12

Jess sat up all night with her parents, waiting for the news which never came. The sky was orange as the fire raged. The television news said it was the biggest fire in years, and back up had been called in from several adjoining counties, including full-time crew from a couple of the bigger cities. The fire still blazed out of control the following day as Jess tiredly went on her rounds.

The gossip was beginning to grate on her, and by the time she reached the coffee shop to grab a bite to eat, she’d had enough. “Firefighters don’t start fires,” she told one group of women around a table. “Neither do pastors.”

“I thought he was an American politician,” one woman said. “And he starts fights.”

Jess sighed. “He did not start that fight. He put himself in harm’s way to stop it. His father is the American President, and yes, he’s a pastor. His church in the US was destroyed two months ago during the service by a severe storm.”

“I remember hearing about that on the news,” Mrs. Hughes said. “A tornado wasn’t it?”

“Yes.” Jess paused as another fire engine tore through the town, sirens blazing. “And now he’s out there risking his life, right alongside your husbands, sons, and brothers, to put that fire out. Surely that has to stand for something, doesn’t it?”

She hadn’t thought she could be so worried about one person. But that kiss on the side of the mountain, the waterfall thundering beneath them, had set her heart ablaze in a way that no firefighter could ever put out, no matter how talented he was. And she knew for sure he had written his name on her heart as sure as if he’d chiseled it out with his own hand.

It was another two days before Josh arrived home just as she was leaving for work. He fell into her open arms and kissed her. She hugged him tightly. He stank of smoke and grime, and his hands and face were filthy. “Are you hurt?”

He shook his head. “Just tired.”

“Then go shower and sleep. I’ll be around when I finish work.” She watched him go inside and then jumped in her car to drive to work.

When she returned home that evening, Josh still looked exhausted. She sat next to him on the couch. “How was it?”

“Bad. The fire was on two fronts. The north one is finally out so we were sent home. Relief crews are damping down while new crews are tackling the blaze to the east. Last I heard that was under control.”

“Two fires?”

“North one was a campfire that got out of control. The eastern one is rumored to be arson, but it’s too early to tell.”

She ran her fingers over his sleeve. “The rumor is you’re starting them.”

“Aye,” he said. “I’ve heard that one.”

“I set them straight.” She yawned. “I think I might have an early night. No one slept much the past few nights with you blokes out there.”

He kissed her. “Goodnight, sweet one. I’m not going to be up long. Could I bother you for something to help me sleep?”

She hesitated but nodded. “Sure, I’ll put a couple of pills in your room for you.”

“Thank you.” He paused. “I know it’s not the answer, but I’m so tired I can’t sleep, if that makes sense.”

“It does. ’Night.”

****

Josh lay on the bed, a faint breeze coming through the open window. Through the net curtains he could see the moon and stars, a faint haze obscuring them. He didn’t think he’d ever get the stench of burning out of his skin, hair, or nostrils, but somehow he’d managed it.

After taking the pills Jess had given him, he turned onto his side, opened his Bible, and began to read the passages. He read until his eyes burned but still sleep eluded him. Rising, he left the room and tapped on Jess’s bedroom door.

“Just a minute…” He heard the sound of footsteps padding across the floor and the door creaked open. “Josh? What’s wrong? Are you all right?”

“Nothing’s wrong and I’m fine. I just…” His voice faded as he caught a glimpse of her night dress. “I need to talk to you. Now.”

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” she asked, hiding a yawn behind her hand.

“It’s just after 2 AM. Please, Jess…”

“OK. Go and make some coffee, and I’ll find my robe.” She tilted her head. “And maybe you should find some clothes as well.”

Josh looked down at himself, finding he only had boxers on. His cheeks flamed. “Ah, yeah.”

“OK,” came Dr. Thomas’s voice from his bedroom door. “And now the reputation of the pair of you is shot, and I’ll tell you for why.”

“There’s no need, Da,” Jess broke in rolling her eyes.

Her father grinned. “Good. Some of us have to be up early to take the Sunday school kids on their outing. So keep the noise down.”

“We will.” She looked at Josh. “I’ll go get dressed and see you downstairs.”

“So will I.” Josh headed back to his room and pulled on the first things that came to hand. He then went downstairs and made the coffee. By the time he sat in the lounge with both cups, Jess came in to join him. She sat beside him and curled her legs underneath herself, leaning against him. He wrapped his arm around her, gently stroking her hair.

“What’s bothering you?” she asked.

“I can’t sleep.”

“Yeah, I noticed that. Did you not take the pills I left for you?”

“I took them, but my mind is too active.” He let her hair fall through his fingers. “I was reading about the tower of Siloam. Did you know that Jesus healed the blind man by putting mud on his eyes and telling him to go wash in the pool of Siloam? He healed someone in the same town where all those people died.”

She nodded.

“Anyway, I was reading and it got me to thinking about Hope Street. Matt says they’re rebuilding the church. It’ll take about a year or so, but yeah, they reckon it’ll rise from the rubble and be bigger than before.”

“Are you still the pastor?”

He shook his head. “I quit, but the elders didn’t accept my resignation. So I honestly don’t know.”

“So call them. They’d still be up, right?”

He looked at the clock. “Yes, but…”

“What’s stopping you, Josh?”

He tilted her face to his and brushed his lips against hers. “You know how I feel about you. If I return to the States and go back to being a pastor there, I lose you.”

“That’s a little presumptuous. You don’t have me, look you.”

“Don’t I?” he whispered. Josh leaned in and kissed her. Her hand slid around the back of his neck as she kissed him back.

She broke off and held his gaze. “Being a pastor is serving God and that is a great gift. Not everyone is called to preach, Josh, and you are.”

“Am I though? You said there was a lot of I in what I did.”

“Then maybe God sent that twister to show you that He is more powerful than you. Not as a punishment, because He isn’t that kind of a God, but as a sign of His power and might.”

“But in such a destructive way?”

“Remember 1 Kings 19? How there was an earthquake and a huge wind and a fire, yet God wasn’t in any of them. After all that, God appeared to Elijah in…”

“A still small voice,” Josh said. “Like in the chapel or up on the sides of that waterfall. I get it.”

“Good.”

He kissed her. “So what about us?”

She looked at him.

“I mean, I don’t even know how to say I love you in Welsh.”

“Fi cariad i chi,” she replied.

Josh looked at her. “That’s a mouthful.”

She grinned, repeating it slowly.

He took a deep breath. “Fee carryadd eye see…”

Jess laughed. “Not even close, boyo.” She repeated it slowly, one word at a time for him to copy. “Or you could simply said cariad or annwyl. That means dear, beloved, loved.”

“And bach?”

“That literally means little one, but it gets used as honey or dear as well.”

Josh glanced at the clock. “Come with me then bach, and watch the sun rise over the falls.” He laced his fingers into hers. “Want to pick breakfast up on the way?”

“It’s a little early to eat. Maybe on the way back.”

Josh sighed as his pager went off. “I don’t believe this.”

“Go to work,” she kissed him gently. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

****

Josh sat in the fire engine listening to Sam as they hurtled along the quiet streets.

“It’s the manse.” Sam said. “Persons reported,”

Flames flickered inside the building when they arrived. Sam barked more instructions, calling in another unit and dividing them between fighting the fire at the manse and stopping it spreading to the neighboring chapel.

Josh was put in charge of leading the team into the manse to rescue Pastor Bryn and his wife. Once inside, he concentrated on the job in hand. It didn’t take long to find Pastor Bryn and his wife in the upstairs bedroom.

“Run,” Josh yelled. They barely made it out as the ceiling and stairs came down in a shower of wood and sparks.

Josh carried Pastor Bryn to a safe distance and set him down, offering him some of the air from his tank.

“My wife…”

“She’s fine, sir. She’s right over there.” Josh put a plastic bag over the burns on Pastor Bryn’s hands. “You just sit tight and wait for the paramedics.”

“Would you preach on Sunday?”

Josh looked at him. The man had just lost his home, been injured, and he was worried about his flock and his church. “I don’t know…”

“I’ve listened to some of your sermons on-line, young man. You’re a gifted preacher. You would be a blessing to us here.”

Sam ran over. “Josh, we have to go. The second crew will stay here. There’s another fire reported to the south.”

Josh stood. “I’ll let you know, Pastor.”

Jess ran over. “Josh, they called all the men out to fight this wildfire. They’re afraid it’ll reach town.”

“It’s that big?”

She nodded.

“I’ve been asked to preach on Sunday.”

“Are you going to?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Josh, we have to go,” Sam yelled.

Jess grabbed his hand. “Take care, look you.”

Josh pulled her against him and kissed her. His fingers caressed her cheeks, her ear, curled into her hair.

“Now you’ve given them something to talk about, and I’ll tell you for why.” She looked at him breathless.

“I’d prefer you give me your kisses. But right now I have a fire to put out.” He kissed the tip of her nose and ran to the fire engine.