Chasing Fire

by Pamela Clare

  “Thank God!”

  Harrison held up a hand. “They’re alive but injured. They’ve been flown to the Denver Burn Center. Hawke has third-degree burns. That’s about all I know.”

  The crowd fell into whispers of dismay.

  “Is my house still standing?” Rose asked.

  “Can’t you look into your crystal ball and see for yourself?” Hank blurted.

  Snickers.

  Harrison could see that Rose was truly worried. “I don’t know. I don’t have any information on the extent of damage to property. I know Hawke’s crew is fighting hard to save our town and they’ve got help. Whether it will be enough, I can’t say. Kenzie and I are on our way back up to join the rest of the Team to search Camp Mato Sapa as soon as it’s safe.”

  “God bless you!” someone called.

  “Stay safe!”

  “Thank God for the Team!”

  Harrison acknowledged their good wishes with a nod and rejoined Kenzie.

  Joe stepped up to the mic once more. “The Timberline Mudbugs will be playing a special free show tonight, performing their new single, ‘My House Burned Down, But I Still Got You, Babe.’ As I’m sure you’ve heard, two of the band’s members have lost their homes, but they’re going to play for us anyway. How’s that for keeping Scarlet strong?”

  Whistles and applause.

  “Some local charities are joining with Knockers to provide meals tonight. A church group is offering to house families with small children and to provide toiletries to those who need them, so we’re grateful for that. Esri Tsering is offering free counseling for people who are feeling shaken up. And now Father Penberthy has asked to say a few words.”

  The priest stepped forward. “We stand here today as children of Scarlet Springs, united in a time of trouble, as our ancestors were when fire threatened them. Now, as then, we turn to each other and to God for strength.”

  He paused a moment, bowed his head. “Let us pray.”

  Kenzie wasn’t Catholic, but she bowed her head, too, her fingers twining with Harrison’s.

  “God, our Father, give us the strength to think not of ourselves during this trial, but of our neighbors who are suffering. Keep the men and women fighting this fire safe from harm, and guide them in their noble work. We pray especially for those who’ve been injured in the line of duty and ask for swift healing for Austin Taylor, Eric Hawke, Brandon Silver, and the others who crashed in the helicopter whose names are unknown to us.”

  When Father Penberthy had finished—he went on for some time—Kenzie and Harrison whispered “Amen” in unison.

  Harrison gave her hand a squeeze. “Ready?”

  “Yeah.”

  They turned to go.

  “Bear!”

  He stood not far behind Kenzie, looking like a child on Christmas morning, a broad grin beneath his beard. “I flew in the air.”

  Kenzie hugged him, joined almost immediately by Rain.

  “I’m so happy to see you.” Rain slipped her arm through his. “Are you hungry?”

  Bear nodded.

  Rain led him away.

  The question came suddenly to Kenzie. “How do you think he managed to survive? Austin had to take shelter in a lake.”

  “Bear knows that country better than anyone. He must have a few tricks up his sleeve to have survived all these years.”

  They walked to Harrison’s SUV, Gizmo following at their heels. When the dog was in his crate, they drove in silence back toward the canyon to do a job both of them were dreading—searching for the bodies of missing friends.

  Libby paced around the periphery of the waiting room, stopping to make herself a cup of tea that she didn’t drink.

  What if they wouldn’t let her see Brandon? What if Brandon didn’t want to see her? What if she had finally succeeded in pushing him away just like she’d done with every other boyfriend she’d ever had?

  No, she couldn’t let that happen.

  Brandon was different. He wasn’t like the others.

  You told him to leave.

  He’d told her he loved her, and she had kicked him out.

  “Libby and I work together at Knockers,” Vicki was telling a very pregnant woman with red hair named Mia. “Her boyfriend is one of my husband’s shift captains.”

  Mia’s husband had been on that helicopter, too. Two friends sat with Mia doing their best to reassure her, one named Sophie and the other named Tessa. The pilot’s wife was there, too. The women were all making conversation, but Libby didn’t have the patience for that.

  The double doors opened, and a man in blue scrubs and a white medical coat walked in. “Who’s here for Joaquin Ramirez, John Wright, and Brandon Silver?”

  Mia stood. “I’m Joaquin’s wife.”

  “John is my husband.”

  Libby tossed the tea in the trash. “I’m here for Brandon. Is he okay?”

  “We’ve treated their burns and gotten their pain under control. They were both badly dehydrated, so we’re giving them intravenous fluids. I’ll take you back.”

  Vicki stood. “Any word about my husband, Eric Hawke?”

  The doctor nodded. “He just went into surgery. Doctors are cleaning and debriding his burns. I’m not sure how long it will take them—perhaps an hour, maybe longer. I’ll have one of the nurses come out and give you updates.”

  “Thank you.” Vicki sank back into her chair.

  Libby followed the doctor through the double doors—and there he was. “Brandon!”

  He stood at the nurse’s station, wearing only a pair of scrub pants, bandages on his wrists and hands, surprise on his handsome face. “Libby?”

  She ran to him, wrapped her arms around him. “I thought you were dead.”

  He held her close. “For a while there, so did I.”

  It was only then that Libby noticed the IV in his wrist and the IV pole beside him and the blisters on his face and lips. Was she hurting him?

  She drew back. “You should be resting.”

  “I was trying to borrow a phone so that I could call you.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  Libby walked with him back to his hospital room and kept his IV line from getting tangled as he got back into bed. There were blisters on his hands, elbows, shoulders, the backs of his legs, and his neck, too.

  She wanted to hold his hand, but was afraid to hurt him. She rested a hand on the curve of his bicep instead. “Are you in pain?”

  “Not anymore. They gave me morphine on the way here and then some pills.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here. I was afraid—”

  “I’m sorry. I was an idiot.” She steeled herself to say words she’d never said before.

  “I shouldn’t have pushed—”

  “I love you, Brandon.” There. She’d said it. She’d gotten it out.

  “You… what?” Brandon stared at her.

  “Don’t act surprised. You said I loved you before I said I loved you.”

  His lips quirked in a lopsided grin. “I guess I did.”

  “You were right.” Libby closed her eyes, tried to fight the tears. “I felt sick after you left this morning. I was afraid I’d ruined everything. When I heard you’d been in a helicopter crash, that you’d crashed into the fire…”

  Her voice failed, her throat too tight to speak.

  He slid a hand behind her head, drew her against his bare chest. “It’s okay.”

  She’d sworn that she wouldn’t cry but she couldn’t stop herself, sobbing out the anguish of the past few hours in his arms.

  He held her, kissed her hair, let her cry herself out.

  Get it together, chick! He’s the one in the hospital bed, not you.

  She raised her head, saw that he was smiling. “What?”

  “I’m just so happy that you’re here. A couple of hours ago, I was pretty sure it was game over. Now, I’m sitting here with you, buzzed on pain meds.”

  She reached for a tissue, dried her
eyes, sniffed. “It must have been terrible.”

  The smile left his face. “It was like something straight out of hell.”

  Libby listened while he told her about the drone hitting the helicopter and how he’d realized they were headed directly toward the fire.

  “I prayed I would die in the crash so that I wouldn’t burn to death, but somehow the pilot managed to land us far enough from the flaming front to give us a fighting chance.”

  He told her how they’d run, looking for a good deployment spot, and how he’d prepared the site while Hawke had gotten the other two ready. “When he shouted for us to deploy, some part of me couldn’t believe it was really happening. My hands were so clumsy. Somehow, I got my shelter out. When I got inside, I had the feeling that I was crawling into my own grave.”

  “Oh, Brandon.”

  “The fire was rushing straight at us. The roar was unreal, and the heat... Hawke was still helping the others. I shouted at him to deploy, and then it was too hot. I pulled my shelter down around me.”

  Brandon closed his eyes as if the memories were too much. “God, Libby, it was the worst five minutes of my life.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “It got so hot that I was sure I was going to die. The fabric of the shelter kept blowing against me, burning me wherever it touched my clothing—my ass, my shoulders, the backs of my legs. I kept pushing it off me with my elbows, but they burned, too. Do you know what kept me together?”

  She shook her head. “Courage?”

  “No.” He gave a little laugh. “You did.”

  “I did?” She gaped at him.

  “I wrapped my mind around you and didn’t let go.”

  If Libby hadn’t already been in love with him, that right there would have done it. “Did you really?”

  He nodded. “Just before the fire passed, I started to lose consciousness. I thought I was dead. My last thought was, ‘At least you told Libby you loved her.’”

  Libby was stunned by this, a strange ache in her chest. “No one has ever loved me like that. Guys say they love you, but when they get what they want, they always disappear. Not even my dad bothered to stick around. He used to beat me and my mom. I never told you that, did I?”

  “I guessed it was something like that.” He ran a thumb over the curve of her cheek. “Forget him, Libby. Forget all of them, and give me a chance. I won’t let you down.”

  Then he kissed her, his blistered lips rough.

  She left it to him to shape the kiss, afraid she would cause him pain.

  When he drew away, the tenderness in his blue eyes made her heart skip. “I love you, Libby. I would walk through fire for you.”

  “God, please don’t do that.” She ran a hand up his chest, smiled. “But, hey, my house burned down. Can I move in with you?”

  Chapter 19

  Joaquin opened his eyes to find Mia there, looking beautiful and worried at the same time. “Mi amor.”

  He could see she’d been crying.

  She smiled down at him, rested a hand against his arm. “How do you feel?”

  “Sleepy. The pain pills are kicking my ass, but I’m not complaining.” He reached out, tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. “How are you?”

  “Me? I’m fine now.” She reached for his water pitcher, held the straw to his lips. “They said you were dehydrated. Drink.”

  He took a few deep swallows, found her studying him.

  Yeah, he looked like hell, and he knew it.

  “Your poor face.”

  “The doctor said I might have scars where the burns are deepest.”

  “You’ll still be as handsome to me as you ever were.”

  What had he done to deserve her?

  “How long have you been here?”

  “About an hour. Sophie and Tessa drove down from the Cimarron when they got the news. They stayed with me and then drove me here.”

  “I’m glad you weren’t alone.” He’d never doubted that his friends would be there for Mia if anything happened to him, but it was nice to know he’d been right.

  “Alone?” She laughed. “Are you kidding? I called your parents, and ten minutes later most of your family and the entire cousin mafia was at our place, cooking, praying, lighting candles. I had to sneak upstairs to get away from it all.”

  He could believe that. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

  “Yeah? Well, think about that next time you selfishly decide to be in a helicopter crash in the middle of a damned wildfire.”

  He chuckled. “I love that smart mouth.”

  Her chin wobbled, her composure fading. “They told me you’d survived the crash but said they hadn’t heard from anyone since. I was certain I’d lost you. I couldn’t understand how life could be so cruel to take you from me now.”

  “Eric Hawke—he saved my life. Without him….” Joaquin would never be able to repay the man. “He gave me a spare set of firefighter clothes. He said mine would melt and cause bad burns. He showed us how to use our shelters. When that fire was running straight at us, he kept me focused on survival. He was the last to deploy his shelter because he was helping us. The man has balls of steel. How is he?”

  “Last I heard, they were cleaning his burns.”

  Joaquin hoped they’d knocked him out.

  Mia went on. “I met his wife, Vicki. She’s in the waiting room. She was very kind to me. She’s pregnant, too—their second.”

  Then Joaquin told Mia the story from the beginning, hesitating when he got to the worst of it. “I was sure I was going to suffocate in there—or burn to death. I kept remembering what Hawke said about it being a hundred times hotter outside of the shelter. The noise was deafening. Then I heard him cry out, and I knew something must have gone wrong. I just closed my eyes, tried to breathe close to the ground the way he’d showed me, and prayed—for him, for myself, for all of us.”

  “I can’t imagine.”

  “Brandon Silver, he’s a good guy, too. He got me out when it was over. He took care of Hawke, gave him morphine. He and I refused any for ourselves because we didn’t want to run out before help arrived. God, Mia, it was a long wait. The thirst, the pain—it was tough. I just kept telling myself that I was alive and I was going to see you soon.”

  “Oh, Joaquin.” She reached for his hand, stopped herself. “I want to touch you but I’m afraid to hurt you.”

  He closed his hand over hers—then remembered. “Any word about Rossiter?”

  Mia shook her head. “Nothing.”

  Joaquin’s stomach sank. “Mierda.”

  “Sophie says that Marc and Julian are still up there. They’re planning to help that rescue team search for remains as soon as they can get through.”

  “Good.” Rossiter deserved that.

  Mia stood, rubbed her lower back.

  Joaquin sat up. “Can I get you a better chair?”

  Mia shook her head. “Sophie, Tessa, Zach McBride, your parents, your grandma, a few of your cousins—they’re all waiting for a chance to see you. No matter how much I want to, I can’t keep you to myself. Besides, I need a bathroom break.”

  Oh, right. All that baby on her bladder left her needing to pee all the time.

  “I’ll be back.”

  Sophie and Tessa were the first to enter his room.

  “You look like hell,” Tessa said, her curly blond hair held back in a ponytail.

  Joaquin laughed. “Thanks.”

  “Are they keeping you comfortable?” Sophie asked.

  “I’ve had morphine, Percocet, some kind of numbing gel, a tetanus shot. I’m good.”

  “Thank God for painkillers.” Sophie sat beside him. “What happened up there? How did you all survive?”

  He gave them the short version of the story until the two were staring at him wide-eyed.

  “God almighty, Joaquin.” Tessa shook her head. “A helicopter crash and a raging wildfire. It just wasn’t your time, was it?”

  Sophie gave his h
and a careful squeeze. “I can’t decide if you were incredibly unlucky today or whether you’re the luckiest guy I know.”

  “I’ll go with lucky.” Then he remembered his photos. “Can you get into my stuff beneath my bed?”

  “Sure.” Sophie grabbed the bag, set it on the bedside table, took out his camera. “This looks bad.”

  “It’s ruined. My phone, too.” He reached for the bag, felt around inside for the smaller plastic bag the nurses had given him. “But this is fine.”

  He opened the bag and took out the memory card.

  “How did that survive?” Sophie asked.

  He handed it to her. “I tucked it inside my underwear.”

  “This was in your crotch?” She held the memory card at eye level. “This is a new and unexpected level of intimacy between us, Joaquin.”

  Joaquin chuckled. “Can you get it to Tom?”

  Sophie nodded. “Of course. Anything to help.”

  Tessa took the memory card. “I’ll do it. You stay in the car, Sophie. Tom might ask you to clock in otherwise.”

  Sophie’s eyes went wide. “Oh, right. Good call.”

  “I saw Hunter and Darcangelo up there.” Joaquin figured they’d like to hear about their husbands. “They were helping with the evacuations.”

  Tessa smiled sweetly, a note of sarcasm in her voice. “Yes, I’m sure they’re staying out of danger like they always do. They’re such wallflowers.”

  Sophie’s brow furrowed at this. “They scare the hell out of me.”

  Mia stepped inside the room again. “Your mother and grandmother are getting impatient to see you.”

  “Zach is out there, too.” Sophie pulled out her phone. “We should go and give them a turn. But first a quick selfie so we can show everyone you’re alive.”

  She and Tessa arranged themselves with Joaquin and Mia between them.

  Click.

  Sophie glanced at the photo. “Perfect.”

  “We’ll get these to the paper,” Tessa said.

  Sophie found a safe place to plant a kiss. “Feel better, okay?”

  Tessa did the same. “I’m so glad you’re safe. Mia, let us know if you need anything.”

  Mia hugged them both. “Thanks for being there. It meant so much to me.”