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CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Hayden
“I didn’t getany sleep last night,” Janie says as she comes into the bank. “Not with the storms as they roared through.”
“Yeah, me neither. I don’t know if you’ve heard or not, but there’s a fire up on the ridge. A lightning strike lit the dry timber up like a match.”
“It’s been so dry,” she muses.
“It has. Dad was called in around three in the morning. I haven’t heard from him, though.” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. “I thought I would by now, but last time I texted him it didn’t even go through.”
“I’m sorry, Hayden.” She squeezes my shoulder. “Keep your phone available today, just in case.”
The thought that I might need it causes my throat to squeeze tightly. “I will,” I whisper.
Opening the bank is second-nature to me now. I can do it in my sleep but, as I’m going through the motions, I keep a watch out on the main road. Subconsciously looking for the red blur of the Bradford Station engine. I’m equal parts terrified and hopeful Danny and the guys will have to join my dad up on the ridge. Hopeful, because I don’t want him to be alone. Terrified, because Danny holds a piece of my heart.
The day crawls by at a snail’s pace. “Is your Daddy up there?” One of the regulars asks as he makes a deposit into his account. “On the ridge? Heard a fire sparked up last night.”
“He is,” I confirm against the tightness of my throat. “Forest management called him out early this morning. I haven’t heard from him yet, though.”
“We’ll be prayin’ for him.”
“Thank you,” I manage to push the words out. “We’d appreciate it.”
When I’m finished, I turn to Janie. “I’m going to take a small break and text my sister. When he went out last night I didn’t feel the need to notify her, but I do now.”
“Take your time.”
As I’m walking out to my car to get a little bit of privacy, I hear a sound that brings goosebumps to my arms. The wail of a fire engine. My eyes land on it, watching as it turns toward the ridge. My phone is heavy in my hands as I lift it and begin texting.
H: Dad, I’m starting to worry. You haven’t gotten back to me since early this morning. Please just let me know you’re okay. Love you.
H: I saw a fire engine screaming down the street. Are you on it?
D: Yeah babe, we’re heading up to the ridge to assist Chief.
H: Be careful up there, Rookie.
Tears burn my eyes and my hands shake as I realize the two most important men in my life are about to put themselves in harm’s way. This is a moment I can’t let slip by. Not without telling him exactly how I feel.
D: I will, you be careful down here.
H: I love you, Danny.
D: I love you too. I’ll come back to you.
H: You better.
When I go back into the bank, tears are streaming down my face unchecked. I can’t bring myself to wipe them away.
“Hayden, what’s happened?” Janie runs to me.
“Danny’s going up on the ridge and I haven’t heard from my dad,” I cry, putting my arms around her.
“I’ve got even worse news,” the bank manager says as he walks toward us. “The fire is headed this way on the backside of the ridge. We need to get to City Hall. They’re on the highest point and we can at least watch what’s happening from there.”
Texting Hailey about what’s happening, I hurry to go grab my bag and the lunch I stupidly packed for the day. How I ever thought I was going to eat it is anyone’s guess. We lock up the bank and then caravan up to City Hall.
