“Here!” She reached for it, but he toyed with her, raising it over her head out of reach and then swooping the icy-cold bottle against the back of her neck.
She screamed. “That’s freezing!”
“Oh sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“You are in for it, mister.” She took one of the empty boxes and playfully tossed it at him. He juked to the left, laughing as it slung past him.
Then the alarm went off, mind-numbing and wailing. He stopped, still breathing heavily from the game play.
“Gotta run.”
“What? What’s going on?”
“Fire.” He grabbed his radio from the table. “It’s at the tree farm.” He hit a button on the wall, and the huge garage doors below rumbled up. “Sorry.”
“What should I do?” She spun, asking as he rushed past her.
“Keep working. I’ll be back.”
“Okay. Um, I can do that.” But Tucker was already running down the stairs when he heard her call out a goodbye.
Not a minute later, the Bull Mountain Boys were on the road.
Volunteers were already on the scene when they arrived in the tanker truck.
The team dropped to the ground and everyone spread out, working quickly to assess the situation and contain the fire.
Jesse and Joe ran over to Tucker.
“Any idea what happened?” Tucker asked.
“The back gate was compromised. Guessing some kids were hanging out back there. Wish they’d have done it somewhere else. Those are the biggest and most mature trees.”
Tucker thought about how much pride Joe took in those fewhuge trees he sold each year to shopping malls and private estates. Even the White House that one time.
“We only sell three to six a year from that lot.” Joe shook his head. “It’s gonna be a huge financial hit.”
Jesse patted his brother’s shoulder. There were no words that would comfort tonight.
“We’ll do our best to get it managed quickly and save them.”
“I know you will.”
Tucker responded to an update from one of the teams, then waved in the second truck, directing them to the far side. Two vehicles carrying volunteers parked, and Tucker directed them to work the outer perimeter to contain the fire.
Tucker turned just as one of his rookies pulled the hose down toward the trees closest to the blaze.
The team from the neighboring county radioed in their estimated arrival.
Tucker’s keen sense caught the unusual movement from the corner of his eye. The rookie was caught up in the ground cover. He was too close to the blaze, and Tucker saw it coming. He darted toward him, hoping to call him off before he fell, but it was too late. He’d fallen right at the base of one of the burning trees.
Tucker raced over and helped him get back on his feet. “Get back to the truck, and take a break. You’re okay. It happens.”
The rookie jogged off, but the top of the tree broke free and fell across Tucker’s shoulder, knocking him off-balance.
Searing pain ripped through Tucker’s right ear. Trying to stay focused on the immediate dangers, he scanned the area, and called Tommy Newton on the radio for assistance, then called for the EMTs to meet him near the tanker.
Tucker’s heart raced. Despite the pain, he knew he had tomake sure the team stayed in control. He clambered to his feet and ran to the clearing.
