Page 100 of Smoke and Fire
This morning when I drove to the Frolicking Moose, I’d brought the most important essentials in my backpack. Computers. Hard drives. Pictures. My purse.
Walking away from my RV and not knowing if I’d ever see it again left a hollow spot inside me. Until now, I hadn’t let myself think about it. Katrina and Jess and the shop had distracted me too much. Now, I felt the potential sorrow all the way in my gut.
My hands trembled when I opened up the text message to Sione again.
Dahlia:Glad you're safe.
Sione:Do you have access to a truck, by any chance?
My eyes flitted outside and off to the left. Not far away was the fire station, with the hotshots attached. Bastian's truck waited in the parking lot, barely visible through the smoke. A spare truck key was on the house key he'd given me.
Yes, I had access to a truck.
Whether I had permission to use said truck was another question entirely.
Dahlia:What do you need?
Sione:A truck to pull a horse trailer. A hotshot crew reported that some of the horses had returned to the stable at Adventura. No fire has spread that way yet, so they said Mark could get them if he hurries. He's in Pineville, so I can't help him. He's borrowing Maverick's truck and needs another one. Everyone else in Pineville is already loading up their stuff or using their trucks.
My breath caught. The hotshot crew might be Bastian's. To run to Adventura and help with the horses would give me a chance to see him. Maybe even clear the weird air between us.
I shook my head, brushing those thoughts aside. No, I had to focus on what was needed now. The horses, not affirmations from my crush.
Dahlia:Sure, but I've never driven horses before.
Sione:If you’ve pulled an RV, you can pull horses.
Dahlia: Done.
"Lizbeth!" I called.
She ducked out of the back room, eyebrows high. Noise from women laughing issued from the back room again.
"Sione just texted me."
Her face paled. "What is it? Something wrong with Adventura? The fire?"
I held up my phone. "Fine so far, I think. Some of the horses returned to the stable at Adventura, though. The hotshot crew said Mark could go get them, but he needs another truck and needs to leave now. Can I take Bastian's truck and go help him?"
Can I go see this guy I'm crazy about that I really want to like me?Inner Me tacked on, but I silenced her.
"Go. Yes. I got this."
"Pinegulch was just mandatory-evacuated." I ripped the apron strings off, balled it up, and tossed it onto the counter. "That includes the houses on the hills, up by my RV park and campground. Is that where Bethany lives?"
"Close, but not quite." Lizbeth gazed around, one hand on her hip. "Should we start kicking people out of here? If Pinegulch is evacuated, then Pineville will be next. I hate to send anyone home yet. Mav will be so happy to make up some lost revenue from this month being so slow, though, and we're safe with the reservoir right here . . ."
She trailed away. I couldn't help but wonder if Lizbeth found some solace in being around other people at a time like this.
"The evacuations aren't here yet," I said. "I'd wait until then and go from there." My gaze darted to Katrina, who had just fished some equipment out of a bag and started to fiddle with it. "Maybe give her a chance to get some video?"
Lizbeth glanced over, then nodded, lips pursed.
"Good idea. Besides, locals have started to come in and ask questions. They'll want somewhere to get updates and congregate anyway. The Frolicking Moose will stay open as a community support center."
"Sounds good. Thanks, Lizbeth."
A text vibrated in my hand. I glanced down.
