13. Chapter 13 Daisy
Chapter 13: Daisy
I watch Marcus's truck roar up the mountain, fire trucks following. Red and blue lights paint the night while smoke darkens the stars.
His mountain is burning. Which means.
"His workshop."
All those pieces. The grandfather's book. The carvings that tell his stories.
I'm moving before I finish the thought, grabbing my emergency kit and keys. Scout and Luna pace anxiously as I load my truck.
My phone buzzes – Jake:
We might need the Trading Post for evacuation. Can you get it ready?
I text back:
I’ll open it up and then coming to help.
His response is immediate:
He'll kill me if you come up here.
Then don't tell him.
I can almost hear his sigh:
Be careful. Take the back road.
The dogs jump in before I can argue. Apparently, I'm not the only one ignoring orders tonight.
Smoke thickens as I climb the mountain, taking the old logging road. Fire crews block the main access, but I know these trails now. His cabin comes into view through the haze. Fire teams swarm the area, cutting firebreaks and running hoses. The flames are still half a mile out, moving fast.
I park behind the workshop, out of sight. Scout and Luna bolt for the building they know holds their beds.
"Stay quiet," I tell them, following.
The workshop door's unlocked. I slip inside, immediately moving to the grandfather's book. I grab the book, then start wrapping his most important pieces. The ones that tell his stories. The ones that show his soul.
Voices approach as I hear Marcus and Jake arguing about wind direction. I duck behind a cabinet just as they enter.
"If it jumps the break?" Jake sounds worried.
"It won't."
They move back out, discussing strategy. I return to wrapping pieces, working fast.
The smoke's thicker now. Sweat soaks my shirt as I load things into my truck. Just one more trip.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
I freeze, arms full of carved wood. Marcus fills the doorway, fury and fear warring in his eyes.
"Saving your stories."
He moves like lightning, backing me against the workbench.
"I told you to stay away."
"Since when do I follow orders?"
His hands fist in my shirt. He kisses me hard, tasting like smoke and adrenaline. I melt into him, dropping the carvings on the bench.
"Damn it, Daisy." He breaks away, breathing heavy. "You could get hurt."
"So could you."
His laugh is rusty. "I'm trained for this."
"And I'm trained to be a pain in your ass." I push at his chest. "Now help me save your work."
He kisses me again, shorter this time but no less intense. "Stay behind the fire line."
"Yes sir." All innocence.
A shout from outside breaks the moment. The wind's shifting.
We work fast, loading the most important pieces. His hands brush mine with each pass, sending electricity through my skin.
"That's everything irreplaceable," he says finally.
I grab his arm. "Your grandfather's photos?"
"Already safe." He cups my face. "Like you should be."
"I go where you go."
His response is lost as Jake runs up. "The fire jumped the break!"
Marcus snaps into commander mode. "Get those hoses on the roof. Daisy—"
"Is already leaving." I steal one more kiss. "Be careful."
"You too."
I watch him stride away, barking orders. The fire paints him in orange light, all power and command presence.
I head down the mountain, precious cargo safe in my truck. The dogs whine from the backseat.
"He'll be fine," I tell them. "He's too stubborn to die."
The Trading Post is organized chaos when I arrive. Evacuees fill the space while firefighters coordinate resources.
I'm directing families to shelter when Marcus returns hours later. His eyes find me immediately.
"Fire's contained," he says, voice rough from smoke. "Cabin's safe."
"And you?"
"Better now."
Heat that has nothing to do with fire floods my veins. He stalks closer, backing me into the storage room.
"You disobeyed orders." His hands cage me against shelves.
"Are you planning to punish me?"
His eyes darken. "Definitely."
He kisses me hard, pressing me into the shelves. I wrap my legs around his waist as he lifts me.
"I was worried about you," I gasp between kisses.
"Impossible woman." But he smiles against my lips. "My impossible woman."
"Yours."
He growls, deepening the kiss. His hands find skin under my smoke-scented shirt.
A throat clears.
We spring apart as Cole appears. "Sorry but the fire is out here, please don’t start one in here.”
Marcus's forehead drops to mine. "I'm going to murder someone."
"Later." I straighten his shirt and look at Cole. “And I’ll deal with you later.”
Cole grins. “Looking forward to it.”
I can hear Cole tell Marcus that ’I am a stubborn one’ and Marcus telling him that yes, I was. But there was pride in that time. That I was his.