Page 1 of Wildfire
Chapter One: Renée
It's just my luck that when I finally get the hell out of my hometown, my car breaks down. I know I shouldn't believe that this is some kind of punishment for leaving my family behind to deal with their own hot mess of a life, but it's hard not to think like that when I'm sitting here by the side of the road.
I pop the hood and take a look, and even though I know a thing or two about cars, I'm at a loss. The damn thing just lost power as I was climbing the hill towards Owl Creek. Now I'm kicking rocks and trying not to yell about the injustice of it all.
Owl Creek is the farthest I've gotten from home since my mom died, the farthest I've been able to reach without turning back out of guilt. But not this time.
This time, I'm done. I mean it.
I pull my hair into a high pony to get it out of my face. It's uncharacteristically hot today, and even though I'm in shorts and a tank, I'm sweating balls.
My cell phone has no service out here. It never does in the hills. I just escaped one of the few places on this god-forbidden peninsula that has any service, and now I'm screwed.
I pop the trunk to grab my backpack, toss my water and a few other things inside, and then lock the trunk with everything I own inside. I'll have to hoof it into town to see if someone can tow my car and fix it. Hopefully, there's not a bunch of scumbags out here who will strip my car before I make it into town.
And that's the shitty part. I didn't budget for this. I have just enough money to get where I'm going. Now, I will have to drive straight through and sleep in rest stops once I'm back on the road.
Not a great start to the rest of my life.
Chapter Two: Cole
Getting a fire call at five in the morning is not my idea of a good time. However, as the new Chief, I have to show everyone that I'm more than capable of filling Chief Johnson's shoes.
Luckily, it wasn't a blazer because the old-growth forest is nearby. And with the hotter weather the last couple of years, we've had longer and longer burn bans in place. I know some people are really up in arms about this, considering how wet it used to be around here.
Not anymore.
Seth met me at the scene with the rig, and he's heading back now, but I take a shortcut down Pine Hill Road to stop in and see Chief's widow. Before I take the turn that leads to her driveway, I see a car pulled over on the side of the road with the flashers on. I pull over, but nobody's inside. Luckily, there are no pets either. It's unbelievable how many people leave their pets in a hot car like they don't understand that it can reach over a hundred degrees inside in no time on a scorcher like today.
I decided to skip seeing Mrs. Johnson and head toward town to see if the person was walking. There is no sense in getting a sunburn or heat stroke on a day like today. Just as I turn the bend before the long last stretch of road that leads to Owl Creek, I see her.
Legs. For miles. Black boots that could hurt a guy if he isn't careful. Blue jean cutoffs that hug her heart-shaped ass.This woman should not be allowed outside in those. She's going to cause an accident.
I pull up next to her, and she acts like I'm not there. I pace her in the truck and roll down my window so I can talk to her.
"Hey, I'm the local Fire Chief. You need some help?"
She scowls as she looks at the red pickup truck with the light on top, assessing the truth of my words.
"I saw your car back there. Or I'm guessing it's—"
"Yeah." She stops and turns to face me fully. She leans her arm against the window frame and eyes me momentarily, and it's enough to stop my heart. "Can you get me into town so I can find someone to tow my car?"
"I can do you one better. I'll call the town mechanic right now and give you a ride wherever you need."
"Auto shop is fine."
I tried to hide my chuckle. This chick is a wild spirit. I can tell by the fire in her caramel-colored eyes.
"Hop in. It's just down the road."
She pulls open the door and climbs inside and I feel the heat in the truck increase tenfold. I don't know if it's because she's been walking in this hot weather or because I just fought a fire, but it feels like the mercury is rising fast.
I tap a few buttons on my phone before I push the accelerator. After a couple of rings, I hear a voice.
"Yeah?"
"Is that any way to greet your big brother?"
