Flashover

Chapter 7

“Which one ofyou would like to go first?” Dark circles had burrowed under the sheriff’s eyes, and it didn’t seem as if he was interested in any quips.

Too bad never wasn’t an option. She’d much rather seal the past up and be done with it. Sophie tugged the blanket tighter around her shoulders. The scratchy fabric did little to warm the bleak white walls of the borrowed office.

Houston sat in the seat beside her in a fresh hotshot uniform. She had also showered and been given dry clothes, a protein bar, and a place to stay the night. One of the other female smokejumpers had even wrapped Sophie’s injured ankle. Jude County Fire Headquarters had finer service than some motels she and her brother used to visit when they arrived in a new town.

Crispin.

She’d never again get to go anywhere with him. She slid her father’s ring on the necklace around her thumb. The clock on the wall behind the sheriff blurred in her watery vision. It ticked off another second, announcing it was officially past the evening time to check on her horses. She needed to get home and see if they were okay. Life turmoil or not.

Houston crossed his legs underneath his chair. “We had returned to Sophie’s ranch after we last saw you. When we got there, her house had been looted.”

Sophie scooted forward in her seat. “More like ransacked.”

She didn’t want the sheriff to forbid her to return. She could still sleep there, broken windows or not. She only needed a ride. Hopefully, her truck would be found all in one piece. She would need every bit of her savings to afford the down payment for her barn loan if it ever got approved. “I don’t know if he stole anything else yet, but he did take a picture of my brother.” Her voice hitched on the last word.

Houston rested his hand on her leg. She met his concerned gaze.

Why did this man always seem to know what she needed? After what they’d been through, she wasn’t surprised. Her chest squeezed, and she covered it with her palm.

It seemed God was fixated on taking those she cared for away. Her parents. Crispin. What if she’d lost Houston today too? It had been her mess that he’d chased her through.

Houston pulled his hand away all too soon. “We followed the suspect in Sophie’s truck. It was Lewis.”

She lifted the necklace in her hand. The cool chain coiled around her fingers. “When we caught up with Lewis…” Her throat scratched as she swallowed. “His comment…I now believe the burned body we found may be my brother Crispin.”

The sheriff’s eyes didn’t widen in surprise. His gaze simply bounced between her and Houston. “What led you to that conclusion?”

Sophie ran her thumb over the silver chain. “Lewis had my brother’s necklace.”

Houston moved his knee against Sophie’s. “He claimed he found it near the body.”

The sheriff lowered his palm-sized notebook. “Could it not be a similar necklace?”

If only. She clasped the rings in her fist. “These are my parents’ rings on a chain.”

Now that made the sheriff lean his elbows on the desk. “I will let you identify the body, but the medical examiner is still working. Though, I’m sorry to tell you, he said there’s not much to go on right now. But unofficially, the coroner did mention that it looks like the body might have been shot before he was burned.”

Sophie cradled the necklace against her chest.

Houston sat up straight. “Shot. You’re sure?”

The sheriff nodded.

She’d believed murder was likely, given where and how they’d found the body. But someone had shot her brother and then burned him—burying him in the path of the fire to leave no trace. What kind of jobs had the government gotten her brother involved in?

No wonder he’d insisted she change her name.

“Do you know anyone who might want to hurt your brother?” The sheriff’s phone rang in his pocket. He reached in and silenced it.

Sophie sniffed. “He worked for Homeland Security. But they said he died three years ago.”

“I see.” The sheriff ignored his vibrating phone again and made a note in his notebook.

A knock sounded on the office door as it cracked open. A dark-headed man with a stern expression leaned inside. “Excuse me, Sheriff Hutchinson, when you’re done, I need Houston.”

The sheriff put his hat back on his head. “I can talk with him more tomorrow if you need him now, Miles.”

Commander Dafoe hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “My office.”

Except Houston didn’t rise. His eyes sought Sophie’s. His brown eyes were both a hug and a gut punch. It would be too easy to lean into Houston’s strength. How much she’d wanted to kiss him earlier, before their rescue. However, she needed to be able to deal with her mess of a life. He wouldn’t be around forever. His dreams were not here in Ember.

She needed to let him go. Now. Before it hurt worse.

“Thanks, Houston, for everything.” She gave him what she prayed was at least a half smile and balled the edge of the blanket in her hands.

Houston’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

Sophie dropped her gaze to the armrests separating them.

His commander opened the door wider, and the door groaned, stealing Houston’s focus. Finally, he filed out of the room, and she suddenly wished she had a thicker blanket.

The sheriff’s phone buzzed once more, and this time, he answered. “Hutchinson…yes.” His gaze assessed Sophie. “She is…just a moment.” He extended the phone across the desk. “For you.”

Someone was calling for her. On the sheriff’s phone? The blanket slipped from around her shoulders. Had the sheriff already texted the coroner? Was it time for her to identify the body?

Her trembling hand refused to reach for the phone. She changed her mind. She wasn’t ready to know for sure if the body was Crispin. A sliver of hope was better than none at all. “Is it…the coroner?”

The sheriff gave her a fatherly expression. He covered the microphone portion of the phone. “It’s someone else who cares for you. But if you wouldn’t mind softening the blow about what all I have to tell her about Lewis, I’d appreciate it.”

Marley.Of course. She’d probably called everyone in town after Sophie didn’t show up for dinner. And Sophie’s own phone was currently resting in a bag of rice in the HQ’s main kitchen, trying to win the fight against the water that saved Sophie and Houston from the flames. Her phone was looking at a fifty-fifty chance of survival.

The sheriff shut the door behind him, and Sophie cradled the phone. “Hey, Marley.”

“I totally need to hug you right now,” Marley’s voice rippled through the borrowed phone.

Sophie rested her elbow on the desk in front of her. “And I could totally take you up on that offer.”

Or maybe relive the hug she’d gotten from Houston before she was whisked from him when the helicopter landed.

“What happened? Betty somehow got a video off someone’s phone of you and that hotshot being rescued, and it’s on the town’s social media page. Had to do a double take. How did you end up back at the fire? You had evacuated. I saw you. Talked to you. You were safe. We were supposed to have dinner. Then you never showed, and I called and called.”

Sophie inhaled slowly. She needed to be the one to tell her friend about Lewis instead of the sheriff. “Marley.” She cleared her dry throat and spilled everything that she and Houston had told the sheriff.

After a pause of five of Sophie’s heartbeats, a sigh over the speaker made Sophie’s own shoulders slump. “I can’t believe Lewis did…maybe he’s not telling the truth. Or there’s an explanation about your brother’s necklace. You don’t know for sure it’s his. The police will be able to tell who the body is, right? I don’t want you to fear the worst until we find out for sure.”

Sophie wiped a hot tear off her cheek. “I’m not sure of anything right now.”

At least that was the truth.

A shaky breath flew from her mouth. “All I know is, first my ranch almost burned down. Then my brother’s gone. On top of that, I also almost got Houston and myself killed. And God…He…He must be so against me right now.”

“Oh, honey. But He’s not. I promise. Okay, I really need to give you that hug. Let me finish up with your horses at your house, and I’ll be right where you are. But you have to tell me where that is. I broke down and called Betty Adams. She’s how I got the sheriff’s cell phone number. I had to listen to why I need to always keep red tulips in stock—maybe not the wisest person to call, but it was the quickest method. And I highly doubt you’re at the sheriff’s office because I already tried that number. Five times.”

There was so much of that conversation that needed explaining, especially the repercussions of giving Betty any further gossip fodder. But that wasn’t what came out of Sophie’s mouth. “You took my horses out of their trailer?”

“Girl, those three are good and safe in your barn. Peanut was even a sweet angel. Now where are you?”

“I’m at the hotshot’s headquarters. They said I could sleep here, but?—”

“Yes, girl. Do that. Sleep. No more thinking. No more worrying. Your horses are good. You’re alive. And so is Houston. Which by the way that man looked at you on the video, I don’t think he’s holding a grudge over being rescued with you.”

“You didn’t see his boss storm in here. What if he gets in trouble or loses his job or something because I?—”

“Don’t let yourself think that you can mess up so much that you can ruin God’s plans. I don’t understand all that He does, but He knows the bigger picture. I don’t know what I’m going to do with Lewis. But this is proof that maybe it’s a good thing we’re getting away from those boys so soon. Not that that’s an excuse. I’m so sorry, Soph, for his actions.”

Sophie rubbed her temples. Her friend was right. She couldn’t mess up God’s plans, but why did some of His plans seem to be the opposite of what Sophie saw as good?

Wait. There had been a we in Marley’s sentence.

Sophie moved to the edge of her seat. “Mar, what do you mean you’re both getting away from those boys?”

The silence over the phone made Sophie draw her knees up onto the chair. This was not going to be good.

“Why don’t we talk about this later. You’ve been through enough already.”

“If it’s bad news, there’s never an ideal moment, no matter the time frame.” Sophie wrapped the blanket around her and laid her chin on her knees. “I’m not going to sleep until you tell me.”

A heavy groan and then, “Brady proposed.”

“Oh, Marley, that’s?—”

“He wants me and Lewis to move to his hometown and stay with his sister until the wedding.”

Oh, no…

“I know I’ll be hours away, but Sophie that doesn’t mean I’m ditching you.”

Except it did kind of mean that. She was back to being alone. This was why Sophie did better with horses than people. Horses wanted to be around her.

“I know so much has happened tonight, and my leaving town soon isn’t helping things. But I’m still going to be here for you, and if you get anything out of my move, it’s that love is worth it. Give God a chance to see how He planned your life. It might surprise you what He does.”

Sophie slipped her brother’s necklace into the pocket of her borrowed jacket. Maybe. But so far, God’s surprises hadn’t been all that great. Except for the ranch and rescue helicopter.

And Houston. But could she fully allow someone else into her inner circle just to say goodbye again?

* * *

If only Houston could have protected Sophie more. But one can’t shield someone from sadness. Not completely. She’d rested against him on the helicopter flight, but while talking to the sheriff, she had pulled away. Guarding herself. Her heart. Something Houston himself had nearly perfected. Or so he’d thought, until Sophie crashed back into his life. But maybe it was for the best. He would be leaving at the end of summer.

Inside his office, Commander Dafoe shut the door and gestured to the chair in front of his desk. His eyebrows hung low in a stern expression. “Have a seat. I want to hear about everything since you were called out this morning.”

Had it really only been a day? “How is the crew? Please tell me no one else got caught up in the fire?”

Commander Dafoe shook his head. “Thankfully no. Your crew had the fire controlled around Sophie’s ranch. However, on another country road over, flames popped up out of nowhere. It’s possible an animal could have turned over a burning barrel that still had hot coals, or it could have been those teens in the woods you and Price tried to flush out. Or something else entirely. Either way, flames escalated before we could get anyone over there. Now, I’m hoping your story might provide some more intel.”

After a deep breath, Houston began with digging the line. Then explained about Lewis, Finn, and Preston in the woods, all the way to the car chase, and stopped at the monsoon dump.

Miles had his hands steepled in front of his mouth. “It wasn’t only our water that dashed the fire around you and Sophie. The fire burned through one of the water tower’s legs, and it crashed over.”

Houston crossed his arms. His bruised hip knocked into the armrest, and he sucked in a breath. “That’s the boom we felt.” That’s why there had been such a current and why Sophie had been ripped from him.

Miles leaned back in his chair. “You both were either in a lot of right places or a lot of wrong ones. It had been chance that the pilot saw you two when he did through all the tree coverage.” He tilted his chin. “Though we know it wasn’t chance.”

“No, sir.” God had performed many miracles today. Houston just wasn’t sure what to do now. Nothing was going as planned.

Miles thumped his knuckles on his desk. “However, Price voiced a concern that we need to talk through.”

Houston gripped the chair rests. He knew exactly what Price had brought to Miles’s attention. “Sir, I hesitated when the firecrackers or the cigarette lit that brush fire with the youth. But it won’t happen twice.”

Miles picked up a pen and clicked it. “With your history with fire, it’s only natural to have lingering fears. I just need to know if it’s going to put the crew in danger. You included.”

The safety of the team depended on his reaction time. Houston laced his fingers together and squeezed. Had his brother been right? Should he not have accepted this job?

Sophie’s face came to mind. He had been there for her. Helped rescue her. Wasn’t that what God wanted him to do? Save people physically, as a firefighter, and soon again, spiritually, as a church leader?

Miles pointed the pen at Houston. “Why do you want to be a hotshot?”

Houston pushed his shoulders back. “To be honest, sir, originally it was a combination of being fired from my other job and to also prove to my fire chief brother that I could. I’d believed the opened door here was a type of sign to help me finance my upcoming seminary education. But I want to help others avoid what I survived.”

Miles set the pen down. “You are a fine rookie hotshot. But this team needs you at your best. So, if you can’t handle?—”

“I only need a night’s sleep.”

Miles narrowed his eyes. “Have a doctor check out your hip. And I suggest finding someone wise to talk through today and the future with.”

“Sir, I know I want to be a hotshot and attend seminary.”

Miles held up his palm. “Not exactly that future I was talking about.”

Houston tilted his head. What else was there? “Sir?”

Miles stood. “Just be careful. I caught a glimpse of what the social media page posted. Those we rescue sometimes fall for the hero moment, not the man.”

Houston ran his hand over his bald head. Was he saying that he thought Sophie had fallen for him? Or at least for the idea of a hero? Based on his track record with women, and Sophie’s see-you-around comment, unfortunately the commander had nothing to worry about in that department. “Sophie and I knew each other from high school, is all.”

The commander grunted. “Get some rest. You’re currently on the clock in the morning, but we can make do without you. If?—”

“I’ll be ready.” Houston hustled out of the office, and his legs carried him back to where the sheriff and Sophie had been. But before he could knock on the door, his phone rang. The phone he had been glad he’d left in his locker—or it would be trying to dry out like Sophie’s.

A number he didn’t recognize filled the screen.

He swiped, then said a rushed, “Hello.”

“Oh, hey, uh, Houston.” The familiar voice sounded breathy. Panicked. “I thought you’d be busy, fighting that wildfire. I heard about it on the news, and I just thought I’d leave a message.”

Wait. “Elijah?”

A pause and then, “Yeah, yes, hey, it’s me. I, ah…is this a bad time?”

Would it ever be a good time to speak to the man who replaced him as youth pastor? Houston clenched his fingers. He glanced down the hallway. No one to witness his awkwardness. “What’s up, Eli?”

A sigh heaved through the phone’s speaker. “How did you do it?”

Houston leaned his shoulder against the wall, his focus on the door where he’d left Sophie behind. “Do what?”

“Get through to the youth group. They don’t listen to me like I know they listened to you.”

Houston exhaled through his nose. Did the man mean to be tempting Houston with something he couldn’t have?

Eli kept going, “Ava’s stopped coming regularly. Leighton’s too busy flirting her lashes at Gabe to give any respectable answers to my lesson questions. Belle Harte’s mom keeps calling…I believe you, by the way. I overheard Belle talking, and she told Nicole she wasn’t even there the day you went to help her mom move furniture. She said her mom had even lied about other men in other towns too. That means we can prove you didn’t do what Mrs. Harte implied about how you came on to her, because there are others like you. The church elders shouldn’t have let you go based on that woman’s word.”

Eli believed that he hadn’t flirted inappropriately with Mrs. Harte, but only after he’d overheard Belle. Even if the elders believed him now, they had already demoted Houston because he didn’t have Eli’s fancy degree. But he would one day soon.

Houston stared at the fluorescent light humming on the ceiling. A part of him wanted Eli to continue to fail. To prove to the church that they had gotten it wrong by hiring him instead of Houston. But that would do the kids no good.

Houston rested his forearm up against the wall. “It takes time to build a relationship. Just keep showing up. Not only at church, but at their games, plays, birthday parties, and generally in their lives. Keep sharing God’s truth. Don’t waver. Remember that all you can do is plant the seeds of Truth. Be faithful to water those seeds. God is the one who makes it grow in their lives.”

“You make it sound so easy. I thought it would be easy. Maybe because you made it look that way growing up.”

Houston relaxed his fingers out of their fists. “Looks can be deceiving. If you need help…I’m here.”

“That’s part of the problem. You’re actually there. Not here. But thanks, and also…I, uh, accidentally opened mail that was yours. It was addressed to the church and had my alma mater on the return label, and I assumed…I guess I didn’t look at the name, and then I’d already read your mail before I realized what I’d done.”

Eli’s alma mater was Truth Seminary.

Finally, news about Houston’s application. “No worries.”

The pause made Houston’s heart rate climb.

“Sorry, Houston,” Eli’s voice mumbled. “But you didn’t get in. There was some discrepancy with your references.”

Houston hung his head. Of course his references had been contacted after the situation with Mrs. Harte.

God had closed another door on Houston’s plans. How was Houston supposed to make a difference in people’s lives if God kept shutting doors? He squeezed his eyes shut.

“I can give them a call.” Eli rambled on. “Maybe the truth will come out now. I can talk to Belle?—”

“Thanks, Eli, but no.” No, he didn’t want his name dragged further through the mud, and there was no way to know that Belle wouldn’t lie again for her mother. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for letting me know.”

Now what was he supposed to do?

Someone cleared their throat from behind Houston.

Houston turned around to find Logan, Macon’s best friend, who helped get Houston a job as a hotshot. His hair was styled with gel and his dark-wash jeans and black polo made him look more ready for a date than clocking in.

“Hey, Houston, sorry, man.” He lifted a packet of papers up that he probably needed to drop off at the chief’s desk. “I’ll blame it on the small hallway. Plus, I hadn’t realized you were on a private call.”

“It’s fine, Logan.” More than likely, he heard nearly every word. “At least I don’t have to give you Cliffs Notes.” Or pass it to his brother.

“I know you’re upset about how things went down in Last Chance County, rightly so, but maybe you wouldn’t have left otherwise. I know I wouldn’t have if…” He shrugged without finishing what he was avoiding in Last Chance County.

“That’s one way to look at it.” Houston pocketed his phone.

Logan marched around him and knocked on the chief’s door, then opened it.

But it was empty. No sheriff. No Sophie.

Logan stepped past Houston and lifted something off the armrest of the chair Sophie had been sitting in. Something silver. “Someone’s going to be missing this.”

Houston’s stomach tightened. “I know who that belongs to.” How had she forgotten that after all they went through?

Logan held it out, and Houston grabbed the necklace. “If it’s the woman with the sheriff, I think they just left. Heard something about her truck being located.”

Lewis must have ditched it. Houston put the necklace over his head. “Do you know where they found her truck?”

Logan wrinkled his nose and then set the paper down on the chief’s desk. “I want to say over by the movie film set.”

“Thanks, Logan.” Houston sprinted down the hallway.

“You might want to answer one of your brother’s texts. He messaged me about you,” Logan shouted at Houston’s back.

Sounded about right.

Footsteps thumped after Houston as Logan caught up. “You know that your brother…You should know he said he was proud of you.”

Houston slowed to a walk and raised his brows. He’d stopped him for this? Macon had left a message on Houston’s phone when he and Sophie had gotten back to HQ. Never once mentioned any of those words. “I really got to?—”

“Seriously, Houston. He may not tell you with those exact words. He’s still a bit blinded by his opinion that you’re running away, but…”

Houston’s back stiffened. “Running away? They let me go. I was forced to find a new job. So I did.”

There was that word again: I. Had he spent enough time praying about his decisions?

Did Macon have a point?

Logan thumped him on the shoulder. “I’m not arguing with you. That was supposed to come out as a compliment. Apparently, it sounded better in my head.”

“Apparently.” Houston lifted the necklace, and Logan waved him on.

He grabbed his truck keys from his locker. He didn’t know why Lewis would be out near the film set, but Sophie would be worried about the last thing she had of her brother’s. He’d eventually talk to Macon. But for now, Sophie needed her necklace. And hopefully, she still needed Houston a little too.

Maybe not getting into seminary wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to him. But a broken heart might be.