Her Firefighter Hero (15 page)

Chapter Fourteen

O
n Wednesday, they got another wildfire. Like before, Jared woke Megan in the middle of the night, giving her as much notice as possible. Hearing his deep voice brought her instantly awake. She grabbed for the notepad and pen she kept on the bedside table and took down the pertinent information. When she had everything, she said goodbye, then called her people to put them on alert.

Two hours later, Megan had dropped her two groggy kids off at her child-care provider's house and headed up onto the mountain just as the sun was breaking across the eastern sky. Since this was the first day of the fire and they'd have to set up the dining tent, there was no way Megan was going to bring her kids along. No sirree. She wanted them safely in town, where no harm could befall them.

A group of firefighters helped Megan's crew set up the tent, and it went together without any problems. As they unloaded supplies from the back of her truck, Megan paused and dusted off her hands, wondering where Jared was. Usually, he was here to greet her. And she admitted only to herself that she missed him.

Trying to avoid her own wayward thoughts, she went back to work. She was restocking the industrial-sized refrigerator with gallon-sized Cubitainers when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned in surprise.

“Jared!”

“Hi there,” he said, his mouth curved in a half smile. “You doing okay?”

“Sure.” She nodded, feeling odd and fumbly in his presence. And yet, a buzzing awareness thrummed through her veins. She couldn't deny the happy bubble that rose in her chest, and she realized how much this man had come to mean to her and her family. She'd fought her growing attraction for so long. And right there, she had the insane notion that maybe she was wrong about Jared. That maybe, if she didn't gather her courage and take a second chance on love, she would never experience the joy, either. And she'd have to live with that regret for the rest of her life.

“Sorry I couldn't be here when you arrived,” he said. “Were there any mishaps in putting up the tent this time?”

“Nope, everything went just like clockwork.”

He glanced around, looking eager. “Did you bring the kids with you this time?”

“No, they're in town.”

“Is there anything I can do?” His gaze brushed past her to the cartons of milk she was stacking neatly inside the fridge. His consideration touched her heart. She felt as though he genuinely cared and wanted to help.

“No, we've about got it taken care of. I'm just getting ready to head back,” she said, trying to keep her wobbly voice calm and even.

He took a step closer, and she stared at his wide chest, where his brass Forest Service badge gleamed against his left shirt pocket.

“Have you thought any more about what I said?” he asked.

She didn't pretend to not understand. “No, my answer hasn't changed.”

She glanced up into his eyes in time to see the hurt there.

“Megan, please don't push me away.”

His voice sounded low and calm. Drawing her in. Convincing her to change her mind. But she caught herself just in time.

“No, Jared. I've got work to do.”

She turned away, shutting off his next comment. She'd stacked another row of Cubitainers into the refrigerator before she turned around, expecting to see him still there. But he was gone. She'd never felt more lonely in her life.

* * *

Three days later, Jared stood near the fire line, supervising the unloading of three giant crawler tractors. Their steel treads would cleat the earth, giving them the traction and power to push tons of dirt, trees and anything else out of their paths as the crews built a fire line.

Jared tried to focus on his work. Three miserable days had passed in which he'd forced himself to stay away from Megan. To give her some space. He wasn't ready to give up on her, but he figured she needed time to think. To decide what it was she really wanted in life. And hopefully to realize that she missed him, too. But it hadn't been easy. One of his men had radioed him an hour earlier to say that she'd arrived in the fire camp and was unloading food supplies. She had the kids with her today, but Jared had resisted the urge to go and see them all. Maybe tomorrow.

Heavy smoke filled the air, the sky a red, angry glow caused by the fire. Dale Carter, the equipment manager, stood nearby, talking on his radio. He pressed a finger to his ear, trying to hear over the rumbling noise of engines.

“What's that you say?” Dale yelled.

Jared barely glanced the man's way as he waved his arms to indicate to the driver where the first tractor should begin digging a wide trench of fire line. A few moments later, Jared felt a tap on his shoulder. He whirled around and pushed back his hard hat.

“We may have to move this equipment back down to the fire camp,” Dale yelled above the growling roar.

“Why is that?” Jared asked.

“The fire has burned across the road about four miles below the camp. It's closed off the road and shut off our access. Some squirrelly winds are whipping the fire around. There wasn't any notice. The Minoa Hotshots are already there, trying to stop it. A couple of them are trapped in a chimney area.”

Jared froze. His entire body went cold with dread. “Which men?”

“Sean Nash and Zach Carpenter. Sean's the one that gave us the warning. He alerted his crew to the danger and got them out in time, but he and Zach are still in there. Word has it that they're trapped by flames. Helitack is trying to figure out a way to fly in and evacuate them, but there's nowhere to land safely.”

A sick feeling settled in the pit of Jared's stomach. Sean's and Zach's lives were in danger. But something else bothered Jared. Something closer to home.

Megan was in the camp, but she wouldn't be here long. A quick in-and-out, just to drop off food supplies. She'd be leaving for town soon and might be trapped on her way down the mountain. Unless he could catch her first.

“I've got to go warn the caterer. She might be caught on that road unaware.” With a wave of his hand, Jared tore off toward his truck.

His blood rushed through his veins with urgency. One thought pounded his brain. Megan and the kids. He had to get to them. Had to warn them. Had to keep them safe.

He drove at a fast clip along the dirt road, a stream of dust rising from his tires to mark his passing. Urgency built within him. A fear that he wouldn't arrive in time. He must warn them. He had to reach them in time.

Five minutes later, he pulled into the fire camp. He parked his truck near the mobile kitchen and hopped out. It was three in the afternoon, but it didn't matter. It felt more like nightfall. The sky was filled with gray smoke and a red haze just beyond. A mixture of dawn and twilight. Unique, beautiful and eerie.

Rows of men and a few women stood lined up for a meal, their faces black with soot. The kitchen never closed its doors. Hand crews came off the fire line at all hours of the day, always ravenous and thirsty. They ate whenever they got the chance.

“Hi, Jared.” Frank waved to him from the serving window as he spooned heaping mounds of mashed potatoes, gravy and cube steak onto empty tin plates.

“Where's Megan?” Jared called impatiently.

Frank pointed toward the road, a cheerful smile on his ruddy face. “You just missed her. She left about five minutes ago.”

A flush of panic rushed over Jared. He could try calling her cell phone, but knew she wouldn't have reception at this high, remote elevation. And even if she did, she was bumping along the dirt road and wouldn't hear her phone ring.

Without another word, he raced back to his truck, turned the key, popped the vehicle into gear and tore off down the road. Frantic with worry. Desperate to hurry. Megan and the kids could get caught in the fire.

He had to find them. Had to stop them from going any farther. To bring them back to the camp where they'd be safe. He'd promised Megan that he'd protect her. That this catering job would never endanger her or the kids. Then June had almost been badly injured by the dining tent. And now this. Jared had asked Megan to trust him. He'd told her that he'd watch out for her. That he had her back. And now, he might be too late.

Chapter Fifteen

“T
he old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be. Many long years ago.” Megan sang the words to the funny song, smiling at her children's laughter.

“Sing it again, Mom,” Caleb said.

Sitting in the back, he was buckled into his booster seat with June right beside him. A trail of dust sifted into the air behind them on the dirt road. Within an hour, they'd be back in town. Then Megan would take a quick inventory of her shelves so the afternoon delivery truck could replenish her food supplies. She'd make a quick stop at the restaurant, to ensure things were running smoothly there. And after that, she would take her kids to their house for a home-cooked meal.

They were doing just fine. For the first time in a long time, she'd paid off some nagging bills and was in the black financially. And all because of her catering work on the fire lines. She owed Jared a debt of gratitude.

“Only if you'll sing it with me this time,” Megan said, feeling happy and relieved.

They'd just dropped off the groceries for the fire camp and were on their way home. Even with the heavy workload, they'd had a fun day together. The only thing missing was Jared. And Megan was beginning to rethink her promise to stay away from the man. Because in all honesty, she missed him. Badly.

“I'll sing,” June said.

The girl broke into song, her voice high and sweet. But Megan didn't join in. She was lost in thoughts about Jared and their relationship. But when she focused on the road ahead, she gasped.

“What's the matter, Mommy?” June asked.

Megan stared in front of her, stunned by what she saw. Fire had come up through the canyon and popped over the ridge. It was burning across the road. A flickering dance of five-foot flames arched toward them. Inaccessible. She couldn't understand it. How had this happened? Where had the fire come from? The road had been perfectly clear an hour earlier. They had to go back the way they'd come, to seek safety in the fire camp. Right now.

She tapped the brake and slowed the truck. “We've got to turn around.”

The kids stared out the window, their mouths and eyes round with surprise. They stared at the red flames flickering in the bushes. The wind was driving it straight toward them.

“Mommy?” Caleb said, his voice high and nervous.

“It's okay, kids. We're gonna be okay.” Even as she said the words, Megan hoped it was true.

June started to cry.

“It'll be all right, sweetheart. We'll just go back the way we came. The fire camp isn't far away. They've got lots of strong firefighters and big fire hoses there. They'll keep us safe. No problem.” In spite of her words, sheer panic coursed through her veins. The desperation to keep her children safe.

“But why is the fire over here, Mom?” Caleb asked in his matter-of-fact voice.

“I don't know, honey. Maybe it got out of control. There's lots of reasons. But I want to get out of here right now. We can find out the details later on.” She tried to sound reasonable. To keep her children calm. But all she could think about was the fire that had killed Blaine. She'd been told that it had happened so fast. Without explanation. Without any notice. And he'd died as a result.

She spun the steering wheel, urgent to turn the truck around. It was tight on the narrow road. Not enough room. The wheels bounced over clumps of sage and rabbit brush. The kids' heads bobbed as the tires dipped into a low rut.

Thump!

The truck jerked hard. Megan pressed on the gas, but the tires whirred without going anywhere.

“What's wrong?” June asked, her voice trembling with distress.

“We've hit something. Stay here while I check it out,” Megan said.

She opened her door and hopped out. Thick, pungent wood smoke filled her lungs, making her cough. Even from this distance, she felt the heat of the fire like the blast from a furnace and pushed her legs to hurry faster.

“No, Mommy! Stay here with us,” June cried from the open truck door.

“I'm just checking the tires,” Megan yelled back.

She rounded the vehicle, looking at the wheels. When she saw the problem, her heart sank. She'd hit a wide tree stump, the left rear tire high ended and unable to move. She pushed against the fender with all her might, but it wouldn't budge. She couldn't get it free. Not without some serious help.

She knew she had a tire jack with the spare in back. Glancing at the blazing fire, she realized there wasn't enough time for that. They had to get out of here. Right now.

She coughed, the acrid smoke choking her lungs and burning her eyes. Above the dull crackling roar, she heard her children crying. The greedy flames were moving closer. So near to them now. Moving fast. Tracking them. The only way to safety was back to the camp. But she knew she couldn't race the fire. She would never be able to run fast enough to outpace the flames. Certainly not with two little kids in tow.

Think! Where could she go? What could she do?

Another sound caught her attention, just to the south of her. Gosser's Creek. It was close by. Blaine had taken her fishing there a couple of times over the past years. In some places, it was quite wide, the cool, clear water rushing past. If she could get the kids down there, they could take shelter in the creek. It wasn't foolproof. Many firefighters lost their lives even when they took sanctuary in a creek bed. But it was their only chance.

* * *

Jared drove like a lunatic. Much too fast on this rutted road. But he didn't care about the shocks on his truck. They could be repaired. Megan and the kids were the most important thing right now. And Sean and Zach. Nothing else mattered but saving all of their lives. Hopefully helitack would be able to fly in and retrieve the two hotshots, but Megan and her children had no one to save them. Except for him.

Jared's vehicle bounced hard along the furrowed road as he searched for any sign of his green truck. Correction. Megan's truck. In his mind, he'd given it to her. Just as he'd given her his heart.

But where was she?

There! Her truck sat half-on and half-off the dirt road. Both doors stood wide-open. Megan and the kids were nowhere in sight.

He pulled over and got out, taking his Pulaski and fire shelter with him. Something had happened. He inspected the truck and discovered the problem. It'd become high ended when she'd tried to turn around. She'd probably been in a big hurry and couldn't get it unstuck.

“Megan!” he yelled, looking around for any sign of her.

They'd been here. He must have just missed them by minutes. The fire rushed nearer, moving so close that he could feel the heat of the flames blistering his exposed face. Billows of smoke flooded his lungs, and he coughed.

“Megan! Where are you?”

Where would they have gone? Where would she take the children? Not into the fire. And not back to the camp. She didn't have many options. He would have seen them somewhere along the road if she'd gone that way. Then where?

He paused. Within minutes, the entire place would be engulfed by flames. He had only moments to act. Whirling around, he ran toward the creek. He had to find them. Had to get them to safety.

“Megan!” he yelled over and over again. Desperate. Filled with fear. He couldn't lose them now. He'd given her his word that'd he'd keep her safe.

He yelled again and again. Hoping she could hear him above the roar of the fire.

This was his fault. His error. He'd promised she'd be safe, and he'd let her down.

* * *

Megan held her children's hands, looking for a safe place to cross the wide creek bed. The kids hugged close to her legs, terror filling their eyes. Drifts of white smoke shrouded Megan's view. Red flames winked at them. The fire was on the other side of the creek, too. They were surrounded. Trapped! So, where could she go? Maybe they should just get into the water and wait it out. That appeared to be their only option. But Blaine had told her stories of how the fire could superheat the water in a creek or stream until it was boiling hot. If they had a burnover, the creek wasn't necessarily the safest place to be. But what other choice did they have? She only hoped there was enough water in this wide creek to spare their lives.

“Megan! Megan!”

She turned, thinking her ears were betraying her. Thinking she'd lost her mind. Above the growling roar, she thought she'd heard her name, as if it came from a long tunnel. She paused, listening. Frantic. Desperate for escape. Her children's lives depended on her.

“Megan!”

There it was again! She was sure of it. Someone was calling to her.

“Here! I'm here,” she screamed.

She peered through the smoke. A man's shape took form among the dry sagebrush. Tall and lean, moving fast as he ran toward her.

“Jared! Oh, Jared.” She cried, falling into his arms. The children were crying, too. But he didn't pause for hello.

He pulled Megan's head close and spoke against her ear so she could hear him above the rumbling noise. “Take June's hand and don't let go. I'll take Caleb. Follow me.”

He lifted Caleb on his hip. The boy held on like a python. Jared took hold of Megan's hand. Megan clasped June's wrist tightly. Then, she followed Jared as he stepped into the creek. The water rushed around their ankles, then their knees and thighs. They stumbled over the slippery rocks.

“But I can't swim. Mommy!” June cried.

“I've got you. I won't let anything happen to you,” Megan said, pulling the girl onward.

Megan held tight to Jared's hand, hoping some of his strength might seep into her. To give her courage and hope. And that's when she knew. She needed to trust him. Completely. Since Blaine's death, she'd been living in constant fear. Cheating herself and the kids out of so much joy because she didn't want to be hurt again. But her plans to remain remote had backfired on her. She was miserable when Jared wasn't with them. So were the kids. They all craved being with him the way flowers craved rain. And now he was here. Her firefighter hero. As she uttered a quick prayer, she realized she trusted Jared completely. She trusted the Lord, too. Somehow, they'd get out of this alive. They just had to. She refused to consider any other option.

They waded into the deepest part of the water. It rose to Megan's waist and she held June close to keep the girl's head up. Jared did the same for Caleb. The man searched the embankment, though Megan had no idea what he was looking for. Finally, he pointed at a low overhang of plants where the roots had been washed free of dirt by the rushing tide. She didn't ask questions but trusted his judgment, going with him willingly.

He pulled them into the bank of the creek bed, pressing Megan and the children in against the damp earth. Then, he positioned himself with his back to the opening. As he shook out his fire shelter and wrapped it around them, his wide shoulders protected them. Whatever happened, he'd take the brunt of the fire. His heroism touched Megan's heart. He was prepared to die to save their lives.

Megan clutched folds of his shirt, pulling him closer. Trying to keep him safe, too. The children didn't move. Just remained silent, their eyes wide, their bodies quivering with fear.

Dead fish floated by. The water was quite warm. Not cold and clear as Megan remembered it from her fishing trips with Blaine. No, it was hot and uncomfortable.

“Mommy?” Caleb spoke in a frightened voice.

Megan was scared, too. More than at any time in her life. But she refused to give in to it. Even as the sounds of the fire intensified until it seemed a freight train was crashing down around them, she refused to let her fear destroy her.

“It's okay, sweetheart. We're going to be okay,” she soothed her children. Hoping and praying it was true.

“Are we gonna die?” Caleb asked.

“Absolutely not,” Jared said with conviction.

“Oh, Jared.” Little June wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight.

Megan leaned her head on the man's shoulder and closed her gritty eyes. A prayer stayed in her heart, begging God to save them. She wanted to cry but couldn't allow it. No weakness. Not now. Not when she had to be strong for her children. She had to fight. To trust. She had to!

“Hold on, Megan. We're gonna be okay,” Jared said over and over again. And she believed him.

A shudder swept her body. She could barely hear him, the noise outside their tight cocoon sounded deafening. She knew it was the fire, burning through the trees and brush just above them. A burnover.

Jared's words gave Megan hope. The courage to ride out the storm and survive.

They didn't speak again. They seemed frozen in time. Locked in a bubble of angst and uncertainty. Unable to move. Unable to think.

They stayed that way for what Megan guessed was an hour before the firestorm passed and the loud sounds faded to a crackle.

“Look!” Caleb said. “A bug's crawling on me.”

Looking down, she saw a small centipede was creeping along the sleeve of her son's shirt. She gave a croaking laugh, thinking how even the smallest of God's creatures must be frightened right now. They all wanted to live.

She brushed the centipede away and hugged her son tight.

Jared turned, moving slow and stiff as he peered out at the blackened ruins of the forest. “I think it's gone past.”

“Can we get out of the water now?” June asked.

Jared nodded. “I think so, sweetheart. But stay close.”

He edged his way out from beneath the overhang. The skeletal remains of blackened trees came into view. Drifting smoke had settled over the forest like a fat, dark cloud. Jared blinked his eyes and looked around. They all climbed out of the creek, their faces, arms and hands black with mud and soot.

Megan lifted Caleb onto her hip, her arms trembling with fatigue and shock. Jared picked up June. Together, they clawed their way up the embankment.