by J. R. Tate
Lawton put his hand up, cutting Michael off. “You’d have done the same thing for me, Mikey. And how many times do I gotta tell you? Call me Jack.”
“Okay, Jack. I owe you. Don’t think I’ll ever forget what you and those other guys did. You pass that along to them, yeah?”
“I’ll tell them, but you don’t owe me a thing. It was an honor working with you. Keep in touch.”
“Of course.” The men hugged and again, Michael was having a hard time controlling his emotions. “I’ll come back again, maybe when Texas isn’t in the middle of a record breaking drought.” Laughing, he was suddenly thankful for the friendships he had made.
Standing back, he took the time to notice each and every one of the people around him. Men and women from all over the Manor area were in his presence. People who volunteered their time every day in hopes of keeping the town safe. They were first responders who did this out of the goodness of their heart for not even so much as a paycheck. They endured sleepless nights and interrupted family get-togethers with dedication aimed toward emergency calls involving people they didn’t even know. This was another duty tacked on to their day jobs. They were regular people who unselfishly juggled their time between their career and the fire department, putting helpless and innocent civilians first.
These people did this work every day, not even wanting anything in return. They only wanted the satisfaction of knowing that they helped out the best way they could, giving assistance where it was needed for perfect strangers they may never see again. He may have dedicated his time and volunteered for a few weeks, but this was a daily way of life for the men and women who were Texas volunteer firefighters.
Michael felt blessed to be able to say that he knew just a few of these elite and special people.
The 2011 Texas Wildfire was one of the most devastating fire seasons in the state’s history. The fire season started in November of 2010 and ended at the end of October 2011. Almost four million acres of Texas burned in the fires. The Bastrop, TX fire is considered the most catastrophic fire within the state of Texas. 252 of the state’s 254 counties were declared disaster areas. Volunteers man the majority of fire departments in Texas, and these men and women dedicated their time for free, to help aid in getting the burns controlled and people to safety. A special thanks goes out to everyone who gave a helping hand in the 2011 Texas Wildfire season.
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Here are the links to other books by J.R. –
Fight for Absolution -
http://www.amazon.com/Fight-for-Absolution-ebook/dp/B009QRQ50C/ref=la_B004P63ZPW_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1350348456&sr=1-5
Ryan Shay wants to forget his past. Afraid to confront his demons, it's a miracle he hasn't wound up a statistic in the war on drugs. When he hits rock bottom, he finds a reason to change his ways and break the chains of an abusive childhood that have held him captive his whole life. He's determined to succeed, and not just for himself, but for someone who needs him. His struggles to become a better man and redeem himself make his fight for absolution worth more than anything he has ever experienced before.
Dance With the Devil -
http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Devil-Troubled-Thriller-ebook/dp/B006AZLT7M/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321884988&sr=1-2
Lane O'Reily, a Baltimore Homicide Detective, takes on the case of a lifetime when he is handed a murder investigation involving a string of young women. Desperate to solve the case before another victim turns up, he must rely heavily on his only witness, a survivor to the crimes. She begins harassing and stalking him and with his marriage, career, and life on the line, he must decide if the obsessive witness is leading him down a path to the murderer, or down a trail littered with lies, betrayal and ultimately, a dead end.
Through Smoke –
http://www.amazon.com/Through-Smoke-Troubled-Firefighting-ebook/dp/B004OL26JO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321841018&sr=8-1
Firefighter Michael McGinnis is no stranger to intense situations. Veteran of New York’s Ladder Twenty-One Company as a search and rescue man, he has seen his share of burning infernos, high-rise saves, and intense emergency situations. Despite McGinnis’ years on the job, nothing can prepare him for getting tangled in his brother’s mistakes as a drug addict and gambler, especially when a blood thirsty bookie gets involved. A romance sparks between him and fellow paramedic, Eva Crisante, catching him even more off guard. Morals are tested, lies are told, and relationships are built and then torn to ruins. The problems ahead are more challenging than any fire McGinnis has experienced. He learns that bravery is not only needed in his job with the department, but also in dire situations away from work. His tough love for his brother is tested, proving that there truly are things more dangerous than a five-alarm fire.
