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So the relay of boxes began, with Dr. Bogart removing the animal and placing it in the box after Emily cut air holes into it. They worked for forty or more minutes until the animals that could be moved easily were boxed and secured in Billy’s truck. In the meantime, Robin and Sam had joined them and were taking the overflow boxes that didn’t fit in Billy’s truck.
“Emily, if you see Paul, please let him know Blackie and Gloria and Alfred are safe. Just in case, they’ve been relocated. We helped get them in the trailer, and they were fine.”
It was the first time Emily thought of the cabin, the history of it. She thought of all the mementos and art that Clare had given to Paul, and even things they had purchased together in Old Town, like pottery and a print of an Indian maiden. But there wasn’t time to reminisce.
The trucks were full, and Billy and Kathy left for the shelter set up at the firehouse several miles away, where they’d unload Dr. Bogart’s boxes.
“I’ll help load the big animals,” Emily called out, waving goodbye before she walked to the barn.
One by one, more trucks pulling horse trailers arrived, and Dr. Bogart’s llamas and alpacas, horses and donkeys, sheep and goats were loaded up and moved, some going as far as a ranch on the other side of the Marine base. Emily made sure each trailer had water and hay in case the animals were confined for a long period. Then a voice like nails on a chalkboard called out her name.
“Thank you, Emily! I won’t forget this.”
She looked over her shoulder to see Faith Bogart, looking like she was doing a fashion shoot, pushing a wheelbarrow holding a carrier containing two baby goats. Nodding her head, Emily acknowledged her, but didn’t know what to say, so she just mumbled, “You’re welcome.”
The work precluded worrying about Faith Bogart, and for the next hours she loaded animals. The sun peeked up over the eastern ridgeline when Emily heard Paul’s voice calling her name. He didn’t care they were being watched as he took his helmet off, tousle haired, and kissed her. The acrid smell of smoke had permeated his turnout gear, and he had soot around his eyes and nose, pale skin showing where his mask had covered his face.
“What a relief to see you,” she murmured, comforted by his arms around her. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”
“I figured you were here when you didn’t answer your phone,” he said. “I got your text, but that was hours ago.”
“We got here around two. Dr. Bogart has a lot of animals to move,” she said, leading a horse by the reins.
A voice shouted above the din of animals and diesel engines. “We have to evacuate now,” a firefighter called out. “If there are still horses left to evacuate, tie the gates open, and they’ll get out. But you all have to leave now. We have to evacuate #20, too.”
“I’m stranded,” Emily said. “Billy took Dr. Bogart’s small animals to safety.”
“No, you’re not. You’ll come with us,” Paul said, taking her hand.
“Where are we going?” Emily cried.
“Back to the firehouse to get our vehicles. We can’t outrun a fire.”
Running with a group of firefighters and other rescuers, they arrived at the congregating area of fire trucks and engines. Paul pushed her up into the bed of a truck.
“Are you okay?” he asked, sitting next to her as the truck pulled away from the curb. “This is not the kind of experience I thought we’d have together.”
“No, but I’m glad we are together,” she said. “Does this mean the cabin is going to burn?”
“I hope not, but it’s right in the line of fire.”
“The fire station is, too.”
“Ugh, there goes your wedding venue,” Danny said. “And I’m not trying to be a smart-ass.”
Emily couldn’t help herself and she laughed out loud when Paul squeezed her hand, looking at her with a smirk.
“That would solve one of our problems,” Paul said. “We can elope after all.”
“I forgot to tell you that Robin and Sam evacuated Barney’s animals.”
“Oh, poor Alfred. He won’t like that,” Paul replied.
They’d arrived at the fire station. The sun had risen, but because of the smoke, it still felt like night. The red glow of the flames behind them lit up the sky. The men ran inside to get their belongings. The trucks were already out of the bays. The firefighters would work at saving their own building now.
Paul and Emily got into his truck and headed to her house.
“You need to evacuate, Em. Go to the colonel’s, but get off the mountain.”
