“Sure. But let me call you. Okay? Finish the bandages. Promise?” I backed away, grabbing my keys from the counter.
“Of course. Just take care of yourself.”
When she eased off the counter, I hesitated. I’d never hesitated heading to a job before. Why now? Why with her? Because I cared about her.
We locked eyes and for a full five seconds, there was nothing and no one around us. The damn alarm text went off again and I sighed, heading for the door. I didn’t think she was going to follow.
Then she did. “Wait.” She closed the distance, placing her hand on my chest as she rose onto her tiptoes. When she pressed her lips against mine, I could feel her body trembling. She’d losther entire family in a fire and had no understanding of how to handle anyone agreeing to jump into one without reservation.
I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her close. The seconds were precious and I consumed her mouth, evoking far too many emotions within me.
As if on a timeline, she broke the kiss, immediately backing away. Her smile was there but faded away even before she returned to the kitchen.
Well, shit. I guess this was what it was like to have someone care about you enough to worry whether or not you came back.
* * *
The base was insane.
There was no other way to describe the activity as I pulled the truck into the parking lot. I’d rushed, exceeding the speed limit, but it seemed as if everyone else was already engaged in whatever commands they’d been given. I jogged toward the building, scanning the group, half of whom who already had their jump gear bags in hands.
At least two other vehicles pulled up, racing into a parking space. The entire scene was controlled chaos.
One of two aircraft was waiting, the pilot in the cockpit. The other it appeared was being fueled. Whatever the situation, the fire was enormous.
I pushed my way through several jumpers, many of whom I’d barely been introduced to. With Missoula being the largest smoke-jumping base in the country, there were normally eighty jumpers on the payroll. I’d heard given shortages, they weredown to seventy-two, another recruit and myself being adding in the last week.
At least sixty if not more had been called to action.
“Hey. The captain is looking for you,” Raptor said as he grabbed my arm, already prepared and heading out.
“What’s going on?”
“Huge fire that started on the west face of Mount Sentinel. The fucker torched the M.” He acted as if I knew what the hell he was talking about.
I shook my head.
“The mountain is part of the University of Montana, the M on a peak for the school. The fire is threatening to roll down the mountain.”
Ah, shit. That meant lives were in danger. “Got it.” I rushed inside, still forced to push my way through several jumpers and administration personnel who were setting up for a long-haul event.
The captain was yelling at someone on his phone, waving for me to get my butt inside his office.
“Yeah? I need some help here, Mayor. The university needs to be evacuated now. And you need to have the campus checked for bombs.” The captain rubbed his eyes. “Yes, there’s enough belief we could have an arsonist involved. There are still a couple thousand students taking summer classes, several hundred staying in the dorms. And I need help.” He fisted his hand, as frustrated as I’d seen him. “We also have thousands of tourists in town for the weekend. We need to get a handle on this now.”
I moved closer and he rolled his eyes for my benefit, which shocked the hell out of me.
“I need you to make a call. Idaho. California. I don’t give a shit. With the weather reports, this could get out of hand.” As he pounded his fist on his desk, I had a feeling he was going to reach through the phone and strangle the mayor. “Thank you, sir. I really appreciate all your help.”
Only his tone had changed, the man not thankful at all. I resisted smiling as he ended the conversation, tossing his phone.
“Goddamn cocksucker,” Captain Daughtry spit out. He leaned over, staring down at his desk. “And if you repeat that, Viper, so help me God, you’ll be on plane washing duty for six months.”
“No, sir. Not a word.”
“Good.” When he lifted his head, I could tell how exasperated he was. “We have the potential for a raging firestorm given the unpredictable weather pattern and the mayor decided to grill me on the budget. I wasn’t going to remind him he needed to take the argument to the forestry service. Here’s the deal. We are already down in numbers as you well know. Now, with six jumpers on vacation, one with a broken goddamn leg, and two others out at various family weddings they are a part of, we’re at a critical level. That means your training has been cut short.”
I was surprised, tension rocketing through me. I’d never been concerned about heading to a fire before. Maybe because there hadn’t been anything to lose before.
