On Wednesday, they got another wildfire. Like before, Jared woke Megan in the middle of the night, giving her as much notice as possible. Hearing his deep voice brought her instantly awake. She grabbed for the notepad and pen she kept on the bedside table and took down the pertinent information. When she had everything, she said goodbye, then called her people to put them on alert.
Two hours later, Megan had dropped her two groggy kids off at her child-care provider’s house and headed up onto the mountain just as the sun was breaking across the eastern sky. Since this was the first day of the fire and they’d have to set up the dining tent, there was no way Megan was going to bring her kids along. No sirree. She wanted them safely in town, where no harm could befall them.
A group of firefighters helped Megan’s crew set up the tent, and it went together without any problems. As they unloaded supplies from the back of her truck, Megan paused and dusted off her hands, wondering where Jared was. Usually, he was here to greet her. And she admitted only to herself that she missed him.
Trying to avoid her own wayward thoughts, she went back to work. She was restocking the industrial-sized refrigerator with gallon-sized Cubitainers when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned in surprise.
“Jared!”
“Hi there,” he said, his mouth curved in a half smile. “You doing okay?”
“Sure.” She nodded, feeling odd and fumbly in his presence. And yet, a buzzing awareness thrummed through her veins. She couldn’t deny the happy bubble that rose in her chest, and she realized how much this man had come to mean to her and her family. She’d fought her growing attraction for so long. And right there, she had the insane notion that maybe she was wrong about Jared. That maybe, if she didn’t gather her courage and take a second chance on love, she would never experience the joy, either. And she’d have to live with that regret for the rest of her life.
“Sorry I couldn’t be here when you arrived,” he said. “Were there any mishaps in putting up the tent this time?”
“Nope, everything went just like clockwork.”
He glanced around, looking eager. “Did you bring the kids with you this time?”
“No, they’re in town.”
“Is there anything I can do?” His gaze brushed past her to the cartons of milk she was stacking neatly inside the fridge. His consideration touched her heart. She felt as though he genuinely cared and wanted to help.
“No, we’ve about got it taken care of. I’m just getting ready to head back,” she said, trying to keep her wobbly voice calm and even.
He took a step closer, and she stared at his wide chest, where his brass Forest Service badge gleamed against his left shirt pocket.
“Have you thought any more about what I said?” he asked.
She didn’t pretend to not understand. “No, my answer hasn’t changed.”
She glanced up into his eyes in time to see the hurt there.
“Megan, please don’t push me away.”
His voice sounded low and calm. Drawing her in. Convincing her to change her mind. But she caught herself just in time.
“No, Jared. I’ve got work to do.”
She turned away, shutting off his next comment. She’d stacked another row of Cubitainers into the refrigerator before she turned around, expecting to see him still there. But he was gone. She’d never felt more lonely in her life.
* * *
Three days later, Jared stood near the fire line, supervising the unloading of three giant crawler tractors. Their steel treads would cleat the earth, giving them the traction and power to push tons of dirt, trees and anything else out of their paths as the crews built a fire line.
Jared tried to focus on his work. Three miserable days had passed in which he’d forced himself to stay away from Megan. To give her some space. He wasn’t ready to give up on her, but he figured she needed time to think. To decide what it was she really wanted in life. And hopefully to realize that she missed him, too. But it hadn’t been easy. One of his men had radioed him an hour earlier to say that she’d arrived in the fire camp and was unloading food supplies. She had the kids with her today, but Jared had resisted the urge to go and see them all. Maybe tomorrow.
Heavy smoke filled the air, the sky a red, angry glow caused by the fire. Dale Carter, the equipment manager, stood nearby, talking on his radio. He pressed a finger to his ear, trying to hear over the rumbling noise of engines.
“What’s that you say?” Dale yelled.
Jared barely glanced the man’s way as he waved his arms to indicate to the driver where the first tractor should begin digging a wide trench of fire line. A few moments later, Jared felt a tap on his shoulder. He whirled around and pushed back his hard hat.
“We may have to move this equipment back down to the fire camp,” Dale yelled above the growling roar.
“Why is that?” Jared asked.
“The fire has burned across the road about four miles below the camp. It’s closed off the road and shut off our access. Some squirrelly winds are whipping the fire around. There wasn’t any notice. The Minoa Hotshots are already there, trying to stop it. A couple of them are trapped in a chimney area.”
Jared froze. His entire body went cold with dread. “Which men?”
“Sean Nash and Zach Carpenter. Sean’s the one that gave us the warning. He alerted his crew to the danger and got them out in time, but he and Zach are still in there. Word has it that they’re trapped by flames. Helitack is trying to figure out a way to fly in and evacuate them, but there’s nowhere to land safely.”
A sick feeling settled in the pit of Jared’s stomach. Sean’s and Zach’s lives were in danger. But something else bothered Jared. Something closer to home.
Megan was in the camp, but she wouldn’t be here long. A quick in-and-out, just to drop off food supplies. She’d be leaving for town soon and might be trapped on her way down the mountain. Unless he could catch her first.
“I’ve got to go warn the caterer. She might be caught on that road unaware.” With a wave of his hand, Jared tore off toward his truck.
His blood rushed through his veins with urgency. One thought pounded his brain. Megan and the kids. He had to get to them. Had to warn them. Had to keep them safe.
He drove at a fast clip along the dirt road, a stream of dust rising from his tires to mark his passing. Urgency built within him. A fear that he wouldn’t arrive in time. He must warn them. He had to reach them in time.
Five minutes later, he pulled into the fire camp. He parked his truck near the mobile kitchen and hopped out. It was three in the afternoon, but it didn’t matter. It felt more like nightfall. The sky was filled with gray smoke and a red haze just beyond. A mixture of dawn and twilight. Unique, beautiful and eerie.
Rows of men and a few women stood lined up for a meal, their faces black with soot. The kitchen never closed its doors. Hand crews came off the fire line at all hours of the day, always ravenous and thirsty. They ate whenever they got the chance.
“Hi, Jared.” Frank waved to him from the serving window as he spooned heaping mounds of mashed potatoes, gravy and cube steak onto empty tin plates.
“Where’s Megan?” Jared called impatiently.
Frank pointed toward the road, a cheerful smile on his ruddy face. “You just missed her. She left about five minutes ago.”
A flush of panic rushed over Jared. He could try calling her cell phone, but knew she wouldn’t have reception at this high, remote elevation. And even if she did, she was bumping along the dirt road and wouldn’t hear her phone ring.
Without another word, he raced back to his truck, turned the key, popped the vehicle into gear and tore off down the road. Frantic with worry. Desperate to hurry. Megan and the kids could get caught in the fire.
He had to find them. Had to stop them from going any farther. To bring them back to the camp where they’d be safe. He’d promised Megan that he’d protect her. That this catering job would never endanger her or the kids. Then June had almost been badly injured by the dining tent. And now this. Jared had asked Megan to trust him. He’d told her that he’d watch out for her. That he had her back. And now, he might be too late.