Wildfire Sweethearts

by Leigh Bale

  A man’s piercing scream of pain caused Sean to spin about. The air cleared just a bit and he saw Pete lying beneath the melee of heavy tree limbs. The tree had barely missed Tessa, who was trying to pull Pete out. Flames ignited all around, rushing toward them. So hot and furious that Sean felt the scorching heat against his face. And his mind flooded with relief. Tessa was okay. She was safe. For now.

  “Over here,” Sean yelled to the rest of the crew.

  Hacking at the tree limbs with his ax, he broke Pete free. The fire lapped at the fallen man’s feet. Tessa shoveled dirt over the flames. Gripping Pete’s shoulders, Sean pulled him free. Extra hands reached to assist Sean. The crew was finally here.

  Pete moaned and thrashed his head from side to side. “Get me out of here,” he cried.

  Half of the squad surrounded and attacked the fire, snuffing it out. Sean was conscious of Tessa helping, working frantically with the rest of the team.

  Several men helped Sean lift Pete and carry him out of harm’s way. After they’d laid him on the ground, Sean knelt over him, checking his vital signs. The yellow sleeve of Pete’s Nomex shirt was damp with blood.

  “Get the first-aid kit,” Sean ordered, a blaze of urgency sizzling up his spine.

  The kit appeared before him. Tessa had already retrieved it. No need to ask her twice.

  Pete coughed, his breath raspy.

  In a rush, the memory of the fire that had killed Zach bludgeoned Sean’s mind. So swift and powerful that it made him gasp. Then he clenched his hands, reminding himself to think. To breathe. To keep moving.

  “You okay, buddy?” Sean forced himself to speak calmly as he reached for his pocket knife. Although it didn’t show, his hands were quaking and he was fighting a rush of panic that seemed to clog his chest. Of all the times for his PTSD to act up, now wasn’t it. He had to maintain control. Had to appear confident and make good decisions. His entire crew was counting on him.

  “My side hurts.” Pete spoke in a hoarse croak.

  Possibly some broken ribs. Sean flipped out the knife blade and slit the sleeve of Pete’s shirt up to the shoulder. The man had an ugly compound fracture. Not good.

  Sean glanced at Tessa. She watched him with narrowed eyes and he felt self-conscious. He was worried that she might detect how the PTSD still affected him. And he didn’t want her to know. Didn’t want anyone to think he wasn’t fit for command. Because he was. He must be.

  He stared at the injured man, momentarily frozen in place. His thoughts scattered and he couldn’t make sense of it all. What was wrong with him? Why had he promised Zach that he’d keep Tessa safe? What had made him ever think he could protect her?

  “Sean, are you all right?”

  She knelt beside him, performing triage on Pete. She paused for a moment, peering at Sean with concern. Seeing the unease in her eyes brought him back to sanity. She was counting on him. They all were. For some strange reason, knowing she was here and depending on him gave him the courage to keep going. He mustn’t let her down. He mustn’t fail again.

  “Yes, I’m... I’m okay,” he said.

  “You know it’s gonna be okay. Right?” she asked.

  He took comfort from her words. “Yeah. Of course it is.”

  Yes. Focus on the job. That was what he needed to do.

  A roll of bandages appeared in front of his nose. Trained as a medic, Tessa knew what to do. Sean snatched up the bandages and nodded his gratitude. And then he concentrated on the situation. But he couldn’t help feeling surprised that she was comforting him. He thought he was her guardian, not the other way around. She had no reason to be kind to him, and yet she was.

  Together, they staunched the blood and kept Pete’s wound as clean as possible. Tessa treated Pete for shock then dressed a mild laceration on his forehead. The tourniquet on his arm should hold until they could evacuate him. Knowing each of his crew member’s strengths, Sean rattled off orders as he worked. He called to his squad leaders, assured that they’d coordinate their men to get the job done.

  “Harlie, you radio command. Tell them to get us a chopper to evacuate Pete. And don’t take no for an answer. Tell them it’s critical. Chris, we need a stretcher. Get your squad to make one now. Tess, you check Pete’s ribs for a punctured lung.”

  The team didn’t have to be told twice. They went to work. No one sat idle. Everyone hustled. And Sean had never loved his crew members more than in that moment.

  He exhaled slowly. He was holding it together. He could do this. He must do this!

  “Pete definitely has a punctured lung,” Tessa said.

  Not good, but it was better than a collapsed lung.

  Her fingers brushed against Sean’s. She snapped her hand back, her gaze meeting his. They stared at one another for just a moment, but that look spoke volumes. Confusion and uncertainty filled her expressive eyes.

  Harlie stood back and clutched his black radio. “I’ve got the command base. Where do you want them to land the chopper?”

  Sean glanced at the heavy vegetation surrounding them. No safe location nearby, so they’d just have to make a place.

  He jutted his chin and pointed up. “That ridge over our heads. We’ll go up there. It’ll be the quickest way to get Pete off of this mountain.”

  All eyes turned upward, toward the rocky plateau. It rose almost straight up over them, the hillside covered with thick vegetation they’d have to hack their way through. And in a fraction of a moment, Sean knew what he was asking his team to do. It was a gargantuan task under the best of circumstances. And as tired as they all were, they now had to act fast. No time to waste. No time to be tired.

  “Okay, you heard the super. Let’s clear a path to that ridge.” Chris pointed the way.

  Retrieving their chain saws, the sawyers attacked the thick brush. Two other men helped clear the debris out of the path. The roar of saws filled the air along with the acrid scent of wood smoke.

  “He’s got at least two broken ribs,” Tessa reported.

  Pete groaned, his eyes clenched tightly shut. “It hurts.”

  “I know, buddy. But we’re gonna fix you up fine. We’ll get you out of here. You’re gonna be okay. You have my word,” Sean promised.

  Pete gave a slight nod, taking another scratchy breath.

  Sean helped Tessa wrap the injured man’s midsection to stabilize his rib cage. Over the noise of the saws, static squawked on the radio.

  “Hey! I saw the trees fall. Are you guys okay down there?” Tank asked from his lookout point.

  No! Sean wanted to yell. Pete wasn’t okay. But he would be. And so would Tessa and the rest of the crew. Sean would make sure of that. If he had to give his life in the process, he would accept nothing less.

  Chapter Nine

  What was wrong with Sean? Tessa’s gaze swept over him. He knelt over Pete, his hands shaking like aspen leaves in the wind. The power of his expression caused Tessa to freeze. His pledge to keep Pete safe softened something inside her, and a lance of emotion pierced her heart. He seemed a bit shaken, and yet he was acting perfectly rational, making all the right decisions, putting the safety of the crew first. But something was wrong.

  She’d never seen Sean like this. Focused and composed, yet so potent that it almost frightened her. Too calm and unruffled. Too intense. As though he was terrified, yet forcing himself to keep going.

  When the trees had fallen, everyone had run for cover. Everyone except Sean.

  She’d been so scared. Watching those giant burning trees hurtling toward her, she’d scurried out of the way as fast as her legs could move. While she’d cried out a silent prayer for help, Sean had yelled and plunged into the fray. Hurrying to reach her and Pete. Strong and invincible.

  Putting his own life on the line to save them.

  For the first t
ime, a thought occurred to Tessa. Had Sean fought this hard to save Zach? Or was he taking unnecessary risks again? Sean had always been a daredevil. An adrenaline junkie who thrived on the edge of danger. Never had he backed away from fire. His courage made him a great firefighter. But now she didn’t know what to think. His actions were those of a good, safe leader. Had she misjudged him? Was he innocent of any poor judgment that had gotten Zach killed?

  A burst of static came from the radio. Tank was waiting for news.

  Harlie pressed the call button and reported. “Pete’s hurt. We’re evacuating him along the ridge.”

  “Ask him what the fire is doing.” Sean barked the order.

  Harlie lifted the radio to his mouth and relayed Sean’s question to Tank. A brief pause of static followed.

  “No danger,” Tank reported. “The fire’s broiling down below but hasn’t moved much. You’ve got time. I’ve got your back.”

  Bless Tank. Tessa knew he’d watch out for them so that they could focus on Pete. Unless a squirrely wind pushed the fire in their direction, they had time. Thanks to Sean’s quick thinking.

  Chris’s squad retrieved two strong tree limbs and sliced the small branches off them. Then the men removed their sturdy Nomex shirts. Wearing their blue T-shirts, they slid the sleeves of their Nomex over the tree limbs to create a makeshift stretcher.

  “The chopper is on its way!” Harlie yelled.

  Within minutes they had Pete loaded on the stretcher and ready to go. But clearing a path to the ridge above wasn’t so easy.

  “Stay with him, Tess,” Sean advised.

  His gaze locked with hers and he paused for just a fraction of time. In his eyes she saw a brief spark of apprehension. Then he flashed that reckless smile of his. So masculine, so handsome. A flicker of emotion filled his eyes, so fierce that she had to blink. He lifted a hand toward her. For two whole seconds she thought he might pull her in close and kiss her. And for those two seconds she wished that he would. To pretend that nothing bad had happened between them. To forget the past and feel his solid arms around her once more. Then he turned and was gone, and she thought she must have imagined it all.

  She shook her head. What was she thinking? She didn’t care about this man anymore. She didn’t love him. He was her boss, nothing more. Right?

  Behind her, she heard Sean calling more orders as the men cleared the trail. She centered her attention on Pete, keeping him calm. Easing him any way that she could. Speaking to him in a soothing voice. Giving him hope.

  She glanced up and watched as Sean assaulted the hillside with the rest of the crew. And once they had a thin path cleared, Sean’s six strongest men picked up the stretcher and carried Pete’s weight on their shoulders. Holding tight, they walked straight up with the rest of the team literally pushing them from behind. Tessa joined her team, thrusting against the man in front of her with all her might. Fighting to keep her footing in the loose soil and rocks.

  The sound of a chopper permeated her consciousness. From her peripheral vision, she caught the whirl of the craft’s blades overhead.

  Almost there.

  Gritting her teeth, she shoved hard. By the time they reached the evacuation site, they all gasped and staggered to catch their breath. Tessa’s arms shook with fatigue. Her legs felt like wet noodles.

  The chopper touched down on the rocky plateau, spewing wind and dirt in her eyes. The door slid open and two men hopped out and ran to help load Pete.

  “Tess, you go to the hospital with Pete. Stay with him,” Sean ordered, breathing hard.

  She swung around and stared at him, her mouth dropping open, her eyes wide with surprise.

  “But I’m not his partner. Dean should go with him,” she said.

  Why would Sean send her away like this? It wasn’t the norm. And she couldn’t help feeling like he was banishing her from the mountain.

  The crew stood watching her, their shoulders slumped as the adrenaline pumping in their bodies slowed now that they’d met their goal. In their bloodshot eyes, Tessa caught their censure. Most of them knew her history with Sean, but that didn’t matter. Not here, not now. Safety came first and this wasn’t the time to argue with the superintendent. Not when Pete’s life hung in the balance. Not when they had fought so hard to save him.

  “You’re lighter than the other men and won’t bog the chopper down with unnecessary weight. I want you to go with him,” Sean said.

  Tessa met Sean’s eyes, searching for the truth. His reasoning seemed sound, except that this large aircraft could hold many more men. So why? Why was Sean sending her away?

  For a fleeting moment a memory of her father pushing her away filled her mind. She’d been seven years old when she’d hugged his waist and begged him not to leave her. Without a word, he’d thrust her aside, turned around and walked out of her life without looking back. Tessa knew, because she’d watched to see if he would.

  And then Sean had done the same thing. Breaking off their engagement when Zach had died. Abandoning her to the grief consuming her heart.

  He didn’t want her.

  Sean looked away, ignoring her. He didn’t love her anymore. No, he wanted her gone. Out of his sight. But the crew might misconstrue his actions as preferential treatment. And she didn’t want that. Not from anyone. She’d worked too hard to make herself a part of this team. But she shut her mouth and did as ordered. Turning, she ran to the chopper. Climbing on board, she scooted into her seat and buckled up.

  As the door slid closed, she flinched. Feeling shut off from her team. Feeling like an outcast. Like she didn’t belong.

  She stared out the window at her crewmates. Men she’d laughed with and worked beside for the past four years.

  The aircraft lifted off, but she continued to gaze down below as the men got smaller, like plastic toy dolls. She saw Sean calling them together, clapping his hand on their backs. In her mind, Tessa could hear his deep voice as he praised their good work. Telling them he was proud of them. That they’d done a great job.

  They all needed rest, but she doubted they would get more than a few minutes. The command center was counting on them to tie in the line and they had a little less than a quarter of a mile left to go. And she longed to be down there with them. To share in this victory. But she knew someone had to go with Pete. And that someone was her.

  Sitting back, she released a pent-up sigh. As the chopper zipped through the air like an elegant bird, her throat tightened. She tried to relax and failed. The notion that Sean had sent her away on purpose soaked into her mind. At the beginning of the fire season, she had thought she could handle working with him. But being close to him every day and interacting like this was taking its toll on her heart. She’d tried to be patient and take Megan’s advice. To have faith. To follow her heart and give herself time to work through her grief. No doubt Sean needed to do the same. But now she didn’t think this was going to work. She didn’t want to be near him anymore. It was time she found another job far away from Sean and his brooding eyes.

  * * *

  The hollow thud of Sean’s boot heels pounded against the tiled floor as he walked the long hallways of the hospital. His yellow Nomex shirt stood out like a neon sign. He ignored the stares of people as he hurried through the emergency room. He felt self-conscious, stinking of smoke, his face and firefighting clothes black with soot. He must look a sight, but he couldn’t wait another moment. It had been six hours since he’d seen Tessa. The last report he’d received on the mountain by radio had said that Pete would soon be out of surgery. Sean had to check on his man. He also had to see Tessa and know that she was all right.

  At the nurses’ station, he glanced around at the sterile equipment. “Excuse me, please.”

  “May I help you?” A staff member stood holding a manila folder in her hands. Her gaze flickered over Sean’s grungy attire
with repugnance.

  “They brought my man in here,” he said.

  “You mean the firefighter?” Another older nurse, with cottony white hair and wearing a blue smock, flashed a helpful smile.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “Come with me.” She walked around the front counter.

  He followed as she turned the corner and led him down another hallway, past a small waiting area. The air smelled of antiseptic and overcooked beef stew. A persistent beep sounded from inside one of the rooms.

  “Here we are.” The nurse stopped in front of the men’s restroom.

  At Sean’s curious glance, she reached for two coarse towels sitting on a cart against the wall.

  “Wash up first, then you can go in there and visit your friend.” She pointed at a room walled by window partitions and white curtains pulled closed so he couldn’t see inside.

  Okay, he’d been told. Nodding, he stepped inside the restroom, closed the door and scrubbed his face and hands. Rivulets of black ran down the white porcelain sink. He tried to rinse it away, but the tar refused to budge. Without cleanser, he couldn’t clean it off. Some custodian was going to hate him for this.

  Drying himself off, Sean glanced in the mirror at the heavy stubble on his face. Tessa hadn’t liked him in a beard because it poked her whenever he had cuddled her. Even though they weren’t together anymore, he planned to shave his face the first chance he got. He grimaced at the soot still clinging to his curly hair. No wonder he was still single at the age of thirty-one. Not many women would put up with his lifestyle and dangerous profession. Not unless she was another hotshot who understood the demands.

  A woman like Tessa.

  That would all change after this summer, when he took an office management job. Instead of taking off to fight a wildfire for weeks at a time, he’d be home most evenings. He’d have time to mow the lawn and watch TV. He’d lead a sedentary, boring life. But maybe some other woman would want him then. The problem was, they wouldn’t be Tessa.

  When he walked back into the hallway, he came face-to-face with her. Her mouth rounded in surprise and they stared at one another for several pounding moments. His gaze feasted on the sight of her. She also wore her Nomex shirt, but she’d washed and combed her hair. Even without makeup, she looked beautiful. And knowing she was safe brought instant respite to his worried mind.