Page 54 of Raven

“Don’t rush it. You could end up in more pain.”

“I won’t,” I said with a soft chuckle. “Mostly we’ve been fishing with Laney.”

“I saw you on her YouTube channel. That’s how we knew you were doing better. Figured it was a good time to visit.”

“I’m glad you're here. I’ve wanted to meet Raven’s family—he’s told me so much about all of you.”

“Don’t believe everything he says,” his dad joked.

“We’ve got everything for the barbecue,” Raven called out. “I’m so glad you’re all here. Everyone’s coming for dinner. Laney’s been cooking up a storm—I can smell it from here. Beatrice made pies. She let me have a piece, and it was delicious.”

“I’ll go see if anyone needs help,” I said, rising.

“You will sit and talk to Georgia,” Raven said firmly.

That’s when I noticed the beautiful woman standing nearby, smiling.

Raven pulled her into a hug.

“You must be Georgia,” I said, offering my hand. “Come sit down and tell me about yourself.”

“I’m going to be a firefighter like you,” she said brightly. “Just finished college and applied to a few departments near my hometown. I want to stay in Oklahoma, where my family is.”

“That’s wonderful. Get ready for a serious physical challenge. I prepped by lifting weights and rock climbing. It’s a lot of work, but you’ll do great.”

“When did you start working with your brothers?”

“I’ve been with them for over a year now. Before that, I was a firefighter in Reno.

Some guys might give you a hard time because you’re a woman, but prove you know your job—and most will back off.”

“I’m really glad I got to talk with you. When Raven said you were a firefighter, I couldn’t wait to meet you. I know medics are part of the job—was that hard?”

“Not really. I became an EMT while training. That helped a lot. When my brothers saw I was serious, they told me to start there.”

“I never thought of that,” Georgia said.

“It was the best advice. You’ll see some hard things—tragic things—and becoming an EMT first will help you build emotional resilience.

You’ll never get used to seeing death, but you’ll learn to carry it. And you’ll save lives. That part makes it all worth it.”

“I’m going to look into that as soon as I get home.”

“What made you want to become a firefighter?”

“When I was six, our house caught fire. A woman firefighter carried me out through a window. Ever since then, I knew what I wanted to be.”

“Georgie, I didn’t know you still wanted to do that,” her dad said. “I’ve got friends who could help you.”

“I know, Dad, but I want to do this on my own.”

Raven tilted his head. “Why didn’t I know this? I remember asking you as a kid what you wanted to be—you never said firefighter.”

“When I met you, I told you I wanted to be a firewoman—and you laughed,” she replied.

Raven blinked, trying to remember. “You were always so serious as a kid. Then you got into cheerleading and makeup, and I guess I forgot.

But I know how determined you are. You’ll be great.”

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