Fire Always Burns

by Lakes, Krista

"I don't get it. Why were they fighting?" I asked, my mind still jumbled by pain and medication.

  "Ray asked Mom to marry him. She kind of freaked out. I asked her about it on the ride home from the amusement park. She felt like she was in high school again and like everything was going too fast and she was missing out on things. I think she just realized that by saying no, she was missing out on an even better thing," Andrew explained patiently.

  "Oh. Well that makes sense," I said matter-of-factually. Andrew laughed.

  "We should put you on this medicine more often," he chuckled.

  "Why? You want your mom and Ray to get married more often?" I countered. The woman in the blue scrubs snorted and she and Andrew laughed. We had arrived at the X-ray room, so she helped me sit up and slide onto the table in the center of the room.

  I lay very still, listening to the X-ray machine hum and chirp. I could see Andrew behind a plexiglass window, smiling at me. I closed my eyes and let happiness flow through me. I may be broken, but I was going to get fixed.

  Chapter 17

  A cheer went up. The fire was retreating, forced to consume itself instead of the landscape. Tears of joy mixed with the ash still raining from the sky. The fire wasn't defeated, but hope glowed in the eyes of the people. A renewed energy, a promise of success gave energy where there was none before, powered the hoses and shovels. They would be victorious.

  "Thanks Aunt Heather, we'll be there soon," Andrew said into his phone. He turned and smiled at me, pushing the wheelchair towards the exit. "Aunt Heather is all ready for us to come stay with her. She has a bed made up for you on the ground floor so you don't have to go up the stairs."

  I smiled as he pushed through the doors and out towards the car. Andrew helped me hop into the passenger seat, gently guiding my ankle into the car. The doctor had put a cast on my ankle and I had to check with an orthopedic specialist in a week, but I was able to go home with pain medication. Since I no longer had a house to go home to, Andrew's "aunt" had volunteered to take us in. She had been watching the fire on the news and had called with an offer of a place to stay the minute she saw the evacuations.

  "Mom says she is going to stay up here. The clinic is short staffed and she wants to stay and help, so it will just be the two of us at Aunt Heather's," Andrew said conversationally as he pulled out towards the highway.

  "Sounds good. I'm excited to meet this Aunt Heather. I bet she has lots of great stories about your mom," I said, relaxing into the seat. I had just taken more pain medication, but it hadn't kicked in yet. My ankle was beginning to ache, so I shifted in my seat trying to get comfortable. "Have you heard anything more from my Dad? I remember talking to him before they gave me more of that medication, but I don't remember what I said."

  "Your dad is fine but he was worried about you. He said you sounded out of it, but I told him you were on some pretty serious pain killers," Andrew answered. "He said he could change his flight to come home sooner, but there really isn't anything he can do at this point. I made sure to give him Aunt Heather's phone number and address, and he said he will give you a call tonight."

  "Thanks Andrew," I said putting my hand on Andrew's leg. He smiled. "How about Luke?"

  "Luke gave me a call while you were sleeping. He had been up for 24 hours by that point so he was pretty tired. He said the fire is an absolute mess. They've lost over 20 houses just today, and it is getting close to the town. He doesn't think they are going to be able to contain it for a long time. He's doing alright though- wishes he could do more, but that's just Luke," Andrew said. The car hummed down the winding road, my ears popping as we came out of the mountains. I could feel my eyes getting heavy, the medication finally kicking in.

  "Do you mind if I fall asleep for a little bit?"

  "Sleep away. I'll wake you when we get there," Andrew said, turning the radio down. I smiled and curled up into the window, confident that Andrew would take care of me. I quickly fell asleep lulled by the hum of the road.

  ▪▪▪

  Flames. Fire everywhere. There was no where left to run... I had to get out, but I couldn't walk. The heat was rising, smoke everywhere- I couldn't breathe-

  "Holly! Holly, wake up! You're having a nightmare," Andrew said shaking my shoulders. I woke up shaking, sweat covering my body.

  "The fire- the fire was going to get me!" I wanted to scream.

  "Shh, shh, it's okay. It was just a dream, you're okay," Andrew's voice was soft and soothing as he held me in his arms. I held onto him like I was drowning, like he was the only stable thing in my world. It was the third night in a row I had woken up screaming about fire. After the first night, Aunt Heather put an air mattress in my room so Andrew could sleep there at night. She didn't want us sleeping in the same bed, but she didn't want me to be alone with my nightmares.

  "It was so real," I sobbed, burying my face into his shoulder. He hugged me tighter and rubbed my back.

  "It's alright, I'm here. I won't let the fire get you," he whispered. I sniffed and wiped my face with the back of my hand.

  "Thank you for saving me," I said, looking up at him. He smiled.

  "You know I will always save you," he whispered back, kissing me softly on my forehead. "Do you need more meds?"

  "No," I said shaking my head. "I think they are giving me the nightmares."

  "Can I get you anything?" he asked, his hand still rubbing my back gently.

  "Just stay with me. I don't want to go to sleep again. Not yet," I said. I could hear the fear in my voice despite my best effort to hide it.

  "I'll stay here with you as long as you want," he said. I leaned into his strong arms, feeling his body wrap around me. I reached up and touched his face, tracing the curve of his jaw. His two day stubble felt rough beneath my fingers, but I liked the way it felt. I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss.

  His lips were soft and inviting. He kissed me back, deeper this time, a passion stirring within me.

  "Your aunt is working tonight, right?" I whispered, a naughty grin spreading across my face.

  "She isn't supposed to be home until eight," he answered slowly, my grin mirroring on his face.

  "Then kiss me again," I whispered.

  "Gladly," he replied, his voice gaining a husky quality. He kissed me, our lips meeting and merging, tasting one another. He gently bit my lower lip, making me moan softly. His kisses flowed down my neck, stopping to nibble on the curve of my shoulder. My body temperature was rising, a primitive need beginning to take control.

  I grabbed the bottom of his t-shirt, pulling it up over his head. He wiggled out of it, tossing it to the side as I ran my fingers down his front. His muscles hardened under my hand, as he kissed my shoulders and neck. He nuzzled the strap of my tank top, pushing it until my shoulder lay exposed in the moonlight. He bit it gently, sending a thrill through me. His hand crept up the soft fabric, cupping my breast in his hand through the thin material. My nipple beaded into a tight point as his fingertips caught it, and he let out a chuckle.

  With his opposite hand he pushed the other strap of my shoulder, his thumb gently rubbing against my nipple. A low moan escaped my lips, and I could feel him smile. He let go of me for just an instant, pulling my tank top up over my head. Moonlight caught the curves of his shoulders and highlighted the grin on his face. I lay back slowly, feeling his eyes absorbing me.

  With touches lighter than feathers, he slowly traced his fingers across my collarbone and along the curves of my breasts. My breath caught in my throat as he traced gentle designs across my skin. He chuckled again, a sound that made me dampen with excitement. Keeping his fingers gently caressing the tender edge of my far breast, he bent down and took the other in his mouth.

  I arched my back as he flicked his tongue against my nipple, waves of heat rolling through me. His suckled gently, still teasing me with his fingers as his hand crept lower and lower. His fingertips brushed my bellybutton and crept down to the elastic waistband of my pajama shorts.
I tensed for a moment as he slid under the band and pushed his fingers against me.

  He pushed gently at my panties, his fingers navigating to find me pleasure. In less than a heartbeat he began stroking across the fabric, teasing the part of me that was throbbing with need. He made slow constant circles with his thumb, his tongue still flicking against my nipple. I could feel my legs begin to twitch, my core vibrating with need.

  He stopped and sat up, pulling his hand up and out. I groaned with need, which he answered with a short laugh. "Just wait a second," he said, his voice husky. He tugged gently on my shorts, pulling them low on my hips. I happily raised them, allowing him to slide them off. He was gentle as he maneuvered them across the bulky cast. I bit my lip, watching the way his muscles rippled in the moonlight. He grinned impishly, and pulled on my panties, tossing them on top of my shorts.

  I lay bare in the moonlight, ready for his touch. He put his thumb against my clit again, slowly starting his circles. A gentle finger parted my folds and navigated towards my opening. With wonderful slowness, he pushed it inside, and the slowly out again. I arched my hips, begging him silently to fill me again. He rocked his fingers in and out, his thumb never stopping its slow circles. My entire being began to quake, desire and pleasure threatening to overwhelm me. Bliss rolled through me like a wave crashing into the shore. For a glorious moment, I was floating on a sea of joy and sensation; colors washed through me and I forgot to breathe.

  He slowly withdrew his hand as my lungs began to work again. A wonderful sense of relief filled me, but an ache for more replaced it. I opened my eyes, and looked up into Andrew's. He could see the need within me, his eyes shining with need of his own. He stood and slipped out of his shorts and boxers, his member already hard and erect.

  I licked my lips, my hips arching with desire to feel him between my legs. He turned and knelt on the floor, fumbling for his jeans. I heard the plastic packaging open, and he returned ready for me. He climbed up onto the bed and kissed me deeply as he moved over my body. I wrapped my arms around his back, and he positioned himself at my entrance. We locked eyes, the blue of his eyes shining even in the dark as he delved into me.

  I cried out, my nails digging into his muscular back as he began to rock in and out. With every thrust I felt a fullness that threatened to overwhelm me. I wanted more; I wanted every inch of him to merge with me. I wanted to wrap my legs around him, to pull him deeper, but my cast forced my leg to stay still on the bed.

  "Roll onto your side," he said, his voice deep in my ear. He moved behind me as I lay on the side of my injured leg. He tucked his arm under my head, his hand wrapping around my breast, as slid back into me. His top hand held my hip, guiding it up and down. I rocked my hips in time with his, feeling him move within me. His breath was hot in my ear, spurring me on. I wanted him so badly I could taste it, the ache growing within me yet again.

  "Harder," I moaned as he pushed into me. His hand tightened on my hip and I could feel my body beginning to shake yet again. He pounded deeper into me, fueling the fire building inside of me until I lost control. I climaxed again, squeezing tight around him. He groaned into my hair, his fingers pushing into my skin.

  "I want to look at you," he whispered when I had finished. I rolled back onto my back, and he slid into me as though we had never been apart. His strong arms bulged on either side of me as he began to thrust. I could feel him swelling within me, his eyes dilating and loosing focus. I felt him shudder, his body going stiff as his eyes closed. I smiled as he continued to rock, slowly melting into me. He slowly stopped, staying within me but resting on top of me like a human blanket. I never wanted him to move.

  "I love you Holly," he whispered, his voice full of love. I wrapped my arms around him, snuggling my chin into his shoulder.

  "I love you too."

  We lay there, each of us lost in bliss. The moonlight glowed on the muscles of his back and across the curve of his ass. His weight was pleasant and comforting on top of me. I never wanted this moment to end, but he finally sighed and rolled carefully away from me. He turned his head, a smile across his handsome face.

  "Be right back," he murmured. I watched his attractive body stand and walk to the bathroom. He came back a moment later with a warm washcloth for me. He then helped me dress myself again, getting clean pajamas from my bag before dressing himself. He sat down on his air mattress, the dawn still far away.

  "Stay with me? I don't want to fall asleep alone," I said softly. His eyes softened and he climbed next to me. He wrapped his arms around me, my head nestling into the hollow of his shoulder. I felt safe and happy. The soft beating of his heart along with the even rise and fall of his chest lulled me to sleep. I closed my eyes and didn't dream of fire.

  Chapter 18

  The flames were long since gone. The trees lay scarred and bare, their branches burned and blackened. The world was made of ash. Yet hope remained. A thin green tendril of life, forged in the heat of flame emerged from a tiny seed. Another followed quickly. Life sprung from the fertile ground, ready to start the cycle anew. The circle of fire and life continued.

  I stood staring at the ruined remnants of West Hardware. The fire was finally contained and we were allowed to return to the ashes to start rebuilding. My dad was a few feet away talking with Audrey and Ray. I could hear them laughing about something, their voices melting together in the warm summer wind.

  Audrey's hand rested comfortably on Ray's forearm, a diamond ring glinting in the sun. The wedding had been four days after the fire started in an intimate ceremony at the local chapel. The town had celebrated their wedding, throwing a party in the hotel where most of the evacuees were staying. Everyone said it was the best party in the history of the town as everyone celebrated instead of worrying over something we had no control over.

  The next day, the tentative line that the firefighters had held for the past three days broke, and the fire traveled towards the town itself. Ray said he had to get away, that he couldn't watch as the life he had built over the past twenty years turned to ash and dust. Audrey had insisted that she had to stay and help at the clinic, but then came the emergency evacuation order for the clinic itself.

  They had left for their honeymoon immediately, leaving the fire to rage and destroy the past while they built a new future. I watched them now as they smiled and laughed with my father, never straying from one another. The two of the radiated happiness, a joy in one another that I couldn't help but smile at. They had finally found where they belonged.

  In their absence, however, the fire had consumed everything.

  When the line broke, the rest of the forest caught like a match, lighting the town. The western half of town was nothing but ash after the fire raged for over three weeks. Hundreds of firefighters from multiple states had worked tirelessly to stop the flames, but in the end it was the second largest fire in the recorded history of the state. The smoke could be seen for over a hundred miles in either direction as about 150,000 acres, 120 homes, 17 businesses, and millions of memories burned. My home was nothing but cinders. Andrew and Luke's homes were nothing but ash. West Hardware and the Conifer Grocery were both just land with charred wood standing at odd angles.

  It wasn't all bad though. The fires of today lead to the forests of tomorrow. The heat of the fire burst open pine cones filled with seeds. Millions of tiny seeds poured onto the cleared forest floor and within a month, tiny green sprouts began to appear through the blackened soil. Fire cleared the old and dying trees, giving way to the new seedlings to grow and make something new. New life abounded.

  Through the fallen beams I could see Andrew, Tyler, and Luke poking the devastated lumber piles like they were hunting for buried treasure. Andrew looked up and smiled at me before Luke called to him, pointing at the ground.

  I was excited for Luke. When Ray heard his beloved hardware store had burned, he had a long conversation with Luke. He laid out his plans as investor for the new hardware store, and told Luke that the insurance mone
y was his to build a new store with. Luke already had plans drawn up for rebuilding the store bigger and better, and Ray was happy to let him do it.

  "I put my life into that store. My marriage, my kids, my dreams. And all I have to show for it now is some burned lumber. You have dreams for this place that I don't have anymore," Ray had said when Luke showed him the new plans. "The store is in good hands." The grin still hadn't left Luke's face.

  Tyler shouted he had found something and Luke and Andrew waded over to see. Andrew pulled something shiny from the ground, and congratulated Tyler. The younger man glowed with pride as Luke patted him on the shoulder. I smiled, glad Tyler was here to stay.

  Barbara had flown out to survey the damage to her half of the house while Ray and Audrey were on their honeymoon. Luke had finally gotten his mother to listen, telling her that Tyler was happy in Conifer and that him would not be the best thing for him. Luke convinced her that Tyler would have a stronger home life with Audrey and Ray than being with a single parent in a strange city. It had taken almost the entire trip, but she had finally agreed to let him stay in Colorado. Tyler had bounced around the hotel room like a caffeinated squirrel when she told him he didn't have to move. They were still working out the details with the lawyers, but it appeared that things were going to work out.

  "Holly! Come here, we found something," Andrew shouted, waving me over. I picked my way through the debris, careful of the cast on my ankle, to where the three men stood.

  Ray had asked Luke what he wanted to name the new store. A new beginning, a new name, he had said. Luke had said he'd think of something. As Luke brushed off the heavy metal sign that had hung over the checkout desk for as long as I could remember, I knew the name was going to remain unchanged. WEST HARDWARE: A FAMILY BUSINESS. The metal was relatively undamaged.

  "It's going to hang in the new store too! I found it!" Tyler told me excitedly.

  "You're going to take my old job, right?" Andrew said nudging Tyler. Tyler nodded and began hunting for more buried treasures. Andrew's hand slid into mine as we watched Tyler and Luke poke through the rubble.