Page 39 of Burning Hearts

A couple of the smokejumpers glanced at him, scathing looks. Because he hadn’t been there with them.

“I’m just asking.” Besides, he’d been busy running from gunmen and saving Jamie.

Was Skye correct? Had God put him precisely in the right place at the right time so he could do the Lord’s will and be there for Jamie?

Jade said, “Neil reported the entire compound was ablaze. He requested the retardant straight away.”

In lieu of a fire truck—which, even if there were one nearby, probably couldn’t get to the compound for hours—a retardant dump from their plane was a good idea. Logan had done enough residential firefighting to fully appreciate assistance like that.

A plane that dumped foam on flames.

Or a helicopter that could drop water on a blaze.

JoJo said, “Sounds like someone purposely wanted to destroy the whole place.”

Logan figured going over every inch of the charred remains of the compound meant he could thoroughly look for Tristan. If Jamie’s brother was still there, Logan would find him before the end of the day.

He would be able to give her an answer.

Hopefully not the charred remains of her brother.

As much as he didn’t want to be the one to tell her that her brother hadn’t survived, with closure, she would at least be able to move on. Start the grieving process.

Jade lifted her wrist and looked at her watch. “Time to go.”

Logan glanced back at the cabin once but didn’t see Jamie.

Then he climbed onto the plane.

* * *

Jamie heard the rumble of the airplane engine pick up speed. She slid the chair back and strode from the dining room to the front door, sweeping open the cabin entrance so she could stand on the porch and watch the plane take off.

Logan’s crew.

The dog, Jubal, was stretched out on the porch. He lifted his head and looked at her for a second, then decided nothing interesting was happening and put his head back down.

After the plane had flown too far away and was too small to see, she swept her gaze across the base. She’d told Logan about her wealth. The fact he hadn’t immediately told her about all the things here that needed repair or replacement was a serious point in his favor.

Maybe shewascynical.

Jamie preferred to think of it as being smart. Jaded, but smart.

Over by the office, the hotshots filed out toward the parking lot where the school bus was parked—their ride to the front lines of firefighting. A couple of them waved to her, and she waved back.

She couldn’t imagine being split across two crews with her friends, one team sent to a remote area not easily accessible, the other miles away, fighting in places they could drive and then hike to. The crews probably helped each other out if they needed it, but they’d have to know it might take hours to reach the other team if something happened. Friends who considered each other as good as family.

Jamie sighed.

Maybe she just didn’t trust her brother.

Then again, she wasn’t sure she trusted anyone. The nasty reality she might not trust God either didn’t sit right in her heart. She knew she should. But in truth? Her actions proved otherwise.

Jamie sank into a chair on the porch.

First, she had realized her faith had grown stale. Now all she could think was how long it had been since she’d really trusted God.

She bowed her head.I guess I need help. Big surprise. I’ve messed it all up again.She sighed.Can You help me? I need to get back what I lost. I need You.

---