Page 28 of Redwood Blaze
A man bursts out of the underbrush, wielding a chainsaw, face wild with madness. My instincts kick in.
“Get down!” I snarl, yanking Millie out of harm's way as I draw my knife, eyes locking onto the man’s crazed expression.
“I’ve got him!” Sterling yells, tackling the man and sending them both to the ground.
Quinton and I rush in, binding the man’s arms with our repelling ropes swiftly yet forcefully before he can react. Gideon thrashes beneath us, but we manage to restrain him. His eyes wide with a frenzied desperation make for a mad man.
“Millie, you came for me?” he asks.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she says and I chuckle, but after a dead glare, I shut up.
“Why were you trying to kill our men?” Quinton growls back, tightening the bindings as he pulls him to stand.
The man’s eyes dart around, wild and unfocused. “You don’t understand! This bitch?—”
My right fist connects with his jawline.
He’s dangerous. No matter what he says.
The guys at the other fire call in that they’ve contained the majority of the original blaze and some are heading back to HQ.
“We’re taking you in,” I state firmly and pull him up, holding his wrists behind him as we lead him back toward the truck.
Millie breathes a sigh of relief, but it’s short-lived.
“The fire here… it’s moving quickly. We have to go.” She looks frantic again, eyes darting back toward the flames breaking through the trees.
“Let's move,” I urge, glancing between Sterling and Quinton. Together, we hustle Gideon toward the truck, cautiously keeping an eye out for any other threats.
Upon entering the woods again, the chaotic sounds of our past and the lingering scent of charred earth remind us of what’s truly at stake. We must forge ahead, united, committed to saving each other from the flames threatening to consume us all.
After another excruciating fifteen minutes filled with tension, we arrive back at the Black Timber Peak Hotshots HQ brick-and-mortar structure cluttered with gear, the air thick with smoke and urgency.
Sheriff Dunning stands outside, attention focused on us as we unload the man from the back of the truck.
“Who’s this?” he queries, his gaze sharp.
Millie stands tall and shoves Gideon forward. “This is Gideon Batenhorst was trying to kill our team. He’s my ex and he’s breaking his parole to be here.”
“Well, then I guess I better get to work.”
I start to walk to the front door of HQ, but Millie doesn’t follow. I turn and watch as she stands in front of the man who tried to break her.
But he doesn’t know that my girl, she’s like a towering redwood, she stands strong and unyielding, her presence commanding respect and admiration. With her roots deeply anchored in the values and traditions of her upbringing, she draws strength from her past while reaching toward the sky, embracing growth and the endless possibilities of the future. Her trunk, sturdy and resilient, represents her unwaveringdetermination and the ability to endure life’s storms, weathering challenges with grace and poise.
In her shade, others find comfort and solace, reflecting the nurturing spirit that defines her. Just as the redwood provides a habitat for countless creatures, she fosters connections and nurtures those around her, creating a sense of community and belonging. Her branches stretch outward, reaching for new horizons, embodying a spirit of exploration and openness that inspires others to thrive, to travel, to explore.
Even as the years pass, she’ll mature with elegance, her wisdom deepening like the intricate rings of her growth. She stands as a testament to the beauty of resilience, a reminder that true strength lies not just in height but in the depth of character, the ability to adapt, and the commitment to remain rooted while aspiring to rise above. Like a redwood, she is a majestic force of nature, influencing all who have the privilege to know her.
And she’s mine.
She asks Sheriff Dunning to step away for a moment. He doesn’t question it.
Then she grabs Gideon’s shoulders, shakes him just a little to get his attention, says something in his ear that I’m sure I don’t need to hear, and with one swift blow, she knees him in his groin, dropping him to the ground in a whimpering mess.
And at that moment, the weather that was expected to roll through, starts to pour tears of happiness from the sky.
Sheriff Dunning lifts him and murmurs, “I saw nothing,” as Gideon complains that he’s going to sue her and she’ll be the one in jail.
