Kale (The Fire Inside #1)

by Theresa Marguerite Hewitt

  “Wait, I saw Kale at the station house. Are you sure they talked about me tonight? And why are they are talking about me?” My inquisitiveness is also spiking my anxiety about everything Kale Benson.

  “Mom was having trouble with the kitchen light bulbs. I called Kale, he took a break and went over to help her out. Apparently, they talked about you. I don’t know all of what was said, just that mom pretty well expected him to be here waiting for you. This is going to be a slight disappointment.”

  “Wait. Why would he be here waiting for me? And speaking of disappointments, what was with you earlier? I saw your face when you brought me the shoes. You’ve been all for me going out with someone for like forever now. What was up earlier?” My mind spinning with so many questions I can’t seem to get them all out.

  “Mom talked to him about the way he’s feeling about you. She thought for sure with the way he left, he would be coming here to face you.”

  “Kale doesn’t have feelings for me. We had one night together. One that was a mistake, remember?” I say with sarcasm building. “And what is with you? What have I messed up?” I ask sadly. I can take losing a lot of people, Piper isn’t one of them.

  “You haven’t messed up anything babe. Look, I told you Kale has commitment issues, okay. He has feelings for you, Paige, but he needs to sort through all the crap in his head. And yes, I wanted you to go out with someone, but that was also before you slept with my brother. You looked hot as hell tonight. I’m strictly dickly, but you even had me all hot and bothered. I want to see you and Kale work through both of your demons and find your way to each other.”

  “You aren’t mad that I slept with him?” I need the reassurance. It’s not like I planned to hook up with him; but since it happened, everything in my life has been turned upside down.

  “Paige, I’m not blind. Mom and I both knew you had feelings for Kale for a looooonnnggg time now. I’m not mad. I love you both and want you both to be happy.” She drags out long for emphasis. Apparently, I don’t hide my feelings as well as I thought I did.

  She continues as I take it all in. “Kale’s never been in love. He’s never let anyone get close like that. Think about it…in all these years, he’s hooked up with his fair share of women, but not one has he felt the need to bring home to meet mom. You’re already close. The dynamic in sharing something with you is different. He’s trying to adjust. Be patient with him and let him figure his shit out. I’m pretty sure after sorting himself out, he will find he’s better with you than without you.”

  “I’m not so sure about that Piper.” I reply sadly, dropping my head for a moment before sipping my wine.

  “Look, I’ll be honest, I’m not sorry things didn’t work out with Lando tonight. I’m glad you got to see how beautiful you are and have one of the really good guys take you out; but I want to see you and Kale work out. You’re good for each other. He’s the hard strength you need to push you to see the beauty deep inside you, and you’re the soft, safe place for my brother to fall.”

  Taking her words to heart, I can’t help but feel a little hope for a future with Kale. Maybe we both just need a little time to sort through our own issues. For the next hour, I give her all the details of my night with Lando from the stop at the fire house, to dinner, and to our attempt at a passion filled kiss that failed. As the night wears on, Piper finally leaves to get some rest. I fall asleep full of hope once again for things to work out with Kale.

  Waking up, I stretch; my muscles are tight and aching after a night full of dreams of Kale. The throbbing and ache in me needing him. No wonder Piper has her battery operated boyfriends. I’m on fire, needing a release from the burn, from the fire Kale has started inside me. Damn it!

  Getting out of bed, I take a cold shower, nothing relieving my new frustration. After a night of rolling, tossing and turning in my bed, I make a quick stop at a drive through on my way to work for coffee because there is no way I can deal with Ralph before I have had at least a latte.

  I am not in my office half an hour before I get the email from my boss telling me that today will be field work. My punishment of sorts for screwing up the reports. Soil samples need to be collected for the community waste reduction plan’s newest dump site and compost. The new company is all about renewable and reusable with little to no impact to the landscape and environment. Well, that always sounds good in theory, but now is time to put up or shut up, as they say, and show the real results. Gathering the kit and my gear, I make a change from my professional work attire into cargo pants, a tank top, my hiking boots, and head out to the mountain side.

  Team Kilo has been dropped into the blaze at the top of Brundage Mountain. We got off our duty round this morning. Normally when we do an overnight shift, I try not to sleep much during the day so I can sleep at night to maintain a semi-normal pattern. Today, my mind is too wrapped up in Paige and Lando, so much so, that I know sleep won’t come. When the scanner blares to life with the jump call, I’m regretting my decision to not attempt a little sleep. Who knows how long we will be up facing the heat?

  Shaking it off, I grab my gear pack and head to the hangar. Always ever-ready for our next call, everything is waiting. Suiting up, we each adjust our chutes and packs before climbing into the plane to ready for the ascent to the drop zone. With the adrenaline now coursing through my veins all is forgotten beyond the seconds before me as the planes hits altitude and the landing zone ribbons are dropped to allow us to predict wind direction.

  The lineup, the jump, the descent, the landing; it all goes without a hitch. We radio in catching up with Jump Team Kilo to get the fire line cut and contain the blaze before it becomes a jumper blaze. The wind gusts today are not steady, the direction south eastern and strong. Enough to scoop up an ember and easily trail it to the next hot patch waiting to be ignited. The underbrush is dry, brittle, and practically crying out light me up.

  Mason and I make our way northwest to the steep outer edge, while Lando and Zeke head further south to secure and cut the fire line to prevent the fire from continuing further. Axe in hand, thrown over my shoulder, I turn to check that Mason has his and determine our path. The county has a new company controlling waste by using a compost area off to this northwestern ledge. Seeing their path already cleared, Mason and I decide to follow it to get to the edge and start to dig the trenches quicker.

  About half way up, a flash of blue catches my eye. Looking over, I recognize the bag. It’s one of those bright huge bags my sister calls a purse. Only, I know this isn’t Piper’s. This particular bag belongs to none other than Paige Lockley. I happened to be with Piper when she bought the bag for her friend. We were supposed to be shopping for our mom. Piper saw the bag that she just had to have so much that she felt Paige needed one too. Later when I asked Piper if Paige agreed that she just had to have this bag too, she told me that it was the perfect bag for her sample kit at work.

  Work… her work… Paige’s job, the one for the county as an environmental scientist. My chest tightens. She oversees all conservation projects in our area. Conservation projects such as the community compost. A compost that would require soil samples regularly, fire season or not. Which means, my Paige is out here on this mountainside, apparently without her kit, and a fire is rapidly burning its way south.

  Everything kicks into overdrive as I pull out my phone and call Paige’s cell. Maybe she dropped her bag in a rush and isn’t out here. Picking up the bag as I dial, I feel the purse vibrate in my hand. Damn it. I search the surroundings in a fast scan, but there is nothing telling me where she is.

  “Come on man, quit dickin’ with someone’s trash and let’s go.” Mason says, his irritation with my stalling apparent.

  “It’s not someone’s trash. It’s Paige’s bag with her phone. She’s out here somewhere.” I hold it out, shaking it as my anger and fear war within me.

  “Are you sure man? Maybe she saw the smoke and got spooked. She may have fled in a rush and left it behind.”

&n
bsp; “I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel it, okay? She’s out here somewhere, damn it.” And I don’t know how to explain it, it’s just one of those things. Something that digs at you and keeps poking at you, letting you know something just ain’t right.

  The crackling of the flames eating up the trees and brush above us only further fuels my adrenaline. The sound of the trees falling does nothing to ease my fears for Paige. Where is she out here? Will I find her? Is she taking in too much smoke?

  The minutes tick by, feeling like hours, as the agony of losing her before I can really have her builds within me. Following the path she would have taken, Mason radios in that we are not digging the line, rather looking for a victim of unknown whereabouts. The static clicks back as the members of Jump Team Kilo and Tango join frequency and Mason relays Paige’s description. Both teams looking for her and working to find her is promising. I trust all these men with my life, hands down, but why does none of this do anything to ease my fears?

  The heat keeps rising as we move closer to the blaze. The burning embers are cascading down like rain as the ash thickens the air. My chest is expanding rapidly under my wild heartbeat and as my lungs beg for cleaner air. Fuck! Where is she?

  We make it to the compost pile. No Paige. Her sample kit is set up to the side. The test tubes are filled with different liquids, some just dirt, and all showing that she was working when something caught her attention or called for her to leave this spot. Did she realize the fire was above her and she ran? My gut twists and instincts scream she’s out here somewhere.

  “Man, I think she bailed knowing the fire was coming and coming fast. She’s smart, she knows fire season better than most. Paige got out, Kale. Now let’s do the rest of our job. We’re wasting time looking for someone who isn’t even out here.”

  “No. She’s out here. Paige wouldn’t have left her pack behind. You’re right, she knows fire season. She also knows this mountain. She wouldn’t have descended without her gear. Paige is out here and for whatever reason she didn’t come back. You go dig lines, fight the flames, but I’m not giving up on my girl.” I throw her bag over my shoulder, my stare locked with my friend’s, trying to convey my point.

  “Your girl, huh?” He questions. “No time for explanations now, but once we’re out, I expect some.”

  Without another word I stomp off, following the path of pushed down brush from someone walking. Nothing to explain. She is mine that says it all. I will track her straight into the heart of the blaze if that is what it takes. Paige will be safe in my arms today. The bullshit stops, no more hiding from each other.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Being out of the office and on the mountain relaxes me. Parking at the bottom, I begin ascending the trail to the site. Settling down on my knees, I take out my kit and start to collect the samples; digging to different depths with my little shovel and filling the test tubes. Slapping a label on the tenth one, something not far from the site a moves, catching my eye off to the left.

  I crane my neck, hoping beyond all hope that it is not a mountain lion. I sigh a little to myself when a fox limps off slowly into the brush. Out of fear in spooking the injured animal more, I slowly track it up the mountainside, hoping to catch it and take it back to the clinic. I drop my bag in a sheltered place as to allow myself quieter movement as I follow the fox.

  My attention being stuck on the fox as he burrows into his den, I don’t look at the surface under me. Before I can catch myself, I have jammed my foot on a crooked root. My ankle twists painfully as I fall to the ground, letting out a little squeal that would make anyone laugh who heard me. My head hits a rock with a sharp thud and darkness engulfs me.

  Hot. I feel so hot. Breathing in as I try to gather my bearings, I smell burning pine. Why do I smell that? My head is pounding as I try to sit up, only to fall back down from the disorienting spin. Bumping my head again on the rock, I reach up and feel the blood that is running down my face. My eyes squint in resistance to the smoke in the area, watering uncontrollably.

  Why is there smoke? Looking up the mountain, I see the billowing smoke and flames shooting up into the now grey sky. Shit, a wildfire! I steady my thoughts, listening for the sounds around me to gage where the fire is already. The hum of the plane engine overhead lets me know rescue and containment efforts have begun. Are Kale and his team out here?

  The temperature seeming to rise rapidly around me, I try to move. My head is spinning and I try to focus on the ground I’m sitting on to steady myself. As I rise, I wince in pain as I can’t put weight on my ankle. Damn it. My phone and bag aren’t here, a fire blazes not far above me heading south, and I am unable to walk easily.

  Rustling near me alerts me to someone approaching. Turning my face to the moving bushes, I can’t hold back my tears when I see Kale coming straight toward me.

  “Oh thank God… Paige.” He sighs in relief as he crouches down in front of me.

  “I’m hurt Kale.” I cough out, motioning up to my forehead and wincing again as I try to move.

  Cupping my chin in his large hand, he moves my hair out of my face with his other. Before I have a second to think, his lips are pressing against mine, his tongue seeking entrance. I immediately melt into his kiss, everything around me forgotten. I can’t help it, he just has this hold over me.

  The crackle of his radio brings me back to the danger surrounding both of us. Pulling away, I stare at him in confusion at his bold act of affection. What was he thinking? He radios in our location and situation. To hear myself referred to as a ‘vic’, short for victim, is a strange feeling.

  “No more bullshit, Paige. I’m getting you out of here, getting you medical care, and then taking you home with me. I have so much to say, but right now, we need to get out of here and get your head stitched up. Does anything else hurt?”

  I nod still lost in his words. Go home with Kale, hell no. What is there to talk about? He said all he needed to say before.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s hurt?” His impatience at my lack of an answer is evident in his tone. His brows crease over those damn hazel eyes and I can’t stop myself from getting lost in them for a split second.

  “My ankle, I can’t put weight on it.” I say on a breath ending in a cough, the smoke thickening by the second as I know the flames are getting closer.

  Reaching into his gear bag, he pulls out a first aid kit. Looking up, he watches the fast moving blaze. I can see by the look on his face, he is mentally timing how long he has. Quickly, he uses bottled water and gauze to wash the blood off my face and head wound. The cool of the water feels good against the heat and as his one hand steadies my head, I lean into his touch. His thumb runs along my cheek and in this moment I want this to be more than him just saving me. I want it to be him showing me he cares, but no, I’m the mistake, remember.

  Now that he can see the gash, he is applying antiseptic ointment to slow the bleeding until we get down the mountain side. The sting of it brings me from my little dream and I am focused back in on not only the pains in my head and ankle, but the pain in my heart. Scooping me up in a fireman’s carry, we descend the trail.

  The thud of Kale’s boots under me gives me the comfort that I will be safe, but that is all. He will make sure we get out of this blaze and for that I’m thankful. The kiss must have been an involuntary reaction to finding someone he really knows that is injured, that’s all this is. He carries me with ease, as if I weigh nothing, holding me a little tighter than I think is necessary to his chest. His breathing isn’t even labored with exertion. We don’t make it far before I see Mason.

  “Shit man, she really was out here. I’m sorry we didn’t back you up in searching for her.” His face is covered in soot and sweat and I know he’s been working like a crazy man to help contain the flames.

  “Not now, Mason. She’s got a head injury and an ankle that’s pretty bad off. I need to get her down to the medics.” I can sense the tension in Kale’s voice and it causes my skin to prick
le. I don’t like the feeling of it.

  “Do you need to let your arms or legs rest? I can take her the rest of the way.” Mason nods towards me, holding his hands up as if to take me from Kale’s embrace.

  I feel Kale’s entire body stiffens under me. “She doesn’t leave my arms ever again. I just got her, I’ll be damned if I don’t keep her safe. The blaze is slowing with the plane drops of retardant, but it’s moving in a southeastern path. Get a line cut and we may contain this one faster.”

  Ummm…okay, what did he just say? He just got me? What is going on in that head of his? Before I can think on this further, he’s back on the descent towards the rescue teams. I just bite it back.

  Easing her down to sit on the EMT gurney, relief washes over me that I found her. Needing to touch her, I rub her thigh in what I hope is a soothing manner. She seems so small under my touch right now. She is just laying here letting the paramedics check her out, but the pain is evident in her eyes. They check her head first and she winces at the sting of Melissa, the medic’s, touch. Melissa leaves her boot but cuts away at her pants leg, trying to inspect her ankle and foot. Paige grabs my hand, squeezing in pain as Melissa is trying to get her body stabilized on the backboard for transport. I see the tears welling up in her eyes, but she doesn’t let them escape. Reaching up, I use my free hand to bring her head to my chest and I stroke her hair. Kissing the top of her head, I look over to see her ankle and foot are swollen and already bruising.

  “Ms. Lockley, you’re gonna have to go in for x-rays for your foot and your head needs about six stitches from what I can see.” Melissa is making notes on her little pad, like any good medic would, and she doesn’t realize her words have a deep impact on my girl.

  Paige pulls away from me, her look making my chest tighten. She is in pain, confused by me, and now she has to go to the hospital. The one place Paige Lockley can’t stand to go is the hospital. I know she’d rather be stitched up right here, right now, among the smoke and crowd rather than set foot inside the hospital. For Paige, it is only a place of death and heartbreak, nothing good has ever come out of those automatic metal doors for her. After spending months visiting her grandmother in the hospital only to watch her slowly deteriorate and eventually die, Paige is not comfortable in the place of so called healing.