Page 26 of The Mountains Edge

The position brings her core against me and my hands start to undo my belt. I can feel precum already forming at the thought of filling her again.

Sirens split the night.

WTF!

Fire trucks roar past the store, heading toward the mountain. My mountain.

There is banging on the Trading Post door and Jake calling out. "Forest fire." Jake's voice is grim. "Lightning strike near your cabin. Moving fast."

Daisy's already up, throwing me my shirt.

"Go. I’ll look after the dogs.”

I catch her arm, pulling her close. I kiss her hard and run to my truck.

Chapter 13: Daisy

Iwatch Marcus's truck roar up the mountain, fire trucks following. Red and blue lights paint the night while smoke darkens the stars.

His mountain is burning. Which means.

"His workshop."

All those pieces. The grandfather's book. The carvings that tell his stories.

I'm moving before I finish the thought, grabbing my emergency kit and keys. Scout and Luna pace anxiously as I load my truck.

My phone buzzes – Jake:

We might need the Trading Post for evacuation. Can you get it ready?

I text back:

I’ll open it up and then coming to help.

His response is immediate:

He'll kill me if you come up here.

Then don't tell him.

I can almost hear his sigh:

Be careful. Take the back road.

The dogs jump in before I can argue. Apparently, I'm not the only one ignoring orders tonight.

Smoke thickens as I climb the mountain, taking the old logging road. Fire crews block the main access, but I know these trails now. His cabin comes into view through the haze. Fire teams swarm the area, cutting firebreaks and running hoses. The flames are still half a mile out, moving fast.

I park behind the workshop, out of sight. Scout and Luna bolt for the building they know holds their beds.

"Stay quiet," I tell them, following.

The workshop door's unlocked. I slip inside, immediately moving to the grandfather's book. I grab the book, then start wrapping his most important pieces. The ones that tell his stories. The ones that show his soul.

Voices approach as I hear Marcus and Jake arguing about wind direction. I duck behind a cabinet just as they enter.

"If it jumps the break?" Jake sounds worried.

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