Page 23 of July's Bad Boy: Blaze

His smile is soft around the edges. "Told you. I'm not going anywhere."

Something warm unfurls in my chest. I tamp it down quickly. "You can put those on Ruby's table. She's over by the gazebo."

"Yes, ma'am." He gives me a mock salute that shouldn't be charming but somehow is.

I watch him weave through the crowd, stopping to chat with Caitlin, and helping Orville with his awning. He’s completely at ease among my people. Our people? The thought makes me nervous, so I bury it under logistics and vendor placements.

By noon, the swap is in full swing. Children dart between tables, music plays from radios set up at the booths, and the scent of Lily's famous donuts wafts through the air. Orville takes the microphone, tapping it twice.

"Folks, if I could have your attention for a moment." His voice booms across the square. "I just want to say how proud I am of this community. When times get tough, Mustang Mountain pulls together. We share what we have. We--"

His words cut off abruptly. I look up from my clipboard just in time to see Orville sway, his face draining of color. Then his knees buckle, and he crumples to the ground.

For a heartbeat, everyone freezes. Then chaos erupts.

"Call 911!" someone shouts.

I drop my clipboard and run, pushing through the gathering crowd. "Give him space! Back up!"

Ruby is already kneeling beside her husband, her face a mask of controlled panic. And right beside her, steady as a rock, is Blaze, his hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"Ambulance is on the way," he tells her quietly.

Taking charge, I direct people to clear a path for the EMTs, sending someone to grab water, and keeping onlookers back. Through it all, I keep glancing at Blaze, who hasn't left Ruby's side. He's speaking to her in low, reassuring tones, his presence visibly calming her.

When the EMTs arrive, they work quickly, loading Orville onto a stretcher. His color is better, but he's still unconscious. Ruby clutches his hand until the last possible moment.

"I'm going with him," she announces, her voice brooking no argument.

The EMT closest to Ruby talks quietly, but I can still hear it. "We have no way to get him to the hospital with the road blocked. We can take him back to the doctor's office, but there is only so much they can do there," he says.

Ruby nods, stepping away, and pulls her phone from her pocket. I wouldn't have noticed except my friend Olivia appears at my elbow, nudging me.

"Who's she calling?" Olivia whispers.

I watch as Ruby speaks urgently onto the phone, her back to the crowd. When she finishes, she rejoins the EMTs. Her face is set with determination.

"Ruby," I say, approaching her. "Who did you call?"

She meets my eyes, her gaze steady, but revealing nothing. "An old friend. That's all you need to know." Her tone is firm but kind, closing the subject.

Fifteen minutes later, the distinctive whump-whump of helicopter blades cuts through the air. Heads turn skyward as a sleek black helicopter descends onto the park on the other side of the road, behind the community center.

"Since when does county emergency services have a helicopter?" someone asks.

I squint at the aircraft. There's a logo on the side, partially visible. Definitely not county emergency services. Others see it too, and questions fly.

"Who owns that chopper?"

"Who has that kind of pull?"

The whispers ripple through the crowd as the EMTs transfer Orville to the helicopter, with Ruby climbing in beside him. Through it all, Blaze stays back, letting Ruby take center stage, not drawing attention to himself despite this being his family. The restraint speaks volumes.

After the helicopter disappears over the horizon, the swap continues in a subdued fashion. I try to restore some normalcy, but there's an emotional fog hanging over everything.

Olivia finds me as I'm helping break down tables. Her eyes are bright with excitement.

"I got a photo of the helicopter," she says, showing me her phone. "I'm going to dig. We're going to find out who this 'friend' really is."

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