Page 19 of Smokin' Situation

There shouldn’t even be cars that far north of town because there was a blockade preventing traffic from accessing that part of the ridge. I should know. I’d help set it up before the chief had sent me back to the ranch until they needed me. When I’d protested, he’d shoved a radio at me and told me I was only to report back to the mobile command center if they called all hands on deck.

Feeling useless, I’d headed back to the ranch to plot out a mitigation plan if the winds shifted and the fire turned toward us. So far, the winds had stayed north of us, but the haze that was creeping closer and closer had my senses on high alert.

I’d seen enough fires turn to know when the climate was right for absolute chaos to be unleashed. And as the smell of charred forestand lingering ash floated in the distance, it was a genuine possibility that this entire area could be engulfed in the next twenty-four hours. But I’d fight like hell before I let that happen.

“Dispatch, we’re on the wrong side of the ridge to respond,” Baker’s deep voice echoed over the radio, followed moments later by several more rigs reporting in with similar responses.

My heart thumped heavily in my chest as I thought about what it meant for the person caught in that car.

The horse shifted underneath me, pawing at the ground while I continued to stare at the radio in my hand, waiting for someone to call in that they were en route.

“I know, you’re fine, Phi. It’s okay, pretty girl.” Running my palm down the side of her neck, I tried to calm her, knowing she was picking up on my anxiety.

Seraphina and I were still getting to know each other, but when I’d been given the option between a younger, stronger horse and the scarred, solemn beauty that I was currently atop, it hadn’t been a tough decision.

We’d been kindred spirits from the start.

“What’s going on?” Marty asked, sidling his horse Ajax next to where I’d stopped after noticing I was no longer following him on the ride we’d taken around the western perimeter of the ranch. We’d been coming up with a game plan in case the fire jumped the ridge and headed in this direction.

Which was a possibility if the erratic winds kept up, but I was hoping they’d be able to keep it contained.

“There’s a car stranded on the old 24 bypass.”

“What in the hell would possess someone to take that route? That section has been closed for years. It’s probably totally overgrown. That road was shit before it was abandoned.”

“I’ve been asking myself the same questions, but I wasn’t sure if there was something you knew that I was missing.”

He shook his head, gripping the top of his hat and settling it on his lap before he pulled a bandana from his pocket and wiped away the sweat that was beaded along his hairline.

Martin West was probably only a decade and a half older than me, but a life involving outdoor manual labor had already carved deep lines across his forehead.

Despite being the owner of the West Ranch, he had spent his career being hands on with the operational side of things. But now that I was lined up to be his new ranch manager, he was starting to hand over the reins for me to step more into his role.

I’d thought for sure that his daughter Charley would want to continue the family legacy and run the ranch, but he’d told me she was working for her aunt and uncle in Butterfly Ridge doing event planning.

I had a feeling you could never really keep a career cowboy from thelife, but I think he was cursing this wildfire for throwing off his transition plans. Especially with the real danger of it affecting his landandhis livelihood.

“They gonna send someone out to get ‘em?”

The radio in my hand had been silent for a few minutes, but it wasn’t looking good. I knew the Chief had the evacuation and containment measures handled, but none of the crews had confirmed they could stop what they were doing to find this person.

Pulling the radio toward my mouth, I depressed the button on the side, knowing I shouldn’t be interfering but also unable to stay quiet if I could help.

“Dispatch, this is radio twenty-seven. Is the call still open for the stranded motorist on 24?”

Marty shot me a concerned glance, clearly thinking the same thing as I was. One of us was going to have to find this idiot if no one from the county fire service could.

“Affirmative, twenty-seven. I have not received confirmation to reroute any of the ongoing evacuation plans.”

“Radio twenty-seven, you were told to stand down,” a deep baritone cut in over the line, the static barely distorting the sound of my other boss’ voice. “This channel is open for active rescue personnel right now.”

“I understand that, Chief, but I’m currently within the vicinity to respond if needed.”

I’d have to pick my way through the woods to find them, but I knew Phi could get me there.

“Harding, you’re not supposed to be operating a vehicle in the evacuation zone. I can’t afford to have you getting stranded while you’re out playing hero.”

“Not in a vehicle, Chief. Currently on horseback inside the perimeter of the West Peak Ranch.”

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