Chapter Ten
Fuck, I’m tired.
Should I have stayed up with Juliette last night? No.
Do I regret any minute of it? Also, no.
We’re on the last stable and getting our new mare out was a test of patience. Smokey, Sanders’ horse, was able to sway her into going to graze the fields so we could get in here. He’s the only creature, human or animal, she’ll let near her.
Murray and I are the only ones allowed to muck her stall since we don’t trust the young hands around her yet. They all want to be the ones to prove something and they’ll get their asses kicked in the process. Or more likely their head.
“I’m so fucking glad we’re done after this. I might actually get a nap before my date with Juliette.”
“She texted me earlier. Dakota is struggling with Jaycob being sick and having no help. I could fucking punch that asshole sperm donor of hers.”
“He still not responding to any of her lawyer’s requests?” I stab the shovel into the wheelbarrow.
“Not that he isn’t responding, he’s missing in action. Miraculously no one from the Black Key seems to know where he went. Hugh says he’s just a travelin’ cowboy looking for work and roamin’.”
Hugh Chiave, the owner of the Black Key Ranch. Shit. He’d lie to his own mama. I’d be willing to be on my life he knows where that fucker went.
Both of our pagers sound, breaking up the conversation about Dakota and her deadbeat ex.
“Shit. Ground fire at the rec center.” Murray tosses his shovel in next to mine. “I’ll text the guys to finish up. Hopefully none of ‘em get kicked.”
I nod at him taking action and pull out my own phone to text Juliette. I’ll probably be late for our date.
Shit.
Me: Getting called out for a fire. I love you, but I will be late for our date. Hopefully not too late. >
I toss my phone in the truck and Murray and I speed off to make it to the station in time.
We fly into the parking lot, tires squealing behind some of the other guys. Pulling my gear out of my locker in the station I jump into it while running to the rig.
“Let’s go boys! We’ve got a jumper. It started on the ground, but it’s already taking the porch,” Chief O’Reilly yells to us.
“Yes, Chief,” we all respond in unison.
Our station is small with only three full timers, and the rest being volunteers. A lot of the ranch hands volunteer since an out of control wildfire affects us most, we want to protect the ranches at all costs.
We have five minutes or less to get to the station for a call. If you don’t make it you wait for the next rig to fill up. We have to respond to the page so we know who we’re waiting for, and that second engine will take the stragglers.
We pile in while Chief turns on the sirens and briefs us on the fire.
“When we get there, I want fire breaks. We need to find the source. It’s already jumped to the porch so I want the ground and building doused. You’ll know where to go with the melted snow.”
We nod. All of us getting in our headspace that we need to be in to fight the fires.
“Kids are not evacuated. We don’t know where the fire is, Davies and Adler, I want you to evacuate with me. We’ll need to clear a line for them to follow to the bus that’s waiting.”
Fucking shit. I hate when there are kids involved. When their little lives are on the line it makes the whole call that much more involved and important.
The rig pulls to a stop and we all spring into action, pulling lines and hoses, doing the jobs that Chief set for us. We move like well oiled machines. Murray and I grab our fire rakes and start looking for clear spots to get the children out.
Once we find a spot without the fire, we mark it and keep going. Chief ran ahead to the center to get the kids ready to evacuate. It doesn’t take long before we have a path for them to follow to the bus safely.
We have three kids left when an ember sparks the dead bushes next to them, igniting them instantly. Their screams pierce the air as we watch them get cut off from us.
Not waiting for orders I breach the marked path and run to them followed by Murray. At least if I get benched after this he’ll be with me.
Tossing the kids over our shoulders we carry them to the safety of the buses where their teachers have tears in their eyes.
“Thank you so much!” The director exclaims taking each one and hugging them tight.
As soon as they’re all loaded into the bus and being taken away from the danger I feel like I can breathe a little better. You can see the relief etched on Murray and Chief’s faces as we all watch them leave down the road we just came from.
“Okay boys, let’s do this. We have to get this out and quick before it spreads more.” Chief moves us along to new roles.
Jogging off to join the rest of the crew, I follow their lead to extinguish this shit.
It’s way later than I anticipated it would be when we get the fire under control. We traced the source to a camp behind the rec center. They built a fire with an old stump, and it spread through the roots. Our dry winter hasn’t left much snow to help with keeping these things contained.
There is no way we will be able to make it to Bozeman tonight, and I feel like shit to have ruined the first big date that I promised Juliette. After stripping off my gear at the rig, I reach into my pocket to let her know that I’m on my way back, only to find my pocket empty.
Perfect. Just what I need, a lost phone. Hopefully it’s just in my truck and not somewhere in a field.
All that stands between me and Jules is dropping Murray back off at his truck since we had mine at the stables this afternoon.
Glancing at the clock, it’s not too late that I couldn’t still salvage the night with her, just in a different way. My mind races with ideas the whole drive back.
Murray is opening the door before I even park the truck.
“Good luck, man. I’m going to try to swing by Ms. Patti’s before she closes for Dakota.”
“See ya, good luck to you too.”
He slams the door shut and I watch him jog over to his own truck. He and Dakota have the oddest relationship I’ve ever seen, one day they’re best friends and the next they hate each other. But even when there’s hate, he’d still lay his life down for her and Jaycob.
I can’t worry about them right now. I have my own problems and the fire tonight only made it worse. My phone must be somewhere in the car because the music started playing in my car which means it’s close enough to be connected. Thank God.
If I were on the actual road, and not just ranch roads, I’d probably be arrested for my driving. But, after growing up with Sanders and Boone Myers, who owns the orchard next door, I know these bumpy dirt roads like the back of my hand.
Ironically, Sam Hunt is crooning his hit, Body Like A Back Road, over my speakers. I definitely know Jules’ body as well if not better than these roads. Fuck, I’ve been exploring them just about the same amount of time.
When I pull up to the house I don’t see Juliette’s truck.
Fuck. I slam my own truck into park and run inside.
The door isn’t locked, there’s no lights on but the small one above the kitchen sink.
And it’s fucking dead silent in the house.
Not a footstep to be heard, she’s not singing her heart out while she gets ready.
Nothing. Just like the first night after she left.