“How bad?”
“Not good.” He grabbed a yellow firefighter jacket and matching pants. He quickly pulled them on over his regular clothes. He gestured toward the left side of the road where the smoke spiraled higher. “Texas Timber is going to lose acreage, no doubt about it. We’ve just got to make sure that fire doesn’t jump to the ranch.”
She glanced across the road at his land. “Oh, Trey, I’m so sorry.” She pointed toward the right. “Now I see smoke on your side, too.”
“What!” He swung around to look in that direction, then he turned back to her. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
“We’ve got to get help.” She punched 9-1-1 again. Still nothing.
“Misty, it means somebody started those fires. Two at once can’t be an accident of nature.”
“Like the house?”
“Yes.” He fixed her with hazel eyes gone dark. “But it also means we were together when those fires were set, even if they smoldered for a bit before they got going good.”
“And if we’re together—” She felt her breath catch at the enormity of what he was telling her.
“Somebody else—”
“Not us.”
He smiled, laugh lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes. “Here’s what we’re going to do.”
“Do you have an extra fire extinguisher?”
“Forget it.” He picked up a large red fire extinguisher with a black shoulder strap and set it on the ground. He pulled out another extinguisher and slung it by its strap over his shoulder.
“I want to help.”
“Good. Take my truck back to Wildcat Road and drive toward town till you get coverage. When you reach 9-1-1, tell them where we are and to alert Kent and Sydney.”
“Okay.” She opened the door, stepped carefully down, and ran around the front of the pickup to him.
“After that, please go back to Twin Oaks.”
“What?”
“You’re not trained for these blazes. And remember your fire phobia.”
“I helped before.”
He tugged her gently against his chest and held her close a moment. Then he set her back. “I don’t want you in danger.”
“But I can help.”
“If anything happened to you—”
“Nothing will.”
“That’s right, because you’re leaving here.” He twirled her around and nudged her toward the front seat. “No time for sass. Get going.”
“Okay. I’m going, but only because somebody’s got to reach Hedy at the station.”
“That’s my Misty.” He slammed the back door, picked up the fire extinguisher from the ground, and slung it by its strap over his shoulder. He gave her a quick nod, then jogged toward the smoke.
She got in the truck and revved the big engine. She’d quickly come to like the height and power of a pickup. She made sure Trey was at a safe distance, then turned around and headed out. She drove with one hand on the steering wheel and one hand on the phone. She hit speed dial for 9-1-1 as she hurried down the road, but she still couldn’t get coverage.
When she came to Wildcat Road, she spun the wheel one-handed to make the left turn and skidded toward the shoulder. She dropped her phone as she overcorrected in the other direction. Finally, she got the truck safely stopped on the side of the road. Good thing she wasn’t in Dallas with all that traffic.
She felt the fast thud of her heart from the adrenaline that had kicked in, so she took several calming breaths. She had to be careful because Trey was depending on her alone to get help. She reached down, felt around on the floorboard, and finally found her cell wedged in a corner. She grabbed it and set up straight.
She hit 9-1-1 again. Still no response. She gunned the engine and tore down the road toward town, dialing over and over.
“Wildcat Bluff Emergency. How may I help you?”
“Hedy! Is that you?” Misty pulled to the side of the road and stopped the pickup so she could safely talk.
“Yes. Who is this?”
“Misty Reynolds. We’ve got a fire out here on either side of the road between Wildcat Ranch and a Texas Timber Christmas tree farm.”
“Say again?” Hedy spoke in a calm, professional voice. “Fire on both sides of the road?”
“Yes. Trey’s there now fighting the fire. He needs help. Please alert Kent and Sydney, too.”
“I know the area. Alarm’s gone out.”
“Thank you.” Misty felt deep relief. “He’s alone.”
“Not for long.”
“I’m going back.”
“Misty, you get out of there.” Hedy’s voice was no longer professional but filled with emotional concern. “We can handle it.”
“The fire’s on both sides of the road.”
“Understood. But—”
“Thanks!”
Misty slumped against the seat and rubbed her forehead. She’d done it. Help was on the way. But she needed to do a little more before she went back to lend her support to Trey.
She called Audrey. No answer. She was probably in a meeting. Misty sent a text. “Fire at Christmas tree farm opposite Wildcat Ranch. Fire trucks on way. I’m at fire. GTG.”