Page 25 of Burning for Alexander
Thankfully, she’d already called our cousin Tommy, an ER doc, and he was making his way from SERA out to the accident site.
“Where are you?” I asked, checking my pockets for my car keys and racing to the back in search of a raincoat. Blood roared through my ears as I imagined our strong, bossy cousin trapped and injured as the storm raged around her. “Do we know how bad her injuries are?”
We spent the rest of the evening communicating with Tommy, who was on the scene and carefully coordinating details between all the other family members, as we made our way to the ER in Billings to meet the ambulance.
Poor Avery was soaking wet and terrified, but Ella had thought to have me grab some clothes for her before leaving my place.
After they took Hazel back to surgery and Ella took Avery to the ladies’ room to change, I stood alone and scared in the lobby, unsure how to proceed. My body shook with fatigue and fear, and I wondered what the hell my Uncle Pete and Aunt Ginger would do if anything happened to Hazel.
My whole family, including Hazel’s twin, Chloe, was already on their way, or would be as soon as the weather cleared enough to allow the flight in.
“Hey.”
My head snapped up at the familiar rumble. Chief Kincaid stood there in his uniform, hair wet around the edges, where a fewstreaks of gray stood out against the dark strands, and his nose pink from the cold, wet night.
“You okay?” he asked softly. “Someone said Hazel is your cousin?”
I nodded, unable to say anything.
Kincaid looked around as if seeking someone. “You here alone? I know your cousin Tommy’s here somewhere.”
“Talking to the doctors, I think. My, um… my sister is with Hazel’s wife.”
Kincaid’s forehead creased for a second, and then he blew out a breath and pulled me tight against his chest, wrapping me up in a big bear hug. I was so surprised by the gesture, I froze for a beat before hugging him back and holding on as tightly as I could.
He smelled like rainwater and sweat, faded diesel fumes and noxious smoke, but underneath it all, there was the scent of something new and somehow comforting coming from the spot where my nose nestled at the base of his throat. The combination made me dizzy.
“She’ll be okay,” he said in a low voice. “Your cousin was amazing out there. Saved her life. We got to her as fast as we could, Alex. I promise. But the storm made it hard and—” He shuddered. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get her out quicker.”
I held him even tighter. “Thank you so much. I’m glad you were there.”
His big hands moved up and down my spine before one moved up into my hair as he cupped the back of my head. He pulled back to look at me. “I have to go, but will you please promise me to call if you need a ride home? I don’t want you on the road tired or upset.”
“No, I’m fine. I’ll be okay.”
“Alex… please. Just promise me.”
I looked up into his eyes, wondering how it was possible thisman was two entirely different people. The ornery, by-the-book fire marshal and the kind and caring protector.
“I promise,” I said.
Tension crackled between us. I wondered what the protocol was for saying goodbye after such a charged moment, but before I could figure it out, Ella and Avery came up. Avery looked a little silly in my sweats and hoodie, but at least she was dry and warm.
I quickly pulled out of the fire chief’s arms as he stepped back. Kincaid nodded to my sister and Avery before letting them know Hazel was in good hands.
As I watched him walk back out into the stormy night, I wondered if he was heading to the site of another crash. Or maybe responding to fires caused by lightning. Either way, he was the one who needed to stay safe, not me.
And I hadn’t even thought to ask him for any promises.
8
KINCAID
IndexEcho:Work took twice as long today because someone broke security protocol.
DrunkenPoet:Was there a reason?
IndexEcho:Never a good reason to break the rules, Poet.
