“Carson,” I say, calling Matt by his last name.“The truck needs to be scrubbed and washed.”
His mouth drops.“What? Why?”
“Because I’m the captain, and I just gave you an order.” I smirk as the table cracks up.
I glance at Asher, expecting him to laugh too, but his jaw is still tight, eyes stormy. Before I can ask what the hell is up with him, the alarm erupts through the station.
Shrill. Sharp. Heart-stopping.
Everyone freezes for half a breath, instincts snapping into place.
A wildfire.
Up the mountain.
Multiple calls already coming in.
“Move!” I shout, and the crew leaps up, chairs screeching back.
The engines scream out of the station with us strapped into our gear, radios crackling, adrenaline pulsing like its own heartbeat.
Three stations are being dispatched. That alone tells me this isn’t small.
The dispatcher’s voice comes through: high winds, fire spreading fast, evacuations underway, report of missing hikers, elderly couple.
“Of course,” Asher mutters.“Always when there’s a damn wind advisory.”
My jaw clenches.“Stay focused.”
As we climb toward the tree line, the sky changes, gray to orange, orange to blazing red. Smoke rolls like a living thing, swallowing the mountain whole. Embers whip across the asphalt like fireflies from hell.
And then we see it.
A wall of fire ripping through the forest, roaring loud enough to drown our engines.
“Jesus,” Calvin whispers.
Asher’s eyes harden.“Let’s go.”
We jump out, boots hitting gravel. The heat slams into us instantly, a wave that could blister skin even through gear.
“Form a line!” I shout.“Protect the houses on the east ridge until backup arrives!”
Orders fly. Hoses uncoil. The pump roars to life.
Flames crack and snarl. Trees explode, literal explosions, when the sap gets too hot.
But we push.
We always push.
Minutes stretch into an hour. Sweat stings my eyes, ash clings to my throat, and the fire only grows angrier, the wind feeding it like gasoline.
Then my radio screeches.
“Captain Hawthorne, Search and Rescue reporting missing civilians. Older couple. Last seen near the old logging trail. Coordinates incoming.”
Dammit.
