Kale (The Fire Inside #1)

by Theresa Marguerite Hewitt

  “Do you wanna let me go?” I question, as the tears automatically pool behind my eyes. Just hearing him say the words makes me break a little inside.

  “Hell no. What part of I LOVE YOU PAIGE LOCKLEY, do you not understand?” His hands reach for mine, covering them almost completely as the work roughened skin brings my body to life, even as the fate of us hangs in the balance of a few words.

  “So why do you think you need to let me go?” I can’t help but sigh the last word as a warm tingle from his touch thunders through my body.

  “You haven’t said anything. The last thing you said was you would give me one night. I’ve had my night, so as a man of my word, I need to let you go.”

  A man of his word, that’s my Kale. I can’t help but smile a little at his response. He has always been one to live by his word.

  “Well, we got a little busy before I could respond. As a man of your word, we have a future together. As a man of your word, we are going on this journey together. As a man of your word, you love me and you were made for me. Kale Matthew Benson, I love you. I always have. There isn’t one good memory in my life that doesn’t have you in it. I want nothing more than to have more of this with you.”

  Before I can continue, his mouth is crashing down on mine. The kiss is powerful and one of ownership. A kiss that makes me want to melt into him and give him everything he wants. A simple kiss that makes me wonder what other tricks he has up his sleeves, besides tying me to his bed. Just the thought makes a hot, desire filled shiver run through me and I lean into him.

  His arms wrap around me, holding me tight and he groans into my lips, making me smile. I couldn’t be happier than I am in this simple moment. I have waited so long to feel like this with this man. This is what it’s like to be in love, truly in love, with Kale. This is what it’s like to have your every dream come true.

  The August heat wave. Fire season hasn’t been too crazy this year, even though it started off strong. Most calls have been handled in a day, sometimes two. We have only had four jumps. Other than the usual motor vehicle collision or house alarm calls, things have been relatively calm at the station. More training than anything, as all fire houses constantly train. The more we can practice together, the stronger our teamwork skills to work with one another becomes. Then, in the event of a live fire, we are a well-oiled machine, all the gears working together in each of our known roles.

  My free time has been spent working out with Mason or with Paige. Piper told mom about my new relationship status. I have been summoned for an extra special dinner. One where I am expected to bring Paige.

  Parking my Jeep in behind Paige’s car, I smile. Damn, look how far we have come. She and I seem to fit. Paige doesn’t question my job, my duties, and my weird schedule. She is the laid back chick that doesn’t give me shit for working out five days a week, or going to bed with a radio on her nightstand. And her bed, oh what a bed it is. I can’t get enough of her in and out of bed. Her shower was nice too, until my clumsy girl got tangled in the shower curtain and we tumbled onto the floor, taking the curtain and rod down with us. I made her ass a nice shade of pink for that one. If she would have listened and kept her leg wrapped firmly around my waist, she never would have caught her foot on the flowery liner. She is learning to let me have all control in the bedroom and I am thoroughly enjoying teaching her.

  I make it inside her living room before I can hear her. She is in her bedroom muttering obscenities. Entering the room, I laugh at the sight in front of me. There are clothes everywhere as she runs around frantically in her Elektra panties and black lace bra. My dick hardens the more she moves around. There is no time for that, I tell myself.

  “Hey baby,” I greet and she squeals turning around to face me.

  “Oh my God, you scared me. I didn’t hear you come in.”

  Paige and I keep different schedules when I am on shift rotation. We exchanged keys not long ago. Maybe letting myself in tonight wasn’t the best idea. I want nothing more than to peel her out of the few pieces of clothing she has on and we do not have time for any of that.

  “Oh Kale, this is a nightmare. I have nothing to wear,” She says as she pushes her glasses up on her nose. It’s so cute the way she scrunches her nose afterward trying to get them to sit just right.

  “I see plenty of clothes here.”

  “Hello! This is your mother we are going to see! As a couple! Ahhh.” She throws her hands up in the air in defeat.

  “Babe, mom wouldn’t care if you showed up with a brown paper bag over your head. She misses you.”

  “I’m not seeing her as me tonight.”

  “Ummm, then who are you seeing her as? Do you have some alter-ego I need to know about? Sex Kitten, is that it?” I joke with her. Only she isn’t in the mood for my humor, no, she’s in full on break down mode.

  “This isn’t funny, Kale.”

  “She knows you and loves you already, Paige. Relax, babe,” I coax, as I make my way over to her and wrap my arms around her.

  She hugs me tightly before pushing me away so she can settle on a jean skirt and black fitted top. After a short make out session that knocks over her side table as we make our way to the door, we are in the Jeep heading to my mom’s house for dinner.

  Walking in the kitchen, I smile as my mom has made Panini sandwiches and kept everything simple for tonight. Piper is at the table already, but jumps up to grab her best friend and pull her in for a hug. The two of them are whispering to each other. Oh the secrets they share. Now that Paige is mine, I don’t know how I feel that those hushed voices could be about me. My sister loves me, no doubt, so does my girl, but no man wants to be talked about between two women. As my mom pulls Paige from Piper to embrace her, I guess I should make that three women. Mom would happily share girl-talk about me, I am sure.

  “Hi family, how are you tonight? Oh Kale it’s good to see you tonight. Awe, thanks guys. Yeah, I’m over here, happily ignored.” I intrude on their moment.

  My smartass remarks gives me back laughter from all of the women in my life. I smile as Paige looks over her shoulder at me. All her nervousness is gone and happiness dances in her eyes. I knew once she got here my mom would calm her down. If she hadn’t spent the last few months avoiding her, she would have known this for herself a long time ago.

  Piper hugs me first and then smacks me upside the head. “Quit keeping my bestie all to yourself. I know you don’t share your damn toys, but she was mine first.”

  “She’s always been mine, Pipe,” I say as I reach my hands around Paige’s waist and pull her back to my chest. My mom smiles at us as Paige visibly relaxes in my embrace.

  “No fighting, you two,” Mom chastises.

  “This is what happened to my Malibu Barbie, isn’t it? You wanted her to be GI Joe’s lil’ woman and you took her from me.”

  “Pipe, you left Malibu Barbie at my house, remember. You said ‘I don’t want her around all Kale’s boy stuff.’ Then my mom put her on the fireplace mantle as something to strive for.” Paige tenses under me at the mention of her mom.

  “Your mom is a complete bitch, Paige. I forgot that. Sorry, for going there.”

  “It is what it is.” Paige tries for nonchalance.

  “Good things lie ahead, baby girl. You have us, always.” My mom adds, reaching out to squeeze Paige’s hand before turning her back to hide the tears I watched building in her eyes.

  Once again, mom knows all. Good things lie ahead, damn straight. I have everything I ever wanted and so much more. My girl, my job, my family, and things couldn’t get any better.

  Looking around my childhood home, I think silently to myself as we all settle in for dinner together. Dad, do you see? Do you see how happy I am? Do you see that Mom is hanging in there? She raised us right. She kept you alive for us and we are all doing okay. Piper is a little lost, but she is still growing up. Paige, she is safe in my arms and I promise I won’t let anything hurt her again.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN


  I don’t remember the last time we have had a blaze this hard to control. The sweat pours off my body and into my suit. The crackle of the radio barely breaks through over the sounds of the falling trees.

  “Be on the lookout. Hunter possibility reported. Squatter’s shack near Logan’s bend is where he camps.” Captain Laus’ voice comes out of the radio.

  Great, just what we need. It is common practice for a hunter to build a small shack out here for their weekend excursions. Most of the time, they don’t own the land. Typically, they find and build a small place and use it to sleep or store their kills until they come down off the mountain. Usually, it has no address, no registered owner, therefore no property taxes, and no personal effects. We stumble upon them and the land owners don’t even know the shelters exist; or, if we are on government property, there is no one to care about the squatter. When the fires come, we don’t know to look for the buildings or potential people in them since there is no real proof of their existence until you stumble upon one. Unless someone calls in a family member or friend on the hunt, we won’t know to look. Our focus remains on maintaining a fire line, contain the blaze before further damage can be done to neighboring homes, towns, or major environmental impact. Knowing we have a potential victim, our gears switch to search and rescue.

  Half the team continues to focus on containment alongside station nineteen while Rolando, Ryan, Mason, and I go in search of the cabin and the possible hunter. Two hours later and we still haven’t located the structure. The fire is steadily growing. It is not at the rapid pace it was yesterday, but it’s consistently moving south with no signs of slowing. There is a slight southeastern wind tossing glowing embers into the dry underbrush of the surrounding areas. We are in a drought making the flames easily consume the weakened grass, bushes, and trees.

  Rolando and Ryan are scouring the right side of the bend while Mason and I are on the left. Some of these shacks are covered in brush and overgrown shrubs. They aren’t meant to be well cared for, just a stopping place. Hunters sometimes want the buildings to blend in much like a blind and they hunt from the lean-to’s.

  The radio crackles, “Found it, head north boys. Heat is bearing down fast.” Rolando informs.

  “On our way. Roger out.” Mason assures our teammates we are coming to back them up.

  The smoke is thick as the fire is surrounding us the closer we get to Ryan and Rolando. We make our way around the bend. The flames are covering the trees behind the building. We make our way over as we watch Rolando enter the shack with Ryan not far behind.

  Crack.

  Swoosh.

  Helplessly, we watch the burning pine tumble down.

  Crash.

  Pop.

  Boom.

  NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Ryan’s body is flying backwards, covered in flames. Mason and I take off at a run. The entire structure is engulfed in flames. Something from inside exploded when the tree hit. Radioing in our location, I make my way to Ryan. Removing my coat, I drop down beside Ryan. I attempt to smother the flames, covering him, but it’s like he’s covered in gas, the flames not going down.

  “LLLLLLAAAAANNNNNDDDOOOOO!!!!!!” Mason screams out.

  The building is gone, flames dance wickedly in its place. Mason drops to his knees beside me to get the fire out over Ryan. The smoke and flames have moved from his upper body and I have to keep my cool seeing the aftermath. His face is unrecognizable, his hands a mess of ooze and falling skin.

  I avert my eyes, back to the forest around us. The fire is coming too quick. We need to move or we’ll all be dead.

  “Dying,” Ryan spits out, wheezing. “Hurts.” He chokes and coughs. He’s no doubt scorched his airway and there is no telling how long we have till it starts to swell and he won’t be able to breathe.

  “Shhhh…breathe, brother. We got you. Hang in there,” I try to console him.

  Doing the only thing we can in an attempt to save him, we scoop him up and he screams out right before his consciousness fades, most likely from pain and shock. Getting him to the other side of the bend, we lay him out. Checking his pulse, I find one but barely. He’s fading fast. His skin sticks to me as I remove my fingers. The rest of our team arrives with a stretcher. We load him on. The life flight helicopter hovers over us, blowing more air into the ever growing fire as they lower the crate to get our teammate. We have only minutes to get him loaded and in the air so the helo can take him to safety. The flames billow too high, it is making flight for the chopper unsafe.

  I stand there numbly while I watch my friend continue to fight for his life as the crate holding the stretcher lifts higher before securing him in the helicopter that will hopefully save his life. If they can get him to the burn center, he stands a small chance. Otherwise, I may have held my friend for the last time.

  Lando is gone. There is no coming back from what he walked into. The building was up in smoke before we could get the flames out on Ryan. Heroes shouldn’t die like this.

  Piper showing up at my office is never a good thing. Her being here, when she is on shift at work, adds to my anxiety. Meeting her eyes and knowing those are tear streaks down her face doesn’t help.

  “Pipe, what is it?” I question, not holding anything back.

  She sits in the chair across from my desk. The sobs racking her entire body making me unable to understand what she was saying leave me more out of control.

  “They…” hiccup…, “sent…me home.” She cries harder.

  “What do you mean? Did you get fired?”

  Piper losing her job would suck, but it would be better than where my brain is going since I know Kale is on a fire call. It is all over the news. Not something anyone can miss when it is everywhere you turn. The heat, the drought, the strange fire season we have had this year. The abnormally strong winds have only added to the wild spread of this particular blaze.

  I walk around my desk and put my arms around her. She hugs me back tightly. It takes a few minutes and she calms down some.

  “Exhale, sweetie. Blow it all out so you can talk to me, Piper.” She does as I instruct.

  “There was a call. First for a possible missing hunter. Then a call for a life flight…for Team Tango.”

  All the air leaves the room it feels like. My lungs burn as I feel like I have been sucker punched. Please, not Kale. I can’t lose him now, not when I just got him.

  “We need to go to mom’s house and wait.” She says as calmly as she can, both our hands now trembling as we hold each other.

  “Wait?” I question why her mom’s house.

  “They won’t release any information until the fire is contained. When the time comes, he will either come home to mom or they will…”

  The tears fall freely from both of us as she can’t finish the sentence. Kale always comes home to his mom’s after a fire with injuries to any member of the fire house. He knows she worries and she has a scanner. By now, most likely she has heard the call for life flight. If Kale isn’t going to make it home, they will send the uniforms to his mom’s to give us the information. Either way, the only way we will find out what has happened is to wait it out at their mom’s house.

  All three of us are together on the couch, stalking the news and scanner. When the news announces a local hospital source confirms a firefighter was injured, we all are crying again. According to the news, the injured Hotshot sustained third degree burns and is in critical condition at the burn center.

  Who was it? We spend the day and night falling in and out of sleep together in the living room of Kale and Piper’s childhood home. My phone rings in the early morning hours, startling me.

  “Hello,” I answer sleepily.

  “Paige Lockley?” A man’s voice questions me. My heart sinks. No, no, no. Please don’t be about him.

  “This is fire station nineteen Captain Patrick Laus. I’m callin’ about Kale Benson.” I drop the phone and fall to my knees as I sob. Kale can’t be the firefighter in the hospital, no, he can’t. If he were dead th
ey would send someone to the house. If he’s in the hospital, they call you to come.

  “Okay, I understand. Thank you for calling Captain Laus,” I hear Piper say behind me. When I dropped the phone, she apparently got up and picked it up.

  “Paige, it’s not him.”

  “Wha…wha…what do you mean not him?” I stutter trying to get myself under control.

  “Ryan, it was Ryan. Kale and Mason were there. As soon as they were relieved on the ground, they both went to the burn center. They haven’t left even though no one can see Ryan right now. We need to go to the hospital to get Kale to calm down. His Captain is worried about him.

  Piper and I give her mom the update and we are all out the door. Neither of us are prepared for what we find at the hospital. Kale and Mason are both in a tiny waiting room, still clothed in their suits. Both men are covered in soot, dirt, and blood. Haunted faces look up and meet our gazes. Not one word is shared between the four of us. Piper tries to hug Mason, but he gently pushes her away. I look to Kale, unsure of myself and how to help him.

  With our eyes locked, he growls, “Don’t.” He shakes his head, lowering his eyes to his hands and it sends a cold shock through my body.

  Tears fill my eyes at his rejection. I calmly take a seat in the room as I watch the two men continue to pace the small space. Captain Laus, also still wearing his fire suit, comes around the corner with a grim face.

  “Alright boys, your rides are here. I let you come to check in with him. They won’t allow anyone to see him until he’s more stable. The charge nurse said he’s fighting. The last twenty four hours he’s held on which is a good sign. Go home, clean up, and try to rest. I’ll keep you posted.”

  Both Mason and Kale shake their heads at the big, bald man that issued the order. Captain Laus gives the guys a look and something changes with them. Reluctantly, they say goodbye to him. Neither man has bothered to say anything to Piper or me. It’s leaving me hurt and feeling disconnected from the man I love.