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“Tristan, any word?” she asked as he sat her back down.
“Nothing…Dad, this is Paige Brighton,” he said leading her towards the man situated in the middle of the group. “Paige, this is my father-in-law and the head of this mess, Steven Zacks.”
“Nice to meet you finally,” Steven said glancing over her. “I wish it’d been under better circumstances.”
“So do I, these are some of my friends,” Paige said as the others filed in behind her. She began to introduce them one by one. “Craig is available to consult on where to put the breaks in at, he’s worked with multiple agencies and the military in handling fire outbreaks. Hillary can help with anything public related, she knows what she’s doing. These two…Moose and Rabbit are licensed to operate any machinery around and believe me they’re the best. Caleb is my pilot and he’s sure he can get me, Jesse, and Joel close enough to the peak for us.”
“Paige I’m sorry but your plan is insane,” Tristan stated. “I’d do anything I could to get Tami and Nicole home but this…it’s impossible.”
“Dude, I thought you knew Paige,” Rabbit said with a laugh.
“Impossible is her specialty,” Moose added squeezing her shoulder.
“It’s true Tristan,” she said gently.
“I have to agree with Tristan,” Steven stated. “The way these winds have been kicking up there is no way to get close enough to that mountain. We’ve tried to send choppers over to kill it, but they can’t get down far enough to do any good. The entire bottom part of the mountain is now on fire and it’s climbing fast. I want my girls home as much as Tristan but…I don’t see how.”
“We flew past the mountain,” Caleb said checking the weather reports, “and while it’s not ideal I can get them in there.”
“I can’t allow it. You’re a civilian pilot and while part of you may work for the government, here that doesn’t matter. I can’t risk sending you in,” Steven told them.
“I get that your hands are tied with bureaucracy but mine aren’t,” Paige stated. “Caleb’s the best pilot in the world. I fully trust him with my life, as well as Jesse’s and Joel’s. I wouldn’t send us anywhere near that peak if I thought it was dangerous…well more dangerous than what it is.”
“Paige, maybe we can find another way in?” Jesse suggested.
“There isn’t another way, I’ve checked,” she said straightening her back with determination. “Look right now I have a friend flying his helicopter in for us to use. Caleb can fly anything, and this chopper is specially designed to withstand heat and ash.”
“You called Billy?” Hillary asked in surprise. “I thought you said you’d never speak to him again.”
“For Tami and Nicole, I’ll do whatever it takes. Tristan, youknowI can do this,” she said turning to him. “I have to—have to at least try, even if it’s just me going in.”
“Okay, I don’t like it, but I’ll accept it on one condition…I’m coming with you,” he stated.
“No, I love you but no. I’m not going to let you get up there and fall apart on me if something bad happened. I need you to stay here Tris.”
“And you won’t—fall apart—if something’s happened to them?” Steven questioned barely able to get the words out.
“That’s what we’re here for,” Joel said nodding towards Jesse who agreed.
“Who are you again?” Tristan asked. “I remember the others, but you weren’t with them.”
“Joel Wright, I taught Paige to climb.”
“Joel…as inJoelJoel, the Joel?” Tristan asked sending her a curious look.
“I’d love to sit and chat about old times Tris but we’re kind of in a hurry here, aren’t we?” Paige stated as all gazes turned towards her. “If I’m not mistaken that’s Billy’s chopper now.”
“I still don’t feel I should allow you out there,” Steven stated rubbing his hand across his face. “I can’t send you in there knowing what I do about this fire.”
“What if the choice was taken out of your hands?” Paige inquired flipping through her phone’s contact list to find the number she needed. “You were directed to me for a reason, right? Well, that reason is I’m still the best and this…this I can handle.”
“You’re going to replace me as head here?” Steven asked a bit annoyed. “If you think anyone else around here is going to agree to send you out there, you’re sorely mistaken. Much as they want to bring my girls home, they know better than to send someone out into the middle of this mess.”
Paige nodded at his ramblings as the line picked up quickly. She no more had the initial part of the problem and her solution out before she was handing the phone to Steven who took it with serious trepidation. He ground out a few short answers before handing it back to her and turning around to pull out some gear from boxes behind him.
“Thanks Mic,” Paige said ending the call.
“Sneaky thing there, impressive, but sneaky,” Steven stated handing them long-sleeved shirts and gloves. “Seems I have no choice but to allow you to go but I did promise that I’d do my best to keep you safe so these are fire retardant and heat resistant clothing. Wear them in case the fire jumps.”
