Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
A aron hadn’t felt tired until he and the other first responders traipsed through the soggy forest near the campsite that caused the fire.
Thankfully the campers had escaped injury, but he’d seen the emptiness in their eyes as they surveyed the damage. The sheriff and deputies were there to handle the rest.
Aaron climbed into the truck with the other first responders and rode in silence back to town. It was hard to talk after a call. Hard to forget the burnt trees emblazoned in his mind. He remembered each emergency—each one different, each one tragic. After a call, the crew felt the loss almost as much as those involved.
After showering and changing at the station, Aaron drove to the church. He was exhausted and wasn’t sure he’d stay awake during the service, but after a call, going to church helped with the healing. He’d pray for the family who lost everything and the others who had suffered this week. He’d pray for the crew and the week ahead.
Briefly, he thought of Belle and the moments they’d shared before he received the call. Holding and kissing her filled the need that had stirred inside him for years. News of her marriage opened a wound in his heart. His emotions under control, he ignored the pain welling inside him. He’d always felt that one day Belle and he would be together. When she married, he knew he’d been fooling himself. He prayed for her and her husband—he still did. He believed God would bless their marriage.
Now she’d removed her wedding rings from her finger. Her divorce was imminent, and she would be free. Was this the opportunity he believed would happen? He ignored the hope rising in his chest. That decision would be God’s, not his.
She was on the rebound—not a good start for any relationship.
He was relieved to have found her wedding rings. Even if that were another stake in the hope of Belle and him being together. He didn’t want her to lose her rings. Her marrying another man was the sign he and Belle weren’t meant to be together—something his mind accepted, but not his heart.
Aaron arrived at the church and found a parking space at the rear exit door. Grabbing the Bible he kept in his truck for moments when he wanted to attend after a fire, he climbed from the truck and strode to the church.
Inside, an usher greeted him and showed him some places he could sit. He saw Belle sitting with his parents and brothers nearby. Levi and his family weren’t there. Levi had called his mother yesterday and said everyone was sick so they’d miss the service.
As if Belle felt someone watching her, she turned slightly. The surprise in her eyes brought back her high school innocence and made his heart lift. He’d never forget when he first saw her.
His smile slight, he nodded to her but didn’t miss the concern she showed. He wanted to tell her that, except for his exhaustion, he was fine. An afternoon nap would restore his strength.
Her children weren’t with her, so he assumed she’d taken them to the children’s service. His parents and brothers turned and saw him. He smiled at them, then took his seat.
Pastor Jerry stood at the podium and read the scripture for the teaching. Aaron was disappointed he’d missed the worship part of the service—he enjoyed the moments when he joined the others and thanked God for His love, blessings and protection, but he was glad to hear Pastor Jerry’s teaching. That would fill him for the calls he’d receive in the coming week. The sermon kept him riveted, and he was glad he hadn’t fallen asleep. When the service ended, those seated around him greeted him. Soon his family made their way to him. He saw the relief in their eyes that he had completed the emergency call safely.
That same relief was in Belle’s eyes along with something else—those last moments they’d spent together? He’d never forget those.
“I took the children to the service downstairs.” She glanced toward the stairs. “I’ll go down and get them.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said. He wanted to be with her, and it would be good to greet the children’s minister, Pastor Ben. He was jovial and upbeat, something Aaron enjoyed after spending a night battling a fire.
The surprise in her eyes turned warm. “They can’t wait to see you,” she said so softly that only his mother seemed to notice her welcoming tone.
“I can drive Belle and the kids back to the ranch if you want to take Dad home.” Aaron turned to his mother.
“That might be a good idea,” his mother said, though he didn’t miss the knowing look in her eyes. “He was more tired than usual this morning. I told him I thought he should stay home, but you know Dad. He hates to miss a service. We’ll just chat with a few friends, then I’ll take him back to the ranch and finish making Sunday dinner.”
“We won’t be too long,” Belle said hurriedly. “We’ll be back in time for me to help you.”
“With all the work you’ve done already, there isn’t much to do.” Naomi gave her a tender smile. “Take your time.”
Together, Aaron and Belle walked through the crowd to the stairs leading to the children’s service. As friends greeted him, he took a moment to introduce them to Belle. Belle seemed delighted to meet his friends and chat with old ones. He didn’t miss the curious looks in his friends’ eyes. He wished there were something to make of his being with Belle, but it would only last until she and her children left town.
When he and Belle stepped into the ministry room, her children ran to her.
“We had so much fun.” Kelsey bounced on her toes. “Wait until you see what we did.” She pulled away and dashed across the room.
“Did you put out a fire?” Lyle looked at Aaron, his eyes anxious.
“Yes, we did. Unfortunately, some of the forest was burned, but at least the campers are safe.”
“Thank goodness.” Belle breathed.
Lyle shot one question after another at Aaron. Enjoying the boy’s enthusiasm, Aaron patiently explained how the crew controlled the fire and rescued the occupants.
“I don’t know how you can be so nonchalant about the work you did,” Belle said in a low voice as she, Aaron and her children climbed the stairs to the lobby. “You saved a family.”
“Thankfully, we got there in time so the fire didn’t spread too much.” He never thought what he did was remarkable. It was what God had called him to do. “Unfortunately, putting out the fire is just beginning. Those campers may never go camping again.”
Her face filled with sympathy, she nodded.
“My parents want to rebuild the cabin. I loved coming here as a kid. Now that my …” A sheen filled her eyes, and she looked away.
“Hey, it’s okay.” He kept his voice low. Her children had run ahead to his truck, but he didn’t want them to sense their mother was sad. The pain in Belle’s eyes made him breathe heavily.
She nodded. “Anyway, I’m meeting contractors at the site tomorrow.”
He sensed she wanted to say more, but not at the risk of her children overhearing. He had more to say, like how would she get there, but he’d wait until later.
Lyle and Kelsey reached the truck. They turned to their mother and Aaron, their eyes expectant. Aaron was glad they spent the ride home telling Belle and him about the different activities the group did during the children’s service. They made a lot of friends.
Belle seemed relieved and hung on their every word as if what they said was the only thing that mattered.
A connecting moment drew Aaron to her and her children. How could anyone walk away from this wonderful family? He never would. A lifetime with her would have been a heaven-sent gift. He’d cherish every instant.
In the moments when Belle seemed to think no one would notice, he saw the sadness settle over her. He prayed she didn’t blame herself for her failed marriage. Having never been married, he was hardly the expert, but logic told him it took two to make a marriage.
Sadly it seemed it took one to tear it apart. Maybe it took two.
When did her husband decide the marriage wasn’t worth his effort to make it work? Why did he think that?
After Belle had confided to him about her marriage, she rarely spoke about it again. There were so many things he didn’t know. He’d leave it that way. She came to the mountains so she and her children could heal. Instead, they dealt with a fire and a landslide. Now they couldn’t stay in their family cabin. They were at the ranch, which the children enjoyed. Belle seemed to enjoy it, too.
“If you want to rest until dinner, I’ll wake you when it’s time to eat,” Belle said when he had parked his truck in the ranch garage.
The children scrambled from the truck’s back seat, then raced to the house.
Aaron hesitated. He had planned to nap but he didn’t want this time with her and the children to end. He missed her last night. Their parting kisses were emblazoned in his mind. Though they weren’t a couple, he liked the comfort of knowing she and her children were at the ranch. He liked having them at his cabin, too.
“Are you going to argue with me?” She stared at him, her dark eyes disbelieving. “You put out two fires that I know of. You haven’t slept since the night before last. And what if you get another emergency call? You need rest. Working when you’re tired opens the doors to mistakes and …” She paled. “You need to recharge.”
He would’ve told her that having more than one call in a night wasn’t unusual. Emergencies didn’t make appointments.
The set of her jaw revealed she wouldn’t accept an argument from him. She knew enough about fighting fires to know how exhausting the work was. She’d seen it firsthand when he and the crew put out the fire at her family cabin, then removed the landslide surrounding his cabin.
“You’re right,” he said looking into the expressive eyes he’d held in his memory for the past fourteen years. “Let’s go to the house.”
In the kitchen, the aroma of his mother’s pot roast made his stomach growl and reminded him that he hadn’t eaten since last night’s dinner, though the crew kept energy bars and drinks in the fire truck. Naomi had set out a plate of sliced fruit, cheese, crackers and a bowl of nuts to tide the family over until dinnertime.
“I’m going to rest awhile,” Aaron told his mother. He glanced at Belle and offered her a half smile. Relief filled her eyes. “I’ll come down for dinner.”
“Do you want a snack?” His mother lifted a brow.
“I can wait,” he said. The exhaustion he’d kept at bay swept in. His body wanted sleep more than food.
He smiled at her, then moved out of the kitchen. He’d rest, but he knew where his thoughts would be—with Belle and how grateful he was to have these moments with her. For how long, he wouldn’t think about that. She was with him now. That was all that mattered.