Page 28 of Big Daddy Firemen

Thankfully, there was some good news amidst the chaos.

“It’s an easy one,” Austin called out as he worked the hose up and down the hot, orange line.

Walker smiled, thankful for the small victory. With the growing sense of dread twisting his insides, he’d take any and all good news he could get.

Austin’s words proved true, and it didn’t take long to get the flames out. Walker and the crew had arrived before it had a chance to grow very large. The sun’s morning rays would illuminate a black patch of scarred, scorched earth, but it wouldn’t be a very big one.

Once things had quieted down—and extra water had doused the spot where the fire had been and everything around it—Quinn sidled up to the firefighters and breathed a heavy sigh.

“Been too many fires lately.”

Austin, Cane, and Walker all nodded.

“Yep,” Walker said. He shook his head as he spoke again. “And I intend to find out what’s going on. The investigation starts in the morning.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Daisy had tried to wait up for the guys.

She’d managed to keep her eyes open until they rolled back into the garage and she knew they were safe. After that, though, while they’d showered, she’d lost the battle.

She woke up the following morning at eight. As was now her custom when staying at the firehouse, she readied for the day before making her first appearance.

Walker and Austin were at the table while Cane was working in the kitchen.

“Pull up a seat, darlin’,” Cane said as he flipped a pancake from the stove to an awaiting plate. “Your breakfast is almost ready.”

“Thanks,” she replied with a smile. “But after last night, maybe I need to watch what I eat.”

“That’s what you’re thinking about from last night?” Austin asked from the table. “Not when we almost...” He let his words trail off with a foxy grin.

Daisy giggled and blushed hard as she pulled out a chair and sat at the table. “So, I wasn’t dreaming?”

Across from her, Walker grinned. “Hardly. It was set to be a mighty fine night, too, before that damn fire kicked up.”

Daisy groaned and rubbed the back of her neck. “Seems like there’s been a lot of fires around here recently.”

In the kitchen, Cane stacked a few more hotcakes on the plate and said, “You know, we were just saying that very same thing last night. Today, we aim to find out what’s going on.”

Worry grew inside Daisy, though she smiled for a second when Cane deposited the steaming breakfast in front of her.

“Where’s ours?” Austin asked.

Cane returned a moment later with a plate stacked high with pancakes, dropping it in the center of the table. “I’ll make hers for her. Y’all have plates right in front of you. So grab ‘em and prepare your own.”

“You even put the butter and syrup on hers!” Austin noted.

“She’s a lot cuter than you are,” Cane retorted. “Now shut the hell up and eat. I went to all that trouble making those pancakes. The least you can do is scarf ‘em down.”

Daisy was laughing as Cane came back to the table and prepared his own plate. Once everyone had their food, she said, “So you think these fires are connected.”

“No real way to know until we investigate,” Walker said. “And I don’t want to assume anything. We’ll just let the facts speak for themselves.” He paused and looked thoughtful as he added, “That being said, it’s mighty suspicious that we’ve had so many in such a short span of time.”

Cane opened his mouth and looked as if he was about to say something when he stopped. His eyes squinted. “I forgot your milk and juice. Sorry, sweetheart.”

“I can get them myself!” Daisy protested.

“Oh no you don’t, little girl. Daddy will get them,” Cane told her as he got up and walked toward the kitchen.

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