Chapter 6

Charlie peeked at the breakfast casseroles he had assembled and then closed the oven. He could be in trouble. Plenty of that had been going on the past few weeks, but being here at Wildlands Academy felt like a reprieve from it.

Now there could be a man in danger close by.

As he straightened, pain lanced through his lower back. No one was around, so he gave himself a moment to be honest. Braced both hands against the edge of the counter and bowed his head. He groaned against the pain.

The fatigue.

The unfairness of it all. Not just being diagnosed with a treatable disease—but the fact that it was one that meant giving up everything he was and asking Alexis to jeopardize her own future just to save his life.

He wasn’t worth it.

And the fact that he’d never be a firefighter again? He should walk over the ridge and into the flames right now.

One tiny problem? He was scared to death of doing it. Feeling all that pain. Knowing he’d chosen to end his life.

Even if he’d reasoned it was the only worthwhile avenue for everyone he knew, he still couldn’t imagine the anguish he’d have to be under to finally bring himself to go through with it. But if he waited more than another few weeks, it might be too late. He’d have to jump in his truck and find a canyon or bridge to go over.

Give Alexis the chance to make the future she wanted.

Save Orion from having to learn how much of a screwup he was.

Jayne…

He had no idea what he even wanted to feel about her, but it felt like all those old feelings had stirred to life again after being dormant for so long. As if they’d never really gone away. He’d missed so much of the good years of her life and the time he’d been healthy. Called a hero.

He wanted to be that man for her, but it would never happen.

But the fact was, her life wouldn’t be better with him in it. She’d been so scared the night before. The last thing he wanted was to cause her grief. He’d be piling more on Alexis, but he knew she was strong enough to handle it.

He refused to be a burden.

Charlie was going to go out on his terms. His choice.

No matter what anyone else thought. He would do what he had to do.

Nothing would change his mind and leave him hurting Alexis more than he had so many times already.

“Everything okay?”

He straightened, trying not to let on that even that hurt. Charlie said, “Breakfast is almost ready.”

“That’s not what I asked.” Orion lifted a coffee mug to his lips.

“I didn’t sleep all that great.” True enough.

“You’re not hiding as much as you want to believe you are.” Orion leaned against the wall by the door, where Charlie had found the meal plan that said omelets for today. “I didn’t put it together until Alexis said what she did about you having lost weight. I had figured it was the physical exertion of being a hotshot, but it’s more than that, isn’t it?”

Charlie stared at his son. “Yes.”

No pretense. No lies.

“Is there anything I can do?”

Charlie reached into the pocket of his pants and pulled out a metal tin. He shook it, which made the medication inside rattle. “I’m good for a few days. But if this goes on any longer than that, I’ll need to get back to the Ember base camp and get more meds.”

They’d worked together for long enough that a professional rapport had developed between them. Things were different now that he knew Orion was his son.

“I’m sorry I never got to see you grow up. I missed out on everything, and I’ll go to my grave regretting not being able to be your father.”

“It wasn’t Mom’s fault.”

The kid wanted to defend Jayne, which meant he loved her enough to do what he could to protect his mom. “What did she tell you about me?”

Orion looked at the mug in his hands. “That you were both far too young. That you both had issues you needed to deal with. She said it was better if you got to live your life.”

Better for him. Not better for her that she didn’t have to contend with a baby and Charlie’s problems?

“Don’t be mad at her.”

Charlie sighed. “What would be the point in that? What’s done is done.” And they were stuck here for the time being. His life was too short to hold a grudge to the end.

“So you don’t resent that she basically kept you from knowing me?”

“I’m not going to make her life miserable over her choice.” He didn’t have enough time left, or the energy, to do that.

Orion stared at him. “All right.” He nodded. “I checked in with Miles. They’re deploying us with the team close enough that we can hike from here and meet up with them. But they’re going to go assess first. See what the conditions are like.”

“You don’t want to stick around here at camp? Make sure your mom and everyone stays out of danger?”

Orion said, “If we meet up with the team, we get to keep the fire from coming anywhere near this place.”

So his mom hadn’t told him about the missing camper? She had told Charlie she would call the sheriff first thing and report him missing. Charlie wanted to go walk around the cabin in the daylight, right after breakfast. Make sure the man hadn’t been hurt and wasn’t lying somewhere they hadn’t been able to see in the dark.

If Orion wanted to protect the home he’d grown up in by doing his job, that wasn’t a bad thing. “Good deal. But I plan on being here until I’m ordered otherwise.”

“This isn’t a vacation.”

Charlie glanced aside at Orion, wondering what the kid was thinking. “You okay? You saw a dead body yesterday. It was pretty gruesome inside that truck cab. Can’t have been much better seeing it up close.”

Orion shrugged. “Mack and I cleared debris. The other Trouble Boys took care of the body.”

So Ham, Mack’s older brother, had made sure the two young guys on the hotshot team hadn’t come face-to-face with something they didn’t need to see.

And they’d let him protect them like that. Knowing full well why Ham had put them on clean-up duty.

“This camp has a fire truck. Does it have anything that would help us move that propane truck from where it’s blocking the road?”

Orion shook his head. “Couple ride-on lawn mowers. Those two ATVs, and a snowplow attachment. The fire truck has a winch, but it’s not going to shift a vehicle that size.”

“I guess we’re waiting for Miles to get it towed, then.”

Orion said, “The wind is going to shift today. Another front is coming down from Canada. We might have to take the kids up to meet our team if it’s bad enough they need help.”

Charlie hadn’t checked the morning fire forecast and weather report. “You think things could get dicey?”

“Miles requested all the planes he could, but there’s a blaze in Idaho they’re covering this morning before the heat of the day. We’re a lower priority unless something changes.”

“And the helicopter from yesterday?”

Orion said, “Both of them are focusing on the south and west. Since the fire burned through that campground, everyone wants it kept away from residences. It’s up to our team to cut a line to protect the camp.”

“And we’re going to be pushing hard against the wind all day.”

He nodded. “Miles said the helicopters might even have to be grounded later today if conditions get too bad.”

Charlie pulled one casserole out, then the other. The smell of onion, bacon, and cheese hit his nose, and his stomach grumbled for once. A positive sign that he might actually feel like eating a whole meal.

He needed the energy.

Orion came over. “Those smell amazing.”

“The Crawford breakfast special.”

“Like Logan, the smokejumper?” There was a whole lot of hero worship in Orion’s eyes.

“His brother. My lieutenant, Bryce Crawford.” Charlie said, “I can teach you how to make it.”

“Sweet.” Orion said, “Are you going to stick around here at the end of summer? Or are you going back to Last Chance County?”

Not quite the hero worship, as when he’d been talking about Logan, but not nothing. Charlie didn’t know what to say, though. He couldn’t make any plans for the future.

Not now, and not ever.

He couldn’t say, I don’t know where I’ll be. Or, We’ll see how it goes. Because neither of those would be true.

“Or do you have something else lined up? You’re not staying here, and you’re not going home either?” Orion frowned. “What are you going to do?”

Charlie hesitated.

“I’ll ask Alexis. At least she’ll tell me the truth.”

“I’ve never lied to you.”

“Then don’t start now.” Orion set his cup down hard. “Are you staying or not?”

He didn’t know what to say. After weeks of being colleagues, this new dynamic was odd, to say the least. How was he supposed to explain that he’d come here for the summer not expecting to do anything at all at the end of the season?

“If you can’t even give me an honest answer that you don’t know”—Orion stepped back and headed for the door—“then forget it.”

Charlie watched him go, the ache in his chest intensifying as his son moved out of view.

The bell for meals rang.

It was better this way. Better not to get too close when it would be over soon anyway.

Orion couldn’t miss what he’d never had.

* * *

Jayne eyed Charlie and took another bite. “Who did you say came up with this?”

He had that knowing look on his face that got her into so much trouble as a seventeen-year-old. “Lots of meals in the firehouse are called ‘what’s in the fridge.’ That’s all this is, really.”

She nodded, then swallowed the bite, trying to figure out what seasonings he’d added to get a simple breakfast casserole to taste like this.

“What did the sheriff say about your guest up the hill?”

“He was out on a call, so I left a message and chatted with the receptionist for a bit.” Jayne knew her from a ladies’ Bible study she’d attended in the spring.

Orion sat at the long cafeteria table, and all the kids had settled in groups to eat breakfast, chatting, laughing. Someone had put the weather channel on the TV, but it wasn’t showing anything near enough to Ember to help them with the day’s fire forecast.

“Do you still want to go look around that cabin?” Charlie asked. “See if we just missed that guy ’cause it was dark?”

She nodded. “I want to be sure he’s actually missing if we’re going to make the sheriff drive all the way up here.” Which meant she couldn’t teach the kids this morning. “Orion, could you take the training class until morning break?”

Orion glanced at Charlie, an expression on his face she recalled from second grade when one of the other kids had stolen his basketball. A kind of angry, upset thing she didn’t know how to fix. He scraped his chair back and walked to the calendar on the wall.

Sparky got up and shook himself off, padding over on those four spindly legs behind her son.

Today was buddy rescue drills and then a lecture on cloud formations. He ruffled Sparky’s head and came back to pick up his plate. “I’ll cover it.”

Jayne twisted in her seat to look at Charlie, recalling now that she’d sat first. Then Orion. Charlie had come along later and purposely sat beside Orion, who hadn’t even looked at him. “What was that about?”

Charlie got up, looking a whole lot like Orion had when he did the same thing just a moment ago. “Let’s go look for that guy.” He took his half-empty plate, dumped the uneaten food, and set the dish in the bin to be washed. He turned to stare at her, probably because she hadn’t followed him.

Jayne ate the last couple of bites. Alexis took her dishes with a grin, handing Jayne a soapy, wet rag in exchange. She washed this long table, then the others. Four kids were already halfway done washing the dishes. She checked in with them, but by now they knew the drill. “Thanks, guys.”

She walked out to where Charlie waited by the kitchen door. “Do you always pitch in?”

“Do you always quit your meal unfinished and leave to go do something?”

He hesitated. “Hazard of being a firefighter at a busy house, I guess. I can’t count the number of meals I haven’t finished over the last twenty years.”

They headed outside, following the same path they’d taken the night before. Four deer—a doe and three fawns—grazed in the field by the river. If they followed the river they’d reach the lake, but this path sent them up the side of the hill.

She glanced at Charlie, wondering about that pinched look on his face. “So, why give up rescue squad to come here for the summer?”

She knew Alexis’s mom had passed away over the winter. Maybe the girl just needed a break from her life for the summer. But it also looked a whole lot like Charlie might’ve wanted to dump her somewhere she’d be watched out for, occupied with a training program while he still got to fight fires.

“We needed a change of scenery.”

Jayne lifted a branch and stepped under it. If fire rolled through this section of forest, it could be devastating. The whole place was dry from months of drought. They couldn’t clear the forest floor of every bit of brush.

All they could do was protect lives. Property was always the secondary concern.

“And Alexis wants to be a firefighter?”

“Actually, I think last she said a paramedic, but only because that’s faster than being an RN.”

Jayne chuckled. “I recall her saying something to that effect.” Still, Jayne wasn’t sure it had been Alexis’s idea for her to come here. “We do cover some medical aspects of firefighting and basic rescue scenarios. Like what they’re doing today.” She glanced back, but it didn’t look as though Charlie was going to say anything.

He looked deep in thought. Or in pain.

She didn’t know him well enough anymore to figure out which it was.

“I’m glad Orion agreed to take the class this morning. The kids respond better to him than they do an old lady like me because he’s closer to their age.”

“If you’re old, then so am I.”

She stopped to scan the area around the cabin. Charlie did the same—standing much closer to her back than she’d have thought was necessary. She glanced over her shoulder and found his face. Close.

Having him here was such a surprise after not seeing him for so many years. Not only because it meant Orion could meet his father but because she got to know Charlie now, as an adult. Sober. Wiser. Steady like an old oak—though she didn’t think he would appreciate that description.

He looked down at her mouth. “What’s funny?”

Something moved at the edge of her awareness. “I’ll tell you later.”

She stepped away from him and tried to find whoever she’d seen just now—or whatever it had been, though she didn’t think it had been an animal.

“I saw someone over there.” She pointed in the right direction.

“Let’s keep walking.”

His voice had an odd tone. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. “Is there something going on?”

“I figured the sheriff might’ve filled you in at some point, but there was a murder a few weeks back, and before that, the explosion in a trailer, or cabin, which initially started the fire.”

She scanned the ground as she walked so they didn’t pass Roger and miss him. “I think I heard about the murder. But why would that have anything to do with my guest?”

“Who knows? The whole thing has me on edge.” Charlie sighed. “There’s this smokejumper, Booth. He tells the craziest stories, and they’ve gotten in my head. Houston and Sophie found that body they thought was her brother, and Dakota and Allie found those kids who saw that guy get popped.”

She turned back, one eyebrow up.

“That’s how they say it!” He looked completely exasperated. “Dakota used to be a cop. I don’t wanna hear another SWAT story the rest of my life.”

Jayne pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Charlie was going to be an adorable grandpa, all grumpy old man. She thought it was cute.

“Anyway, the guy’s name is Earl. Some local thug around Ember, and he’s got a brother, I guess. Floyd. They double-crossed a cartel, so there was no way for them to get cheap drug shipments from south of the border. They had to start making it themselves again. One of the hotshots—Emily, who is dating your TV boyfriend now?—”

“Spenser Storm is not my TV boyfriend! He’s practically Orion’s age.”

Charlie chuckled as they approached the cabin. “The guy who Earl murdered turned out to be an ex-Army Ranger or some kind of clandestine operative the government is denying all knowledge of?” He said it like a question. “Dakota has been following the case after Houston and Sophie found the body in the woods. Everyone is interested since I guess it involves Sophie’s brother.”

“I’m used to being out of the loop because I’m up here most of the time. I only go down to town for supplies, but all this actually makes me want to stay up here more and not get involved.”

“Good call,” Charlie said. “Keep yourself and those kids safe.”

They agreed about that, at least.

She searched the cabin again and came out to find Charlie sitting on the front step. “He’s not inside, but if he left, he didn’t take any of his stuff with him. I can’t tell if he slept here last night or not.”

She wanted to sit by Charlie, but they needed to keep looking. “I hope he’s not hurt. Or out here somewhere all alone.”

“I’m sensing a theme with you.” Charlie stood, touching her waist in a comforting gesture. “You take care of people. You worry about them being safe.”

“I’ve prayed for you a lot over the years and made a lot of ‘unspoken’ prayer requests.”

He shook his head. “What does that mean?”

“Just that I didn’t want to share what was private.”

“But you prayed, and you had other people praying?”

She nodded.

“You realize that probably saved my life, right?” He wound his arms around her waist.

She held on to him, her hands just above his elbows—not wanting to venture too far. They’d barely just met each other again.

“More than once would be my guess.” He studied her. “You ever have that feeling someone is praying for you because you have no idea where the peace you have is coming from?”

She could use some of that peace right now. Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears.

Behind her, to the east, she heard the crack of a branch.

A gunshot exploded through the trees.

Charlie whipped her around, and they fell into the cabin. He covered her with his body as bullets zipped through the air above them.