Page 25 of Flashback

“They need to know they can trust me to do the job I have now. I can’t mess this up. It’s all I’ve got.”

“That’s not true, Kota. You have family and friends. And who cares about what happened back in Benson? You’re a hero. You saved those boys. You saved me. That’s who you are. You’re not the troublemaker you claimed to be when I first met you.”

“Well, it’s not like I was going to leave you there in a burning forest with two boys alone. Of course I would do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

He didn’t know how rare that was. “Not everyone is like that.” Some men showed up with all the big romantic gestures, luring naive women into a fantasy world. And the minute the fantasy bubble popped, they left her high and dry to face all the consequences alone.

Maybe Dakota was different. It seemed like he was a really good guy. Sure, he had a temper. He was passionate. But his passion was protecting others. Not trying to get ahead or take advantage of the innocent. He deserved his fresh start.

Before she could say anything, Emily pulled up in her 4Runner. “Anybody need a ride?”

Dakota held the front door for Allie, then threw their packs into the trunk and climbed in the back seat.

“You two sure had an exciting day. But no rest for the weary. The fire is out of control, and they need us on the line as soon as we can, Masterson.” Emily glanced at him in the rearview mirror.

“Sure, but what will you do now, Allie?” he asked her.

“I’m not leaving Ember. I don’t care what that deputy says. Jen and the boys need help.”

“Maybe you should go home. I’ll watch out for the boys,” Dakota said from the backseat. “It’s dangerous out here. For you too.”

“But you’ll be out fighting fires. Someone needs to stick close by for Jen and Ethan and Nolan. And I have to find Scout. He’s out there somewhere. I can’t leave him behind,” Allie said.

“You can stay with us at the firebase,” Emily offered. “It might be a little cramped with the extra crews coming in, but you can stay in the ladies’ bunk room or with me and Sanchez and Jojo at our rental house in town.”

Allie glanced at Dakota. Did he want her to stay? Not that it mattered. She couldn’t leave now. “If you’re sure you don’t mind, yeah, I’ll stay at your place.”

They pulled into the vacant campground. It was eerily silent as they stepped out of the car. One of the crew fire trucks was still there. Emily and Dakota walked over and talked with some of the team. Allie threw her backpack into her own SUV. Opening up the back, she saw Scout’s kennel and blanket.She fingered the well-worn piece of fleece, tears immediately stinging her eyes.

Scout. She couldn’t even keep even a dog safe.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Belle. She wiped her cheeks before answering.

“Hey, you must’ve made it home, huh?” Allie sank onto her truck and watched the hotshot crew. Dakota and Emily stood over one of the picnic tables. Dakota’s whole body leaned in to study the map, intense concentration on his face.

“Yeah, I’m back home. So, how did the training go. How’s Scout?”

“Well—” Allie swallowed hard. “Not so great.” She told Belle what’d happened.

“You were caught in that forest fire? Allie, what were you thinking, walking into a wildfire?”

“I was thinking I couldn’t leave those two boys lost in the forest. What was I supposed to do? Leave them to die?”

“Obviously not, but—” Belle paused. “Now that they’re safe, why don’t you leave? You could be here by tonight. We could still have these next four days together.”

Allie shoved off the vehicle. “Leave? Scout is out here somewhere. Lost. You expect me to abandon him? I won’t!”

“Take it easy, Al. I forgot about Scout. It was just a suggestion.”

“Well, it was a bad one.”

“I’m just…I’m worried about you. Your voice sounds awful. You probably have smoke inhalation. You need to be careful and take care of yourself.” Belle’s concern helped calm some of the ire, but it didn’t change the facts.

“I can’t leave my dog lost in the woods. I’m staying until I find him.” Allie stuffed her free hand deep into her pocket. She might not deserve another chance, not after all she’d done. But she wouldn’t leave until she’d exhausted every resource. Becausemaybe Dakota wasn’t the only one with a second chance here. Maybe this was a test. A test to see how much she was willing to do to make up for her past mistakes.

It was a test she intended to pass this time.

Finally, Dakota was doing what he’d come to Montana to do: fight fires.

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