Page 245 of Her Reluctant Hero
“How could they find footprints or fingerprints?” Peyton asked, thinking of the moonscapes she’d seen on the mountain, when nothing was left.
“In a forest fire, you look for the area of least destruction, because the fire burned away from the point of origin, moving uphill,” Jen said wearily. “It left the evidence behind.”
“But Doug’s experienced. He wouldn’t have left evidence.” Peyton worked it through, letting the thoughts come out of her mouth without censoring them. Way to go, Peyton.
Gabe pivoted toward her, his expression closed, as it had been the first day she had joined his crew. “He didn’t do this.”
From the corner of her eye, Peyton saw the surprise on Jen’s face as she faced Gabe.
“I’ve known Doug half my life.” Gabe’s tone was insistent. “He’s a good firefighter. Nothing’s more important to him. He would never do this.” He turned to Jen. “Why do they say he did it?”
She shook her head, and this time lost the battle with her tears. In her panic, her voice rose. “They don’t have a motive. They arrested him on physical evidence alone.”
“How did his drip torch get out there?” Peyton asked.
Both Jen and Gabe turned to her, brows furrowed in identical expressions, like she’d said something wrong.
“I don’t know.” Frustration colored Jen’s every word, every movement.
Peyton blew out an impatient breath, searching her mind for some explanation. “Could he have been starting a backfire?”
“There would have been record of authorization,” Jen said. “There was none.”
“I’m just searching for answers here.” Peyton looked curiously at Gabe, at Jen’s side. She would not allow herself to be hurt. There were no sides here, right? Jen was just worried about her husband, and Gabe was worried about Jen, so he was feeling protective. He couldn’t still love Jen and make love with her the way he had last night. “They have to have a reason, a motive. Have they set bail?”
Jen shook her head, battling tears. “It’s happened so fast.”
“Do you have a lawyer?”
“No!” Jen’s denial burst forth on a wail, and Gabe reached for her, pulled her into his arms to soothe her.
Peyton felt like she’d been kicked in the sternum as Jen tucked her head under Gabe’s chin, folded her hands against Gabe’s chest. Still, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the former husband and wife.
It didn’t help that Jen was the one to push against Gabe’s chest and move away, to look over at her. That Gabe was the one who stood with his arms empty.
“The bail hearing is in an hour. I can’t go, I can’t leave, not with the president due to arrive tomorrow.” Jen wiped at her face and looked at Peyton. “Will you go?”
Peyton stared, unable to fathom what the woman had just said. Even Gabe took a step back. “Jen, he’s your husband.”
“And this is my job, my responsibility. Doug understands.” She swept her hand to encompass the fire camp. “I can’t just leave camp. Will you go?”
Peyton blinked. There had been days when she would have done anything to have just another hour with Dan, and this woman was choosing her career over her husband? Even with the imminent arrival of the president, she would have chosen Dan.
She was fairly certain he wouldn’t have made the same choice.
Gabe’s somber expression revealed a ghost of pain. Had Jen made those choices when she was married to Gabe as well?
“You don’t even know me,” Peyton murmured.
“Right. I know almost everyone in camp, and while I understand the word will spread faster than the fire, I need just a few more hours where no one knows. A few more hours to get my thoughts together.”
“Uh, Jen, she’s a reporter, remember?”
Color brightened Jen’s cheeks and anger flashed in her eyes when she looked at him. “I don’t need her silence forever. Just her silence for now.” She turned back to Peyton. “Will you go?”
“If Gabe will go with me,” Peyton answered finally.
Jen nodded, relief clear in every line of her body. “That would be great. I appreciate it.” Appreciate? Peyton opened her mouth, but Gabe closed his hand around her arm and tugged her toward the tent exit.
