Page 69 of Weatherman

Weatherman frowned. Winter forest fires were more common than people knew, and if the conditions were right, they could smolder for weeks before bursting into flame. The mild unseasonable weather, the dry summer and fall—hell, he was surprised they hadn’t had a burn already. “How far out?”

Chief Wilson scratched his head. “Far enough that we don’t gotta worry about people yet, but there’s always some dumbass up there trying to do the primitive survivor thing. The fire warden has already got his people on it and ’copters on the way. From the satellite images, it’s movin’ fast, and he’s gonna need as many bodies as he can get to contain the beast. The ’copters can only do so much ’cause a’ that storm comin’ in. Maybe if Margie makes it in time, she’ll cool this shit down before it gets any more out of hand.”

He pointed at Weatherman. “You and Fine did some training with firefighting. The fire warden ain’t gonna put you on the front line, but he needs the backup. Get your asses up Lands Creek Road. Once you leave the pavement and hit the dirt, it’s five miles to where they’re setting up. You’ll have to take four-wheelers to get there. The fire hasn’t spread there yet, but it might be comin’ soon. I’m headin’ to the Fontana Ridge Fire Station to help the spotter send information. Get goin’, boys. Time is crucial.”

CHAPTER 31

I hungup and sat in my chair. The salon was buzzing with the same news I’d just heard. A wild forest fire was somewhere out there, burning and devouring everything in its path.

And Bryce was on his way to meet it.

“It’s a part of my job, babe, even though I’m not a full firefighter,” he’d explained. “It’s probably going to be a couple of days before I get back to town, but don’t worry. I won’t be in the thick of it.”

“Not worry? Honey, you’re fighting a fire!”

“Not directly. I’m more backup personnel for this. I’ll probably go help with building the fire breaks and that sort of thing. I won’t get near the actual fires.”

“I’m scared for you anyway.”

“It’s okay, baby. I promise I’ll come back to you as soon as I can. I have to call Mom real quick. Would you go check on her later?” he’d asked.

“Of course. I’ll get Pearl from Lori’s and spend the night there.”

“That would be great.”

“I love you.”

I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but the words had to be spoken. The ones that he’d responded with were even more shocking.

“I love you too.”

Such a short, simple word with a complex meaning. I’d experienced searing pain, joy, fear, courage, despair, and euphoria all wrapped up in those four letters. Now that word was expressing nervous apprehension and helplessness. My man was heading into the jaws of a beast, and I was helpless to stop it.

Courtney came in and walked straight to my chair. “I know I don’t have an appointment, but my husband just called me to say he’s heading up to help with the fire situation. I need a distraction. Looks like you do too. Think you can fit me in?”

“You bet.”

Tambre came out of the office. “Betsey just called. The boys are gathering at the Lair and driving up to the launch site to volunteer for manual labor. That’s rough country up there, but it’s already been cleared. Brick is going too.”

I moved away from my chair, and Courtney plopped onto it. “I guess Betsey isn’t too happy?”

“Neither am I, nor Molly. Cutter and Taz went with him. Cutter’s had some experience with this before.” Her chin quivered. “Taz has as well, and they aren’t supposed to be in the main path, but there’s always a risk. A fire can turn unpredictably, and once it gets started, it’s almost unstoppable.”

A thought occurred to me. “Is there a threat to the town or the River’s Edge or the Lair?”

Tambre shook her head. “Not at this time, as far as I know. Taz said he’d keep me updated as long as his phone holds out. The signal is real spotty up there, and there’s nowhere to charge. The fire is way northeast of the Tail, so the campground should be safe too.”

I picked up my spritzer bottle and put it back down, only to pick it up again. My senses were dull and out-of-body, like I was watching myself go through the motions. Maybe I should be panicking, or crying, or something like it, but I was numb. Shut down and on autopilot. “You want a shampoo too?”

Courtney’s worried face nearly broke my robot persona. “I want the works.”

The clatter of heels punctuated the air as Betsey arrived, and for a moment, her age showed on her drawn face. “I just came by to check on y’all before goin’ over to the Costco to get relief supplies. We got us a big firebreak we keep maintained up at the Lair just in case anything ever happens that way.” Her nails clicked as she waved her hand around. “Lord have mercy, I been teasing Brick for years on his paranoia, but I’ll have to admit that he was right when he gets back home. I hate doing that. He always spends the next week gloating.”

I saw her lips quiver before she pressed them into a thin line that accentuated the wrinkles around them. If Betsey was worried, we should be terrified.

Then she shook it off and straightened her stance, planting both feet firmly and raising her chin high. The queen had her moment of weakness, but now she’d morphed into the leader we needed. “The Lair has to get ready for other stuff. We got firefighters comin’ in from all over, and they’re gonna need a place to stay that’s safe. There ain’t too many this time of year, but there’s still people who do winter hikin’ and campin’ up in them woods. I’m gettin’ supplies like extra toilet paper, soap, towels, bottled waters, and a lot of ready-made food we can cook fast. When y’all are free, them campin’ cabins need cleanin’ and stockin’. I don’t know how many to expect, but I want all the workin’ hands I can find.”

Tambre put down the notebook she’d been holding. “I’ll go with you. Opal, you’re in charge here. When everyone is finishedup, feel free to close early. I’ll see you at the Lair, and bring Natalie and Pearl with you, yeah?”

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