Page 6 of Redwood Blaze
I grab her hand and she inhales quickly. Her feet stutter step as I pull her into her office. She always seems to be most comfortable in here.
“Supe Archer, Millie, although I appreciate the gestures, I’m not new here. When the boss starts treating the workers, there’s a reason, good or bad, but this one seems like they’re going away gestures. Are you leaving us?” My heart triple times in my chest even thinking about her not being here.
“No, at the moment, I have no plans to leave Black Timber Peak.” She backs so her hands are clasping the edge of her desk. “It’s just personal.”
I caught the “at the moment” clarifier on the beginning of that.
“What moment would make it necessary for you to leave?”
“I promise, you’ll be the first to know, if that ever becomes a necessity.”
“Why me first?” My back straightens. That seems like she knows that I’d be upset or maybe she would, too.
Her head tips. “Because you’re being promoted to Assistant Superintendent, next in charge.”
My mouth drops open. I’d applied for the job months ago, but I figured they decided not to promote me. I was happy where I was and although I’d kinda completed the application on a dare, the fact that it was coming true…
I shook my head. “No. I decline.”
“You can’t.”
“Yes, I can.”
“Why?”
“Have you told anyone else?”
“Just Cole.”
I run a hand through my short-shorn curly strands. They look better when they’re longer, but for safety, I keep it close. “Then un-tell him.”
“Un-tell? What’s that mean?”
“You know, take it back…” my chest starts to rise and fall quickly.
“Hey, hey, Rusty,” she says as she pulls me in and directs me into a chair in front of her desk. She closes her door and then rolls a stool from the corner over to me.
My breaths roll quickly. I’ve never been like this. Never felt this tightness through my whole body. Not even when facing monster fires. Not even when being charged by three black bears trying to escape the fires. Not even when…
Dad.
He was a Supe when he died. He’d just been promoted and it was his last time out as a squad leader. And probably why I’ve never wanted to be promoted.
“My dad, he took the promotion and then he died,” I say leaning back in the chair and closing my eyes. The pain of losing someone never leaves. And that I was the last person to hear his voice, calling from the SAT phone to the house and telling me to take care of my mother and he loved us. I think I pushed it to the back of my mind.
Her soft hand slips into mine. Her voice is silky and soft. “I didn’t know. I should’ve come to you first, but I thought you would be happy. I’m sorry, Rusty.” She gives a squeeze and I open my eyes.
“You really think that I’d be good at it?” I ask.
She leans forward, her blue eyes holding to mine. “I wouldn’t have gone to bat for you, if I didn’t. Not everyone gets to jump three steps in the ladder, Phoenix, but you deserve it.”
“Thanks.” I take a deep breath. “I’ve never freaked out like that.” I lean a little closer to her, our bodies creating a bubble.
“Well, I have lots of experience with freak-outs, so I could see the impending doom.”
I chuckle. “You’re not going to report it?”
She smiles, soft and gentle. “Nah, it was a one-time thing, and I know why. Rusty, what happened to your dad wasn’t fair and it wasn’t common, thankfully. But you know that those guys out there will do everything in their power to make it that no one experiences what you did as a young man. Your fears are authentic, but they’re not going to be repeated.”
