Chapter 11

ELEVEN

The trip back to Ember passed in a hazy blur. Booth clenched the steering wheel and pressed the gas pedal flat to the floor. He darted his eyes between the road and the rearview, expecting to spot Floyd or one of his men.

On the seat beside him, Crispin either slept or faded in and out of consciousness, his breaths shallow and uneven. His skin was pale, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead. Probably had an infection in his surgical wound.

There was so much to talk about, but Booth let his friend rest. There'd be time once he'd been treated.

Crispin moaned, eyes rolling underneath paper-thin eyelids. Booth pressed the gas harder.

Ember Memorial Hospital emerged up ahead.

He skidded the truck to a stop under the emergency awning, ignoring the No Parking signs. Engine running, he flung open the truck door and hopped out. He raced around the front of the truck and through the ambulance bay doors.

"Hey! You can't park there!" a nurse called.

"It's an emergency. I need a wheelchair. I have a patient in bad shape."

"We've got this," the nurse said.

Orderlies grabbed a gurney and followed Booth back to the truck. He stood there watching as they loaded Crispin's limp body and shouted orders to each other.

Booth followed them inside. He wanted to help. Do something besides watch the doctors and nurses.

A nurse approached, eyes soft with empathy. "You did the right thing bringing him here. We'll do everything we can for your friend."

Booth nodded. He stared at Crispin's motionless form. Why hadn't he stayed at the hospital with him in the first place? Crispin had needed him, and he'd left his partner behind to go fight a fire.

But then, if he hadn't been there, how many of his fellow smokejumpers would've died? Nova included.

The gurney turned into a room. "Wait right there." The nurse gestured to a nearby chair and pulled the curtain, blocking his view.

The medical staff exchanged orders and vitals over the beeping and humming of medical equipment.

Booth was too amped to sit. He paced the tiled floor, torn between staying by Crispin's side and the gnawing need to go find Floyd. And what about Nova? She needed him. The town needed him. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't be in three places at once.

He raked a hand through his hair.

This yo-yoing between his old life and his new one had to stop. Everything within him wanted a life with Nova, but how could he with The Brothers still out there?

He'd have to choose.

Nova or Crispin.

Sheriff Hutchinson strode toward Booth, hand resting on his holstered sidearm. A deputy trailed a step behind.

The sheriff stopped and cocked a sideways grin. "Trouble seems to follow you around, don't it, son?"

Booth shot him a glance. "More like I'm chasing trouble."

The sheriff crossed his arms over his barrel chest. "Care to fill me in?"

He recounted everything, starting with Crispin leaving the hospital. Hutchinson listened, pausing Booth to ask for clarification now and again.

When he'd finished, Hutchinson unfolded his arms and adjusted his hat. "Floyd wants something from you, Booth. This isn't just about revenge."

Booth clenched his jaw. The sheriff needed more information if Booth expected him to help at all. More?—not all. "Floyd's after information. Something he thinks Crispin and I know about Henry Snow."

"Henry Snow? That's a name from the past. What does Floyd want with him?"

"He believes Henry has something. A missile, some weapon. And he's willing to go to extreme lengths to find it."

The sheriff's eyes narrowed. "And he thinks you know where Snow is?"

Booth nodded. "He doesn't care what he has to do to find out. Including setting that fire in the jump base and nearly killing Crispin."

Had Crazy Henry really hidden a nuke, one The Brothers desperately wanted to find so they could start a war?

No wonder Nova hadn't believed his stories were true.

"Do you? Know where Snow is, I mean." Hutchinson arched a brow and turned his ear a little toward Booth.

"I don't know how to contact him or where he is right now." Booth glanced at the deputy scribbling in his notebook. Booth wasn't quite ready to tell Hutchinson that Henry was definitely somewhere in the Kootenai National Forest. But could he find the old coot?

Doubtful.

If Henry didn't want to be found, no one would ever see him.

The sheriff straightened. "I'll post a deputy at Crispin's door, keep an eye on your friend. No one in or out except medical staff. We'll also send someone out to investigate that cabin."

If it was still there. At least his fire line would prevent the fire from spreading into the forest.

"Appreciate it, Sheriff." Booth read the address from his phone. "It might give you a lead on Floyd."

Hutchinson's gaze lingered on Booth. "If Floyd is trying to use Crispin as leverage against you, it's best you keep your distance. Let us handle this."

Booth clenched his hand into a fist. After all Floyd had put him through—put Crispin and Nova through…He shook his head. "I can't just sit back?—"

The man clapped a firm hand on his shoulder. "Sometimes, Booth, the best way to protect those you care about is to let the law do its job. We'll find Floyd and put an end to this."

With those words hanging in the air, Booth watched as the sheriff and his deputy walked away. There it was again.

His old life was law enforcement. He wouldn't stay idle. He'd find Henry Snow before Floyd did and take down The Brothers for good.

First, though, he had to find Nova…

Booth's boots squeaked on the hospital's polished floors as he hurried toward the exit.

He halted at the sight of JoJo Butcher huddled in the ER waiting room. Tears streaked her face. His pulse quickened. If JoJo was here, that meant something had gone terribly wrong out there.

"JoJo?" Booth lowered himself onto the chair beside her. "Why aren't you with the others?"

She turned puffy red eyes on him. "There was an accident on the jump. Finn and Nova…they collided midair." She choked on a quiet sob. "Finn's hurt pretty bad and…and they can't find Nova."

His breath fled his lungs.

JoJo dragged a sleeve across her wet cheeks and nodded. "Some spotter crews are still out there, but visibility is terrible, and the fire's spreading so fast…" She lifted her shoulders in a helpless shrug. "They said the odds aren't very good."

"I want you to pray. It's the best thing we can do. I'm learning that true redemption lies in surrendering every situation to Jesus. Even this one." Booth gave her shoulder a squeeze and stood. Already calculating the fastest route to jump base, he figured he could be airborne with the next smokejumper team in twenty minutes. "I'm going to find Nova."

"You can't. Last chopper just left to evacuate the jumpers. Ground crews have pulled back too." She lifted red-rimmed eyes. "Aria's waiting at jump base in case…"

In case they found more jumpers to recover than survivors.

He should've never left Nova.

"I'm not giving up on her." He headed for the door. "The storm has grounded planes, not me. I'll get there on foot if I have to."

Nova turned her head and sucked air between her teeth. Pain thrummed in her skull and every other part of her. She opened her gritty eyes, blinking against the blurriness.

That had been some dream. Falling into a hole like Alice and coming face-to-face with?—

"Oh, hey. You're awake," said Henry's voice.

Crazy Henry.

It wasn't a dream.

"Easy there." Henry sat in a ratty old recliner, watching her from across the room. "You blacked out back there, but you're safe now."

Nova attempted to sit up. Her body protested every movement. "Where am I?"

"My hideaway." Henry leaned forward. The metal springs on his chair squeaked. "Needed a quiet place to tend to your injuries and let you get some rest."

She glanced around the windowless room, a modest space with a worn sofa and a simple kitchen setup. A fire burned in a stone hearth. The chimney had been carved up from the cave wall.

"Thank you for carrying me out of there." Now she just needed to get to a hospital.

Henry handed her a steaming cup of tea that smelled amazing. "Let's call it even. Do you remember what you said before you blacked out?"

Heat crept up her neck. Oh, she remembered all right. That little word-vomit episode in the tunnel right before she'd passed out. "I remember."

Henry's sharp and weathered eyes flickered with concern. "If what you're saying is true, we're all in more danger than you can imagine."

Nova shifted on the sofa. "Tell me."

"Earl and Floyd Blackwell are biological brothers, but they're also a new division of an organization, called The Brothers in northwest Montana. Russian sympathizers, but they want to start a war that will destroy America so Russia can be the world power. Their dad was a Russian spy in the US and was killed by me a few years ago."

A shiver ran down her spine. Booth had told stories of Crazy Henry killing a Russian spy. "Why are they after Crispin and Booth?"

"If they prove themselves, they'll get an invite to make the Bratva. They've made themselves legitimate players in their world. They believe finding a missing nuke—rumors their dad must've told them—will be their ticket. They're willing to do anything to prove themselves to the Russians."

Nova's mind whirred. This was way more than stories. It was a real-life geopolitical game with lives at stake.

"Earl's dead," she said. "He died in a wildfire. Floyd probably wants to avenge his brother's death."

Henry's features hardened. "Floyd won't stop until he gets what he wants. He'll be even more dangerous. And right now, he's got a hired group of assassins at his disposal."

"Assassins?" Nova's heart pounded at the mention of more men coming after Crispin and Booth. "Are you kidding?"

"I wish I was. I've been listening to some radio chatter, intercepting phone conversations. Things are only escalating."

"We need to warn them, Henry." She wrapped an arm around her aching ribs. How far could she get in this condition?

Henry's expression mirrored her concern. "There is no we , Nova. We're dealing with a different kind of danger here. The moment I step outside, Russian satellites will be snapping pictures faster than the paparazzi. That's why no one has seen me in years—other than you firefighters the past few weeks." He shook his head. "Always landing in trouble."

Her mind raced for a solution. "We can help you. Booth needs to know you're here. We can't let Floyd's hired guns catch him off guard."

"Just hold on." He held up a palm. "We need to tread carefully. If what you said is true and Floyd's closing in on the nuke, Booth might be the key to saving Crispin and stopping Floyd."

The room seemed smaller. The air thickened, making it hard to breathe. Her eyes bored into Henry's. "Th-th-the nuke? It's…here?"

Henry's gaze held hers for a beat.

She looked around the room. What was she expecting? To see it leaning against a wall? "Okay, forget that. What's Booth got to do with it? He only found out Crispin was alive a few days ago."

"I'm the one who sent Booth to live here. He's been doing some searching of his own, and he knows how to stop The Brothers. I need you to be the one who warns him."

"Sure, but I lost my radio and phone?—"

Henry shook his head. "This can't go over any wires. No phones. No email. Tell him in person. Quietly."

"But how? We're trapped by the wildfire. Even if we weren't engulfed by flames, I'm in no condition to hike back up the mountain."

A small smile tugged at Henry's lips. "Don't you worry about that. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. There's a way to navigate around this chaos."

Her brow furrowed. He'd said the firefighters had seen him. "Wait…the old mining house! I knew I saw someone in there. That was you?" Nova's eyes widened. The metal ring on the floor. "You had a trapdoor. That's how you escaped the fire."

"One of many I have scattered all over the place. There's a way to navigate this wildfire without succumbing to it."

"You have a way to get me home safe?"

"It won't be easy, but it's our best chance." Henry stood and moved toward the door. "Sit tight. I'll be back."

Henry disappeared into the darkness, leaving Nova alone with the crackling flames in the fireplace.

As Nova awaited Henry's return, she assessed her injuries. A white bandage covered the cut on her forearm. Henry had wrapped her ankle with an elastic bandage and built a makeshift splint to support her possibly broken ankle.

The tea had dulled the pain pulsing through her body. A second cup might help, but she doubted she could even stand.

She took a steadying breath and leaned back on the pillow. Her thoughts coalesced into a prayer.

"God, I need Your peace. I…I can't do this on my own. I need You," she whispered. "Help me find Booth. Warn him about all this. Keep him safe."

The door creaked open, startling Nova awake.

Henry's presence filled the room. "Ready to find your way home again?"

"More than ready." She had to find Booth and check in with her crew. Had to know if Finn had survived…or not.

"Okay, up we go." With Henry's support, she managed to get off the couch. She took a beat to gather her bearings. "Keep weight off your foot as much as you can. We've got a bit of a walk. Use these." He handed Nova a pair of ancient-looking crutches.

Henry grabbed a flashlight and led Nova down a darkened tunnel. It was slow going with her injuries, but not as bad as she'd expected.

He turned left at a T intersection, walked awhile, and turned right at the next. Then another right and a left. Henry had her all turned around, and she was pretty sure they were walking right back to where they'd started.

Up ahead, an ominous glow illuminated the mouth of a cave. The silhouette standing at the opening froze her in place.

Henry stopped beside her. "What? What's wrong?"

"Is that…?"

He shone the flashlight at the opening.

A saddled horse stood tethered and waiting. It lifted its head and whinnied.

Oh…oh no. Henry expected her to ride that horse.

Ride through the wildfire to safety.

Her good leg began to tremble, and her possibly broken ankle throbbed. "No way, Henry. I can't ride that horse."

"You don't know how to ride?"

"It's not…I can't do it." She leaned against the cold stone of the cave wall.

Henry put a warm hand on her shoulder. "Listen, kid. I'm not sayin' it's going to be easy. Especially in your condition. But it's the only way. No vehicle can do what Abilene can do."

"Abilene?" Nova looked at the horse. Henry was right. It was her only way out of the wildfire.

Her only way to find Booth before Floyd did.

She crutched over to Abilene. Reached up and petted her muzzle.

This wasn't the same as what'd happened before. She wasn't a frightened child leaving her family behind. This was her opportunity to do what Booth had done for her—save his life.

The fire's roar outside the cave intensified. Abilene didn't flinch. Didn't shuffle her feet. She stood strong.

Nova squared her shoulders.

She met Henry's gaze. "I'll do it. I'll ride out."

Henry gave a sharp nod. "You can do this, Nova. Trust the horse. Trust yourself. Trust God."

As he helped her onto the saddle, Nova felt the familiar rhythm of the horse beneath her. Trust in the plan. Stay safe. She could do this.

"How do I know where to go? I don't even know where I am."

Henry untied the reins and handed them to Nova. "Don't worry, Abilene knows the way. You've got some supplies in her saddlebags." Henry stepped back. "Now, go on. Get."

She smiled at Henry. "Thank you."

Nova split the reins and turned Abilene around to face the flaming wilderness outside.

Fire licked at the edges of her vision. A wall of heat and smoke crowded in. It wasn't too late to turn back around.

No.

Nova nudged Abilene forward. The horse moved with a grace Nova hadn't expected. The fire loomed ahead. Nova's heart echoed the rhythm of the horse's hooves.

Things were different. This time, she wasn't leaving a loved one behind.

She was riding toward him.

Did she…? Yes. She did love Booth.

Against all odds, she would find a way to him—the man she loved. Together, they'd face whatever challenges awaited them beyond the flames.