Sami reached for them. “I’ll take these to the cake table.” She disappeared inside the door to the hall before Krista could grab the cake server set and escape.
Silence hung between them for a moment before Krista spoke. “This is why I love Luke so much. He’s risking his life, but he still remembered a silly cake knife.”
Jeff swallowed hard and shifted from one foot to the other. “I really owe you an apology. I messed up your week; I was a bad influence on Luke years ago. I—”
Krista held up her hand. “Wait, it’s my turn. I need to apologize to you. You were right.” How could she explain? “I call myself a Christian, and I should behave better than I have.”
“But you didn’t treat me any worse than anyone else would have. Besides, we’re only human.”
“I know. I get reminded of that every day. But as a Christian, if I’m supposed to treat people like Jesus would, then I’ve really messed up.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Don’t worry about it.” Jeff waved off her words. She couldn’t gauge his expression.
“Well, thanks. Please forgive me?” She extended her hand.
“Sure, why not?” They shook hands. Jeff glanced toward the side door to the lodge. “So, do you need any help?”
Krista shrugged. “I have no earthly idea. I'm in a bit of a fog.”
“Just to let you know, I got the tuxes from the shop. I saw Luke's receipt on the fridge. I forgot shoes, so your aunt Vangie set me up.” Jeff cracked his knuckles and shifted on his feet again.
“That’s great.” Krista smiled. Once she let herself see Jeff as he was—a needy, fallible man—it was easier to quit holding tightly to her feelings. “I should have talked to you about these wedding details earlier.” Another thought struck her. “The rings! What did Luke do with them?”
“Got it covered.”
Krista racked her brain. “I should have brought my list.”
“Relax.” Jeff patted her arm awkwardly. Was he afraid she’d bite and have him draw back a bloody stump? She didn’t blame him earlier for being wary of her. “I think that’s what Luke would say.”
“You’re right, he would.” Krista looked to the smoke rising miles away in the southwest. “I am glad you reminded me, but I wish he was here right now.”
Jeff patted her arm again. “If he said he'd be here, he'll be here.”
#
A night and a morning into the fight, and they weren’t winning. Luke sat down at the portable table and placed his hard hat on the ground between his feet. Without a word he grabbed a plate and dug into the food set out for them. Someone in town had sent up meals for the entire crew. He inhaled the scent of burgers and thick steak fries. The tossed salad even looked good.
“Oh yeah, come to Papa.” Bud piled two burgers on one bun.
“I’m so hungry I could devour that salad, too.” Luke squirted mustard onto his burger.
“My back is killing me.” Bud flexed, and Luke thought he heard a crack.
“Mine, too.”
Bud pressed the top bun into the top of his stacked burgers. “Aw, c’mon, you’re a young pup. I got twenty years on you at least.”
Luke grinned. “This pup played too much when he was younger.”
One of the guys asked to say the blessing just then, so once that was done, they tore into the food. Luke wanted to find a quiet spot and take a nap and dream of his Krista. Better yet, to nap with her in his arms. He kept quiet about his shoulder and the ankle that now complained him.
He looked down at his clothes. The normally screaming yellow fire shirt was now a shade of dark mustard, covered with dust and soot. His green fire pants hadn’t fared much better. He didn’t want to see his face. In twenty-four hours, he was supposed to watch Krista walk down the aisle toward him. Smoke choked the air, and the light orange sky made it hard to guess where the sun lay beyond the haze. Wedding white seemed light years from the command center, not far away. Media trucks waited nearby, as close as the fire crew would let the personnel get to the fire.
“Missing your bride, huh?” D.J. interrupted his thoughts.
“I am, but she wants me to be here.”
“You’re getting yanked all over the place, aren’t ya?”
Luke took a swallow of his burger. “Yeah. I know usually weddings are all about the bride, but it’s important to this groom, too. We went through a lot to get to this day. It almost didn’t happen at all.” His gut tightened, and it wasn’t from the burger and fries he'd just consumed.
“I know. We’ve all got lives we put on hold for a few days.”
Yet what a time for him to put his life on hold. He found his phone in his pack and tried to call Krista’s cell.
“Hi, this is Krista. I’m not available right now, so leave a message.” His pulse pounded at the sound of her voice.
“It’s me. I’m taking a breather. I wanted to tell you I love you, and I miss you. I’ll let you know as soon as I am free, by three or four, the latest—”
“Listen up!” D.J. put his fingers to his lips and whistled.
“Gotta go. I’ll call again when I can.” Luke turned off his phone and looked in D.J.’s direction.
“Okay, we need to make a final push here.” D.J. gestured to another worker, who set up an easel and propped up a large display board.
The map on the board showed the topography of the area southwest of Settler Lake. Luke’s throat tightened when he saw the border for the town on the map. His throat nearly closed when he saw how much closer the fire had burned.
“This is what we’ve got.” D.J. used a pointer to indicate several lines of fire burning downhill, toward the lake and the town. “Instead of in a nice, even wave of fire, we’ve got fingers of flame reaching out.” Luke looked at the shaded-in areas, which stretched toward Settler Lake.
“Normally we’d try to contain each area, but with these winds”—a gust whipped Greer’s words away from him—“with these winds, it’ll take too long and the fire moves too fast. What we’re going to do is set up three teams—us, and Turnersville and Pancake, and fight in one big line. Topsey's crew will be here within the next hour or two.”
Luke frowned. They’d have to clear more land that way by fighting in a big line, and more would burn. But he didn’t like the alternative: the southwest of Settler Lake in flames.
“So chow down, step it up.” D.J. motioned again. “We’ve got a big pile of energy bars and more water if any of you need to reload.”
Luke grabbed his burger and started eating, but his appetite had left him. He tossed the rest of it away.
After loading his pack and checking his gear, he joined the crew on the line. Again, the grunt work of hacking down to soil to create a line continued. Another long day stretched ahead of them.
Thunder echoed within the gathering. No lightning, please. They didn’t need anything else to keep this fire going.
“Snag!” D.J. ran to the edge of the line where half-burned tree crumpled to the ground. “Get back—get back!”
Chunks of burning wood flew up into the air and sprayed the crew. Was anyone hurt? Luke shrugged off the pelting embers and ran for D.J.
“Help us here.” They beat back the glowing wood. “Any fires start on this line are gonna be backfires, and we’re not ready for that. Not yet.”
Luke intensified the chopping. With the fire flaring up at this hot spot, their work just became a lot harder. A flash of lightning illuminated the dusk. Rain. What they really needed was rain. His shoulders felt as if he’d been ramming it with flaming sticks. He shrugged and rotated it. Being sent home would not be a bad thing, but he didn’t want to let the group down.
Luke paused, grabbed a few ibuprofen from his pack, gulped the tablets down, and kept working.
The fire burned and they inched along the line to the south.
Krista, I’m doing this for you. For all of us.
EIGHT
Krista left the lodge just as a flash of lightning lit
up the parking lot. A boom of thunder echoed in response. Sami and Jana, both of them giggling, followed her. Krista had enjoyed the impromptu lunch while preparing the chapel, spending time with her family, and having her friends around her. But Luke absent from her side? She never pictured that. Jeff paused in the parking lot on the way to Barry's car.
“He’s going to be okay.”
“I know. I’m just missing him. Thanks.” She offered him a smile.
Her father chose that moment to make an announcement to the group milling outside the lodge. “Listen up, y'all. We’re grateful for all your help. It’s been great seeing you again. I didn’t realize how much we missed Settler Lake after moving Elfi’s corporate offices to Austin. All that aside, we’ve decided to have a wedding later this afternoon, on two conditions. First, if we can get the groom away in time. Second, if we don’t have to evacuate. I trust you’ll use good judgment and do just that if you don’t feel safe. Krista's made the decision to postpone the ceremony if she doesn't hear from Luke by three. Maggie and I have our bags packed and in our car at the Lakeside Inn, and we’re ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”
That was Dad, the take-charge and reassuring man. In some ways Luke reminded her of him.
Lord, please take care of Luke, wherever he is. He'd left a message on her phone that morning, telling her his intention to leave as soon as he possibly could. But it didn't sit well with her, for him to leave the fire. Even for their ceremony.
Her phone had one bar left. As soon as she and Nana got home, she'd plug it in, then head into wedding prep.
“We'll see you in a bit,” Sami told her as they went to their vehicles. “We have a surprise for you, but we need to pick it up first.”
“Great,” Krista said. “Nana and I will be back at the house.”
“And we'll be making sure the caterer takes care of things,” Momma chimed in, nodding at her sister, Vangie. “You sure you don't need me at the house?”
“When I'm ready to get dressed, we can all ride to the chapel together.”
Momma placed her hand on Krista's arm. “Honey, you can postpone. It's all right.”
“If I don't hear from him again by three, I will.”
#
The first two hours past noon crept along, and Luke wanted nothing more than to sleep. Well, besides leave the fire line and marry Krista. When he moved his right shoulder, it burst into flames of pain inside the joint. He tried to pick up his pack, but his arm was useless as a spaghetti noodle.
“You’re done for now.” D.J. spoke up. “Go on, take a break.”
“You mean?”
“Get outta here, go get married.”
He knew better than to argue with the man. Luke turned his cell phone on. He had a voice mail from Krista. Then one from Nana, who'd called not five minutes ago.
“It’s me—Nana. Krista’s at the house, but she’s not answering her phone. I'm worried.”
Luke punched Krista's speed dial number.
#
Krista smiled at the wedding gown on the dress form, and yawned. She'd had a cat nap, as had Nana. Jana and Sami should be here at any minute to help with her hair. Krista left her bedroom and closed the door behind her, the house eerily quiet.
“Nana?”
Silence.
Where was everyone? She entered an empty kitchen.
A first aid kit’s contents were spread across the top of the counter. A few drops of blood spattered the cutting board, where a knife and some partially sliced carrots sat beside a tray, along with a stack of cut broccoli.
Someone had cut themselves. Why didn’t Nana wake her?
Krista went back to her room and picked up her phone. She'd plugged it into the charger. Except, the charger wasn't plugged into the wall and now her phone was dead.
The light filtering through the bedroom curtains dimmed, as if a cloud had drifted across the morning sky.
Oh, Lord. Please, let that be rain clouds.
A rushing noise outside overcame the stillness in the house. Krista went to the back door. The hills beyond the house to the southwest were ablaze. Flames soared above the oak trees and a dark cloud squeezed the light from the sky. Krista wanted to move, but her legs seemed bolted to the floor. Racing down toward the housing development, flames grew closer, fanned by the wind gusts.
I can't move.
#
“Calm down, Nana.” Luke say in his truck while he tried to track people down. “Explain again.”
“I cut my finger while making a vegetable tray. Sami had just gotten there, so she drove me to the weekend emergency clinic. We tried to call Krista from the doctor’s office, but Krista wouldn’t answer her phone.”
“Why are you so worried? Just go home.”
“I—I can’t. Lightning started a fire not far from our cul-de-sac not long after we left. They’re not letting anyone back into the development.”
“Didn’t they send anyone door to door to make sure everyone was out?”
“I don’t know, but if they did, Krista’s a heavy sleeper.”
“Where are you, Nana?”
“Sami and I are at the end of the street. We can't go anywhere.”
He gritted his teeth and ignored the firebrand of pain in his shoulder and turned the ignition. “I’m almost there.” Luke floored the accelerator. His truck shot passed the city limits sign for Settler Lake. He’d be there in one minute. He just hoped Krista had one minute.
#
The sky glowed an eerie shade of burnished copper. Wind blew ashes through the air.
Krista ran for her keys and purse inside the house. Her dress—the family pictures. She stopped herself and grabbed a tote bag from the front hall closet. In went the dress the pictures, the packet of vital records Nana kept in quick access for times like this. What else to bring—how could someone fit keepsakes into one bag? Her breath caught in her throat at all the things she saw.
Move!
“Jesus, please, help me get out of here.”
Krista let the front door bang behind her and ran for her Jeep. The Jeep’s engine wouldn’t turn over.
“C’mon, c’mon!” Priceless seconds slipped through her fingers. She tried again, but nothing. The wind yanked at her hair. Her cell phone rang and she flipped it open. “Luke—”
“I’m coming—”
“The Jeep won’t start, and I don’t think I can outrun this.”
“Turn on the lawn sprinklers.” A plane passed overhead, nearly drowning out his voice.
“Okay.” Krista craned her neck to see the plane head over the treetops. She couldn’t see the flames yet, but. . .
“I’m coming for you. Crack some windows open in the house. Worst case scenario, get in the pool.”
“Okay.” She grabbed the duffel bag and ran, holding the phone clamped to her ear.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“I love you.”
The phone went dead and she ran for the house. Before she went inside, she faced the street, her only exit. Flames licked at the homes on the main street.
The sprinklers! Krista ran to the outdoor timer, slipped on the back patio, and nearly wrenched her ankle. She gave the handle on the main water control a twist. Water sprang up in a feeble arc from the watering system. She turned the handle on full blast. Nothing more. What had happened to the water pressure?
She dialed Nana’s cell phone. “Nana, where are you?”
“Don’t worry about us! Get out of there.”
“I—I can’t. The Jeep won’t start.” He throat hurt, “But Luke’s coming.”
“Lord, please keep my granddaughter safe, and surround her with Your protection—” Nana began to pray.
The phone went dead again.
“Thanks, Nana. Amen.” Krista whispered. Her hands shook.
#
Luke didn’t bother to bypass the roadblock prohibiting vehicles on Southern Hills. He parked on a side street and secured his truck. He slung his pack onto his back, chec
ked to be sure he had his flare blanket just in case.
He gasped from the pain, feeling like a wimp. If he could make the sensation of a hot knife gliding through butter go away, he would.
Krista’s face came to mind. She’d sounded scared, but not panicked. He knew his future wife had a good dose of common sense in her head, but when cornered, some people’s senses vanished. Luke broke into a run. The smell of burning filled the air—of old leaves, of new wood. He darted through a backyard at the edge of the cul-de-sac and found a crew working at beating back a finger of flames threatening to enter this edge of the development.
Their crew chief raised his head. “What you doin’ here?”
“Luke Hansen, off duty. My fiancée is stranded at 10 Valley View Circle. What’s the containment in there?” Precious seconds ticked away. He pictured the blaze inching closer to Nana’s street, but he had to know what he was running into.
“We got some boys attacking that edge. The latest report came at the top of the hour. They’ve held the line. ‘Course, if the wind changes—”
“Got it. I’ll keep going.” Luke resumed his jog, which turned into a sprint when he heard shouting behind him. I’m coming for you, Krista.
The smoke in the air grew thicker the closer he got to the south end of the development. Just a sprint uphill to Valley View and Nana’s. Just a sprint. He glimpsed a news crew set up at the entrance to the development, their cameras rolling.
He ran, off balance, his shoulder burning again. Sweat soaked his undershirt. The smoke intensified suddenly, and Luke pulled up short. One more block and he’d hit Valley View.
The wind had changed and just as he feared, the heat of an open fire rushed to meet him, faster than anyone could sprint.
#
Krista sat on the front steps, trapped. Logic told her to run. But she'd seen the flames racing through the field toward the houses, and her main way of exit was blocked. If she ran, like she wanted to, she could run straight into a wall of fire.
Something else told her to sit tight and wait for Luke. She had no equipment, no vehicle. A dead phone—the cordless landline at Nana’s had been off the hook too long. People died running from fires. People probably died sitting on the step, just as she was now.
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