Love & Liberty: Independence Day (Holidays In Hallbrook Book 6)

by Elsie Davis

  “I get it. I really do, and I’m sorry we disagree over this. If people outside of Hallbrook get word about the possible eagle here, it might just bring people in by the droves and we would stand a better chance of someone spotting it. If you burn, the eagles will leave. And if you burn, nobody will want to hike a blackened and charred area. You’ll be a hero if we find the eagle.”

  David shook his head. “I’m not looking to be a hero. I’m looking to protect the community and the White Mountain National Forest. Some hero I’ll be if we have a wildfire that burns out of control because I didn’t do my job.”

  “We both need to do what we believe is right.” Ashley raised her sign higher in defiance as if to prove her point.

  “Are you going to move out of the staging area or not?” David glared.

  “Probably not.” Ashley looked away, unable to meet his gaze. She wasn’t going to give in without resistance.

  His crew started to arrive, and soon, the place would be teeming with firefighters ready to get to work.

  “What’s going on, Chief Beckett?” Captain James asked, having volunteered to help and coordinate activities in the staging area.

  “Ashley Stanton organized a picket line.” He frowned at her, making sure she knew he was giving her full credit for this nonsense.

  “Trouble we don’t need. Want me to call it in?” Captain James asked.

  David wasn’t quite ready to go that far. He needed to give Ashley and the others another chance to make the right choice. “I’ll call it in. I’m going to try talking to them some more. Get everything ready to go. The burn will go on as scheduled.”

  “Yes, sir.” Captain James and the others wandered off and headed for their trucks. He watched as the men began to suit up and start to lay out the hoses.

  David turned back to Ashley. “Time’s up for you and your friends. You need to leave the designated areas that are officially closed to visitors, or I’ll have no choice but to call the sheriff’s department and have you all removed and charged with trespassing.”

  Ashley’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “You wouldn’t dare.” She glared back at him, her steely gaze not quite as defiant as moments ago.

  “Try me.” David had lost all patience. He appreciated what Ashley was trying to do, but she’d lost, and she wasn’t doing it very graciously. There was no way he would put the department’s agenda on hold until she was satisfied there was no eagle. There had to be some balance, and David hadn’t made it to battalion chief by kowtowing to pressure. Ashley had had her chance and failed.

  David turned and headed back for his truck. He suited up in his fire gear, checking and double-checking all his equipment. Not much of a behind-the-lines type of guy, today he’d be out there with the crew, unwilling to ask them to do anything he wasn’t willing to do himself. He didn’t like moving the line at the last minute, and Ashley’s attitude made him wish he hadn’t done it. He’d reviewed the maps last night, trying to memorize every detail of the change, and he knew the challenges they faced today.

  He glanced at his watch and then at Ashley and the group of picketers. It was past time for them to be gone. David pulled out his phone and dialed the sheriff’s office. He’d deal with the fallout with Ashley and Trent and the rest of the town later. Right now, he had a job to do.

  * * *

  Empowered by the community, Ashley refused to budge. It didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous, but she didn’t go all weak and become a pushover. The picket line was about making a point, not making David mad. But she’d seen the look in his eyes and knew he was disappointed, and she knew he was more than justified. She had used the injunction to get her way, and it had failed. Now, she was resorting to other means to stop the burn. But she was also losing valuable time in her search.

  Maybe her overzealous search to find the eagle had been for all the wrong reasons. Maybe it was about more than just finding the eagle. And more than a welcome addition to her portfolio. Maybe it was about discovering herself in the process and wanting to get something right for once in her life.

  Her father had been controlling, acting as though nothing she did was good enough for him. After he died, Trent had taken his place. Even David had been the one to make the decision to end things between them. He’d changed the direction of her life without so much as a discussion. And then there was Joe. Her husband had wooed her and told her everything she needed to hear, and when he’d proposed, she said yes. From the minute she’d said I do, Joe had controlled all the decisions. Where they went, who they saw. Everything.

  It was just a repeating pattern, and Ashley was tired of it. She wanted to take a stand. Not to be weak. Just this once, she didn’t want life to happen to her, she wanted to take charge and make it happen.

  “Don’t worry about him,” one of the women standing next to her said. “He’ll get over it. I see the way he looks at you, and this—” the woman waved her hand toward the group, “—won’t change how he feels. At least he’ll know better than to take you for granted,” the woman said, a wide grin on her face. “It’s not like we didn’t all know we couldn’t win. This is only about taking a stand. Thank you for letting us do this with you, Ashley. We know there are people on both sides of the line, but it makes us feel better to know we tried. Is there any harm in that?”

  “No, none.” The woman was right about the reasons they were doing this, but she was all wrong about her and David. They were friends. That was all they ever could be, especially with her leaving.

  But what about the almost kiss?

  Clearly, they still had feelings for one another. Or maybe it was a simple matter of attraction. Yes, that’s precisely what it was. Attraction.

  “So, when do you think we should leave?” another woman asked just as the fire truck engines began roaring to life.

  “Now would be a good time,” the first woman said. “The last thing I need is to get arrested.”

  The three of them turned and watched as the Channel 9 News van pulled into the parking lot. A man with an oversized camera jumped out and began filming. A second man exited the vehicle and headed in their direction. He shoved a microphone toward them. “Channel 9 News, Brent Maddox reporting. Can you tell me who’s directing this picket?”

  “I am,” Ashley said nervously, glancing around to find David. Her hopes the news media would show up had materialized, which meant the picket line would make the news. Now, she wasn’t so sure about this. But one thing was for sure, she’d come too far to back down.

  “Would you mind answering a few questions?” the young reporter asked.

  “Go ahead. But just one minute.” She looked over at the woman standing next to her, “I guess this answers your question. We’ll stick around for a little while longer and see what happens.”

  “This is fun,” the woman said, chuckling. “Reminds me of the time the high-school girls staged a sit-in at the cafeteria when the school administration wanted to remove the bathroom doors in the girl’s bathroom. We won. Maybe we’ll get lucky and win today, too. The news media is certainly an interesting twist.”

  The reporter stuck a microphone in her face. “Who are you, and what are you trying to accomplish here today?”

  “I’m Ashley Stanton, and I’m investigating a bald eagle sighting reported to the Audubon Society. The area we believe the eagle might be in coincides with the fire department’s controlled burn. The burn could displace the eagle and his mate if he has one. A fire could also destroy any nest they have, and possibly cause harm to any immatures born in the last seven or eight weeks. I simply need more time to complete my search before they do the controlled burn.

  “This would be an amazing discovery for Hallbrook if we have a nesting pair of eagles who have established a home here.” Ashley clutched her sign to hide her nerves. She’d always been the one behind the camera and she wasn’t nearly as confident being the one filmed. She tried to maintain a sense of calm, wanting to answer the man’s questions to the best of her abil
ities.

  “Bald eagles are federally protected. What seems to be the problem?” the reporter asked.

  “They are. The problem rests in the fact that I haven’t come across any evidence yet, other than the reported sighting, of course. And without evidence, there is nothing to protect.” And there was the entire problem wrapped up neatly in a pinecone.

  “Have you tried asking for more time?” It was a foolish question, but she understood he was just covering the bases.

  “I have. I tried to get an injunction, but the judge ruled against me. The picket line is to let the fire department and those in charge know that it’s more than just me who believes in the importance of using every means possible to find the eagle. Our community is urging them to hold up for a week or so. That’s all.” The sound of sirens in the distance sent chills down her spine. David had made good on his threat.

  “Well, by the sounds of things, you haven’t managed to change their minds. It looks like they’re ready to roll and have called in reinforcements. What will you do when they arrive?”

  The cameraman panned the group of picketers, then the group of firefighters standing off to the side waiting for orders, and then turned back to her as they waited for her answer.

  “This is a peaceful protest to make sure the fire department knows the community is against their decision. Mission accomplished. Chief Beckett told us he would call the sheriff, and apparently, he’s a man of his word.” She grinned. “And since none of us are looking to get arrested, that would be our cue to leave.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.” The reporter grinned. He moved off, the cameraman close on his heels, as he went to talk to some of the others as the picket group disbanded. Two police cars pulled into the parking area, lights flashing and sirens wailing. Four uniformed officers got out of the vehicles and surveyed the scene.

  Captain Taylor made his way to her side. Ashley was acutely aware of the gun and handcuffs he wore even though she knew they were a standard part of a police-officers uniform. “You know you shouldn’t be here, right?”

  “That’s debatable.” Ashley shrugged.

  “Can I take it by what I see that you’re all leaving peacefully?” Captain Taylor asked.

  “Yes. We’re satisfied that by this evening, the entire state will know that some of us would have liked to have seen a different outcome today.”

  Captain Taylor nodded. “I’m glad to hear you’ve decided to cooperate. I’d hate to have to haul you down to the station.”

  “I’d hate for you to have to do that, too.” Ashley winked and walked off to her car. She took one last glance at David, surprised to discover him watching her. Even more surprised when he nodded in her direction. Proud she’d stood up for herself or pleased she was leaving?

  Most likely, the latter.

  Ashley sat in her car for a few moments, watching as some of the firefighters headed into the woods, David amongst them. A few others stayed back, directing everyone out of the area. She said a prayer for David and the other firefighter’s safety, and hoping the burn went well. She may have been a thorn in David’s side, but her heart was securely in the right place.

  David was her friend. Once upon a time, more than a friend. Who was she kidding? Recently, her thoughts turned to mush as she found herself attracted to him once again. The trouble was—nothing had changed for him. The man was still a loner and against relationships.

  The sooner she left Hallbrook the better because Ashley wasn’t sure she’d survive a second time around broken heart when it came to David.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ashley headed back toward town. Spending the rest of the day with Cory was precisely what she needed to take her mind off the burn—and the eagle.

  Several deep breaths later, she felt the tension ebbing from her body. Usually, she was rushing from point A to point B, so when she spotted a sign for a scenic vista turnout, she opted to take advantage of the free moment.

  She slid out of the car and walked up to the stone wall. Letting her gaze scan the wide expanse, she drank in the beauty. The mountain tops rose majestically not far from here, and the valley dipped below where she spotted several farms, houses, and barns. Christmas Tree Lane was the only access to the area off the main road that led to Hallbrook if she remembered correctly.

  In the distance, she spotted an oversized bird kettling through the skies, enjoying the light breeze. More than likely, just another vulture. She’d seen her share of those recently. In her haste to leave this morning, she’d left her binoculars and camera on the kitchen table, assuming she wouldn’t need of them at the picket site.

  Always a mistake, one she vowed to never repeat. You never knew when they’d come in handy. Like now.

  The vulture soared closer and closer. The bird’s markings were not yet definable, but the wingspan line was more distinct. And it wasn’t a V, of that she was sure. The question was, was the shape a straight line or the slight W of an osprey.

  Her heart started to race as she wondered if this was the eagle. Of all the foolish times to leave her equipment at home, this one took first place. Ashley willed the bird to fly closer, hoping to get a good view, one that might define the markings and identity of her feathered friend.

  Closer and closer he came, circling the skies. Specks of white broke the solid black image, proof it wasn’t a vulture. It was the head of the bird that was white. This was the eagle she’d been searching for. She pulled out her phone and tried to zoom in, hoping to capture a picture as evidence it wasn’t an osprey.

  She tried to zoom in and out repeatedly, but the focus didn’t catch. The pictures were grainy, and the bird remained unrecognizable. But Ashley was sure in her heart it was the eagle.

  It was a sign she needed to keep looking. The area was southeast of where David and his crew were doing the burn and it’s not like she’d be interfering. A plan came to mind, one that involved Trent for a couple of reasons. One, she didn’t want to leave this spot, thinking it better to keep an eye on the bird. And two, she needed him to grab her equipment, meet up with her, and join her on the search. Trent would provide protection from David’s wrath if he discovered she’d been out in the woods after he’d told her to leave.

  Her brother answered on the first ring.

  “Hey, there. It’s Ashley,” she said, skipping preliminaries.

  “Morning to you, too,” Trent teased.

  “I don’t have time for pleasantries. I’m on a mission, and I need your help.” She was banking on her brother’s protective streak to keep him from saying no.

  “Why do I have a feeling this isn’t going to be good?”

  “I want you to go with me to search for the eagle today.” Ashley debated just how much to tell him. The last thing she needed was for him to dig in and not only say no, but heck no. Because then he’d find a way to stop her as well.

  “And why do you suddenly need a chaperone? You’ve been out searching a few times on your own already.” Trent’s voice had grown tense. Her brother was all too familiar with her tactics from when they were growing up.

  “Because I’m trying to be smart. The fire department is doing the controlled burn today. And although they’re far enough away from where I will be, I just thought the buddy system would be a good precaution. Not to mention, I need you to pick up my camera and binoculars.”

  “I don’t like the sound of this. That area will be off-limits if it’s anywhere nearby, and you know it.” Trent was digging in his feet, but Ashley still had an ace in the hole. Trent’s overprotective side.

  “I’m at the scenic overlook just before you enter the park, and I’m watching a bird in the distance that from what I can tell is a bald eagle. I need to get over to the South Summit area and look around ASAP. I’m going. The only question is whether you’re coming with me.”

  “Do I have a choice?” His voice had changed to one of resignation, and Ashley knew she’d won even before he answered.

  “Not if you don’t want
me to go alone.”

  “David’s going to kill me for helping you do this, but since you leave me no choice, I guess I’ll see you in about twenty minutes.”

  “David’s too busy to be worried about what we’re doing. Besides, they are up at the North Summit area.” It was the truth, although it wouldn’t stay that way. She knew the one of the perimeters was part way between the North and South Summit parking lots. Something she had no intention of pointing out. “Maybe the reason I spotted the eagle this morning versus all the other times I’ve been out here is because of the burn. The smoke could be making him nervous. And if that’s true, the eagle will leave.”

  “I hope you know what you’re doing or the both of us could end up in jail.”

  “It’ll be fine. Oh, I just thought of something. I need to meet you at the apartment. You don’t have a key.” This would set her back almost forty-five minutes—time she didn’t have to spare.

  “Lucky for you, I have a key. I took care of something for his mother once and never remembered to give back the spare.”

  “That’s wonderful. See, it’s another sign,” Ashley said, anxious to start searching.

  “You and your signs. You’ve gone crazy trying to find this eagle. I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but I’m not sure I like it. You used to be more levelheaded and rational.”

  “There’s nothing irrational about trying to save an eagle,” Ashley said, defending her actions.

  “Why do I sense there’s more to it than this?” Trent’s question caught her off guard since it was the very same question she’d asked herself earlier.

  “There’s not. See you soon.” She hung up the phone, not wanting to delve into the matter too far. Not now, anyway. Maybe later, when she was alone.

  Twenty-five minutes later, Trent pulled into the scenic turnout. The bird had long since disappeared, but that didn’t change her determination to search. He got out of his car and joined her, bringing her camera and binoculars.