7. Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Trent

"Looks like it's getting worse," Callum muttered.

Trent took his eyes off the road for a moment and glanced at him. He was glued to the screen of his iPhone following news updates about the fire.

"Yeah. It's worrying, but hey, that's why we're going to the community hall so we can get the latest info straight from the RFS."

Callum sighed and dropped his phone to his lap. "It's going to be bad. It's hard not to worry."

"Believe me, I know." His grip on the steering wheel tightened. The very thought of an out of control bushfire being so close sent a shiver through him. "But obsessing over it won't change anything." Maybe if I say it out loud, I'll start to believe it and stop obsessing myself.

"I'd just feel better if I was doing something to help," Callum said.

Trent nodded and silence settled over the car. He focused on the two-lane road that wound through the mountains, tall stands of trees on either side. It was picturesque. From here, inside the car, with its leather seats and soft music playing on the radio, it was almost as if they were on a pleasant weekend drive. It was hard to believe that a couple of ridges over a firestorm was threatening.

A few minutes later, they pulled into the gravel car park outside the local community hall. Trent slid his SUV in between a small sedan and a ute. It seemed most of the town had turned up for the briefing. He climbed from the car, immediately hit by the acrid scent in the air and the heat of the sun now they were out of the air-conditioned comfort of the car.

"Fuck, this heatwave doesn't help," Callum muttered. "Bloody climate change."

"Yeah. Don't get me started on global warming," Trent said, slamming the door behind him. Temperatures in the mountains were usually mild, even in summer due to the elevation, but this spring had been particularly hot. A hot day here and there was expected but not the prolonged soaring temperatures they'd had this season.

Together, they walked towards the entrance. He could see some familiar faces and also a lot he didn't recognise but they were all marred by the same worried expression that no doubt mirrored his own.

"Hey, Mary, Joe," he called out, raising a hand when he saw the elderly couple crossing the car park. Mary was leaning on a stick, making slow progress. Joe walked slowly at her side. "How's the knee, Mary?" he asked when they got closer.

"I can't complain, but thank you for asking, dear."

"You should be home resting," Joe grumbled.

She narrowed her eyes and elbowed his arm. "Tsk. I wasn't going to miss this meeting."

It was clear they'd had this argument before.

"Yeah, I don't think any of us wanted to miss this meeting," Callum said. "We need to know what's happening."

Mary took a step forward and put a hand on Callum's forearm. "Thanks for yesterday, dear. Your help was greatly appreciated, and your advice. You'll be happy to hear our son arrived this morning and is clearing out behind the veggie garden as we speak."

"I'm glad." Callum returned her smile. He'd obviously made a friend there. "Let's get out of this heat and head inside," he suggested, holding an arm out for Mary.

Trent stood back with Joe as Callum escorted her into the old wooden building. His heart melted a little more at the sight of the big handsome man with the frail woman on his arm.

"He's a good man," Joe said, echoing Trent's thoughts.

His gaze flicked to Joe. "Yeah, he is."

"Don't let that one go. It's hard to find men like that nowadays."

Trent knew Joe was talking about him keeping a hard-working, honest man in his employ, but his thoughts went in another direction. He wished Callum was his so he could hang on to him forever. He'd spent many recent nights imagining the two of them together. Callum made him feel safe, gave him that sense of home. He liked having the man beside him, sharing his life—

"Trent?"

"Hmm?" He shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"C'mon, let's get in there and see what the RFS have to say," Joe said and lead the way into the hall.

The community hall was a large single room with a vaulted ceiling. There were two doors at one end that led to a small kitchen and a bathroom. It was a simple building used for community events—off-white painted walls, timber floorboards, square windows, and blue plastic chairs. It was filled with people, the hum of hushed conversations echoing through the room. Large ceiling fans circulated warm air in lieu of air conditioning. A number of people held sheets of paper, waving them in front of their faces in an effort to combat the heat.

He met Callum at the entrance and guided him to a pair of empty seats. They didn't talk, the seriousness of the situation weighing heavily as they waited for the session to begin. Callum's foot tapped nervously on the floor and Trent was tempted to place a hand on his knee to still him, so folded his arms instead.

"Attention, everyone!" A voice from the front of the hall cut through the low hum of conversation in the room. "Thanks for coming today. I'm here to provide an update on the fire situation."

The crowd fell silent and looked to the front. Trent leaned forward, elbows on knees, his gaze fixed on the speaker who stood with two other people dressed in the yellow shirts of the RFS uniform. Beside him, Callum did the same, every ounce of attention focused on the RFS captain.

"Over the past few days, we've seen a significant increase in the size of the fire, and new outbreaks have been reported in several areas. While we're doing everything in our power to contain and manage these fires, we need your help."

He proceeded to share information, his strong voice belting out facts and providing guidelines, but despite the guy's calm manner, Trent's chest tightened. He rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced at Callum who was listening with rapt attention, eyes focused on the front.

"You'll have noticed an increase in the smoke around this area. That's due to wind changes that have increased the speed of the fire and caused it to spread even further," a female RFS member added. She spent some time outlining the fire's current location and Trent's blood ran cold. "We're doing our best to get resources where they're needed most, but we need everyone to be vigilant and prepared. Remember, folks, stay informed through official channels, follow safety protocols, and be prepared to evacuate if necessary."

Worry gnawed at him with each word as he tried to process the magnitude of the situation. He glanced at Callum to see him scribbling furiously on a small notepad that he'd taken from his pocket. He leaned over and whispered, "What are you writing?"

"Things we still need to do," Callum whispered back. "How to keep the property safe and how we can help out with the firefighting efforts."

Trent nodded, unsurprised at how focused and determined Callum was. He'd witnessed his tenacity firsthand. He turned his attention back to listen to the answers to questions from the crowd. Everyone seemed to share the same fears he did, but there was also a sense of determination to fight this thing head on, making him feel proud of his little town.

The RFS spokesperson began to wrap up. "As you all know, the fires occurring across the state are devastating. A fire event of this extent and for this duration is unprecedented in recent times. We understand how challenging this is. Properties have been affected. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost their homes. Our wildlife has been impacted, and it's not over yet. The impact of the fires will be felt for a long time to come. Finally, I want to thank all the firefighters and volunteers on the frontline who are working hard to contain these fires. We thank them for their continued efforts and for their courage in protecting the community."

The crowd clapped and he joined in the applause. They were bloody lucky to have such dedicated fire service people willing to put their lives on the line for others.

"Thank you for coming and stay safe everyone."

The meeting broke up. They got to their feet and they joined the crowd filing out of the hall. Like everyone else, he scanned the sky as soon as he got outside. He had no idea what he was looking for—maybe flames or a raging inferno—but nothing had changed in the time they'd been inside.

"Trent, dear." Mary came up beside him. "Come with me. I'd like to introduce you to Annie Sullivan. She's part of the ladies' group that does a lot of work supporting the community. She's a member of my bridge group and I've been telling her all about you and the guesthouse."

"That'd be great. Thanks, Mary." He turned to Callum. "Back in a tick."

Annie was probably ten years older than him, dressed in jeans, a shirt, and a wide-brimmed hat. "Nice to meet you, Trent."

"And you."

"How are you holding up, Annie?" Mary asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Pretty good considering the circumstances," she replied with a weary smile. "How about you?"

"Joe and I have lots of support. Richard arrived this morning, and he's lending a hand."

Annie smiled. "That's good to hear. I didn't like the thought of you and Joe out there by yourselves."

"We'll be right, dear," Mary said. "We've lived there for over forty years and nothing's stopped us yet."

Trent admired her courage, but he didn't think it was worth pushing their luck, especially at their age and with their health issues. He made a mental note to stop by again and have another chat, see if there was anything more he or Callum could do.

"And how are things at the guesthouse," Annie asked, turning to Trent. "I've been meaning to stop around and welcome you to the mountains, but… well, you know how things get. I've been run off my feet."

"All under control. Perhaps we can have a coffee after all this fire stuff has died down."

"I'd like that."

"Actually," Trent said. "I had an idea I wanted to run past you. I've got a big kitchen at the guesthouse. What if we teamed up to make some sandwiches for the firefighters? Or is that something you've already got organised?"

Annie's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "How lovely of you to offer. The hall's been taken over by the RFS volunteers and the kitchen isn't the most efficient at the best of times. It will be nice to have a centralised place to work."

"Fantastic. I'm glad I can help."

"I'll round up the ladies, and we'll be ready whenever you are."

After confirming a time for later that afternoon, they parted ways and Trent made his way back to the car. He looked for Callum and saw him shaking hands with the RFS captain before heading his way. When he saw Trent's eyes on him, his face lit up with a lopsided grin, and Trent's heart missed a beat or two.