Page 9 of Saved By the Firefighter

I sip burnt coffee, blinking the sleep from my eyes. I glance at my buddy Elijah, who has his own bitter brew. He lifts his mug in a small salute. I lift mine in return. This life has been my identity for over a decade, the daily dance with danger. But the job doesn't get easier, not when you've got a kid waiting at home. Elijah has a daughter around Charlotte's age, so he understands that.

The Chief's briefing drones on. "...prime for sudden ignitions, and we need to be on our toes. Review your equipment, check your communication devices, and for God’s sake, stay hydrated." His eyes scan the room, meeting each of ours in turn. "Pre-staging resources is crucial. We'll be setting up MIRCs along high-risk zones. And keep the damn defensible space protocols in mind when you're out there."

Just as Chief is about to continue, his radio crackles to life, and he steps aside, answering with a curt, "Chief here." His expression tightens—a sign that our day might just have gotten more complicated. But he doesn't return to his briefing; instead, he steps out of the room for a bit.

We all relax and break off into conversation. Elijah comes over to me, his kind eyes looking ready for a talk I may not have the energy for. I haven't been sleeping well since the engagement party.

"Hey brother, you good?" Elijah leans in, reading the tension on my face. He's half Latino, with weathered brown skin and a permanent smirk on his face. He also has a full head of hair that I envy. My hair is long, brushing my shoulders, but Elijah's is thick. He has that whole Harry Styles quiff going on, which I'm sure the women love.

I stare into my coffee. "Yeah, I'm good. Just thinking about Charlotte if I'm called out for a few days. She'll have to stay at the ranch with a babysitter, which I'm sure she'll love. But I hate when I can't spend weekends with her."

Elijah runs a hand through that thick hair. "Same with Mia. She's been having problems starting a new grade. And she wanted to go camping this weekend. Had to tell her it wasn't safe. She's resilient but..." He trails off, eyes distant.

"Charlotte's been asking too," I admit, leaning against the wall. "Tough explaining why Daddy has to keep everyone else safe, but can't do the one thing she wants."

"Single dad life," Elijah chuckles. "We're heroes out there, but at home, we're just the guys who say 'no' a lot."

"Heroes," I scoff under my breath. We're anything but—just men trying to stitch together the roles of mom and dad into something coherent enough for our kids to understand.

Elijah has a twinkle in his eye. "Hey, if we're both called away, what if Mia and Charlotte have a sleepover?"

I smirk. "You just trying to invite Mia to the ranch for free childcare?"

He smirks back. "It's a good plan, right?"

"Sure. I'm sure our daughters will enjoy that."

Elijah nods his chin at a projected map the Chief put up earlier. "You read up on that new containment strategy from Cal Fire? The targeted grazing concept?"

"Skimmed it," I admit, recalling the article on how herds of goats could help chew through potential fuel. "Could work, if we can get enough livestock to cover the grounds."

"Better than waiting for a fire line to fail."

"True. But until then, we stick to the classic—digging hand lines, backburns, and hoping for a favorable wind." My hands flex involuntarily, thinking of the feel of the pulaski handle, the earth giving way as I carve safety from danger. I do love my job.

Elijah gets somber for a moment, the smirk on his face turning grim. "I can't shake the worry every time I'm out there. I had hoped Mia might have a stepmom by now but..." He sighs. "Just don't want something to happen to me and she ends up back with her mother. It wouldn't be a good environment for Mia."

I picture my little girl's solemn nod when I explain why daddy has to be gone for several days sometimes. I see the fear in her eyes and I know exactly what she's scared of: What if Daddy goes away like Mommy? Of course, when I took this job, I was fresh out of the Army and ready to continue to serve and protect. If I had known how life would change—that Charlotte would end up without a mother—I would've chosen a different career. When Sarah and I decided to start a family, it was with the understanding that my life was the most at risk. Sarah understood the possibility that she might have to raise Charlotte alone. Neither of us expected it would be the other way around.

More and more, I think I need to find a new job so I can ensure my daughter doesn't end up alone.

Elijah seems to read my thoughts and squeezes my shoulder. "I don't know how you do it," he says. "Raising Charlotte on your own after...well, you know. You're a stronger man than me."

I stare at the floor. "I manage, best I can. She's the one good thing left."

Ellie pops into my mind because she's been doing that too much lately. I'm suddenly back at the engagement party. There's Ellie, her brown eyes catching the light, a softness that makes my chest tighten. God, she looked gorgeous in that dress; it was loose and flowing but didn't hide her stunning figure at all. And then I flash to Jason telling Marcus he respects his boundaries and would never think about flirting with his little sister. I've only met him a few times, but I've heard he's a charmer and dates a lot of women. Yet even a guy like that understands there are boundaries—don't get involved with your friend's sibling.

The guilt gnaws at me. I'm supposed to be one of Marcus' best friends, not some guy pining after his sister.

I must look sour-faced because Elijah is staring at me. "You said everything's good but...you don't look it."

I shake my head, not wanting to go into detail. My eyes drift to the map on the wall, a web of color-coded zones. One area sticks out—Whispering Pines. It houses one of the most popular campgrounds, Deer Creek, which is smack in the middle of the driest zone. My town, my home—it has to be protected, no matter what personal storms are brewing inside me.

"We might need to close Deer Creek soon, get those campers out," I say. "Too risky with the conditions getting worse."

Elijah rubs his chin, thankfully not trying to probe further into what was on my mind. "You're right. Just one person makes a mistake with the barbecue and the place becomes an inferno."

"Twenty bucks says the Chief will mention it as soon as he comes back."

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