“So you finished your Natural Resources Management degree?”
“Yes.” Pride washed through her. First one in her family to go to college, much less finish. She’d paid her way through. Her grandfather hadn’t the money to help her.
Travis’s voice held a note of delight. “See, we’re having fun now. I moved back to Redmond six months ago.”
“I had no idea.” If Dana had she would’ve been looking over her shoulder whenever she went out. When they returned she’d be doing just that.
“Yeah, I could see that by the look on your face this morning.” Travis chuckled. “Small world.”
“Yeah, or bad karma,” she muttered.
“I finished medical school at the University of Southern California.”
The air cooled as they moved closer to the water. “Fancy. I garden when I have time.”
“No husband or children?”
“No.” Her chest tightened. She hadn’t found anyone who lived up to him. Or would stay around long enough to make that commitment.
He quickly came back with, “I live in a condo complex that I hate.”
“You never did like being closed in.”
“Nope. That hasn’t changed.” The words came from close behind her.
“What has changed about you?” She really wanted to know.
“I don’t see life through rose-colored glasses anymore.”
* * *
Travis should have expected this. How like Dana to ask a challenging question. He looked ahead at the woman moving like a warrior along the narrow, packed footpath. She was as sure-footed as he remembered. She moved in and around rocks without any appearance of effort.
And kept him from fixating on the pack on his back weighing him down that held life-sustaining necessities and the Pulaski tool he’d use to stop a fire. He shifted the backpack with his medical supplies hugging his chest. The water bottle that hung off his tool belt drew his attention as it slapped against his thigh. He considered himself in good shape but he’d forgotten the stamina it took to just walk in the wilderness. Even more aggravating was that Dana looked fresh as a spring morning while he suffered.
Even with the misery he moved in, he refused to ask Dana to stop. He wouldn’t show weakness. As he followed her lead across the thin, high grass of a meadow, Travis could see how easily it could burn as the dry stalks bushed his legs.
“We’ll stop down by the creek for a drink and rest,” Dana announced halfway down the slope.
Travis tried not to appear overly grateful. When they reached the creek, Dana set the chain saw down, removed her pack and took a seat on a rock. She reached for her water bottle and took a long draw.
He watched with fascination as a rivet of water went down her neck. His already dry mouth went dusty. They were both hot, sweaty and dirty and all he could think about was watching that rivulet disappear beneath her T-shirt. He shook his head and turned his focus to a bug moving around a pebble.
There’d been something between them all those years ago and he still felt it. Sadly, her personality seemed prickly now. Was that in general or in particular to him? I didn’t matter anyway. Dana was the type of woman who would want a relationship that involved security and longevity, something he couldn’t, wouldn’t offer. His short, disappointing marriage had cured him of that idea.
He found a boulder across from her and removed his equipment. After going to the creek, he went down on his knees and cupped water to splash his face. The frigid liquid felt refreshing on his heated skin. From the physical exertion and the mental activity, as well.
Returning to his rock, he pulled out his water and took a long drink. Sitting, he looked at Dana. She lay back in a stream of sunshine with her eyes closed. Since they’d met again it was the first time she looked peaceful. Was she always wound so tight? He lived like that with Brittney too much of the time. Easy, comfortable was what he was looking for in his life. “How much longer to Gunter’s?”
Dana didn’t open her eyes. “At the top of the rise should be his property line. From there it’ll take us an hour. The walking will be harder because there’s no trail.”
“Great, that’ll give me something to look forward to.” He hadn’t tried to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
“We’ve been making good time. I want to be sure we’re there before dark.” She opened her eyes a slit. “So tell me why the US Forest Service is making this special trip in?”
“Because I convinced them they’d be saving a man’s life.”
“Who is this Mr. Gunter?”
“He’s just one of those belligerent men who refuses to listen to reason. Who can’t accept he’s in the path of a wildfire and is deathly ill. I inherited him as a patient when I took over the practice. I speak to him weekly over the phone. He missed last week’s call. He has kidney disease. He’s getting close to needing dialysis and I’m worried he has already reached that point.”
“When the fire grew it left him stranded,” she finished for him.
“Yep.” He pulled his map out of his pack and moved to sit beside her.
Her eyes widened. A breeze blew a length of hair across her face. She gave it an impatient push away.
“Would you mind showing me where we are? As the saying goes, if you aren’t the lead dog you don’t see the way.”
“Are you calling me a dog?” She glared at him but her mouth twitched at one corner.
Travis sat straighter. It was nice to see Dana’s humor return. “I am not. I’ve been happy to follow but I’d still appreciate you giving me some idea of where we are and where we’re headed.”
She took the map from him, spreading it out over the rock. Taking a minute, she located a spot and put her finger on it. “We’re here. We’re going here.”
“Thanks.” Travis studied the map, memorizing the area. “Why do you know so much about this range?”
“Because I fought a few fires in this area when I was working out of the Bend station and also because I like to hike here when I can.”
“Makes sense. Do you know Mr. Gunter?”
“Naw. Just heard of him.”
“I know you didn’t have a choice about coming, but I do appreciate it.”
Dana stood. “It’s part of the job. Get your equipment. We need to get moving.”
He folded his map, stuffing it into his front breast pocket. “I’ll carry the saw the rest of the way.”
“I can handle it.” There was a bite to her words.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t but I’d like to do my share.”
She looked at him a moment then nodded. “Okay. If you insist.”
They worked their way up the slope and out of the trees into another small meadow. The dry grass crunched under his feet.
“There’s a chance we’re going to get wet,” Dana called over her shoulder.
Seconds later lightning flashed.
“We need to get out of this open area.” Dana picked up her pace.
Travis joined her. The saw bounced on his shoulder. He was glad he’d decided to carry it instead of letting Dana.
They were almost to the trees when a clap of thunder rolled and lightning cracked not far ahead. An instant later the smell of sulfur filled the air.
Dana jerked to a stop. Her head popped up, nose going high. She reminded him of an animal sensing danger. He started past her. She grabbed his arm. “Wait. We don’t need to go in the trees. It could be moving through the canopy.”
“Fire?”
“Yes. That hit something.”
She spoke into the radio on her shoulder. “Base. Over. This is Dana.” She gave their location. “Lightning strike in my area. Can a lookout see smoke or is there an indication on the monitors of a hit? Over.”
Now Travis smelled smoke. It had been years since he’d fought a fire and he wasn’t
looking forward to doing the job again, but it didn’t look like he’d have a choice. He might be out of practice, yet once he’d been a good firefighter.
“Come back, Dana,” the radio squawked. “We’ve a small line of smoke about half a mile from you to the northeast.”
“I’m on it. Over.”
Dana took the chain saw from him and started moving. “I hope you haven’t forgotten your firefighting skills.”
She didn’t wait for him to rely. Ducking her head, she entered the trees. Travis had no choice but to follow. They weaved in and out of the trees at a speed he would’ve said was impossible. As they moved, the smell grew stronger. Smoke hung in the air above them.
All of a sudden flames shot up in a tree ahead of them. The tops of two trees blazed.
Dana set the saw down. “I’ll get these down. They’ll go that away.” She pointed ahead of her. “You start creating a fire line behind me.”
Travis removed the pack off his back, unstrapped the Pulaski before looking in the bag for his hard hat and eye protection. Those found, he pulled his leather gloves out of his back pocket. Dana adjusted her white helmet and pulled a lime-colored bandanna she wore around her neck up over her nose and mouth. Finding the navy one he’d brought in a side pocket, Travis followed suit.
He hurried to the spot Dana had indicated and started pulling the debris on the ground back until he’d created a three footwide dirt area. The fire wouldn’t have fuel to burn when it reached it and would go out. He worked as fast and efficiently as he could. The skill from years ago returned. Sweat ran down the center of his back and across his face but he kept going.
The saw roared to life and soon Dana had it grinding into a burning tree. Minutes later he heard the crack of the tree as it fell away from them. He looked up long enough to see her stepping to the other burning tree and doing the same procedure. In no time it was on the ground, as well. Travis continued digging.
“Travis,” Dana called. “Let’s get the tops of these put out then we can finish the line and secure the burn.”
Dana started delimbing the first tree. She worked swiftly and efficiently. He remembered her being an enthusiastic firefighter but she acted as a well-seasoned one now. No wonder she’d earned the title of crew leader. He really hated she’d be missing out on her chance to lead for the first time because of him.
He stepped to a burning limb and used a flapper to beat the fire out. The wide flexible plastic on the end of a handle reminded him of a broom but was effective. He used his as well until they had smothered the fire. One spot continued to persistently blaze. Travis worked to extinguish it.
A quick snapping sound was all the notice he received before a small burning limb headed his direction. Seconds later it landed across his forearm. He jerked his arm back. A ragged hole with black edges showed in his shirt. He had no doubt he had at least a second-degree burn. Gritting his teeth, he had no time to stop and care for it. He kept moving.
Dana finished removing all the limbs from the felled tree, then cut the tree into short lengths so that it could finish burning within a controlled area. With that done, she shut off the saw. Travis continued slapping while she joined in to help him. With the blaze out, Dana removed her gloves and went down on her hands and knees. She felt along the ground for hot spots. It was necessary to make sure the fire stayed out.
“Continue to work on the fire line,” she called to him. “I’ll do this and help you in a few minutes.” She didn’t wait on Travis to agree before her attention returned to the ground.
Sometime later she joined him as he worked the line around the area where the burned trees lay. They operated in tandem. He pulled the ground back and she made the zone wider. By the time they were through and she’d declared the fire completely out, it was twilight.
Dana stopped, took a chug from her water bottle and looked around for any smoke. She glanced at Travis who stood not far from her. “I’m impressed you’ve kept up your skills.”
Travis took a long drink. “I don’t think kept is the right adjective. They’re more like returned out of necessity. I’d forgotten the energy required to do this job and the adrenaline rush it created.”
“Thinking about changing careers?” She grinned, her eyes and teeth extra bright against her soot covered skin.
“Nope. I’ve found I can get the same rush from taking care of a patient. A calmer, peaceful life for me.” He pushed back his helmet before wiping his forehead with his bandanna.
Dana hung her water bottle back on her belt. “If I remember correctly your mother wasn’t happy about you being a smokejumper?”
“She thought it was too dangerous.” He shrugged. “But what could she do about it? I was grown and needed a job.”
“I bet she brags about you being a doctor, doesn’t she?” Dana took a long pull of water.
“Oh, yeah. She tells everyone who’ll listen.”
“And your dad?”
“Him too.”
Suddenly Dana was jealous of Travis. He still had both his parents. Would her parents have been proud of her, if they had noticed she was alive? “Do your parents still live in Redmond?”
“My dad does. My mom is in California. They divorced just after I started medical school. They’d been having trouble for years. It was an ugly divorce. I guess it’s the family legacy to not have good marriages.”
“That sounds rather sad.”
He picked up his tools. “It is. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fact. Mine certainly fell into the trap.”
“What kind of trap was that?”
He didn’t want to tell her. Was ashamed. Disappointed in himself for not seeing what Brittney was. “The kind that looks good on the outside but has no real substance.”
“You loved her, didn’t you?”
“I did for what I thought she was. Until I didn’t. Maybe I didn’t know what love was. Who knows? It doesn’t matter now.” He sighed. “You always had a way of getting me to talk about stuff I didn’t want to. We haven’t been together a day and I’m spilling my guts.” He looked around them. “Will we be at Gunter’s tonight or in the morning?”
“It’ll be dark before we make it but if you’re willing we’ll do it.” Dana picked up the chain saw and made her way toward their bags. She wished they could talk more. There was a need in her to know more about Travis. She shouldn’t, it wasn’t her business but despite everything she still cared about him.
He followed. “The idea of having a roof over my head and being out of the elements has an appeal. I’m anxious to check on Mr. Gunter.”
“Then we move on.”
“Agreed.”
Fifteen minutes later they were hiking through the forest again.
“We should reach the road to Gunter’s just after dark. The walking by flashlight will be easier then.”
“That sounds nice.” Travis shifted the chain saw on his shoulder. He’d picked it up before Dana had a chance after they gathered their bags.
She was in no mood to argue with him and glad not to carry the cumbersome piece of equipment. “By the way, you did a good job back there. I was glad you were there to help.”
He grinned. “I’m glad I still remember what to do.”
They were still trekking through the forest as the sun set.
Relief washed over Dana as they came to the small, rutted road leading to Gunter’s cabin. Weary, she made an effort not to show it. “We only have about half a mile to go.”
Travis moved forward to walk beside her as they continued west.
“Why don’t you take the lead here?” Dana suggested when she saw the light from the cabin. “At least Mr. Gunter knows you. I don’t want us to get shot.”
“Makes sense to me.” Travis moved a couple of steps ahead of her. “I hope he has something hot on the stove.”
Travis wasn’t the
only one. The emotions and hard work of the day had taken a toll on her. She didn’t like being surprised. “Does he know you’re coming?”
“I tried to call him but the service here is a little sketchy, but I’ll try again.” Travis fished out his cell phone and punched in a few numbers.
Dana heard the ringing but no response.
Travis dropped the phone back into a pants pocket. “I guess we’re going to have to take our chances.”
“On getting shot?” She was only half kidding. With recluses like Mr. Gunter, a person could never be sure what would happen.
“I’ll call out when we get closer. Maybe that’ll get a response.”
They walked toward the cabin with Travis yelling Mr. Gunter’s name but there was no reaction. They stepped under the small roof over the front door.
Travis called Mr. Gunter’s name again. Still there was no answer. He knocked. Nothing. After going to a small dirty window, he looked inside. “Aw hell.”
Dana rushed to the window.
Travis dropped the chain saw beside the door and opened it without announcing himself.
Dana stopped in the doorway. “Trav...” She saw a man lying on a single-size bed in a corner of the one-room cabin. He wasn’t moving. Even in the dim light of a lantern she could see his skin was an ashen color.
Travis dropped his pack to the floor and went down on one knee beside the bed. He placed two fingers on the man’s neck to check his pulse. “He’s still alive.”
Mr. Gunter’s eyes fluttered open.
“Dr. Russell. What’re you doing here?” the man mumbled.
“I came to get you off this burning mountain.” Travis grabbed his medical backpack and pulled it to him.
“You shouldn’t have come,” the man murmured.
“Nonsense. That’s what good doctors do for their patients. Even the stubborn ones. They take care of them.” Travis’s tone remained even but she could see from his quick actions his concern.
Reunited with Her Daredevil Doc Page 3