Chapter 4

FOUR

Booth stood there watching the arsonist disappear into the mountains on a dirt bike. He'd lost him. Lost his chance to find answers.

Every muscle itched to slam his fist into the side of the airplane hangar, but he didn't. He shouldn't have wasted so much time arguing with Nova when it hadn't done any good anyway. All it'd done was give the arsonist more time to make his escape.

Booth sighed, running a hand through his hair. There was nothing to do now except go back and explain everything to the police.

Trudging back across the parking lot, Booth spotted Miles, Finn, and Nova talking in a circle near the charred museum. As he approached, Nova's gaze flicked to him before she crossed her arms and stared at her feet.

How much had she told them?

"There you are," Miles said, waving him into the circle. "We were just discussing the fire and how it was clearly arson. Any ideas about who was behind this?"

Booth met Nova's fixed stare. "Not exactly."

In a short, concise way, he explained his confrontation with the bald man who had admitted to starting the fire. "I tried to catch him, but he escaped on a dirt bike he had stashed behind the hangar. I'm sorry I couldn't stop him."

Miles clapped a hand on Booth's shoulder. "Nothing to apologize for. If it wasn't for your quick thinking and bravery, that woman could have died in there. We all owe you, Nova, and Finn a huge debt for saving her life."

Miles's phone rang, and he checked the screen. "I'll be in the command center," he whispered, walking away with his phone to his ear.

Booth stared at what used to be the front of jump base. "This is worse than I thought."

Insulation and burnt wood littered the parking lot. The main entrance, visitors' center, museum, and their brand-new sleeping quarters, added as a second level, lay in one big pile of charred, wet rubble.

His eyes drifted to the exit hole Finn had cut. If they hadn't escaped, their bodies would have been somewhere under the debris.

Exactly what the arsonist had intended.

"We're definitely going to need a new place to live," Nova said.

Booth studied Nova. She still hadn't looked at him, and now her eyes stayed fixed on the blackened and charred remnants of the building.

He needed to touch base with his partner, Crispin, and see if his old friend knew why this had happened. No way could it be a coincidence, trapping him inside and trying to kill him.

It had to mean Booth was getting close to something.

He raked a hand through his sticky hair. "And to think I was looking forward to a hot shower."

"I can hit you with the fire hose." Finn looked Booth up and down. "Come to think of it, that might be the only way to get that muck off you."

Booth nodded to the remnants of jump base. "What's the situation?"

Finn exhaled a deep breath. "The fire got between the floors. The offices and sleeping quarters caved in, but the ready room and most of our gear is unharmed."

"I guess Nova's right," Booth said. "We can't stay here. It's not safe. Besides, it's a crime scene."

Nova nodded. "So where do we go?"

"Sophie talked with Miles and suggested campin' out at her ranch," Finn said. "She has a garage where we can set up the speed racks, and you can store cargo in the barn with the horses. Fire management agreed, and Logan, Vince, Eric, and JoJo are heading back to help make the move."

"I guess it's a bath in the horse trough, then." Booth shot a look to Nova. "Should work. What do you think, Boss Lady?"

"We'd be with the horses?" Nova shifted her weight.

Finn chuckled. "Not with them, but they do live on the ranch."

"Is Sheriff Hutchinson still around?" Booth searched the faces but didn't see him.

"Just got here a few minutes ago. He's in the hangar." Finn jerked his chin in that direction.

"Thanks." Booth took a step, but Nova stopped him.

"I'm coming with you." Her face was smeared with layers of soot and ash. Remnants of her willingness to risk her life and everything she had just to save lives.

"No." The last thing he wanted was her overhearing answers to difficult questions.

Her eyebrows went up. "I was there. And it wasn't a request. C'mon."

Sheriff Hutchinson paced near the entrance, phone to his ear. Booth waited until he finished his call before he approached. "Hey, Sheriff. I'm Booth Wilder, and this is Nova Burns."

"Just the two I needed to see." He nodded to Nova. "You were in the visitors' center, right?"

"Yes, sir," Nova said.

He hooked a thumb on his duty belt. "What's your take on the fire?"

"Arson," she said.

"You seem certain."

Nova nodded. "I know fire. We had spot fires at every exit, and someone had jammed the doors so we couldn't escape."

"And we had a run-in with the arsonist," Booth interjected.

"That so?" The sheriff crooked a finger. "I think you two better come with me."

For the next few hours, Booth sat with Nova, reliving the fire and recounting their run-in with the arsonist to the sheriff and a deputy who jotted down notes.

By the time they'd finished, their crew had made it back and loaded the speed racks and gear on the plane. Aria was doing the preflight checks, ready to fly everything over to Sophie's so they could unload before sunset.

"Everyone in the vans!" Logan shouted. "We're pulling out in five."

Booth slept on the hour-long drive to Sunflower Ranch and woke when the van hit the pothole-filled driveway. They pulled up to the house not far from where Aria had her plane on the ground.

He was one of the last to climb out of the van and paused to stretch. His knees ached, and his lower back did a little snap, crackle, pop.

The smell of burning charcoal and grilled meat wafted from a barbecue, where Sophie stood turning patties. His stomach rumbled, but the jerky and power bar he'd eaten earlier would have to hold a little while longer.

Each smokejumper worked a three-day shift with one day off during fire season, but they were on call even on their day off. They'd need to get the equipment set up to go at a moment's notice.

"All right," Nova shouted. "Now the real work begins. Let's get this plane unloaded."

Finn moaned. "I need sustenance."

Booth tossed a granola bar, and Finn caught it between his palms. "Sooner we get done, the sooner we can eat a real meal."

Nova rounded the corner, attempting to drag a rack all by herself.

Booth set his water down and jogged over. "Here, let me help."

"I think I got it." Sweat dripped from the red curls plastered to Nova's forehead and cut streaks through the black ash and grime on her face. Her boot caught a rock and she stumbled.

And that was just enough. He walked over and picked up the other end of the rack. Together, they carried it to the entrance of the barn and handed it off to Vince and Eric.

Nova looked at him, this time with softness in her eyes. "Thanks."

"You don't have to do everything alone." He smiled and headed back to the plane for another load.

Aria dropped a box on the stack and pushed out a breath. "You're gettin' under her skin, ya know?" She pulled her ball cap off and held the bill between her teeth while she gathered her hair off her neck.

Booth walked up the ramp. "Who?"

"Nova. She doesn't ask for help easily."

"Ever," he corrected.

Aria tugged her hat back on and leaned on the stack of boxes. "It's not easy to lose your parents. Believe me, I know. You tend to erect walls. Mostly I figure only someone who's worth it will take the time to chip away and see who's really inside."

He studied Aria. Saw the pain in her eyes. "You?"

She picked at a piece of tape. "Yeah. Died in Sri Lanka."

Booth gave her space to get the words out.

"My parents were missionaries. They thought they were doing God's work, but you know what they called the tsunami?"

"An act of God?"

Aria turned and grabbed another box. Carried it to the ramp and started a new stack. "Exactly." She set the box down hard. "So trust me when I say that Nova has reasons for her walls. It's up to you to decide if you want to see what's behind them."

For a moment yesterday, as they were walking, he'd thought maybe he had. And again after he'd watched her try so hard to save the homestead. But even now, as he cast a look at her restacking supplies…she seemed so driven. Alone, yes, but driven.

Maybe people could say the same about him.

Booth picked up the stack of boxes. He stopped at the bottom of the ramp and turned. "Hey, Aria?"

She looked up from her clipboard.

"Thanks for the tip."

"Just…be careful with my friend."

Booth nodded and went back to work.

Over the top of his load, he caught sight of Nova. She was bent over, running the water hose over her head. When she stood, she flung her long red hair back, sending water spraying in an arc.

Oh yeah. She was under his skin all right.

Especially when Nova wrung the water out of her hair, noticed him, and smiled.

He smiled back, then turned away. Because, not for the first time, the sight of her stopped him, made him take a breath. Even all sooted up, she had a raw beauty, but most of the time, her cool demeanor kept all those thoughts on a low simmer.

But she'd smiled at him when she'd thanked him, and…yeah, he liked the mystery behind her. Except…one day he'd have to choose between trying to pull back her layers and walking back into his old life.

No, he was only biding his time here, so it wasn't like any of this was real. Nova and what could be was just a wish. A dream he couldn't have.

At least, not with an assassin out there possessing a hit order with his name on it.

Nova stared at the dancing flames in the campfire, exhausted beyond belief. If she weren't so hungry, she'd crawl into her tent and pass out. Maybe a shower first. But it was the banter and laughs from the crew she knew were equally tired that kept her sitting around the fire, listening to the stories fresh off the line.

She finished her hamburger and tossed the napkin in the fire. It shriveled and disappeared in a second.

In the flames, faces appeared—Daniel's, which then morphed into her father's. She was thankful for the image, because some days she worried she might forget what he looked like.

The wildfire at the homestead had dredged up painful memories, but with her help, the outcome had been very different.

A bottle appeared out of the corner of her eye, and she turned to see Booth. "Ice-cold root beer. Sophie had two, so I threw a few elbows and snagged one for you."

"Oh man. I was craving sugar." She took the bottle. Twisted off the cap. Tossed it into the fire. Tipped her head back and took a long pull. The sweetness instantly energized her. "Oh man, that's the stuff."

"What? Nothing for me? I thought I was your favorite." Finn threw up his arms.

Booth sat on the upturned log beside her, his shoulder brushing hers. "You're everybody's favorite, Finn." Booth chuckled.

Nova sipped her soda and tried not to smile at Booth. She was still a little cranky about the way he'd talked to her after the fight, but then, she hadn't exactly been a peach herself.

From the day he'd arrived, Booth had intrigued her, but he was always so buttoned up. Then yesterday, during their walk, he'd given her a glimpse beneath the surface. He was a thinker. Dependable.

And no, she hadn't needed any help with the rack, but the fact he'd jumped in earlier today…okay, it'd been heavy.

And frankly, the man was handsome too. Sharp blue eyes that reflected the dancing flames when he worked a fire. A bristle beard, trimmed in such a way he had a rugged, perpetual five-o'clock shadow. That wild, sandy-blond hair needed a trim. It fell all wrong but also…just right.

But she couldn't be with Booth if she didn't really know him. The man was buttoned up tight. Keeping secrets, she was sure of it.

Besides, letting her personal feelings get in the way had never helped her achieve her goals before. Once upon a time she'd thought she'd wanted the ring, the wedding, and the happy ending. And look how that'd turned out.

Thank You, God, for letting me see the truth about Cliff's addiction before it went too far.

Why would she let romance get in the way now, when she had her sights set on being crew chief? She needed to focus.

"Hey, Booth," Finn called. "How about another campfire story? Got anything good?"

Booth grinned. "Really? I figured you'd be sick of those stories."

"Well, since our lounge burned up today, it's not like we can watch TV," Vince said.

Logan laughed. "Yeah, man, we're a captive audience. Let's hear it."

"What about you?" He turned to look at Nova. "You up for a Crazy Henry story?"

She threw out her hands. "I'm all ears." As if he could top their real-life arsonist and would-be assassin.

"Okay, here's a story. The team was down in Middle of Nowhere, Arkansas. Intel pointed to some local hillbillies selling seed technology to foreign agents. It's middle of summer. Hotter'n the hinges on the gates of Hades—as the locals kept sayin'."

"My grandfather always said ‘hotter'n the devil's armpit,'" Finn added.

"Let the man tell his story," JoJo said, tossing a napkin at Finn.

"Okay, so…Crazy Henry was captured by these zealous militia guys. They dragged him into a barn and tied him to a post. Said they were holding him until the leader came. But they made a mistake. They left him alone.

"It didn't take long before Henry got himself free. When he realized the barn was storage for bomb-making supplies, he helped himself to a little fertilizer and some chemicals. Made his own incendiary device. Ended up blowing half the barn apart. And that's how Henry rescued himself from the backwoods of Arkansas."

Nova felt her eyebrows shoot up. "Seed technology, fertilizer bomb? Really? We're supposed to believe this?"

Booth shrugged. "You'd be surprised what's happening right in your neighbor's backyard."

Like today.

A killer in her own backyard.

The gravity of Booth's statement hung heavy in the air, and one by one, the crew said good night.

"Something I said?" Booth asked.

She stood. "You sure know how to clear the room. Thanks for the story." Nova smiled to herself and headed across the field. She paused and turned around. "And…thanks for the help."

Before he could respond, Nova jogged toward the house.

"Good night, Wildfire Girl," Booth called.

Still smiling, she went inside Sophie's. The pretty rancher had offered to let "the girls" stay in her spare bedrooms, but Nova and JoJo had opted to sleep in their tents like the rest of the crew. Nova would take her up on the hot shower part though, because she hadn't worked up the nerve to go near the horses.

Inside, the shower whooshed from behind the closed bathroom door. Two doors down, Aria sat on the bed in the guest room, combing her wet hair. They'd beaten her to it, but Nova was used to cold showers. Sometimes no shower if she was working the line.

"JoJo just got in there." Aria patted the bed. "Sit. She won't be long."

Nova glanced at her pants and caught a whiff of the campfire on herself. "I'd better take the floor until I bathe."

Aria pulled a wide-tooth comb through her long blonde hair. "What's up?"

"Nothing. Tired is all." Nova sat on the floor and started to lean against the wall, then thought better of it. She'd probably leave a smear of ash and sweat on Sophie's beautiful paint.

"Out with it. You know I'm a great listener."

Nova rested her elbows on her knees. Should she open up about what was really on her mind? It was no secret that an arsonist was responsible for the fire at HQ, but few knew that Tank had been hired to kill Booth. "I've been thinking about Booth. I can't quite figure him out."

Aria lifted a brow. "Getting under your skin?"

"Yes!" She pointed. "Exactly. There's just this…this mystery behind him. He came here pretty much out of nowhere with the skills of a veteran smokejumper. And he's such a great storyteller, it makes me wonder what secrets he might be hiding in his past."

"You want to unravel the mystery?"

"Yes!" Nova furrowed her brow. "Is that so crazy?"

"Not at all." Aria paused her combing and smiled. "Look, every year we have rookies strolling in here, cocky as you please, thinking they're tougher than ‘the girls'"—she made air quotes around the last part?—"and you just roll with it."

"'Cause I know most of them will wash out."

"Right. But Booth is the least cocky man I've ever met, and he's the one who ruffles your feathers the most."

"That's because he's always questioning my leadership," Nova said. "Always inserting himself into what I'm doing. Like he has to protect me." Nova picked at the carpet, remembering last week. "We were out at Wildlands Academy, trying to save those teenagers from the firestorm. We were in a hurry to get the canoes in the water so we could take shelter under them. I was pulling one to the water, and Booth just took it from me and ran to the lake. I didn't ask him for help. He just took over."

Aria nodded. "Sounds like he was trying to help. You don't have to do everything alone, you know. You can ask for help."

"But I didn't need help." Her voice went up an octave. "I mean, when I need help, I'll ask for it."

Aria's hands stopped and she tilted her head. "Yeah. Sure you will. So, besides getting in your way, does he pull his weight out there?" Aria pointed her comb at the window.

Nova thought about today. The way he'd started punching line without being told. Same with the last fire. He never ran ahead of the team. Not the way she did. "He pulls more than his share."

"So why is it every time you're around him, you bristle?"

Nova picked at the laces of her boot. "Honestly?" She glanced at Aria, then back to her feet. "I don't know. It's like…I can't really get to know him. The rest of the crew—they are who they are. But Booth…there's something else there."

"Something you find…attractive?" Her friend smiled.

Nova tried to suppress a smile but failed. "Okay, maybe a little. I mean, have you looked at the guy?" She pictured him as he'd been earlier, leaning against the garage, singing to her. The crow's-feet crowding his eyes when he smiled. She shook her head. "The thing is, this job is dangerous enough on its own. I can't be distracted with romance."

Aria scooted off the bed and sat on the floor beside Nova. "You're my best friend, and you know I love you, girl, but sometimes I wonder if you have some sort of death wish like you'd rather die alone."

Nova straightened and studied her friend. "You'd rather I take someone with me? Or destroy someone's life because I'm gone?" She'd lost her parents, and it'd torn her apart. "I know how it feels to be that person left behind, and I refuse to do it to anyone else."

"What you do is dangerous, but it doesn't mean you can't fall in love and live a full life outside of this. You can have a husband. A family."

"So when the worst does happen, I leave nothing but grief in my wake? No thanks. It's better not to leave behind people who care."

Aria nudged the side of her boot. "Hey, I care!"

Nova laughed. "You know what I meant. I'd think you of all people would understand the most."

"It's normal to not want to let yourself get hurt. No one can fault you for that. But I, for one, wouldn't give up a single moment—a single memory—of my parents just to spare myself the pain of losing them." Aria wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "I love you, and you have a whole crew that loves you—in their own way. No one will ever forget you, Nova Burns."

The image of her dad lifting her onto a horse burst into Nova's mind. She shook it away.

"That's where you're wrong." Nova stared at her friend. "I would give up every single day with them to not have to feel like this. I'd rather not have had them at all if it means it hurts this much." Get rid of it all. Amputate the whole thing. Numbness would be better than this much raw pain.

"The truth is, there will be suffering." Aria patted Nova's hand. "Love, no matter how difficult, is worth the pain it might bring. You'll see that one day."

"Thanks. I'll think about that." Nova stood and kissed Aria on the head. "Now, I'm off to bed. Get some rest."

"Wait, what about your shower?"

"First thing tomorrow." Nova smiled and headed outside.

She lay in her tent, hands laced behind her head, staring at the stars through the skylight. No matter how long she thought about it, she couldn't figure out why she liked hearing Booth call her Wildfire Girl.

As she drifted off to sleep, the last thing she saw was Booth's smile and his eyes dancing in the firelight.

And she sorta hated herself for it.