20. Chapter Nineteen #2
"Just wait until you see the computer system," Jamie grins. "It's going to make your life so much easier."
And he's right.
The setup is intuitive and comprehensive, even for me. It's designed to handle everything from scheduling to resource coordination. As he walks me through the various programs and databases, I start to feel more confident about actually being able to do this job well.
"The learning curve isn't too steep," Jamie says, noticing my focus. "I can tell already that you've got good instincts for organization, and the team will help with anything you're not sure about."
"Speaking of the team," I say, glancing around at the busy operations room. "It's quite the crew. How many people work here full-time again?"
"Twelve regular staff, plus volunteers who rotate in for specific operations." Jamie's expression shifts into a weird sort of look that I can't quite place. "Though we could always use more experienced hands. Especially tactical coordinators."
Something in his tone makes me look at him sharply, but before I can ask what he means, one of the radios crackles to life with an incoming call, and his attention shifts to the emergency.
The morning races by in a flash, and at exactly twelve-thirty, I look up from my computer to see Beau in the parking lot carrying a thermal bag and two coffee cups from Betty's Café.
He sees me peering out at him and waves me out. The sight of his broad shoulders filling out a flannel shirt, dark hair slightly mussed from the wind, that serious expression softening the moment he spots me makes my heart skip.
I've missed him.
We settle at a picnic table in the sunshine, and I watch in fascination as Beau's eyes automatically scan the area, assessing everything with the kind of unconscious thoroughness that speaks of deep training in places like this.
"How's the first morning going?" he asks, handing me one of the coffee cups.
"Good," I say, accepting the drink gratefully. "Overwhelming, but good. There's so much to learn."
"You'll master it in no time." He unzips the thermal bag to reveal what appears to be gourmet sandwiches, fresh fruit, and homemade cookies. "Betty sends her regards. And lunch."
"This looks incredible," I laugh. "Do you think she packed enough?"
"She doesn't believe in small portions," Beau says dryly.
I laugh and grab half a sandwich, biting into sourdough, turkey, and some fancy cheese that's perfectly salty.
"So… have they upgraded the radio system yet?" Beau asks, nodding toward one of the communication towers Jamie showed me earlier. "Surely the range is limited in heavy weather."
"How do you know that?" I ask, taking a bite of what is turning out to be the best turkey sandwich in existence.
He shrugs. "Military background. You learn to assess infrastructure capabilities on sight."
"But you know about the specific equipment they use here?"
"Some of it." His jaw tightens and he looks away from my eyes. "I've... consulted with Jamie before."
There's something in his tone that makes me want to press for details, but before I can, he's changing the subject.
"How are you feeling about everything? Not too overwhelmed?"
"A little," I admit. "There's so much information, and everyone's been so welcoming, but I keep worrying I'm going to mess something up."
"You won't." His confidence is absolute. "You're smart, organized, and you care about doing things right. That's all any job really requires."
"Even when it involves coordinating life-or-death situations?"
"Especially then." He reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. "The people who succeed in emergency response aren't the ones who never feel overwhelmed. They're the ones who feel it and do the job anyway."
The quiet conviction in his voice makes me study his face. "You sound like you speak from experience."
Pain, maybe, or regret flashes in his eyes. "Some experience, yeah."
Before I can ask what he means, my phone buzzes with a text.
"Duty calls," I sigh, starting to pack up the remains of our lunch. "That's Jamie summoning me to his office. You don't want to come in and say—"
"Go," Beau says, standing to help me. "I'll pick you up at five?"
"Thank you. And thanks for lunch." I slide out from the bench seat and lean up on my toes to kiss him. "I'm not sure I could do any of this without you."
"Go be amazing. Love you."
I watch him walk away, noting how several of the Mountain Rescue guys nod to him in greeting, how he moves through the space like he belongs here.
Like he's done this before.
"He fits in well here," Jamie observes when I return to my desk.
I glance over to find him watching Beau's departure through the window. "He does, doesn't he?"
"More than well." Jamie settles into the chair beside my desk, his expression thoughtful. "Can I tell you something about Beau? Something you might not know?"
My stomach clenches with sudden apprehension. "Of course."
Jamie looks sheepishly around the office, over his shoulder, like he's checking if anyone is around. Then he lowers his voice to a near-whisper, leaning closer to my desk.
"I've been trying to recruit him to work here for three years.
Ever since he arrived in Stone River." Jamie's voice is quiet, meant for my ears only.
"He's got the best tactical mind I've ever encountered that man.
Military training, crisis management experience, the kind of instincts you can't teach. "
"Then why doesn't he work here?" I ask, though I'm starting to suspect I don't want to hear the answer.
"He tried, actually. About a year after he moved here." Jamie's expression grows somber. "We had a missing hiker situation in pretty hard terrain. Bad weather, multiple agencies involved. Beau helped coordinate it all."
I think about that night on the ridge, saving the family in their teetering SUV.
Beau had moved with such confidence, looked so at ease in the crisis, like he was born for it. Like a natural at something that would terrify most people.
"Everything was going perfectly until we got the call that we'd found the hiker from another crew. Injured, but alive. The moment those radios started going off with constant status updates, then casualty reports… extraction coordinates form the medical team..."
Jamie shakes his head and puffs his cheeks.
"Beau just... shut down. Complete breakdown. Had to be physically removed from the operations center."
Oh God. Poor thing.
"Before you came along," Jamie continues quietly, "I was genuinely worried about him. The isolation, the way he'd withdraw whenever anyone tried to include him in anything... I've seen what happens to guys who can't find their way back from that kind of trauma."
"But?" I prompt, because there's definitely a 'but' coming.
"But then you two helped that family on the ridge." Jamie's expression brightens, and he leans closer, lowering his voice. "Want to know a secret, Molly?"
I nod, my heart already racing from his previous story.
"I could have organized someone else to handle that rescue.
We had other trucks, other teams available.
" His eyes twinkle with something that looks like pride.
"But I didn't tell him that. Because I knew with Beau's truck, in his own environment.
.. it was a small enough job that he could handle it. And I knew he was already with you…"
I smile. "That lovely small town gossip chain at work."
Jamie smiles a toothy grin. "Exactly. And I had a feeling that with you there..."
"You set it up," I breathe, the pieces clicking together.
"Sort of. It was a legitimate rescue, but I gave him an opportunity," Jamie corrects gently. "He made the choice to take it. And more importantly, he succeeded. That was the moment I knew."
"Knew what?"
Jamie smiles and leans back, looking mightily pleased with himself. "You'll see."
The cryptic comment sends a chill down my spine, but before I can ask what he means, another emergency call comes in and Jamie's attention shifts to coordinating the response.
I stare at my computer screen, trying to process all of that.
Beau tried to work here before and couldn't handle it. The radios, the chaos, the pressure—it triggered something in him so severe that he had a complete breakdown.
But with me there, during that rescue on our first night together, he'd been completely steady. Calm. In control.
He belongs here.
I can see it as clearly as Jamie does.
So how can I help Beau to recover from his trauma in the same way he has helped me get my life back on track?