“Do you not lock your house?” Ellen asked, a little surprised.
“Up here? Nope. There’s no need really.” James followed her inside. “It gets a little busy in the summer with all the tourists, but it’s not like anyone is going to rob me.” He hung up his coat, and put his foot up on a nearby bench to unlace his boot.
Ellen knelt down to unlace her own boots. By the time she took them off, James had already ventured across the house to the kitchen.
“Make yourself at home,” he told her. “I’ll see if I can come up with some food. Hiking makes me really hungry.”
Ellen crossed the house to where James was rummaging in a cupboard. It was an open concept house. The living room was to the left of the entranceway, with a huge bay window overlooking the lake. The kitchen was beside the living room. Doors on the right side of the house suggested bedrooms.
“Can I help you with something?”
“If you can find some cheese in the fridge, you can grate it for the spaghetti,” James replied. He found a pot, and filled it with hot water from the tap. “It should be in the little drawer in the bottom.” James placed the pot on the stove.
Ellen found a partial block of cheese, and James got her a plate, and cheese grater.
“I’m obviously sorta a bachelor here, so I’m sorry it’s not neater,” James said.
“It looks fine to me. This is a nice place.” There were a few unwashed dishes in the sink, and a few more clean dishes that had obviously been drying on the rack. Things were plain, but James didn’t seem like an untidy person.
James leaned a hip against the counter, waiting for the water to boil. “Yeah, it was my grandparent’s place. Eventually just got to the point that Grandma needed more care then I could provide, so she had to move.” His eyes held a faraway look for a moment, and Ellen wondered what he was thinking, but didn’t ask.
The water boiled, and James took out a package of spaghetti noodles. “It gets lonely here without her sometimes.”
“At least she’s not far away.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” James dumped the noodles into the boiling water, then sat down across from Ellen. “So, tell me more about you.”
“Well aren’t you dressed up tonight.” Anna commented when James walked into her room, dressed in his fire department uniform.
“I’m on my way to a meeting so I can’t stay long.” She was sitting in her chair, so sat on her walker. She kept threatening to give it away to someone who could use it, but James kept telling her to save it so he could use it one day. It had become a longstanding joke, so the walker had stayed.
“Don’t you have a tie to go with that outfit too?”
“I hope so.” James reached into his pocket and found his tie. He shoved it back into his pocket.
“I wouldn’t do that, you’ll get it all wrinkled. What’s the meeting about?”
“County stuff. The Chief asked me to come in case it goes to vote about the new communication system.”
“I see. How was your weekend? I didn’t see you on Sunday.”
“I went hiking with Ellen. She wanted to see some trails and I thought that since she was new to the area, I’d go with her to make sure she didn’t get lost.”
“That’s really nice. Ellen is a very special girl.”
“Yeah, I’m beginning to think so.”
“Do be careful James,” Anna admonished. “A relationship of hearts is a very fragile thing and you’ll want to treat it gently.”
“Don’t worry Grandma, it’s going to be a long time before anything really happens between us.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
James glanced up at the clock on her wall. “I’ve gotta get going.” He stood up, then leaned down to kiss her cheek before heading out the door. Ellen was at the front desk and he smiled at her, but knew he didn’t have time to stop to talk to her. He hadn’t expected her to smile back, but she did and it made him feel warm inside.
Ellen sighed.
“See you do care.”
She looked up to see Katie standing beside her.
“I’m just tired, that’s all.”
“Okay, but I don’t believe you,” Katie said, heading off to attend other tasks.
Of course her co-worker had to be standing right there, Ellen thought as Katie left. It was unfortunate James looked so good in that uniform. It showed off his long legs and broad shoulders. He’d slipped his windbreaker on as he headed out the door and she couldn’t help but notice how muscular his arms were either. He was a curiosity, but she was interested in unlocking his secrets, no matter what Katie said. He’d been easy to talk to on Sunday, and his boyish charm made him easy to like. She couldn’t wait to see him again.
Going to the nursing home after work became the highlight of James’s day. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy visiting his grandmother, but knowing Ellen might be around made the visit even sweeter. She was easy to talk to, and he’d started imagining what it would be like to have her around all the time. Parking in the visitor parking at the home, he stepped out of his truck and glanced at his reflection in the side window. Normally he drove straight from the store to the nursing home, but today he’d stopped at home to get changed into a shirt with buttons. It was about time he asked Ellen on another date.
Yesterday, he’d casually glanced at the staff schedule that was always posted in the hallway near the nurse’s station, which just happened to be next to his grandmother’s room. Ellen was working until eleven tonight, so she’d be sure to be here somewhere. Taking a deep breath, he headed for the door.
Ellen was having a quiet conversation with one of the other staff members and didn’t see James come in. He headed down the hall to Anna’s room. She wasn’t there, so he turned to head down to the end of the home where the entertainment rooms were. She was likely either working on whatever puzzle they had out, or playing cards.
“Hey.”
Ellen saw him first.
“Hi.” He stopped facing her. The other staff member was gone and she was alone in the hallway.
“You dressed for some kind of special occasion?” Ellen gestured his outfit.
“Nope, not really.” James smiled. “Are you having a good shift?”
“Yeah, mostly.” She shook her head. “Dementia is a horrible disease.”
James nodded. “Yeah. I hope to die before I lose my mind. Did something happen?”
“Yeah. It’s sorta confidential, but yeah, those of us who, well, never mind.” She looked up at him. “How was your day?”
“Good. Better now that I’m here talking to you.” He smiled when she blushed a little.
“Anna is down in the game room playing euchre.”
“I figured.”
Ellen started to walk past him, but he put his arm out and stopped her. “Hey wait, I wanted to ask you something.”
“Okay.”
“You busy tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Good, I was wondering if you wanted to go hiking again. It’s supposed to be a nice day.”
Ellen smiled. “I’d like that.”
“I have to work until noon, but I’m free after that.”
“Why don’t I meet you at the store?”
“Sure.” James grinned. “See you tomorrow.”
“I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but your Grandma is a card shark,” Ellen said the next day. They were sitting on a large rock, overlooking one of the beaver ponds and eating the picnic lunch that James had packed.
“Oh, I know,” James agreed. “If she didn’t think gambling was a sin, she’d be a rich woman.”
“She’s pretty serious about her faith,” Ellen commented, taking a bite of ham sandwich.
“Yeah. She always has been.”
“Do you believe the same way?”
James gave her a dark look. “Nope.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s okay, I just don’t like to talk about religi
on.” James picked up a slice of cucumber.
“She doesn’t seem to see it as a religion.”
“I know, she thinks it’s some kind of amazing relationship. I don’t try to understand it.”
“I’d like to understand it. She talks like it’s the real deal. I’ve never met anyone who believed like her.” Ellen finished her sandwich and crumpled up the wrapper.
“Well, she’ll tell you all about it if you ask. She likes to do that.”
Ellen could tell James didn’t want to talk about it anymore, so she dropped the subject. It was strange that something Anna was so serious about was of no interest to her grandson. “Are you coming to the garden party tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I’ll stop in for a bit. Grandma would be mad at me if I didn’t.”
“Thanks for coming. I know this isn’t your thing,” Anna said the next day. James was sitting beside her wheelchair, trying not to fidget. No one had told him this thing was black tie. Or rather, he’d been too stupid to read the posters that had been plastered around the home for the past few weeks. He was paying for it now.
He’d thrown his baseball cap back into his truck when he saw everyone else, but it still didn’t change the fact that he was sitting here in jeans.
“I’m glad to be here Grandma.”
“That’s a lie if I ever heard one,” she said wryly. “How about you push me over to the snack table?”
“Okay.” He got up and wheeled her over to the table and watched her place three crackers and a piece of cheese on a Styrofoam plate. The home had really gone all out for this. Every year, they planned some sort of family event, and as usual, it was well attended.
“Aren’t you going to eat James?”
“No, I’m not hungry,” James replied. He’d probably end up spilling coffee on himself and feeling even more like a fool.
He sat back down with his grandmother and tried to feel less out of place. He knew most of the residents, but not enough to talk much to them. He glanced around and saw Ellen walking gracefully into the room carrying a tray. She was dressed to the nines like everyone else. He watched her set the tray down, then stop to talk to a resident for a moment. She put her hand against the door and laughed at something the man said. She didn’t see Katie rushing through the door with a fruit tray and her hand was slammed in the door hinge before she had a chance to move.
James jumped to his feet and headed over to her. Tears were already streaming down her face.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Katie apologized.
“It’s okay,” Ellen managed to say. She saw James coming toward her. Of course he’d have to see her like this. She hadn’t meant to cry, but the sharp pain had caught her totally off guard.
“Com’ere, sit down.” James put his arm around her and led her to a chair. “Let’s see what you did.” His gentle fingers smoothed out her palm and felt each of her fingers. She winced when he touched her knuckles.
“You’re going to have some good bruising for awhile,” he said quietly. “Can you move your fingers?”
She found that it was painful, but she could move some.
“Can we get some ice maybe?” James asked the crowd that had gathered around them.
“I’ll go find some,” Katie agreed.
“The good news is that your fingers don’t seem broken,” James said with a reassuring smile.
“It feels like they are,” Ellen said quietly.
Katie came back with the ice and James held it to Ellen’s hand for a few moments, then instructed her to hold it with her good hand. “Leave that on there for awhile, then ice it again when you get home.”
“I’ll do that,” Ellen said. She sniffed. Her hand didn’t hurt as bad as it had initially.
James reached over to the nearby coffee table and pulled a handful of tissues out of the box then handed them to her. “You’ll be okay.” He stood up and turned to cross the room to his grandmother.
“Is she all right?” Anna asked.
“Yeah, it’ll be fine.”
“She’s had a good medic.”
“Anyone else would’ve done the same thing.” James brushed off the compliment.
A familiar beeping alarm brought James sharply awake. He sat up and tried to shake the sleep from his head as the tone went off a second time and the dispatcher started speaking. “Darcy-Creek Fire Department, you have a report of a two vehicle MVC, Highway 17 just north of Highway 4. No other information at this time. EMS has been dispatched.”
James got out of bed, dressed in a hurry and headed for the door. He was the first firefighter to the hall and wasted no time in putting his gear on and climbing into Pumper 67. Moments later, Reg was climbing in beside him. “Do you want to drive?” James asked, knowing Reg would probably operate the truck if they needed it on scene.
“You’re already there, let’s go.”
James put the already idling engine into gear and reached onto the dashboard to hit the master switch for the lights.
James saw the flashing green light on Mack’s pick-up truck as they pulled out of the hall and knew the Rescue would be rolling momentarily. He picked up the radio. “Fire Dispatch, Darcy Pumper 67 responding with two.”
“Roger Pump 67.”
Once they were on the main road, James hit the siren. He liked to think it scared off any moose that might want to cross in front of them.
The junction of Highway 17 and Highway 4 was in the northern corner of their district, on the edge of nowhere. James had no idea why someone would be up there at this time of night.
“Pumper 67 Dispatch.”
Reg picked up the radio. “Go ahead Dispatch, this is 67.”
“Be advised, Firefighter Ferguson is on scene, and has advised us that extrication is required, and there are multiple critical patients. I am advising EMS that more ambulances are needed.”
“Roger Dispatch,” Reg said, placing the radio back on its holder. “Poor Sam.”
“I shoulda stayed in bed,” James said flatly.
James ran to Sam the moment their truck was parked. Reg would see that a hoseline was pulled and charged in case of fire. “What have we got?” he asked.
“It’s bad. Guy in the truck is stone drunk, stuck in there like a sardine, but he’s singing, so I think he’s okay. It’s this Mom and little girl I’m worried about.” Sam checked the pulse on the mother again. “She was awake when I got here, but not anymore.” The look she gave him told James that Sam didn’t think the mother was going to make it.
“Is my Mommy okay?” James looked into the backseat of the SUV to find pleading blue eyes filled with tears. With the appearance of luggage in the back, he assumed they must’ve been returning from some sort of trip. He tried the back door of the car and found it unlocked and able to open. “We’re going to do everything we can to help her,” he said, hoping they could do enough. “Do you hurt anywhere?”
“My tummy.”
“Okay. Can you sit nice and still for me?” Regardless of the adrenaline coursing through his system, James had to sympathize with her. His stomach hurt too.
More crew arrived, along with the first ambulance.
“What do you think Sam?” Captain Kelly put his hand on her shoulder.
“I think the Mom first, then the girl.”
In short order, the mother and little girl were loaded and headed for medical attention. The crew started work on the pick-up’s driver, but Captain Kelly sent James to check the area for more patients, just in case.
All James could see was the face of the little girl as they loaded her onto the rig. If he was a praying man, he’d be praying now. He absently shone his flashlight around the truck, then continued in a further sweep of the area. No amount of training could’ve prepared him for what he found next. “Hey guys! We’ve got another kid over here!” he screamed.
Sam came running and together they carefully turned a near replica of the other girl over onto her back. Her leg was badly broken and her face
bloody. Sam felt for a pulse. “She’s alive.” The girl’s breathing was laboured. Sam called for oxygen and was soon placing the oxygen mask over the girl’s face.
“This just gets better and better,” she said, sending a pleading look in James’s direction.
“Oh my goodness.” Captain Kelly was behind them now. “I guess we need another ambulance. Are you two okay here?”
“Yeah, and let’s just hope they hurry.” Sam began to feel the girl’s chest, looking for other injury as Captain Kelly walked away. She felt the girls ribs then brought her hand up, finding it covered in blood. “Get me some bandages James.” She said as she took scissors from her belt and began to cut away the girl’s jacket and shirt. The girl moaned and whimpered as Sam bandaged a serious chest wound, but didn’t wake up. “There, I think that will do,” Sam said, smoothing her gloved hand over the girl’s forehead, the gash on her head was bloody, but not deep.
They watched the girl’s chest rise and fall, willing her to keep breathing.
“Okay Guys, EMS ETA is at least 15 minutes.” Captain Kelly came back to them, carrying the defibrillator case.
“Great,” Sam said in frustration. She put her hand on the girl’s chest, and her lips moved silently as she counted the breaths to get the respiration rate again. Suddenly, the look on her face changed. “Jimmy! She’s not breathing anymore!”
“Here, take the pads James.” Captain Kelly flipped the case open and handed the defibrillator pads to James. James put them into place while the Captain started up the machine.
“I hate dealing with kids.” Sam slumped into a chair at the hall.
“Me too,” James agreed, sitting across from her.
“Especially when they die.” Sam’s eyes were glassy from fatigue and stress.
“I think I’ll make some coffee,” Captain Kelly said quietly. He started the pot, then came back to the desk to slowly fill out the call log.
Reg got some cookies out of the freezer and set them on the table. No one wanted to go home, so they stayed, and slowly began to talk it out, but they all knew they wouldn’t soon forget the crash.
Married For Jeremy (Under Fire Book 1) Page 2