Page 45 of Flashback

“I like the way you think, Monroe. I’m in.”

“Great. I’ll come pick you up.”

Within an hour they were in the campground parking lot again, although this time it was completely vacant. The air still smelled like smoke. The main area with all the campsites remained unburnt thanks to the quick work of the hotshot crew, but just beyond the office building, where the trails started, was a different story. No green trees or underbrush.

Allie stepped over a thick trunk that had fallen across the trail. “It looks so different.” Scorched skeletons of pine and spruce stood. Everything was covered in gray ash. It was like walking in a black-and-white photo.

Using a hiking stick as they walked, Dakota checked for embers and hot spots.

They’d have to start by the caves where they’d found the boys if they wanted to find the route to that cabin. Remembering how protective Ethan was reminded her of Dakota’s big brother Will. She didn’t know a lot about their past, but maybe learning about it would help her to understand Dakota more.

“You said your mom didn’t tell you about Will until she died, but you seem so close now. How did you find him?”

“I didn’t at first. When my mom told me that Will didn’t want anything to do with us, I believed her. He had a different mother, and there’s a big age gap. I wasn’t born until he had moved out. It made sense when she said he thought he was better than us.”

“That doesn’t sound like Will at all.”

“Yeah, but back then I didn’t know that.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I know better now.”

“So what happened?”

“I saw his wedding announcement in the local paper. Being a hotheaded teenager, I thought I’d show up and cause a scene.” He winced. “Come to find out, Will never knew about me either.”

Allie watched a bird flit across the trail. “Wow.”

“Yeah, my father never told him I existed or that he had been with my mom. After that, Will invited me to spend summers with him and Dani. I think he tried to make up for our dad, you know?”

“Nowthatsounds like the Will Masterson I know.”

“He was always the one Masterson man that had it all together.”

“Did you look up to him?”

Dakota nodded. “What’s not to admire? He was with Homeland Security for years; now he and his wife do search and rescue, which you know. He’s an upstanding guy. Family man. Not having the greatest example as a father, I guess I lookedup to Will quite a bit, and I love his twins. My nephews are the best.” His voice grew quiet. He snapped off a dead branch and studied it. “I’m surprised you willingly drove me anywhere after you saw me lose it with him.”

“It was Will who told me I could trust you.”

Dakota’s head jerked up.

“He told me you were a good guy struggling with an addiction and taking it out on him.”

“He knew I was doing that?”

“Have you ever talked about it with him?”

Dakota looked down again, using the stick to sift through the ashes. “I haven’t brought it up. I owe him so much. He paid for that rehab, arranged the ride. I’ve been to see him a few times since, but…I need to do more. I want to use my salary as a hotshot and my sign-on bonus to pay him back. And I need to get my life together, show him that everything he did wasn’t wasted. I owe him that at least.”

“He’s your brother, Dakota. You don’t have to prove anything.”

“I need to make things right though. I’ve got some money saved up. I’m getting there.”

“I understand wanting to pay him back, but don’t you think a relationship is more than that? He loves you unconditionally. Dani and the kids too. Samuel and Joshua are always talking about Uncle Kota. I think they look up to you. Why else do you think they signed up for the teen fire-training camp…what’s it called?”

“Wildlands Academy.” He jabbed his stick on the ground, not making eye contact.

“Dani dropped them off last month, and I don’t think it’s too far from here. You should go visit them.”

He looked at her and stilled. “I’ll think about it.”

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