Tucker caught her gaze and shook his head.
She couldn’t help but smile. “I promise we’ll be out of your way in a second.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate that. I’ve got to get back to this.” He stepped toward the business at hand. He wasn’t happy about them being there. “You ladies please be careful and watch yourself over these hoses. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I do appreciate you thinking of us, but it’s my responsibility to keep you safe as well.”
And the craziest thing ran through Sheila’s mind at that moment.
I’m not going to be able to think of anything but you after this.
The fire chief’s smile practically melted her sensibilities.
“I thought he’d never leave,” Orene said. “Come on, let’s get this stuff over there and skedaddle.”
“No. You stay put, Orene,” Sheila said. “It’s too messy out here, and if you fall, that’s one more thing they have to deal with. Nat and I can move the boxes.”
Orene’s nose wrinkled, pushing her glasses up in a way that magnified her eyes strangely.
“We’ll be quick. We’ve got this.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll get the boxes sorted and mark them on the outside,” Orene said.
Natalie grabbed a box of cookies and brownies, and Sheila carried the five-gallon jug of sweet tea and followed her.
When they got back to the SUV, Orene had marked the side of each box with the contents, a big smiley face, andTHANK YOUin big block letters.
“That looks great.” Natalie lifted a box. “Pile on another. They aren’t that heavy.” Sheila helped her with the other, and it only took a few trips to get everything moved over.
“Did you hear that?” Sheila dropped the last of the boxes on the picnic table. “It’s like a squeaking noise.”
“I thought I heard something back there too, but it’s so noisy with all the equipment. I wasn’t sure.”
Sheila stooped next to a row of stickery overgrown holly bushes. “Natalie! I think this is the family dog.”
Natalie raced to her side, dropping to all fours. The scruffy mixed-breed dog cowered beneath the pointed green leaves andberries. “Come on, pup. It’s okay. All this noise must be terrifying.” She reached out and clicked her fingers, but the dog just whimpered.
“Is he stuck?” Sheila asked. “Here, Bananas. Where’s that good puppy?”
“He’s terrified. Get some of the roast beef for me.”
“I’d crawl out from under just about anything for that. Hang on, let me find it.” But Orene’s neat handwriting made it easy to put her hands on the box with the carved roast beef. She grabbed a slice from the foil tray and handed it to Natalie.
“Bananas, look what I’ve got for you. Yummy. C’mon, boy.”
His ears perked, then swiveled like satellite dishes before he lowered his chin and cha-cha’d forward and back, and then finally belly-crawled to Natalie for a taste.
“That’s a good boy.”
Sheila couldn’t believe their luck. “Do you know how happy that family is going to be to hear this little guy is okay?”
“I can only imagine,” said Natalie. With one quick swipe, she caught the dog by the collar and pulled him to her. He didn’t put up a fight, but then Natalie was still hand-feeding him roast beef at the moment.
“Hurry, let’s get him in the SUV before we run out of bait.” Sheila ran to open the door. Natalie swiftly dropped the canine into the seat next to Orene and slammed the door.
“Hot dog!” Orene shouted. “We found the missing pup.”
“That’s a horrible pun, Orene.” Natalie spun around in her seat with her mouth agape.
Orene’s hand slapped over her mouth. “I promise I wasn’t making a joke about the dog and the fire.”
