by Kay Correll
“I think we just found each other at the wrong time in our lives.” She sat quietly beside her friend as they gazed up at the stars blinking across the night sky. Just having Sophie here with her was enough to soothe her jangled nerves.
She turned to Sophie. “You’re always here for me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Sophie smiled. “You’ll never have to find out. We’re a team. Best friends for life.”
Chapter 20
Mac had sworn he’d never set foot in Sweet River Falls again, but he also was not going to disappoint Jimmy Nelson. He was going to drop off some books for him at the school, with a note to his mother saying he’d be glad to continue with Jimmy if she’d drive him over to Mountain Grove. Then he’d scuff the dust of Sweet River Falls off his boots and be done with it. Done with everyone in the town. Done with their judgmental attitude.
He just prayed he wouldn’t run into Beth at the school because he didn’t want his resolve to waver. He knew he’d made the right decision, both for Beth and for him. He and Beth were just not meant to be. Star-crossed lovers—not that they were lovers. But he did care for her. He’d been miserable since they’d talked last weekend. He’d slammed around his apartment and done every job he’d been avoiding doing at the tavern. Anything and everything to keep mindlessly busy.
He pulled into the parking lot of the school and gritted his teeth. He could do this. A quick in and out.
Yet, he sat there staring at the school, his feet unwilling to carry him inside. He glanced down to the far end of the school and squinted against the glare.
Was that…
Smoke. That was smoke.
He flung open the door to the truck and hurled himself across the parking lot. He grabbed the first door he came to, but it was locked. Of course. Things change. Schools don’t leave all the doors open.
He whirled around and ran to the front door, slamming through it, and spied the fire alarm on the wall. He tripped the alarm and without skipping a beat raced down the hallway.
Teachers began to usher the students outside. He sped around the corner to the L-shaped hallway at the end of the school. A group of kids came out of the smoky hallway with a teacher leading the way. She looked at him, her eyes filled with worry. “I’ve got these kids, but Miss Jesse is still back there. Some kids were still in the art room. It’s really not more than a closet off of our class. Then flames jumped across the hallway and I saw her take them back into the room.”
“Get these kids to safety. I’ll go get her and the other kids.”
He looked at the flames shooting across the floor. He stripped off his shirt and soaked it in the water fountain and splashed water down his jeans. It would have to do. With a running start, he raced down the hall, pressing the wet shirt to his face, and leaped over the flames.
“Over here.” A teacher called out to him through a slightly opened door.
He hurried the rest of the way to her class, tears streaming down his face, and slipped through her door. The flames rapidly approached behind him.
The teacher had four kids along the back wall, low to the ground. “Flames are blocking our way out.”
He looked over at the kids with their wide eyes. Trevor looked back at him with trusting eyes, as if he was here to save the day. Only he didn’t know if he could make things happen quick enough. He looked around the room and assessed the situation. “Okay, we’ll get them out the windows.”
“It’s too far too the ground. And the windows aren’t made to open since we’re up so high.”
He crossed over and looked down. The ground sloped away from the building at this side, a good fifteen feet down. It was their only choice. He looked at the ground and outside. No sign of the fire trucks yet. He couldn’t even hear sirens.
Trevor was still looking at him with his eyes filled with trust. There was no way he was going to let the boy down. No way. They were going to get out of here.
Beth ushered her class down the hall single file and out through the door to the playground area. She’d double counted the children, assuring herself that they were all here and safe. When she got the children settled in their assigned location at the far end of the playground, then, and only then, did she scan the playground area, looking for Trevor and Connor. She had to trust that their teachers had done their duty, just like she had, and gotten their students out to safety.
She saw Connor with his class, but when she saw Miss Jesse’s assistant teacher, she didn’t see Miss Jesse or Trevor. Her heart tripped in her chest. Where were they? She couldn’t go over there and ask. She had a responsibility to the children in her class.
Her duty as a teacher and her panic as a mother collided with the force of a tornado. She scanned the area, looking from group to group. No sign of Trevor or Miss Jesse.
Miss Simmons, the assistant principal walked up. “Did you get everyone?” The woman started counting the children sitting on the ground, doing the double check they’d all been taught. “Yes, everyone.”
The assistant principal checked off her list.
“Miss Simmons, I don’t see Miss Jesse… or Trevor.”
“She and some of her students got separated from the rest of the class.” Miss Simmons hurried away with her list, doing her job.
But that didn’t help the rising panic sweeping through Beth. She looked at the smoke now billowing out of the area of the school that held Trevor’s class.
Where was Trevor?
Mac looked around the room. “Get those paint smocks over there and wet them in that sink.”
“I’ll do it.” Trevor jumped up and raced to the sink with a handful of smocks.
“We’ll shove some of those under the door to stop the smoke from coming in, and the kids can hold them over their faces. It should help.”
He turned to the teacher who was doing an amazing job of staying calm—or pretending to be calm for the kids. “You think you can get the kids into the window and get them to jump to me?”
“But how will we get the window open?”
“I’ll break it.”
He picked up a desk. “Get the kids back.”
She ushered them away from the window. He swung the desk with all his might and smashed it through the glass. He took his shirt and knocked out a few pieces of glass that hung on and wiped away the broken glass from the windowsill.
She nodded and turned to the kids. “We’re going out the window. We’re going to jump and he’s going to catch you. We’re all going to be very, very brave.”
“I’m Mac.” He smiled encouragingly to the kids. “I’m strong enough to catch you, I promise. Keep your faces covered with those wet smocks until it’s your turn.”
“I’m scared, Miss Jesse.” A small girl in a pink dress clung to her teacher. The girl’s wide brown eyes were filled with tears.
“It’s going to be okay.” She assured the girl.
“You got this?” He hated to leave the teacher in here, but didn’t know another way. They were running out of time. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, then coughed. Not the best idea to take deep breaths with the smoky air.
“I’ve got it.” Miss Jesse nodded confidently.
He climbed into the window and lowered himself as far as he could. Then he let go and dropped to the ground below, rolling as he landed. He scrambled to his feet and looked up. “Okay. First one.”
The little girl who had been clinging to Miss Jesse appeared in the window. “I can’t do it.”
Trevor appeared beside her. “I’ll go first. Watch me. Mr. McKenna will catch me. Then you do it, too.”
The girl nodded.
Trevor maneuvered his way to the window ledge. “I’m jumping now. Watch me. You can do this.”
“Okay.”
Mac steeled himself and held up his arms. Trevor landed against him and they both fell to the ground with a thud.
Trevor popped up. “I’m good. I knew you’d catch me.” He turned and looked up at the window
. “Come on, Rita Jo. Jump. It’s fine.”
“Close your eyes and jump to me, sweetheart. I’ve got you,” Mac called up to the girl.
Miss Jesse pried the girl’s hands from the sill and said something to her. The girl screwed up her face with her eyes tightly closed and jumped. He caught her against him and quickly set her down. “Go stand by that tree.” He motioned to a tree a safe distance way. “Trevor, go stand by her. You two stay together.”
He turned back, and Miss Jesse had another girl in the window. She jumped to him, and he caught her. The girl hurried over to join her classmates.
He caught the next child, and Miss Jesse poked her head out the window. “Hurry. Smoke is coming in.”
She got the last boy into the window and he jumped to Mac. They both tumbled to the ground, but the boy scrambled to his feet. “I’m good. But you have to get Miss Jesse now.”
Smoke was rolling out the window around the teacher. “Come on. Jump to me,” Mac urged her.
She swung her leg over the sill and lowered herself as far as she could. “I’m letting go, now.”
“I’ve got you.”
Miss Jesse landed against him with a thump, and they rolled down the hill. “You okay?” He looked at her closely.
“I think so.” She started to push up and a look of pain flashed across her face. “Guess I hurt my ankle. Can you help me up?”
He got to his feet and deftly pulled her up. She leaned against him. “We need to get the kids to our assigned spot so they know we’re all okay.”
He helped Miss Jesse limp over to the waiting children. “Okay, kids. See, we all made it.”
“Miss Jesse, are you hurt?” Trevor looked at his teacher.
“I’ll be okay. Just twisted my ankle a bit. I’m afraid I was a bit heavier than you kids.” She smiled encouragingly at them. “Let’s all hold hands now. We’re going to go meet up with the rest of your class.”
The one little girl in the pink dress was sitting on the ground quietly sobbing. Mac walked over and reached a hand down. “Come on, sweetheart. It’s going to be okay.”
“I want my mom.”
“I bet you do. Let’s go with Miss Jesse, and then I bet your Mom will be able to find you.”
He kept one arm around Miss Jesse and led the children away from the building. They walked to their designated spot on the far end of the playground, away from the buildings. He settled Miss Jesse onto the edge of a merry-go-round. A woman came running up to them. “Four?”
“Yes, it’s all of them.” Miss Jesse coughed.
The woman looked visibly relieved as she checked off her list. “Everyone out safely and accounted for.”
“There was a lot of smoke in the room. I think you should get the EMTs to check out the kids, and Miss Jesse here has something wrong with her ankle.”
“You are?” The woman stood looking at him with a confused expression.
Daniel Smith rushed up to them. “Got them all yet?”
“All accounted for, yes.”
“That’s a relief.”
He turned and stared at Mac, his eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here?”
Trevor walked up and slipped his hand in Mac’s. “He rescued us.”
Miss Jesse nodded and got unsteadily to her feet. “He got us all out.”
Mac looked down and saw blood running down his side. He must have cut himself on the glass. He looked around for something to press against the cut, but he’d long since lost his shirt in the chaos.
“So, here you are in the middle of trouble again.” Daniel Smith eyed him suspiciously.
“You’re darn lucky I got here when I did and tripped the fire alarm.” Mac had had enough of Danny Boy’s nonsense.
“Looks like the fire started in the boy’s bathroom.”
Mac swallowed, fearing what was coming.
“It’s not like you haven’t started a fire before. Started one in the boys’ bathroom if I remember correctly.”
Mac stood silently.
“He didn’t start the fire, he saved us. He’s a hero,” Trevor insisted.
“Or he started the fire, then got you all out so he could look like a hero.” Daniel stood directly in front of his path, blocking his way, preventing him from escaping.
And he needed to escape. He’d gotten the kids out, gotten Trevor out. That’s what was important.
“I think I’m going to run you in for questioning. This is too many coincidences in my book. Way too many.”
“Mom.”
Mac felt Trevor’s hand slip out of his and turned to see Beth standing there. Trevor threw himself into this mother’s arms.
“Mr. McKenna saved us. All of us. We jumped from the window and it was way, way up high. I jumped first to show the other kids that it would be okay. Only Miss Jesse is bigger than us and she hurt her foot.”
Beth brushed a lock of Trevor’s hair from his face and scanned him from head to toe. She turned to Mac, her brown eyes overflowing with gratitude. “Thank you, Mac.” Her voice wavered as she said the words.
She hugged Trevor tightly. “My class is on the bus and headed to the high school. The parents are supposed to pick up the kids there.”
“I think we should get the EMTs over to check the kids out. There was quite a bit of smoke coming into the room.” Miss Jesse stood wobbling on one leg.
“Daniel, can you get them over here?” Beth turned to the officer.
“I was getting ready to take Mr. McKenna into the station.”
“For saving the kids?” She looked from Daniel and back to Mac, then frowned. “Mac, you’re bleeding.”
“It’s not bad.”
“You should get that looked at, too.” She swirled back and glared at Daniel. “Now why were you taking Mac in?”
“Well, the fire started in the boys’ bathroom. He’s done that before.”
“Daniel Smith, I’m tired of this ridiculous crusade against Mac. I’ll be forever grateful that he got Trevor and the other kids out safely. Unless you have proof and you’re pressing charges, I’m going to get Mac some help and see that he’s checked out.”
“If anything at all points at him, I’m heading over to Mountain Grove and arresting him.” Daniel turned and walked away.
Beth looked at him. “I’m going to get the EMTs.”
“Have them check out the kids and Miss Jesse. I’m fine.” He glanced down at the slice on his side. He’d had worse.
“I think you should have that looked at.”
“No.”
“Mac, I—”
“Beth, there’s nothing more to say. I am so done with Sweet River Falls.”
He turned away and headed back to his truck.
Now, now he was finished with this town.
Forever.
And he meant it this time.
Chapter 21
Beth sat in Sophie’s apartment the next evening after their yoga class. “It was terrible, Soph. Terrible. Here Mac had just saved Trevor and the other kids and Miss Jesse, and there was Daniel, accusing him of starting the fire.” Beth shuddered. “I can barely stand to think about Trevor locked in that room with the fire approaching. Mac was the one who saw the smoke and pulled the fire alarm. He gave all of us more time to get out safely. What if Mac wouldn’t have happened by the school then?”
“But he was there.” Sophie placed her hand over Beth’s. “He got everyone out.”
“And he was repaid for his heroism by being accused by Daniel Smith of starting the fire.” Beth shook her head. “Mac’s right. He’s never going to outrun his reputation in this town.”
“Or, you could go confront Daniel.” Sophie jumped up. “Yes, that’s what you should do. Go talk to him. Call him out. Point out why he’s being such a jerk.”
“I can’t do that. What do I say? Hey, I know you’ve had a crush on me since high school?”
“Yes, you do exactly that.” Sophie reached down and tugged her to her feet. “Go now. Talk to him.”
> “But—”
“Listen, it’s up to you to try and make things right with Mac. Or… you can let him go without a fight. Your choice. But don’t come moping around me because you didn’t try everything to make things work.”
Beth stared at Sophie. She was right. Very right. She could let Mac go and then, what? Live without him in her life? The very thought of it was soul-crushing. She wanted him in her life. All the time. Every day.
Beth snatched up her purse. “I’m going to the police station right now.”
“You go, girl.” Sophie grinned.
Beth hurried out of the apartment and down the sidewalk until she reached the police station. She pushed through the door, her shoulders set in determination.
Daniel looked up from his desk. “Beth.” He stood up clumsily and spilled a pile of papers on the floor. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you. Ask you a question.”
“Sure. What?”
She crossed over to stand right beside him. “Do you have a crush on me?”
His face went white, then flushed to a bright red. “What?”
“A crush. A thing. Do you like me?”
“I… uh…”
“I’ve thought since high school that you’ve had this little crush thing on me.”
“I… well… maybe. A little.”
“Ah, ha. I knew it.” She tapped her finger against his chest. “And do you think that little crush is getting in the way of your perspective when it comes to Mac McKenna?”
“What? No, of course not.” But his face didn’t look very convincing.
She cocked her head and stared at him.
“No, I mean. That wouldn’t be very professional of me.” He sunk into his chair. “Ah, Beth. No, surely I didn’t do that.”
She sat in the chair beside him. “And yet, I think you did. Even if you didn’t mean to.”
“I… I don’t know what to say. I’m embarrassed. I shouldn’t let my personal feelings get in the way of my professional duties.”
