6. Davin
Chapter six
Davin
“J ordan, we don’t want to babysit hikers in the mountains.” I tried to keep the irritation out of my voice as the Rescue Group, Inc. owner asked if Creed and I wanted to do a hike the following weekend.
“We’ve been called in on so many lately, I reached out to local tour groups. Many want to be proactive.”“You mean they want to let clients drink and get stupid on hikes?”
Jordan laughed. “Come on, I know you and Creed rarely interact with other humans up there in your cabin. Maybe it would do you good to get out.”
“That’s unfair. We had a date yesterday.”
Silence met my remark, and I realized I shouldn’t have said it. Rescue men and women were notoriously gossipy.
“Really. Together?”
“I have to go, Jordan. I’m working on some finances for my mother.”
“You know that can’t be a secret, right?”
The sound of him laughing again rang in my ear as he cut off.
***
Creed came in with some groceries.
“Are we having a party?” I moved to help him, looking at all the bags.
“Well, I said I’d cook for Kailee.”
“This is enough food for twenty.”
“I’m not sure what she likes.”
I slapped him on the back. “Good thinking, getting some choices. And maybe if we’re lucky, we can convince her to stay.”
His nod told me he was thinking along the same lines.
I kept thinking about what Jordan said about us not going out. When I told Creed, he just snorted, but he agreed we could meet some friends in our group for a drink and to watch a basketball game that night.
***
“So how are you two?” Pam stood between us at our table in the evening. She and Bascomb had just come into the bar.
I noticed the diamond twinkling on her ring and wondered idly what kind of ring Kailee would like. Or would she need two rings?
“You two have it bad.” She said. “I love Kailee though. Good choice. But she has four brothers.”
I looked at Creed. “We are respectful guys.” Though of course I was having some dirty fantasies about her already, I fully intended the relationship to be long-lasting if not permanent.
She laughed. “I’m sure you are. I’m glad she went out with you. There are a few firefighters and paramedics who have asked her out, and so far, she’s put them off.”
Creed sat up. “Anyone we know?”
Pam waved a finger at us. Again, the ring caught my eye. I couldn’t believe I was thinking like this already. We’d scare Kailee off if we pushed too hard.
“I’m not saying. I was just happy she agreed to go out with you guys. She works so much and then helps Tina with the wedding plans.”
She saw that her bar food order was ready and went to get it. Bascomb beat her to it and held it up over her head until she kissed him.
The emotion I was feeling was not one I was used to. Happy for them, but wishing I was already at that point in our relationship.
“I think they call that relationship goals,” Creed said before taking a handful of pretzels from the bowl at our table.
I nearly choked on the sip of beer I just drank. “You’re getting soft.”
But he was right.
“I should be off by 12:30 tomorrow.” Kailee texted us while we were at the bar. “Unless I’m on a call.”
“We know how it works. Don’t worry. How about a late lunch in town?” Creed wrote to her.
We debated on asking her up to the cabin but knew she’d likely want to unwind after a shift if she was anything like us.
She named a 24-hour restaurant near the fire station. We agreed and headed back home after the game.
***
Early the next morning, I went for a jog outside the cabin.
I stopped for a few minutes at a clearing about a mile from our place along the creek. I loved this place, and knew Tim did, also.
“Thank you,” I said out loud to him. “We miss you.”
The last time I’d seen Tim, we’d all gone to a corporate breakfast. He’d told us he had signed up for a dating app and that Creed and I should get a life.
“I know you two don’t want to be alone, and living with each other doesn’t count. Find dates. Heck, find one woman who would put up with both of you. Stop thinking about finance all the time and get better priorities.”
We wondered later if he’d known he had little time.
I think he would have liked Kailee and would have been happy that we were finally trying to get better priorities, as he put it.
***
When I made it back to the cabin, Creed was bringing one of our rescue packs out to the Jeep in the back.
“Rescue call?” I asked. “Let me get my gear.”
To my surprise, he gestured I should come on. “No. We have to pick up Kailee at the hospital.”
I jogged to the Jeep, glad I at least had my phone.
Our Jeep was equipped with chargers, and I plugged in my phone as Creed drove as fast as he safely could down the mountain trail.
“What happened?”
“She didn’t say. Check your texts. She just asked if she could have a ride from the hospital.”
“She’s it for us, you know,” Creed said. “As soon as I got that text, even though she said she’s okay, my breath froze. She’s so important to me, after only just meeting her. I don’t understand it.”
This was the longest speech I’d ever heard my friend say. “I know, man. You’re right. We don’t want to scare her away, or rush this, but it feels really important to me, too. We handle lots of emergencies and I’ve rarely felt this scared.”
***
We could breathe easier when we saw Kailee in a sling, punching the arm of a man standing next to her. He had one leg of his uniform pants cut off with a thick bandage on his thigh.
Creed pulled right next to her, not caring if it was the ambulance zone. We could dash out of the way if need be.
“Are you okay?” I gave her a hug, mindful of her sling. “Did you break your arm?”
“No. just holding it still for a bit as I just got stitches. It’s a long story. Would you mind taking Kenny and I back to the station? We want to grab our stuff, then go home. I didn’t know who to call, and just thought of you guys.”
I nodded. “I’m glad you called.”“Need us to lift you in?” Creed called through the open window to Kenny.
He waved. “I don’t think I’d live that down with this one here, but thanks for the offer.”
“We’ll get in the back and you can have the front,” Kailee said to Kenny. “Will that work?”
Somehow, it did work, and soon we were on the road to the fire station.
“The group got another call, and we told them we’d be fine and that they should leave us at the hospital. The bullets just grazed us.”
“Bullets?” Creed’s gaze met mine in the rearview mirror.
“Domestic argument, and the angry boyfriend came back with a gun. He was waving it around like an idiot, and didn’t mean to get us. Kenny covered me and the victim with his body.”
I was petty enough to know I didn’t like how she praised the young man, but the two were just friendly.
She reached over to take my hand. “Kenny, these are my boyfriends.”
“Good to meet you. She and I are training partners. She’s the brains.”
I liked him and thought he might fit in well with the Rescue Group, too.
“I’m the brains and the brawn,” she teased. “Although he jumped over me and our victim to protect us before I even realized someone had a gun.”
“You promised to take me out to eat,” he said.
“Thank you,” Creed said to him. “That was brave. We’d be happy to take you both out to eat.”
“I didn’t want to hear her whining if she got hurt.”
“Oh, I have a few stitches too, so get ready to hear whining. Kenny and I are off duty for at least two weeks. Him likely longer, as he has PT.”
“We have a friend who does PT,” I said as an idea came to mind. “Do you have to go anywhere in particular?”
“No, I have to get signed off for work, though.”
“Ellen is our late friend’s sister. She works a lot with our Rescue Group team. I’m sure she could help you. But be warned, she won’t go easy on you.”
“It would be great to have someone who understands the job,” he said. “Thanks.”
***
Creed helped Kenny and Kailee down from the Jeep and we went inside the station to help them get their belongings.
The station was nearly empty, though we could hear a shower running, and radios blaring voices.
“Lots of calls,” Kailee said after she came out of the locker room.
Creed followed, carrying her pack, and Kenny’s.
“Didn’t they give you crutches?” I asked.
“He wouldn’t take them.” Kailee rolled her eyes.
“They said I didn’t need them, just to stay off my feet as much as possible the next few days. The sprain is the actual issue, as I twisted my leg when I went down. I do want to grab some more Tylenol and ice though, so I’ll take a raincheck on a meal with you guys if that’s okay.”
Soon we were on our way to Kenny’s apartment, which was near to the diner and Rescue Group Inc, above a flower shop.
“There’s an elevator, thank goodness,” he said. “Five floors above the shops, though I’m on the second floor. I’m good. It’s just a few steps in here. Take it easy, Kailee. One of us has to get back to work quickly so they don’t replace us.”
“Great meeting you both,” he called as he hobbled slowly towards the building entrance, his pack over one shoulder.
“Ellen does PT?” Kailee asked before Kenny had even gone in the door.
“Yes, she’s Tim’s sister. I think she and Kenny will get along.” Creed said.
“Creed the mountain man matchmaker,” I said. “Life has so many surprises.”
“Your place?” Creed asked Kailee when he’d pulled out in traffic again. “Or a restaurant?”
“You said you’d cook for me, right?”
We headed back to the mountain.