Burn

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREEMARCUS

DAY TWO

Marcus watched out the window as Joe walked the girl, Taylor, out of the station and down the street. He assumed to go and see Ryan and do a bit more snooping. He knew Joe wasn’t stupid. Joe knew damn well she was here to spy on them. But he was always one who knew how to play the political game. And this was one. Joe was right, Hansen did provide a lot of jobs to this town. And if Hansen wanted a spy up here to keep an eye on them, then that’s what he got.

Three fires in three weeks. Hundreds upon hundreds of acres of logging forest burned. If there was any positive side to this, it was that the fires had not burned in areas where people lived. And no one had been killed. Yet. But he knew it was only a matter of time. There had been too many close calls, too many times it had only been inches that spared a man’s life.

He turned away from the window and walked into the showers. Kicking off this shorts and shoes he got under the hot spray. Rubbing the bar of soap between his hands, he made a rich lather and scrubbed it over his shoulders. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip. Taylor. It was a pity she was a spy for Hansen, she was just his type. Long blonde hair, big blue eyes, and a curvy figure that just begged to have his hands roam over it. When he has seen her standing there looking lost, his heart had jumped in his chest. She was so sweet, she looked like she needed a cuddle.

He shook his head. He couldn’t think that way. She was off limits. Working for Hansen was bad enough, but being there to spy on them was a step too far. She was probably sleeping with Hansen too, and he knew how that went. He wouldn’t let himself be pulled back into that hell again. He rubbed his soapy hand over the burn on his arm.

Too many close calls.

At the last fire, they had barely got out alive. They arrived at Carson’s Creek only seconds before the mountainside went up in flames behind them.

When he had arrived at the creek, he had done a quick headcount and all his men were still there. He had breathed a sigh of relief, but that relief didn’t last long. As he had turned to look at the mountainside, the fire had stormed over the crest. Within seconds it had engulfed the area they had been in, merging with the flames already burning there — Turning it into a raging inferno. It started to race down the mountainside towards them. Jumping from treetop to treetop and bursting through the underbrush with a deafening whoosh! A terrifying had realization hit him. It wasn’t going to stop.

He had screamed at his men. “In the creek! Get under the water!”

His men had scrambled into the rushing water of the creek. As he stepped in, his heart had stuttered in his chest as the ice-cold water hit him. There were several large boulders jutting up in the middle of the creek. He swum towards them calling for his men to follow. They huddled behind it, with their mouths barely above the waterline. Treading water with trembling bodies fighting the cold and the weight of their bunker gear. Although most would think it would’ve been best to take off the heavy fire-resistant gear, that would have been the wrong move. It was making it harder to stay afloat, but this fire wasn’t over yet, and they would all still need it.

As the fire had raged closer, the men wrapped their arms around each other keeping a tight group. He spoke to them as calmly as he could. “We can do this. Try and keep your breaths slow and steady. Keep hold of each other. Don’t let go.”

Don’t let go.

Those were his last words before the fire flashed above their heads.

The heat and noise had been overwhelming. It roared in his ears blocking out every other sound. The blast of heat had seared into his eyes as he snapped them shut. He had felt the hands of his guys clutching onto him, and he tightened his grip on the man beside him. They needed to stay behind the boulders, it was their only shield between them and the flames.

It had seemed to go on forever, but he knew in reality it was only a few minutes. Finally, the fire raged past them, pushed on by strong winds and tinder dry underbrush. They had staggered out of the creek and collapsed down onto the still smoldering ground. Through his gear he could feel the heat radiating up from the ground. For once, the heat was welcome, it helped warm his chilled bones.

After he had got his breath back, he rose to his feet. The men had silently followed as he had led them behind the wall of flames to the base camp. Many hours later the fire had been brought under control, then finally extinguished. The aerial waterdrops had continued to tamp down hotspots. They had gone back to the station and after a shower had fallen into an exhausted sleep.

Marcus rinsed the shampoo out of his hair and stepped out of the shower. He got dressed in jeans, boots and a t-shirt. Grabbing his bag, he started to head towards his SUV. As he stepped outside, Joe walked up. He dipped his chin to him. “Heading home, Chief. See you tomorrow.”

Joe shook his head. “Nope. A word first.” He walked past, then pushed open his office door. Marcus sighed and reluctantly followed him in, then sat down heavily in the chair in front of the desk. “Yeah, I know. Be nice to the girl.”

Joe took his own seat and frowned. “First of all, she has a name. Taylor. And what the hell is your problem with her?”

“I told you. My guys nearly died in the last fire. You read my report, it was f*****g close. And that asshole sends a spy while we’re risking our lives!”

“I will point out, it isn’t Taylor’s fault. She’s his PA, she’s just doing as she’s told. I’m sure as a Dom you can appreciate that.”

Marcus glared at Joe. “Not funny. And I will point out that Ty has a larger logging area and hires more people than Hansen does! And you never see Ty trying to pull this shit.”

“Yeah, well. Ty is one of us. He doesn’t have an arrogant bone in his body. Hansen lives in his ivory tower, you can’t compare the two. And it’s not Ty’s forest that’s burning, its Hansen’s. You need to let this go, Marcus. And you sure as hell need to stop taking it out on Taylor. It’s not her fault her boss is an asshole.”

Marcus shrugged. They were going in circles.

Joe leaned forward. His gaze calculating. “It’s not just that. You like her. Or at least you did. I saw how you were looking at her. Right up until you found out she was Hansen’s PA.”

“I did not! I don’t like her at all.”

“Uh, huh. Sure. Look, I know there’s about a million triggers going on with you. But, I need you to do this. And tomorrow, you’re taking her out to see what the last fire did to Hansen’s land.”

Marcus frowned. “There’s no f*****g triggers. And I’m what? Oh, come on! Why are you pushing this? Dillon could take her up there.”

“Dillon isn’t a full-time firefighter, he’s a volunteer, and he’s not lead. You are. And you’re taking her. End of discussion.”

Marcus grunted. “Fine, but I swear, if you weren’t my friend and Chief…”

Joe grinned. “Oh, I know. You’d pop me in the mouth. I know you hate being told what to do. But there is no choice in this. So, be at the hotel by 9:00 am. She’ll be waiting.”

Marcus stood up. “OK.” As he turned to head out, Joe gave him some parting advice. “Look at it this way. It’s just like fighting those fires. We’re not doing it for him. We are doing it for the town, for our people. Try to think about it that way.”

Marcus nodded and walked outside. Joe was right. He would do this — For Nevermore. He loved this place and the people in it. So, if he had to put up with Hansen and his little spy for them, then he would.