Reluctant Rescue

by Cami Checketts

  “I feel like an invalid,” Caylee complained, but secretly she loved this. Sage, and apparently Levi too, had this natural instinct to take care of people. Caylee hadn’t been taken care of for a long, long time. Not since Grandma started losing her health and then passed away, leaving Cam and Caylee truly alone. Sage was going to be a great mother someday. Caylee blinked unexpected wetness from her eyes. She could hardly remember her own mother and the thought of becoming one herself had never even been an option. You needed a man to become a mother and she’d never get close enough to a man.

  Levi filled a plate, but waited until Sage had served herself and sat down then bowed his head and offered a prayer on the food. It surprised Caylee so much she didn’t even close her eyes or bow her head. The tough military man prayed? As a child, she used to pray, whenever Cam didn’t come to hold her when she had nightmares. But then their grandparents died and she went away to school and prayer hadn’t helped her when she’d needed it most. She’d gotten pretty good at shoving all the fears away and not relying on anyone, not the Lord and not even Cam. Though she still loved Cam fiercely, he didn’t need to be bogged down by her fears and insecurities.

  “So I have the best surprise.” Sage didn’t even touch her food, but grabbed Caylee’s hand, her eyes all lit up.

  Caylee smiled at her. Sage was gorgeous, and so unpretentious, sometimes almost childlike in her exuberance and kindness. “Share it now before my bacon gets cold,” Caylee said.

  Sage laughed and released her hand. “Eat and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Caylee took a sip of juice then crunched on some delectable, greasy bacon.

  “I wanted to do something fun for Levi, Cam, and you,” Sage began, still not touching her own food. “I’ve been researching through vacation rental sites, and found a last-minute deal on a houseboat on Lake Powell, with wave runners!” She sort of squealed the last word.

  Caylee’s eyes widened. She glanced at Levi and he was staring at her as if gauging her reaction. Excitement bubbled up in Caylee. She’d never been on a real vacation. Their grandparents had been great, but a vacation to them was driving out to Wendover for the day, gambling a little bit while Cam and Caylee waited in the lounge area. Then they’d all gorge on a buffet before driving back in time for the evening news. Living in Southern California, she’d been able to do a lot of fun, vacation-like things but she’d been pretty focused on school and work.

  “I would absolutely love that,” Caylee burst out before she could try to restrain herself and not act overly excited.

  Levi smiled at her, nodding like her answer was the right one. Sage bounced in her chair. “We leave Wednesday as soon as Cam comes off his shift. He has a bunch of vacation days, since the only time he’s ever taken them are to go see you in California.”

  Caylee nodded, the two times Cam had come to visit had been some of her favorite memories in California.

  “This is going to be so great. A week on a boat on the water with my favorite people.” Sage reached over and gave Caylee a quick squeeze then released her and grabbed Levi.

  Levi studied Caylee over his sister’s shoulder and suddenly the idea of being isolated with him for a week washed over her. Could she stay aloof and sarcastic? Hopefully the patient, take-care-of-you Levi who had appeared the past hour wouldn’t be around the entire week. She much preferred battling with him to becoming interested in him.

  Chapter Three

  Levi lifted and stacked supplies at the local fire station where he was volunteering. He was the new guy, or boot, so he got asked to do all the extra things nobody wanted to do. Not exactly asked. In many ways it was very similar to the military where the new guy was frequently volunteered for the not-so-glamorous tasks.

  “Turner!” Jenkins yelled from outside. “C’mere.”

  He set down the box of flares on the shelf and walked out the bay doors. The weather was glorious in Park City, barely eighty degrees. The heat and anguish of the desert had been swept away by pine trees and family time the past few days, only returning in his nightmares. He’d wake up covered in sweat and wishing he could truly forget it all.

  A small group of firefighters were gathered around outside, some from his crew, a few he didn’t recognize. “What’s up?” Levi asked.

  “Westbrook is training for the Firefighter Combat Challenge, going to Alabama in October and everything,” Jenkins explained.

  “Congrats,” Levi nodded to the burly dude.

  He accepted it with a chin raise.

  “Some of the guys think you’re in better shape than him,” Jenkins continued.

  A couple of the men nodded, but others gave patient smiles. Levi looked Westbrook over a little more carefully. He was almost as big as Sage’s fiancé Cam, and looked to be all muscle.

  “But really he just needs the practice so he can win and bring us home a new truck and a bunch of prizes.”

  Westbrook grunted. Levi didn’t think the guy would be sharing his prizes if he did win.

  “We’ve got everything set up as best we can to do a mock competition.” Jenkins indicated the parking lot behind him with a bunch of equipment laid out. “We don’t have enough flights of stairs, so you’re going to run up the hill with the weight and then pull the weighted rope up.” He jammed a thumb behind him at the sagebrush-covered mountainside. They had everything ready as if they’d known Levi would agree.

  Volunteerism was alive and well in the Summit County Fire Department.

  Levi didn’t really want to be the center of attention, but he wanted to fit in with the guys and not just be the “irritated military dude” like he’d overheard one of the firefighters call him a few days ago. He used to be the friendly guy who could charm anybody into being his buddy. That had all changed. The only friends he’d really had on the military base were the guys who he lifted weights with.

  He shrugged. “Sure.”

  Everybody smiled but the Westbrook guy. He assessed Levi with his eyes then turned.

  “Okay. Suit up,” Jenkins said.

  Levi strode inside and got into his boots and gear. When he came back outside everyone was waiting for him, including a crowd who sent up a cheer when they saw him and Westbrook approaching in their turnout coats, pants, and wildland helmets. Oh, great. The other firefighters were turning this into a bigger deal than Levi wanted it to be. Westbrook was a seasoned competitor who had trained for who knew how long to excel at the specific events. Levi was just participating to be chill with the other guys and get a workout in.

  Jenkins sauntered up to him and patted him on the shoulder. “Thanks, man. My money’s on you. Don’t let me down. I’ve got two kids who’ll need new coats this winter.” He winked and walked away.

  Need new coats? Levi chuckled but then he started sweating in the heavy coat. It was a different kind of sweat from Afghanistan. He was going to earn this sweat by hard work and nerves, not just being baked and trying to get through the day. He didn’t want to lose, but this Westbrook guy must be good if he was going to the national challenge, and he looked like a beast, especially once he was all suited up.

  Jenkins told the gathering crowd and participants how the challenge would work. Levi wondered if the guys had texted people to come watch or if the crowd wandered over from the nearby restaurant and outdoor shop on their own. It was about lunch time. He tried to pay attention to what Jenkins was saying, but a flash of brown and gold curls drew his attention. It couldn’t be Caylee, could it? He looked again, but couldn’t spot that crazy hair in the crowd this time.

  “Any questions?” Jenkins asked.

  Levi shook his head and moved to the starting position next to Westbrook. The bigger man turned and gave him a stare down. “Good luck,” he muttered.

  “You too.”

  Jenkins counted down, “3-2-1-Go!”

  Levi picked up the fifty-pound bag of salt, slung it over his shoulder, and sprinted to the hill. He had to dodge sagebrush and boulders as he ascended, using the rope
they had laid out for him to keep himself moving in a straight line. His legs were burning and his lungs were taking a hit too. He wasn’t used to the higher elevation yet, but he’d take it over the suffocating heat of Afghanistan. He even preferred the turnout coat to body armor.

  He gasped for air and pushed on faster, faster. He could hear Westbrook pounding up the incline next to him, but he didn’t waste time checking his position. Glancing up, he could see one of the other firefighters waiting for him at the top, but it felt like Levi had more than a hundred yards left to go. Sweat ran into his eyes and down his shoulder blades. The suit was heavy enough without adding the bag of salt to it. The bag started slipping. Levi clung to it and pushed his legs, harder, harder. Pinpricks of pain radiated down his legs and he felt like he had tunnel vision, but he wouldn’t quit.

  Suddenly, the firefighter waiting at the top yelled, “You made it!”

  Levi dropped the salt, turned and grasped the rope, pushing out a hard exhale and dragging in more oxygen to try to clear the lactic acid from his muscles. The first time he tugged on the rope it barely budged. How much weight did they have on the end? He yanked harder and it slowly came toward him. Hand over hand, he hauled the weight up the mountain. His back and hands started aching immediately. The rope ripped at his palms and he wished he’d thought of gloves.

  He glanced over and saw Westbrook pulling ferociously. Levi upped his speed and within a few seconds saw the weight rising up the hill to him. Suddenly, it stopped moving.

  “Crap! It’s caught!” The firefighter who was monitoring the race up top yelled.

  Levi grunted, braced his feet, and yanked at it with all he had. It pulled free and he thumped onto his rear. He kept pulling though, slowly regaining his feet. The weight came up and thumped next to him.

  “Done!” The guy hollered. “Go!”

  Levi didn’t glance at Westbrook as he sprinted down the mountainside, but he knew that at least he was in front, for the moment. The roar of the small crowd greeted him as he reached the flat parking lot and started weaving around the cones they’d set up. Was Caylee in the crowd? Was she cheering for him? He almost laughed at the thought. She’d probably cheer against him.

  Another roar announced Westbrook was back to the flat course, and the guy definitely wasn’t moving slow. Levi felt the old burst of competition from football drills and games that he used to savor in high school and upped his speed. He reached the end of the obstacles and grabbed the firehose, dragging it back as quickly as he could. Westbrook was right beside him now. Dang, the guy was good.

  Levi made it to the end, dropped the hose, leaned down and wrenched the sledgehammer off the ground. They didn’t have a fancy device like the competition did so he simply smacked it into a tractor tire over and over again. He could hear Westbrook rhythmically slamming his tire close by. Levi’s arms were on fire and he was afraid the hammer was going to fly out of his grip when someone finally yelled, “Twenty!”

  Levi released the hammer from his sweaty grasp. It thudded to the ground, barely missing his foot. He wrapped his hands underneath the dummy’s armpits.

  “Go, go, go!” he heard Jenkins yelling. Had the guy really bet money on him?

  Levi scurried backward, dragging the body. He made the mistake of glancing at Westbrook and almost tripped. The guy was passing him by. Levi’s legs were spent, he was gasping for air, but he wouldn’t quit. He scurried backward faster, faster. His legs felt like they’d detached from his body. He crossed the finish line and dropped the dummy and then himself to the ground. The crowd was screaming like crazy now. It made him smile. A pickup firefighter competition and the fans sounded like it was the state football championship. He didn’t even know if he’d won or lost.

  “Tie! It was a tie,” Jenkins screamed. “I cannot believe it. You have to do it again.”

  Levi did laugh then. “I couldn’t do that again right now if my mother’s life depended on it.”

  Westbrook was next to him extending a hand. Levi grasped it and struggled to his feet. “Thanks, man,” Westbrook said. “That pushed me like nothing I’ve done in training.”

  “You’re gonna rock that competition,” Levi said, feeling like he fit in for the first time at the station. He breathed in the scent of asphalt, sweat, and friendship. He liked it.

  “I don’t know about that. I’ve been training for six months and this is the first time you’ve done it.”

  “I about killed myself trying to keep up with you,” Levi admitted.

  Westbrook smiled. “Want to do it again next week?”

  “I’ll be on vacation, but the week after that for sure.” What had he just agreed to? Misery, but he liked it. It made him feel alive to push himself like that and it was even better if he could make a friend.

  Jenkins shook his hand. “Well, at least you didn’t lose me any money. Good job.” He handed Levi a water bottle.

  “Thanks.” Levi took a long swig then removed his helmet, glanced at the crowd that was dispersing, and caught that flash of gold and brown curls again. “Excuse me for a second.” His legs were wobbly, but they found renewed strength as he ran toward the crowd and then called out, “Caylee!”

  She turned and Levi felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Her face was so beautiful he could hardly look at it without his pulse racing as fast as it had been during the competition. She gave him a quick wave then turned and strode away. He noticed she was limping slightly.

  “Caylee, wait.” He hurried after her, ignoring the whistles and razzing of his fellow firefighters behind him.

  “Boot’s got himself a pretty girl,” Jenkins called out.

  Levi was a sweaty, exhausted mess, but he wasn’t missing this opportunity to find out why she’d been here, and if he was honest with himself, he couldn’t wait to see what funny, smart-alecky thing she’d say to him. Then there was the fact that he could stare at her face all day and not be bored. He’d chase after her and deal with the teasing from the guys later.

  Caylee heard a commotion as she came out of the bagel shop. She’d grabbed a sandwich and thought maybe she’d walk to the park or something. It was misery being alone when Cam worked his forty-eight hour shifts. She couldn’t wait to go to Lake Powell and have Cam, Sage, and Levi around all the time. Well, she could do without Levi. If only the man would keep his mouth shut and she could just stare at that perfect face and body. She smirked to herself. Her grandmother would’ve called her a Shallow Shelly for a thought like that.

  She clutched the bag of food and fruit-flavored water and went to investigate what had drawn a crowd. It reminded her of California when a street performer would start up and everyone would come in droves to check him or her out.

  Walking to the edge of the crowd, she realized it was a fire station parking lot, but not Cam’s station. She thought this was the county station. Two firefighters dressed in their gear walked toward the mountainside beyond the parking lot. They didn’t have full helmets on, just the hardhat type ones, and the taller one glanced over at her. She gasped. He looked just like Levi. Oh, my, she was pathetic thinking about Levi all the time. He was a doctor, but he had said he was going to volunteer as a firefighter. Had he already started? She didn’t need to be imagining him all dressed up in the gear. He was hot enough without her fantasizing about him being a firefighter.

  A man stepped in front of her and her view was blocked. She slipped around a few people as someone screamed “Go!” and the two firefighters raced up the hill, each carrying a heavy-looking sack. It was like a firefighter combat challenge, but in real life. Cool. She joined in the excitement and cheering, craning her neck to see them progressing up the hill. They were so close it was impossible to tell who was in front. She could hardly imagine running up a hill wearing all that gear, let alone carrying whatever was in the bag. Both men were obviously in unreal shape.

  They made it to the top and started pulling up a rope that looked like it had a weight on the bottom. When the taller man’s rope
got caught on sagebrush, Caylee screamed out, “Oh, no!” An older lady turned to her and patted her hand. “It’s okay, dear. It’s just for fun.”

  She smiled and focused back on the men. The one she’d thought was Levi definitely had her attention and her cheers. He jerked the rope unstuck, finished pulling the weight to the top, and sprinted down the hill. Caylee would really like to get a good look at the man underneath that helmet. She licked her lips then whistled for him. The entire crowd was really getting into the competition, most were cheering both men on, and it was a lot of fun.

  The firefighters were so close as they weaved through the obstacles then pulled the hose back, Caylee couldn’t have said who was in front. Watching the taller one slam the sledgehammer down gave her Thor visions, and she had to smile at her girlish crush.

  As they grabbed the mannequins and started dragging them, the taller one almost tripped. Caylee cried out. He kept going and within seconds they’d crossed the line. Somebody screamed that it was a tie.

  The crowd let up a loud shout and the lady next to Caylee sighed. “Oh, that was perfect for them to tie. Did you know the taller one, dear?”

  “No.”

  “Oh. He was stupendously handsome.” The lady winked. “Fun to watch.”

  “For sure.” Caylee blushed as she thought about Levi. Stupendously handsome was right, if it was Levi, which it probably wasn’t.

  Caylee stayed there for a second, watching as the competitors shook hands. It seemed like it was all in good fun. Slowly, she turned and started walking away. She thought she heard her name and whirled around. Staring straight at the tall firefighter, she second-guessed herself again. Was it Levi? His face looked exactly like Levi’s. That kind of perfection couldn’t be duplicated, could it? She waved awkwardly then looked away, embarrassed that she was ogling someone that she may or may not know. Was he looking at her? She glanced over her shoulder to see if there was someone behind her, but couldn’t see anyone. Turning to go, she heard her name again. “Caylee, wait!”