Love & Liberty: Independence Day (Holidays In Hallbrook Book 6)

by Elsie Davis

  David’s life was far more important than the eagle, and it took this moment for her to put things into perspective and to realize what she’d done and the repercussions. It was her fault the burn had been pushed back a few days. And it was her fault David was in danger. The idea of losing him was more than she could bear.

  Ashley was still in love with David, while he, on the other hand, was still out of love with her. Nope. Things hadn’t changed—not one bit.

  She touched the eagle pendant safely tucked under her shirt.

  Please, Lord, keep him safe. Please don’t take him from me. Not this way.

  * * *

  David froze, glancing in every direction, unsure of where to go next. Adrenaline raced through him as his flight or fight reactions warred with one another. The problem was he didn’t know where to fly or how to fight back.

  Sweat stung his eyes, blinding him. He tried to push away the thoughts of his father, but he couldn’t. Had his father known what was happening? David sucked in a deep breath, wondering if it would be his last.

  He moved a few steps backward. Or at least what he thought was backward. He wasn’t going to give up hope. His team was out searching for a way to get to him. He trusted them. The flames became more evident through the smoke, which meant he was moving in the wrong direction.

  He turned to the right and then to the left, trying to decide which way to go. While he still had a breath left in him, he wouldn’t stop believing his team would get to him in time. The heat was suffocating. He felt like a dancing chicken on a hot plate as he tried to find his way through the maze of flames to escape. And then he heard it. A distinct sound different from the crackling fire raging in front of him.

  Woof. Woof. Woof. Kojak was close.

  David closed his eyes, searching out the sound and the direction it was coming from. Come on, Kojak, bark again.

  Woof. Woof. Woof.

  David turned to the left and started forward, slowly at first, and then breaking into a run as Kojak’s bark got louder. Seconds later, Kojak grabbed his arm and pulled him forward.

  “Boy, am I glad to see you, buddy.” David couldn’t control the rush of emotions rushing through him as he brushed back the tears from his eyes. He trusted his fire dog with his life, and with Kojak by his side, he knew everything would be okay. The smoke started to grow less dense, and within seconds, Kojak barked one last time. Suddenly, there were firefighters everywhere, rushing to get to him.

  “Chief Beckett, are you okay?” Captain James asked. “Thank God, Kojak found you.”

  David coughed. “I’ve had better days. But a little fresh air, and I’ll be all right.” He nodded.

  “We’ve got him, and he looks pretty good, all things considered,” the Captain alerted the rest of the team using his headset. Loud clapping could be heard all the way back from the South Summit entrance.

  “Marty and Scott, help him out of here. I’ll notify the paramedics you’re on your way. I’ve got to stay here with the others and make sure we get this fire put out.”

  “Ten-four, Captain James.” Two men supported him, one on each side. For a guy who always liked to be in charge and do things on his own, he was grateful for the support. Kojak ran ahead. The dog had earned himself a huge steak dinner, a whole lot of love, and a medal of honor.

  “Good job, Kojak,” he called out to his faithful friend. The dog stopped to look back at him. It was almost as if he nodded before turning back to lead them down the trail.

  A couple of paramedics met them as they drew closer to the parking lot. The winds had shifted, moving the fire line in this direction. Unfortunately, it had crossed into the territory Ashley had been trying to protect.

  They came to the South Summit parking lot, and the place was full of vehicles, including an ambulance. Not that he needed one as far as he was concerned. But he also knew protocol. The paramedics would make sure to give him a thorough once-over, and then he’d have to be cleared by the doctors before he could return to work.

  As they drew near, David spotted Ashley. She was the last person he wanted to see here. David frowned, noticing her tear-streaked ashen face, the image hauntingly familiar. It reminded him of his mother the day his father died. Ashley had no business here, and he wanted her gone.

  She came running in his direction when she spotted him, Trent not far behind. He’d have a few things to say to him about this later when they were alone. His friend should have had more sense than to let Ashley be anywhere near here.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, her lower lip trembling. This was an Ashley he’d never seen before, and he hoped he never would again. Not even when they broke up in high school had she seemed this devastated, wearing her emotions for all to see.

  David tried to pull himself together.

  “Is he okay?” she asked the men when he didn’t answer.

  “Yes, ma’am. He’ll be fine. But we need you to step aside so we can get him medical treatment.” A fresh wave of tears rolled down her cheeks.

  David pulled the oxygen mask from his face. He was emotionally and physically drained, but there was one thing left he needed to do before he gave himself over to medical care completely. “Ashley, I’ll be fine. You have no reason to be here. Go home.”

  She winced, not taking his rebuke well.

  He knew she was here because she cared about him, which made it harder to push her away. But he couldn’t let it stop him from doing what needed to be done. “The reason I told you not to be here is that it’s dangerous. You see what can happen even to someone in the fire department who knows what they are doing. What if it had been you out there? Is everything you’re doing worth leaving Cory motherless?”

  Ashley reeled back as if she’d been slapped. “How dare you?”

  Trent took a step forward, his jaw clenched—the warning duly noted.

  The comment was harsh, but he’d said it because of his own fear. After facing his own mortality, David thought the remark more than justified. And her anger was far better than her tears. Today had proved with a certainty, there could never be anything between them. It was better this way, even if it meant ripping his own heart out in the process.

  “Trent. Get. Her. Out. Of. Here. Now.” David turned away, allowing the paramedics to help him into the ambulance. Anything to get the look on Ashley’s face out of his head.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ashley stood frozen in place, wholeheartedly stunned and completely devastated as she watched the group of men help David into the ambulance. A sick feeling pooled in her stomach. A fresh wave of tears fell down her face, but she didn’t care.

  Trent wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Come on, Ashley. David means well. He’s been through a lot, and we need to give him some breathing room.”

  “Breathing room? I think he wanted more than that from me.” A sense of déjà vu washed over her. When would she learn? David would always break her heart.

  “Perhaps it’s for the best,” Trent said, his voice low but filled with meaning.

  Not that it mattered, but she wanted the truth. “What’s that supposed to mean? What is it you still haven’t told me? I deserve to know the big secret; don’t you think?” Ashley refused to get in the car until her brother started talking.

  “I don’t really think it’s my place to tell you. It’s just something David shared once when we’d had a little too much to drink one night while we were in college.” Trent shook his head, holding out his hand for the keys. He was in full-blown protective mode and not about to let her drive. Even if it was her car.

  Ashley knew she wasn’t capable of the focus needed to drive and to be safe. She wouldn’t put anyone in jeopardy willingly, contrary to what David thought. She loved her son too much for that.

  “Tell me, Trent. I think I have a right to know. I care about David, and you know it. But right now, I’m hurting. The man I love, have always loved, just tore me to pieces with his words. I need you to help me understand why.” Ashley hand
ed Trent the keys and then wrapped her arms around her midsection, staving off the cold chill seeping through every pore of her body. She slid in the passenger seat, fighting the urge to let loose another torrential downpour of tears.

  “Ashley, I’m sorry. I know how much you care about him. Have always cared about him. Right now, he’s upset and not thinking clearly. Give him time to recover. David was basically just pulled out of the fire and saved from a horrific death. If you really care, cut him some slack.” Trent let out a deep sigh. He started the car, putting it in reverse to back out of the parking space.

  It was right for them to leave. It was a place Ashley never wanted to see again. “Tell me what you know,” Ashley asked, speaking softly, hoping to break through Trent’s armor.

  “Fine. I’ve already told you I ordered David to leave you alone and I’ve explained why.”

  “Well, he didn’t exactly fight for me, did he?” She shook her head. The truth still had the power to hurt.

  “No. But David had his reasons. In a way, I think he got in over his head with you, and I gave him a way out. For what it’s worth, I believe David cares for you. A lot. The problem is, David saw his father die in that horrible house fire, watched it all unfold on TV. And ever since then, he’s watched his mother suffer. She’s been living in a shell of grief, and nothing David’s done has helped her. His mother refuses to join the real world. David has had to protect her and take care of her and watch her suffer through her unhappiness.

  “He was driven to follow in his father’s footsteps to honor him and what they’d once dreamed of sharing. Working together, side by side. Father and son. But in choosing the fire department, he was equally choosing to never have a relationship so that he never hurt someone as much as his mother was hurt.”

  Ashley closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She’d always known losing his dad had been tough on David, but she’d never realized it was this far out of control. Her heart ached for the young boy who had watched his father die and then was forced to become a man and take care of his mother.

  She’d been right all along. David wasn’t just sending her away from the fire, he was sending her out of his life. Again. “Thank you for telling me.”

  Trent reached over and squeezed her hand. “I know you’ve had a rough couple of years, Ashley, but it’ll get better. You’re strong and always manage to come out of it.”

  “Thank you. I don’t quite see it that way at the moment but give me time. This has been a lot to deal with in one day.”

  “I’ll take you home. We can leave my car at the scenic vista and come back for my car tomorrow. Okay?”

  Ashley nodded, happy to let someone else take control. At least for the moment. “We need to pick up Cory from Tricia’s place.” Right now, she wanted to hold her son more than anything, needing the emotional connection. For a little boy, he packed a whole heap of love.

  “No problem,” Trent said.

  They drove back in silence, Ashley exhausted and heartbroken.

  * * *

  Several days passed, and Ashley hadn’t heard a word from David. Trent assured her he was doing well, but although she watched for him, he seemed to come and go at odd hours as if to avoid her.

  The rest of the burn had been postponed, which should have made her happy, but instead, she couldn’t shake the guilt for her part in disrupting the fire department’s original plans. It had taken a couple of those days for her to gather the courage to return to the South Summit area but resuming her search for the eagle was still important. She sucked up her courage and tackled her fears head-on. It gave her something to do to keep her mind off David, wondering if he was truly okay. Not that she expected to spot the eagle—certain the fire and thick smoke would have driven him away if he had existed.

  Seeing the burned area forced her to relive the moments of fear when she’d thought she’d lost David. And spending hours at a time alone in the woods did nothing to calm her nerves or her memory. The only thing that helped take her mind off the situation was when she and Trent finished the booths together for the festival. David was taking time off from work to recover, but it also meant he was staying away from his festival obligations. Or more than likely—her.

  Trent was quick to say his absence had nothing to do with her. But Ashley wasn’t sixteen anymore and wouldn’t buy into her brother’s attempts to make her feel better. Not like she used to.

  David blames me.

  Ashley checked her emails, her gaze immediately going to the one from National Geographic. She clicked on the email, holding her breath, knowing this could be exactly what she needed in her life.

  Dear Ashley Stanton,

  We reviewed many applications for the position of executive creative photographer. Several candidates came highly qualified, including you. We are pleased to inform you that you are the one we’d like to offer the position to. The level of artistic creativity in your photographs is beyond compare. Your attention to detail is fantastic, and we appreciate that you can see beauty beyond the obvious interest one might see at first glance.

  We would love to welcome you to our team. Please let us know if you’d like to accept this position so we can move forward with the processing. We would require you to work out of our headquarters in Washington D.C. Your first trip would be to South America two weeks after you start.

  We hope to hear good news from you. Again, congratulations.

  Sincerely,

  John Bellevue, CEO

  She’d gotten the job.

  Ashley couldn’t believe it. Tears rolled down her face, something that happened all too easily these days. At least this time, it was something good that made it happen.

  Her dream job was hers for the taking. And other than having to make it work traveling with Cory, nothing was holding her back. David’s recent rejection had forced her to face the truth about the two of them and her feelings.

  Unrequited love. The perfect definition of their relationship, or lack thereof.

  She would probably always want him, but she didn’t need him. Instead, she needed to rely on herself and to make the best decisions for her and Cory. This job was the sign she’d been waiting for. Confirmation it was time to move on to new beginnings.

  Ashley didn’t need days or even hours to figure out the answer. She immediately hit the reply button and typed out her response.

  Dear John Bellevue,

  Thank you so much for your beautiful words and the amazing offer. I would love to accept the job. There are a couple of things I must attend to here in Hallbrook before I can leave, but I expect to arrive in Washington D.C. in about a week. That should give me plenty of time to find a place to live and report to work as per your letter.

  Again, thank you very much. I look forward to working with the entire National Geographic team. This is such an honor.

  Ashley Stanton

  P.S. South America sounds exciting. Can’t wait.

  “What you reading, Mommy?” Cory asked, coming to stand next to her.

  “Mommy just got a job offer. Isn’t that exciting?” Ashley smiled, wanting to share the joy with her son and anyone else who would listen.

  “Yay, Mommy. You’re the best picture taker ever.” Cory threw his arms around her neck and hugged her.

  “We’re moving to Washington D.C. in a week. That’s our country’s capital. Doesn’t that sound great?” His inquisitive nature would love all the wonderful things offered. It was a kid’s dream place to live, the activities endless.

  Cory frowned. “You mean we can’t live in Hallbrook?”

  “No, darling. The job is in D.C. You’ll love the National Zoo, the Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian museum, and tons of other places.”

  “But it won’t have Uncle Trent. Or Mr. David. Or Kojak. They’re my friends. Just like Chloe and Bryan are my friends. If I’m in a new place, I won’t be able to play with them.” His eyes filled with tears.

  “That’s part of moving, honey. You make new friends. Yo
u’re good at that.” Ashley tried to encourage him. Cory’s reaction was not what she’d expected, and it was enough to toss a bucket of water on her earlier joy.

  “But I like the ones I have,” Cory mumbled, his lower lip trembling.

  “It’ll be all right, I promise.” Ashley’s heart was breaking for her son, but change was a part of moving on and starting over. They’d have each other, and that’s what was most important.

  Ashley needed to call Trent and Tricia to share the great news. Hopefully, someone would be happy for her. This was her dream, after all.

  Chapter Eighteen

  David was treated and released from the hospital with orders from Chief Anderson to take some time off. The first three days were mandatory to allow him time to get over the smoke inhalation, and he didn’t argue about it.

  The following seven days were a long overdue vacation. The burn was now out of the question and would be for several months to come. The summer wasn’t typically conducive to the right conditions. It could be fall before everything could possibly line up again. Hopefully, campers, hikers, and day guests would be extra careful. Just in case, however, David vowed to stick around the area to be on hand to help if any fires did break out.

  Driving to Lancaster to visit his mother gave him time to think about Ashley. He knew he’d hurt her, lashing out the way he did. And if he hadn’t known, Trent made sure to remind him of it each time they spoke. Seeing her tear-streaked face and knowing the danger he’d faced had crippled him. His love for her had forced him to react, sending her away from the area and from him. It was the only way he knew to make sure it worked.

  And now, he was prepared to live through those moments again because his mother would want every detail. Not that she’d get what she wanted, but he’d tell her a modified version before she had a chance to hear it from someone else. David pulled up in front of the medical facility, finding a parking spot close to the entrance. He headed inside, making his way to the front desk. “Good morning, Angie,” he said, shooting the older woman a friendly smile to match her own welcoming one.