He pointed right. “Take Cougar Lane. You’ll see the fire station on the left.”
She drove a short distance, and then parked in front of the large silver building with a bright red roof, five bay doors, and one regular door. Festive white lights twinkled along the edge of the roofline. “It’s modular.”
“We get most of our funds from donations, fund-raisers, and grants. That means we put our money in rigs, not bricking the outside for curb appeal.”
“It’s a sturdy-looking structure.”
“New, too. Took us five years to put together enough dough to build it. We still use the original station for the older rigs, but it’s at a separate location.”
“Impressive.”
“All volunteer staff.” He opened his door.
“Including the mouser?” She pointed toward the front of the station at a gray cat with gold eyes sporting a red bow around his neck. “Is he a Hemingway, too?”
Trey chuckled. “That’s Ash. He’s got the regular number of toes. Still, nothing gets past him even when he’s duded up with a red bow around his neck.” Trey watched the fire station cat stretch, give their vehicle a slit-eyed look, and saunter around the side of the building and out of sight.
“He’s gorgeous. I adore cats. They’re so beautiful and intelligent. I’m really impressed Ash hasn’t torn off that ribbon.”
“Wouldn’t dare. Hedy’s word is law. Ash proudly wears costumes for all the holidays.”
“Maybe I can see Ash up close later.”
“Sure.” He opened his door. “Hedy’s most likely in the office. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
“You don’t need to go with me to the B&B.”
“I want to introduce you to Ruby.” He stepped outside, opened the back door, and picked up the bag of evidence. Not that he thought it’d help much, but there might be some type of residue on the fabric.
As he started toward the office, the door banged open. Hedy zoomed outside in her power wheelchair. She wore her steel-gray hair in a single plait down her back. Her sharp brown eyes missed nothing.
“Not hurt, are you?” she called.
“No. Caught the fire in time. Kent’s watching the pasture for possible flare-ups.”
“Good.” She quickly motored over to him. Rudolph the Reindeer’s red nose blinked on and off in her earrings and necklace. She held up a bright yellow T-shirt. “Sakes alive, put this on and cover up your nakedness. A lady could happen by.”
“You’re more than enough lady for me.” He grinned as he exchanged the garbage bag for the Wildcat Bluff Fire-Rescue T-shirt with a crimson Firefighter-EMT logo. “My shirt’s in that bag. I used it and those towels to put out the fire. Consider it evidence.”
“Fat lot of good that’ll do.”
“You never know.” He quickly pulled the T-shirt over his head, smoothed it over his chest, and tucked it into his jeans. Guess it made him halfway respectable.
“Who’s the gal?”
“Come over and meet our latest hero.”
When they reached Misty’s side of the SUV, she opened her door and stepped out.
“Misty Reynolds, this is Hedy Murray. She owns the store you admired in Old Town.”
“I’m so pleased to meet you,” Misty said. “I can’t wait to see inside Adelia’s Delights.”
Hedy chuckled. “Hope you like the store. Fact of the matter, I like to stay busy. Keeps me out of mischief. I’m glad to make your acquaintance, too.”
“I deputized Misty as a Wildcat Bluff Volunteer Firefighter.”
“Deputized! Ain’t no such animal.” Hedy snorted, rolling her eyes. “But we can use all the volunteers we can get.”
“She’ll be helping out while she’s in town.”
“Staying long?” Hedy asked.
“Not too long. I’m here on vacation,” Misty said.
“Where are you staying?”
“Twin Oaks B&B.”
“Good choice. Not that the hotel isn’t prime territory. Lots of folks stay there, too.”
“It looks wonderful.”
“Darn tootin’.” Hedy backed up. “Pleasure. Got to get back to the phone lines. See you two later.”
Trey watched her zoom inside the station before he and Misty got back into the vehicle.
He glanced at Misty. “Before you ask, Hedy was a hell of a horsewoman. Champion barrel racer. Now, she never misses a local rodeo. She’s been confined to a wheelchair since her favorite palomino threw her. She cursed her bad riding, not her horse.”
“What a shame.”
“Nope. That’s what comes from riding horses. You’re going to get stove up one way or another.”
“Worth it?”
“You bet.” He chuckled. “Now she pretty much uses her skills to train cats and firefighters, too.” He figured a city gal like Misty probably couldn’t understand the love of horses. Not yet anyway. Start her out on something smaller, if not easier, like cats. “Head on down Cougar Lane.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here?”
“I’ll catch a ride at Ruby’s back to my place.”
“Do you want me to take you?”
“Thanks. But it’s too far out of your way. I’m finally going to give you a chance to check in and catch your breath.”
“A shower is at the top of my list.”