Chapter Nine #2
“I didn’t want to be a distraction. Someone holding a running chainsaw doesn’t need to be thinking about posing for candid shots. And I didn’t have permission to take publicity photos. Those require people to sign a waiver.”
“She has a point,” Jade said. “But if she’s staying, I need her sawing. We’re already down two people.”
Reva carefully repacked Nora’s bag before tapping her pen on the desk, her expression detached. “Fallon, Nora, step outside for a moment and let me confer with my crew chief.”
In the hallway, Nora slumped against the wall. “Why did you tell them that?” She didn’t sound angry, just defeated. “You don’t even know if I’m any good.”
“I’m betting you’re one of those people who’s good at whatever you do,” Fallon said. “But mainly, it seemed like the best way to keep you from getting kicked out. You want to win that bet, don’t you?”
Nora buried her face in her hands, but her voice was full of fury. “Oh God, Fallon. I can’t believe I was so stupid.” She shook her head, almost violently. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!”
“Hey,” Fallon tried to sound reassuring. “Everyone makes mistakes.”
“No, I’m an idiot. I didn’t really want to go with them in the first place.”
Fallon stepped closer, putting her hand lightly on Nora’s back. “Why did you?”
Nora ran her hands through her hair. Then she sighed, looking away. “I couldn’t…something made me want to get away for a while.”
“What?”
“I can’t explain it right now.”
“But you want to stay at Firecamp, don’t you?”
“That’s up to Ranger Upshaw.” Nora shrugged, still staring down the hallway.
“That’s it?” Fallon tried not to sound as frustrated as she felt. “You won’t even try to make your case?”
“Look, it never mattered what I wanted at home, why should this be any different?” Nora snapped, turning back to her.
“My father decreed I couldn’t hang out with him anymore.
My mother concluded I needed to look more girly.
The kids at school decided they didn’t want to be friends anymore.
I had to trick my folks into giving me a chance at what I most wanted, to become a photographer, but now I’ve screwed that up, so I might as well give—”
Nora stopped abruptly as the door opened. Jade motioned them inside. The form was still on the desk, but Fallon didn’t think anything more had been written on it. “Are you really as good a sawyer as Jade seems to think you are?” Reva asked.
Nora inclined her head. “Yes, but I believe it’s mostly because I have more experience than the rest of the crew. I’m sure they’ll be right with me by the end of the summer.”
Reva grunted and turned to Fallon. “And you sincerely believe there won’t be another serious infraction like the two we’ve already had?”
“Without those negative influences, yes.” Reva tapped her pen again for what felt like an hour. Fallon worked not to hold her breath.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Reva said finally, shifting her gaze between them.
“Jade, since you have super sawyer here, I’m not going to reduce the assignment for your crew this hitch.
You’ll be expected to do the work of eight, even with six, and you’ll be evaluated at regular intervals. Understood?”
Jade paled slightly but agreed.
“And Fallon, I’ll be holding you responsible for everything outside of work hours. If there’s the slightest whiff of a problem anywhere, anytime, she’s gone, and you’ll be back on a crew next year. Any kind of leadership position will have to wait.”
“That’s not fair,” Nora blurted.
“Nora—”
“No, Fallon. She can’t hold you responsible for my behavior.”
Reva’s stare was glacial. “That’s where you’re wrong, Ms. Palmer.
And if you’re going to disregard the exceptional support you’re being offered, then you can leave now.
” She picked up her pen and examined the form.
Nora fidgeted. Fallon shifted enough to brush Nora’s shoulder with her own.
“What’s it going to be?” Reva demanded, looking up.
“I’ve already spent way too much time on this. ”
“Okay. I mean, yes, I’d like another chance.” Nora’s voice was almost a whisper. “Please.”
“And you completely understand the consequences of any other trouble? Not only for yourself?”
Nora nodded, looking at Jade and returning the light pressure against Fallon’s arm. “Thank you both. I promise, there won’t be any more problems.”
“Good. There’s one other condition.”
Nora stiffened.
“You will be taking promotional pictures for us in whatever time you can spare. It will be up to you to get releases from your crew and anyone else you photograph. It will also be your responsibility to put together some kind of video or presentation, the details of which I’ll give you before your next break. Do we have an agreement?”
Fallon looked at Nora with apprehension but saw her lips curve slightly. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. I expect to be impressed. Don’t disappoint me, any of you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” they said in chorus. Fallon tried not to smile as Nora picked up her bag.
As they started out the door, Reva added, “Jade, take her over to medical and get that lip looked at. Wake someone if you have to. Ms. Palmer needs to be one hundred percent in two days.”
Fallon hung around outside medical, keeping to the shadows in case Nora didn’t want anything more to do with her this evening.
Jade had called good night moments before, and when Nora exited the building, her head turning, Fallon’s heart skipped, hoping she was the one Nora was looking for.
“How’d it go?” she asked, trying to sound casual as she walked toward her.
Nora shrugged. “It was fine.”
“Do you need to talk about how that happened?”
“Not even a little bit.” Nora eyed her. “Do you try to save everyone, or should I feel special?”
“Can I say both?”
Nora laughed, then grimaced, putting her hand to her mouth. “The doctor said I should put something cold on this. Will you take me to get some ice cream?”
“Sure.” Fallon realized she sounded much too eager, so she added a frown. “But who’s paying?”
The couple at the Swift River Ice Cream shop obviously remembered them, as they had the same question.
Nora handed over a twenty-dollar bill and told them to keep the change, ordering a hot fudge sundae and gesturing to Fallon, who couldn’t resist ordering a banana split. They sat on the bench outside to eat.
“Didn’t you have dinner?” Nora asked as Fallon consumed nearly half her dish in less than a minute.
“No. I was working on something. What about you?”
Nora gave a grim chuckle. “No, I was explaining my stupidity to Ranger Upshaw.”
With a grunt, Fallon went back to her ice cream. Nora had almost finished when Fallon said, “You know you don’t have to explain yourself to me. But if you ever want to talk about it…”
“Yeah. Thanks. I’ll let you know.”
Fallon took their empty dishes inside, taking a little while to chat with the owners. Nora seemed lost in thought when she returned. She cleared her throat. “Are you ready to head back to the barracks?”
“Oh.” Nora startled slightly. “I hadn’t thought about my return to communal living.”
“The rest of the crew comes in tomorrow, so it’ll just be us tonight.”
“Well, I suppose that will be okay.” Nora stood, giving herself a quick shake. “Especially since we’ve already slept together.”
Fallon hoped it was dark enough to hide her blush.
The moaning woke her when it was still dark.
While working at the diner, she’d trained herself to wake at first light, though her internal alarm had failed on those nights that Nora had shared her tent.
Shaking off sleep, she questioned whether the sounds were in a dream or coming from something outside, but then she remembered Nora was back.
At a whimper, followed by some mumbled words, Fallon was up.
“Hey.” She bent and hesitantly touched Nora’s arm.
“Get off,” Nora shouted, flailing wildly.
“Shh. It’s okay. You’re safe.” Fallon caught one of Nora’s arms right before it hit her in the chest.
“No.” Nora sat up abruptly, still struggling. She blinked, obviously trying to bring Fallon into focus. “What…what are you doing?”
“You were having a nightmare.”
Nora took a few deep breaths. “Oh, okay. Yeah. Sorry.” She regarded Fallon. “I can’t believe you woke up. You sleep like the dead.”
Fallon straightened, letting go of Nora’s arm. “I do not.” She hadn’t meant to sound so offended, but at Nora’s amused snort, she decided not to protest again. “Though if you’re okay, I’m going back to bed.”
“Since I’m awake, I’m going to make use of our modern toilet.”
Fallon turned on her side, trying not to let her mind start up. She heard the flush, followed by water in the sink. After a rustling sound she couldn’t identify, a cool hand touched her face. Her eyes snapped open. Nora was holding something out to her. “Here’s your book. I finished it in Denver.”
Fallon tucked Seafire under her pillow, thrilled that Nora had returned it. Everyone else on the crew had returned theirs as well. “Did you like it?”
“Very much. And I have some extra insight into Fallon Monroe now, knowing it was your favorite.”
“Well, that was during my impressionable youth.”
Nora lowered herself to the edge of Fallon’s cot. “I don’t know why I’m bad about saying thank you.”
Fallon took Nora’s hand in hers. “Maybe you’re not used to someone who cares about you without any expectations.”
Nora’s breath caught, and she slowly pulled her hand away. “Other than the pressure to not ruin your plans for the rest of your life, that is.”
Fallon raised onto her elbows. “Yes, Jade and I are both taking a chance on you, but the idea was to keep you from ruining your goals too.”
“I screwed up so much, maybe my goals deserve to be ruined.”
Making a sound of protest, Fallon tried to rise, but Nora held her shoulders down as she stood. “Go back to sleep, Falcon.”