The aerial photographs from sometime this morning were horrific, so much so I tried to pull her away, but she fought me. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the screen with her lips twisted and her eyes glassing over.
“I need to do this,” she whispered. “I need to find the fucking asshole who did this.”
“Yeah, the guy needs to be tracked down.”
Sadly, one side of the mountain would be scarred for years to come. She shook her head and as soon as I sat down beside her, she grabbed my hand.
“I can’t imagine how terrified you were,” she said with quiet reverence.
“We both were, but we survived. I didn’t tell you, but Axe saved a dog while we were there.”
“He did?” She lifted her head, a bright spot in her eyes. “Was he up there all alone?”
“I don’t know. Axe kept him protected. We didn’t have time to check and see if he has an owner.”
“Is he keeping him?”
“He’ll do the right thing and see if anyone is missing the little tyke, but I kind of hope he does. He’s going through a rough time.”
“When I was at the Ziggy’s with my friends, the entire place was rooting for you.”
“Ziggy’s, huh?”
“A smokejumpers’ bar. For all practical purposes.”
I slid my hand behind her hair, cupping her neck. “You weren’t flirting with anyone, were you?”
“Moi?Never.” She batted her eyelashes, but I sensed her pain. “You’re a hero.”
“I’m nobody’s hero.”
“You’re mine.”
“I better be your everything, woman.” I started to push her down when she suddenly appeared on the screen.
“In an interview with Viper Locke’s girlfriend last night during the hours-long vigil,” the reporter on the newscast was saying, “I think Doctor Monroe expressed what so many people were thinking. From what we’ve learned from various sources, Mr. Locke refused to leave a second smokejumper on the mountain when things became dangerous. Viper saved the man’s life and is the epitome of a true hero.”
“Shit,” she moaned and as soon as she grabbed the remote, she tried to turn it off.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I want to hear what you had to say.” I snatched the remote away, holding it over her head.
“You really don’t.” She continued struggling with me, finally smacking me in the chest when I wouldn’t give it up.
“Let’s hear what Doctor Monroe has to say,” the reporter continued.
“Ugh,” Grace moaned, palming her face.
“Viper Locke is an incredible human being. On his way into town, he saved a starving dog he found on the side of the road, choosing to adopt him rather than to hand him over to animal control. He’s kind and loving, thoughtful in every way and I can tell you in all honesty, that he’s one of the bravest men I’ve ever met. He’s just… perfect.”
She stood with a defiant look on her face as her interview went on, angry that anyone had dared try to make it sound like I was a bad man. Everything from the look on her face to the way she was about to throw a punch created a flurry of emotions that I hadn’t anticipated.
“See, you shouldn’t have heard that,” she grumbled.
“But I did. Is that the way you feel?”
“Yes. Are you angry with me?”
I brought her hand to my face. “How could I be angry with you. Except for one little thing. You encouraged an arsonist.”
