AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERONE
JAKE
Murphy’s Groceryis the hottest spot in town mainly because it’s the closest place for grocery shopping in our tiny town of Black Timber Peak, Montana, situated in the northern part of the Rocky Mountains. The grocery is a one-stop shop where the basics are first come, first serve until the next shipment arrives through town. During the winter season, one wants to ensure they have stocked up on everything needed because, at this high elevation, deliveries can take some time to make it through the mountains safely.
Since it’s fall, we still have some time before the pack-rat mentality of canned goods is going to be necessary. I’m only dropping in for some bi-weekly provisions when Nolan Murphy, owner of the place, sweeps at the non-existent dust while he noses in on my business.
Typical and annoying.
“Your beard’s getting a little long there, Jake.” He swipes around the floor as I fill my basket with the basics and staples.
Biting back my irritation, I take a deep breath. I shouldn’t be surprised by plain-as-day obvious remarks. After all, it’s not the first time someone’s made my business their business and it’s no one’s business.
If this isn’t the only store within a hundred-mile radius, I might suck it up and do the long travels for my supplies more often, but it’s a waste to get in the truck and make the adventure more than every six weeks to Sunset Canyon.
Grumbling, I grab some canned beans. “Gonna have to cut it all off when I return in two weeks.” My hair, not my attitude. That’s permanent. But the longer locks just won’t do with what I do for a living.
“You’ve been off work for what? Six weeks? Eight?”
“Ten.” Ten long weeks have me aching to get back to work and do what I do best.
“How’s the ankle feeling?”
Shrugging, I grab some canned veggies without even looking at the labels. “Gonna find out. Testing it out with a three-day hike on the east slope of Black Timber Peak this weekend.”
I’m chomping at the bit to get out on the trails, back into nature, and away from everybody. I’m not made for idle chit-chat and neighborly bothers. The trees and wildlife are more my speed, and soon I’ll be alone with them again.
“Becca’s been trying to get me to take a drive up Sunset Road and into the forest. Says the aspens are beautiful this fall,” Nolan says, and I can see a twinkle in his eye on how much he loves his woman and for a brief second, maybe flash, the twinge of jealousy zaps me. But I push it away. I had that look once and look where it got me.
On a mountain.
Middle of nowhere.
And alone.
Probably how it was meant to be.
“Just don’t go to Elk Grove. They’ve got a fire going on the east bank. Mostly contained but wouldn’t want anyone to take a chance.”
Being a loaner doesn’t mean I want the people in this town to get hurt. Plus, this is about a fire, and I know fire. My job on the BTPM Hot Shots team has —well, had— me jumping into situations that singed the hair off my entire body. Don’t get me wrong. I wish they didn’t exist, but there’s nothing I love more than the adrenaline rush of a wildfire. Fighting them isn’t for the faint of heart, but that’s why the profession calls to me, and I live for that shit. Fast moving. Danger. Unexpected peril. That’s my jam.
Nolan leans against the counter, foregoing the pretense of cleaning to openly chat away, which is what I’m sure he’s had in mind the whole time. My previous life trained me all too well to read people, gift and a curse.
He crosses his arms. “Good call, and thanks for the tip.”
Dipping my chin at him, I work around the aisles, stuffing food into my basked that’ll do for the hike but I long to get back to work. My job’s in my blood, so much so that I’m seared from the inside out. I’ve stopped counting how many times I’ve gone in and rescued someone who shouldn’t have been in the mountains.
Seriously, can people not read?
They’re signs posted all over the damn place, but everybody thinks they’re a pro and nothing can go wrong. I wonder what they’d do if there weren’t people like me and my crew who didn’t live for this shit. What’d happen to them then?
I lift the side of my lip when I notice the two boxes of protein bars. I hit the jackpot on this trip. They’re some of the first things to sell out here with all the hikers and explorers who come through. I can’t count how often I come in, and the shelves are empty. I take a whole box and half of a second with no guilt. Everyone who shops here does the same thing. It’s my lucky day and next time it will be someone else’s.
“Business doing okay?” A seemingly innocent question to ask, but that can turn south on a man.
Early on, I learned at least to show some interest in the people in this town. The more I hold back, the more they dig their heels in and unravel as much information as possible. If I only want peace and quiet, I need to give a little to obtain that luxury.
“It’s okay.” Nolan shrugs, but his voice tells another story. Without hesitation, I grab the other box of bars, and when I reach the end of the aisle, I grab more cans of beans and some chili. Keeping myself stocked up on those items won’t hurt and storing them in my cabin if I don’t take them with me on a hike isn’t the end of the world. It’s not like they’ll go to waste.
