Page 98 of Rescued Heart

Eddie grabbed his walkie and inspected the mangled car. “We’re going to need cutters.”

Behind him, Zack spoke to the onlookers. “Everyone back! The trailer contains flammable materials.”

Eddie reached the car, and through the cracked window, in the backseat of the car, he spotted a full-back booster seat that he’d thought was part of the crumbled roof. The seat had tilted forward, and the ceiling had smashed down on top of it.

But where was the child?

Eddie squeezed in through the front door. “Lacy, I’m firefighter Eddie. Can you hear me?”

A whimper floated to him.

She was alive.

Thanks, Lord.

Now how to get her out?

Eddie pushed against the door. The metal groaned but wedged open enough for Eddie to get his chest inside. There, huddled in the shadows on the rear passenger floor mat, was a girl—from the size of her, around three.

Eddie shifted and grabbed his flashlight. “Lacy, can you see me?”

She didn’t move out of her curled position. There was no way Eddie could fit back there with the roof smashed and the doors bent.

Eddie pushed his radio button. “Found the girl. Going to need those cutters.”

“Roger, en route,” came Bryce’s reply.

“The trailer has caught fire!” Zack’s panic was clear in his volume.

Eddie gripped his flashlight. Fire and gas were not the happily ever after he’d pictured. Cutters or not, Eddie had to get Lacy out—now.

He slid out of the car and yanked on the back door. But it didn’t move. He could break the window, but he might injure the girl. He couldn’t get to the passenger side with the car compressed against the building.

The roof was smashed completely over the passenger seat. She’d have to climb over the center console and to him. There hopefully was enough room for her to fit.

Eddie squirmed back inside the driver’s seat and shined his light on Lacy. Sweat dripped down his neck. Hopefully from the stress and not from flames somewhere behind him.

“Hey, Lacy.” He kept his voice gentle. “Can you do me a huge favor, girl? You like the playground, right? I need you to climb between the front seats so I can get you out.”

Lacy lifted her head out of her curled position. Her blue eyes popped against his flashlight. Tears stained her cheeks. “I-I want my mommy.”

“I know you do, sweetheart.” Eddie reached and pushed the car seat enough for him to slide into the car a bit more. “Can you come to me? Then I’ll get you to your mommy, okay?”

The girl sniffed and then climbed between the seat, squeezing her head and chest through first.

“That’s a big girl. Look at you climbing.”

She blinked up at the smashed roof that had pressed against her car seat and now threatened to scrape against her back. Her face puckered.

“I know. It looks scary. But you can slide the rest of the way out between the seat and console to get right to me.”

Please let her fit.

She wiped a tear off her cheek and then eased her hips through the small space and into the front seat.

Eddie pulled her against his chest and backpedaled out of the car.

Right behind him, Bryce skidded to a stop with the cutters in his arms. “Anyone else?”

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