Page 2 of Wild Fires

Today, I was walking in blind. Clarence had given me no indication of why he'd asked to speak with me. So I would smile and just wing it. Setting people at ease with a warm smile and smooth-talking even when I didn't feel equipped to handle things, had gotten me this far in life. No reason to suspect they'd fail me now.

When I pulled up to the station, I got out of my car and stood a little taller, held my chin just a little higher, and smiled until my cheeks hurt. I could do this. Despite my outward appearance of confidence, I often felt like I was still just a kid playing in an adult world, especially times like this.

“Hey Ryan,” Andrew Grimes said, offering me his hand.

“Kim said there was an incident last night. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, nothing too serious. Just a minor brush fire out by the cliff. “

“Did you find the cause?”

“Still looking into it. Dad will tell you all about it.”

I gave a curt nod. “I'm sure he will.”

“Coffee's hot and fresh if you need a cup. Otherwise, make yourself at home in his office. He's finishing up his rounds now.”

“Thanks.”

I walked into the station and down the hall to Clarence's office, but there was a commotion in one of the bunk rooms as I passed.

“Chief, you can't bench me right now. I was able to quickly and efficiently put that fire out last night single-handedly.”

“At what cost, Gracie? You have got to stop taking so many risks.”

“But I'm fine. Nothing happened. Nothing ever happens to me.”

“That's not the point. You were reckless and you're setting a bad example to the others. We have rookies on the team, or have you forgotten? They look up to you. I can't have you running half-cocked into a fire like that again. So, yes, you are benched for the remainder of the week.”

“But . . .”

“Do not argue with me over this or I'll make it two weeks,” he said sternly. “Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir,” she said through gritted teeth.

It was clear she wasn't happy about it which made me bite back a smile. I knew if she saw me, it would only piss her off more.

Gracie Montgomery had always walked to the beat of her own drum. She never conformed to anything. I laughed when I heard she joined the fire station. At the time, all the members of the station in Ravenden had been male. It had caused a bit of a stir, but when I was asked my opinion, I'd sided with her.

I wasn't certain what her power was exactly, but being a Montgomery, it was inevitable that it had something to do with fire manipulation. Many from the Montgomery Flock served in our town's fire department, too. The majority of the rest of the unit was made up by those from the Grimes Flock.

Grimes ravens wielded the power of water. Combined with the Montgomerys, it just made sense for their kin to perform the job. Not that I wouldn't support someone from another Flock who was interested in the position. It just wasn't something that happened often. But I liked to think that I was open-minded enough to give everything and everyone an equal chance.

Clarence stepped out and nearly ran into me.

“Sorry,” I mumbled under my breath.

“Ryan,” he said, looking down at his watch. “You're early.”

I checked the time myself. We were scheduled to meet in just five minutes. That was hardly early by my standards.

“Sorry, you did say eight o'clock, right?” I asked, fearing maybe my assistant had screwed up the time.

“Right, I guess I did. Give me five minutes to wrap up and I'll meet you in my office.”

I nodded as he ran off like he was ready to put out a fire. And why did I suspect that fire had Gracie Montgomery's name written all over it?

I'd already heard him speaking with her and he hadn't exactly sounded happy. I could only imagine what she'd done this time. She was wild and reckless. She often jumped before knowing if she could fly. She'd been that way as long as I could remember her. But then we had been well into high school before Gracie Montgomery had hit my radar.

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