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She looked in the rearview mirror, and the rolling gray clouds were tinged with red reflecting from the flames. She was driving away from a hellscape, and it was chasing her.
This was no small fire. This could take everything she’d been striving for and burn it to the ground in a heartbeat. This house held the combined hopes of all her siblings. It held the promise she’d made to Gabe. It was the promise of the future she’d dreamed for herself. It held her father’s promise of a new adventure for her mother.
She refused to let it all go up in flames.
Not on my watch.
She pressed the pedal to the metal and tore back up the drive, spewing gravel from her tires. Parking in front of the house for a quicker getaway and to avoid potential explosions of her gas tank from the heat, she leapt from her truck. Then she tossed a ladder against the front of the house, cranked the hose on high and tucked it into her tool belt for the climb.
She climbed over the peaked roof of the house and looked out over the field of vines that stretched toward disaster. So much promise, so much potential. She couldn't let it go without a fight. She squeezed the nozzle and sprayed down everything she could reach: shrubs, decking material, the sides of the house, the roof she was standing on. Just a few more minutes. Just a little more water. Then she’d climb down and get the hell out of here.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she ignored it. No time for Jake’s bullshit right now. She hadn't answered his calls in days. One might think he’d get the message.
Frustrated with him, she yanked the hose to make it reach the far side of the house and heard the metallic clang of metal hitting wood.
No.
If her hands hadn’t been filthy, she’d have slapped her forehead. She’d made a rookie mistake and stranded herself on the roof by knocking down the freaking ladder with the hose.
Idiot.
She couldn’t let her family down. She wouldn’t let their dreams go without a fight. But she’d never intended to put herself in danger.
From her vantage point on the roof, she watched the fire creep closer. The blue oak trees along the far ridge were going up like kindling.
The glowing smoke was brighter now, and Frankie turned the hose on herself for a minute to cool down, before she remembered her phone in her pocket. She pulled it out to check it and cursed. It was dripping. Before she could turn it off, it rang again.
Jake.
The screen flashed his name and that electric pulse fried her phone. Water damage complete.
She was well and truly fucked now.
She thought of all the camera equipment and the money already invested in the project. She reluctantly aimed the hose toward the production trailer. The amount she’d owe them if it burned made her throat tighten up. Or maybe that was the smoke she was inhaling.
The wind was picking up and blowing right toward her.
He’d wanted drama. He was certainly going to get it. Those ugly thoughts from before rose to the surface again.
Could he have done this?
He’d cleared out his crew early, and made sure hers had gone too. He probably expected her to be sitting at her mother’s dinner table. Surely he wouldn’t have jeopardized the project like this. Unless he truly didn’t think it was going to succeed with her at the helm and was trying to cut his losses.
No.Jake was from California. He knew how easily a fire could get out of control. No way would he put so many people in danger.
But that niggling doubt lingered in her mind. After everything she’d learned this week, she couldn’t just blindly trust that he hadn’t been involved. Regardless, she gave the production trailer a good soaking. If she could save the equipment, she would. One less thing he could charge her for.
Exhausted, Frankie crouched down on the edge of the roof, like a gargoyle, and did her best imitation of a garden sprinkler. She waved the nozzle back and forth and contemplated her options.
She couldn't jump. It was too high, and if she broke an ankle on the fall she'd be useless trying to get away. In hindsight, she was wishing she'd said yes to the upper story balcony that had been in the original plans. She could try and shimmy down the drainpipe, but she was less than optimistic about her ability to cling long enough. She would give the fire department a little longer to arrive before she attempted idiocy.
Wiping sweat and ash from her forehead, she reached for comfort.
“Gabe, if you can hear me, I could use a little help right now.”
She often had conversations with Gabe in her head, but this one found its way out of her mouth. It seemed like the right moment to put voice to her fears.
“I haven’t forgotten my promise or our plans. But this…this is scary. I’m afraid we’re going to lose everything. My chance, the business, the vineyards, Mom and Dad…” Tears she’d willfully held back for weeks now streamed down her face as she unburdened her heart to her big brother.
