.
Cory came racing back to stand next to them, his breathing fast from all the gymnastics. “Did you see my handstand, Uncle Trent?”
Trent smiled. “I did, buddy. I think you can do them better than I can.”
David chose that moment to step into the open doorway. “Knock. Knock,” he said, tapping on the wood to announce his presence.
“Hey there, we were just talking about you,” Trent said, reaching out to shake David’s hand.
David’s left eyebrow shot up. “I bet you were. Glad you’re back in town. Somehow, it seems like you never left,” he said dryly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Trent frowned.
David shot him a glare. “Only that even out of town, it would appear you can pull some strings.”
Trent, in turn, glared at her. “Thanks for not saying anything, sis.”
Ashley crossed her heart. “I didn’t.” It was an old sign they’d used as kids to symbolize they were telling the truth. Kind of like a pinky swear, only stronger.
David shook his head. “It wasn’t rocket science to figure it out. Very few people could pull something like that off at the last minute.”
“True.” Trent shrugged. “No hard feelings?”
“No. We’re behind a couple of days, but the burn starts tomorrow. Our concern was getting it done before the upcoming holiday. With this many people coming in from the cities to camp, there’s an increased chance for wildfires. On the upside, I got to spend the day with Ashley and Cory out in the woods. A very special day indeed.” David winked at her, but luckily, Trent didn’t see it, or there might have been more disapproving looks. Not to mention questions she didn’t want to answer.
“Is that a fact?” Trent asked, picking up Cory, but his gaze never leaving David.
“That’s a fact.” The two men squared off, leaving Ashley to wonder yet again what was going on between them.
Time for a change in subject. “We need to set up a couple of booths. David and I hung the flyers and worked on the signs. Even Cory got to help with the artwork. But three people working will make the booths easier to put up. They’re big and bulky,” Ashley interjected, bringing the conversation back to why they were meeting in the first place.
“Yeah, I heard you and Ashley got quite a bit done. Together.” Trent scowled.
David tensed, but he wasn’t backing down. “And your point?”
So much for a change in subject.
“I just remember a conversation you and I had once upon a time. I didn’t realize anything had changed.” Trent glanced her way and then back at David, raising Ashley’s suspicions.
Enough was enough. “What are you guys talking about?” she asked, straight and to the point.
“Nothing,” they both said in unison—more reason for her not to believe them. Trent would have some explaining to do later.
“Then let’s get over to the fairgrounds and get started. We can grab some pizza after we knock out the first booth. The sooner we get started, the sooner we get done.” And the sooner she could drag the information out of Trent.
“Sounds like a plan,” David said. “Give me ten minutes to let Kojak out for a quick run.”
“I want to go with Mr. David to see Kojak. Please, Mommy, can I?” Cory begged.
“That’s fine. But make sure you mind him.”
Trent set Cory down, and her son grabbed David’s hand as they headed out the door. He was becoming attached to David, which wasn’t necessarily good. And yet somehow, Ashley couldn’t think of it as bad either.
She turned away, but not before glancing at Trent. He was watching her and the now empty doorway with a scowl on his face. Ashley was of a mind to stay home and let the t
wo of them duke it out—whatever it was.
* * *
Ashley worked up a sweat as the three of them hammered the corner poles into the ground. Finally, they added the walls and ceiling and zipped them all into place. The process was archaic compared to the newfangled easy-up tents sold everywhere. Clearly, Hallbrook didn’t have the funds to update the equipment.
Too bad she hadn’t known that before she agreed to put them up. The sandbags were the last things to be attached. One down, two to go.
And time for pizza. “I’ve got to get Cory something to eat. Do you all want to take a break and head to O’Malley’s, or do you want to keep working, and I can bring something back?” Ashley was hoping they pick the second option and keep working. That way, they’d get the next one down and she’d be off the hook for helping. Trent and David looked at each other and shrugged as if they didn’t care one way or the other.
“We’ll keep going. Consider it my penance for missing the earlier stuff,” Trent volunteered.
Exactly what she wanted to hear. “I’ll go pick up a pizza and bring it back.”
“Sounds good,” David said, reaching for his wallet.
“I’ve got this.” Things might be tight, but she didn’t want to come across as desperate. Not in front of Trent or David, the two men she cared the most about in her life. “Come on, Cory. Let’s go get dinner.”
It was a short walk to O’Malley’s. Ashley led Cory inside, keeping hold of his hand as she made her way to an empty table by the bar. It would be a good place to sit and wait for the pizza to cook.
Melissa, one of the servers, came to take her order.
“I’ll take a large pepperoni pizza and a large onion and mushroom pizza, please. Oh, and it’s to go,” Ashley added.
“Anything to drink with that?” the woman asked.
“Yes, please. Four ice teas. Thanks.” It had been a long day and a glass of wine would be nice, but with Cory here, she wouldn’t give in to the act of self-indulgence.
“That’ll take about twenty minutes. Okay?” Melissa asked.
Ashley nodded. “Absolutely.” She sat back to look around the place, curious who was here and who she’d recognize.
Cory went into talk mode, asking her questions about everything he saw. She didn’t mind answering because she liked the inquisitive side of her son—something else Joe hadn’t appreciated at all.
“Hi, Ashley. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight, not with the burn starting tomorrow.” Tricia came and stood next to her.
“Don’t remind me,” she said, shaking her head. “What are you doing here? I thought you were overrun by family at home?”
Tricia let out a deep breath. “I talked everyone into coming out. They’re all over there.” Her friend pointed to a large table in the corner. “I saw you come in and wanted to come say hi. I refused to cook and do dishes for this crowd one more night without a break.”
“I don’t blame you.” Ashley laughed.
“Am I coming to play tomorrow, Miss Tricia?” Cory asked. “I missed Chloe and Bryan today.”
“That’s up to your mother, but you’re always welcome.” Tricia grinned at Cory.
“Can I, Mommy?” he asked, not letting the matter drop.
“We shall see. Let’s get through tonight first.” She leaned over to kiss the top of his head.
“I’m sorry about the injunction. I know you had your heart set on winning and having more time to find the eagle,” Tricia said.
“Me, too. But there’s nothing else I can do. Unless… A crazy idea popped into her head. Maybe it was time to take charge of her own life and stop letting people dictate the outcome for her.
“Unless what?” Tricia asked, a worried frown appearing suddenly.
“What if we put together a protest?” Crazy was an understatement, but it didn’t stop her from getting excited about the possibility.
Tricia’s eyes danced with merriment. “You can be like those people on TV and lay yourself down at the bottom of the fire truck, you know, so they can’t move forward.”
Ashley laughed, sobering only as she pictured David’s face if she did something else to disrupt his plans. “That might be a bit extreme.”
“I know. But you could form a picket line. Judging by some of the things I’ve heard from the people in town, you wouldn’t have a hard time putting together one. Lots of folks here are keen on you finding the eagle.” Tricia nodded.
“You’re kidding?” Ashley had no idea the town was even talking about what she was doing, much less rooting for her. She’d only told a few of them what she was up to.
“Nope. It would be a huge honor and a claim to fame for our little town.” Tricia stood as if to leave.
“You don’t say.” Ashley’s brain was spinning a mile a minute as the idea of a picket line percolated. “A peaceful protest isn’t against the law, and it might be just what we need.”
A worried look crossed her friend’s face. “I was half teasing.”
“Maybe. But think about it, picket lines normally attract the media. And if we get the attention of the media, public opinion might sway the fire department.” Ashley came alive, her weariness vanishing in a split second.
Tricia nodded. “It might work and could be worth a shot. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Spread the word. The fire department is supposed to be at the North Summit entrance at six a.m. I saw some of the equipment parked and ready to go. If we show up at five-thirty, we can form a line and stop them.” Ashley wished both she and David could win this battle, but unfortunately, it didn’t work that way. David would be furious. She totally understood his position and understood that public safety was important, but this was important too. For the bald eagle and her.
“Who’s the editor for the Hallbrook Daily Times?”
“That would be Mabel Avery. She’s over there eating dinner with her husband.” Tricia pointed to a couple across the room.
“You know everybody here better than I do. If you spread the word, I will talk to Mabel.” The renewed hope of stalling the burn filled her with joy. “I prefer to surprise David and Trent with our plans, so let’s not say anything yet.” Ashley winked and nodded to Cory. She’d have to do her best to keep them apart, or her son would let the fire out of the dragon, so to speak.
Trent and David would find out her plans soon enough come morning.
Chapter Thirteen
David checked over his notes and the details for the burn one last time as he finished his coffee. There was no room for mistakes. They were on a tight schedule to get as much done as possible in a short amount of time because of all the delays.
He grabbed his jacket off the coat hook and tossed it in the truck. The crisp morning air in the mountains could be chilly even though it was summer. Kojak followed him out the door, stopping briefly at one of the bushes before hopping in the truck. The dog took up his usual post in the front passenger seat, determined to look out the window. David reached over to pat him on the head before backing out of the driveway.
As he drove off, he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d forgotten something. Or something was out of place. He retraced his steps from this morning in his head, trying to jog his memory.
Ashley’s car. It hadn’t been there this morning when he left. She’d probably stayed at Trent’s last night, and there was nothing to worry about. Except when it concerned Ashley, he always worried.
Obviously, that hadn’t changed.
Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the North Summit entrance, where the staging area for the burn had been set up. He was surprised to see several cars already parked along the road, some of the guys beating him here. Except, he didn’t recognize the cars as those of his crew.
A sixth sense something was about to go wrong took hold and wouldn’t let go, the feeling starting in the pit of his stomach and traveling up to his throat. He pulled in next to one of the fire trucks and got out, letting Kojak follow.
His gaze landed on Ashley’s car, and his sixth sense moved into factual information territory. There was no way Ashley was here bright and early this morning to cheer him on—which could only mean one thing. Trouble.
David glanced around, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He spotted a group of people, none of whom were dressed in firefighter gear. The group stood in a line blocking his fire trucks, each person carrying a sign. The messages ranged from “stop the burn” to “eagles matter” to “save the eagle.”
Unbelievable. A picket line.
Of all the crazy notions she could have come up with, this one irritated him the most. Picket lines always seemed to bring in the media. And when that happened, nobody won.
David had to talk to her and try to stop this nonsense before it got out of hand. He spotted her talking to some others in the line and made his way to her side.
“Ashley, can we talk? Privately,” David urged, hoping she’d agree to a peaceful end to this. I moved the line, and this is the thanks I get?
“I’m staying right here. Anything you have to say, my friends can hear too.” Ashley stood taller, but he hadn’t missed the almost imperceptible hesitation before she spoke.
“You can’t do this, and you know it. The judge denied the injunction.” David started counting, trying to diffuse his anger. It wouldn’t help the situation, and he was trying to keep the communication lines open.
“We can, and we will. It’s called freedom of speech, and it’s a peaceful protest.”
“The burn is scheduled to begin in thirty minutes, and we can’t have people getting in the way and possibly getting hurt. You all need to move out of the staging area. This area is closed to the public.”
“I’m just asking for another week or so,” she said, defiance and hope all rolled into the one sentence.
“And I’ve explained to you that’s time we don’t have. This holiday week is one of the most dangerous weeks when it comes to forest fires. Casually tossed cigarette butts, fires not properly put out, hikers starting small fires that get out of control. There are a dozen things that can go wrong when people start having fun, or drinking, and aren’t as careful as they should be.”