Page 12 of Five Alarm Love
His chest tightened as they crested the low hill.He hadn’t seen Lou since their strange interaction at Three Bears earlier this week.Some casual probing comments to her friends and family when they came into the store hadn’t revealed any hint of what was going on with Lou.Even know-it-all Hunter had no clue.
Tuli had almost asked her out last week.Almost felt like he had finally compensated for his injury to where he was whole enough.Almost believed that he could bring enough to the table to be the quality guy Lou deserved.All his life, he had worked to be good enough before moving forward with that childhood promise to Lou.
But he hadn’t made his move.
Time was ticking if he wanted to ask her to Calvin and Deirdre’s wedding.There had been no opportunity.Besides that day in the deli.Or besides picking up the phone, which was not his style.Tuli wanted the ask to be casual and friendly, worked into a natural conversation or social setting.
To leave an escape route if it didn’t go well.
He scanned the scene in front of him—people running around, emergency vehicle lights.EMS.Lou might be here.Hey, nothing like fighting fires and creating social opportunities at the same time.
The sudden dip in his gut had nothing to do with the uneven gravel as they rumbled to a stop.
Time to focus on the work at hand.Hunter whistled low as they both took stock of the situation and jumped out of the truck.Or eased down with upper body strength, in Tuli’s case.The night was illuminated by flames leaping from a one-story home.The entire structure would soon be engulfed.
He stumbled on the last step and glanced around.No one had seen.Hunter unrolled the hose and turned on the water, bracing as the stream surged out to hit the flames.Hissing clouds of billowing steam added to the mess in front of them.
Natalie Beck yelled and reached out as her husband, Wayne, held her back.“My daughter and dad are in there!”
Tuli’s heart pounded.Priorities changed when the job went from structure salvage to saving humans.He glanced behind the rig.No other red lights and engines headed this way yet.He could still hope that some of the local fire fighters were in the area and willing to answer the call.
“Get them out of there!Please,” Wayne pleaded.
One arm had the flannel sleeve burned off.Pink, raw skin glistened on his arm and hand that he cradled.
Hunter met Tuli’s gaze, turned off the water, set his respirator, and snapped his face shield down.Tuli did the same.They grabbed axes and Tuli led them up to the house, where they easily broke down the partially charred front door and turned on their flashlights.
Just like in training and drills, they communicated with hand signals and brief radio exchanges as a roaring wave of flame reached for them and the thick smoke dropped visibility.Most of the fire appeared to be centered in the kitchen and dining room area.The side wall of the house was gone.
“Hallway.”Tuli indicated, and they headed toward the smoke-filled back of the house.
Hunter ran into one bedroom, and Tuli checked the other one across from it.Empty.
His heart pounded.
The hallway ended with two more doors, presumably another bedroom and the bathroom.
He kicked in the bathroom door.A semi-conscious, coughing man with soot covering his face looked up from where he sat in the empty tub, the whites of his eyes stark in the dim light.In his arms was a child who looked to be around eight or nine years old.She didn’t move.
Tuli’s mouth went dry as he stowed his axe.
Hunter said over the com, “I’ve got him.Grab her.Let’s go.”
For a split second, Tuli bristled as the new hire took charge.But he didn’t argue the plan or the logic.His partially numb leg wasn’t ready for Tuli to support himself and a full-grown adult yet.Hunter looped the man’s arm around his shoulder and heaved with his legs, settling the man into a fireman’s carry.Then he trundled him out of the bathroom.Tuli scooped up the limp girl and followed.Please let her be alive.He clutched her to his chest, trying to protect her from more smoke inhalation and flames.
His right leg protested the extra weight.As he reached the living room, he stumbled against the end of a couch that had caught fire.Damn it.
Shifting the girl into a position over his left shoulder, he grabbed the couch with his gloved hand.Hunter disappeared out the front door with the man.
One victim evacuated.One to go.
His leg shook beneath him.Sweat beaded his brow.Numbness and pain swirled together when he put weight on his foot.Come on.Work.
It was about ten feet to the front door.
Flames licked at the ceiling above him and roared behind him.The girl coughed once, then went still.
One step.
