And Ryder. He would be in the thick of it.
“Crown fire?” Elizabeth offered bottles of water to firefighters coming from the edge of the forest. “Tina, what’s a crown fire?”
“Where the fire jumps from the treetops instead of running along the ground,” she said, inspecting the hands of a volunteer firefighter. When he’d peeled off his gloves, the backs of his hands were slightly burnt. Tina wrung out one of the cloths she kept in a tub of cool water and gently set it over the bright red spots. “Get some running water on it, Shem. Not cold but cool.”
“Tina.” Elizabeth turned the woman to face her. “Burning treetops fall to the ground.”
“Yep, and on whoever stands beneath.”
Then Ryder must get out of there. Glancing back to the hectic command center, Elizabeth inched toward the man everyone was calling Captain, hoping, willing to hear an update on Ryder.
“Get the helitanker up. But find our men first.” The captain sounded frantic. “Donovan? Come in, Donovan.”
But Donovan didn’t come in, and Elizabeth half wanted to yank the microphone from the man’s hand and scream for him to answer. She’d never been this terrified. And by the expressions on the grimy faces standing around, neither had they.
“If we dump a thousand gallons of water on the fire line and they’re up there…” The captain adjusted the radio volume as if that might be the problem. “Donovan! Where are you?”
Yes, Donovan, where are you?
Minutes seemed like hours. Tina called Elizabeth back to the water and first aid station, but she kept her ear tuned to the captain’s radio conversation with the helitanker pilot.
“Any sign of them?”
“Negative,” the pilot answered. “The scene is engulfed. The fire is going to jump to the next stand of trees if I don’t drop water soon.”
The helitanker circled an enormous spotlight over the burned-black region. The captain continued commanding Ryder and his crew to get out of there. They never responded.
Suddenly, the far end of the camp erupted with cheers as two teams working the east ridge walked out of the woods having won their battle. Among them Will, Ethan, Bobby, and Julie.
Thank God. Thank God.
Ryder, you best be okay, hear me? Elizabeth had heard stories of wildfires and their intense heat and fast-moving flames overtaking men, but Ryder knew how to escape. Didn’t he? He’d fought wildfires before.
From behind, a strong hand gripped her shoulders. “How are you holding up?”
“Pops…” Elizabeth met his tender expression. “I’m not sure. This is intense. I’m scared for Ryder.”
“The Lord knows what’s going on.” He drew her in for a hug. “I believe everything’s going to be okay.”
Elizabeth rested her head against him, desperate for him to be right, then prayed to the God of Pops and Granny.
The fire had encircled the ridge, trapping Ryder and his team of four. His weak knee nearly sent him to the ground more than once when his foot landed on uneven terrain. The fire glowed a couple hundred yards behind them as the flames rolled up the hill and burning coals fell from the blazing treetops.
They’d exhausted their water bladders—which were no match for a crown fire anyway. Nor were their picks and shovels. What he had to do now was get the men out of here.
He’d worked hotter wildfires in Colorado, but this one seemed to chase them. Still on the ridge, Ryder swept his flashlight over the terrain, seeking a way down to the creek. Through the howl of the blaze, he heard sounds of a chopper.
Command wouldn’t wait much longer to drop the water. They had to get out. Now.
That’s when he saw it: their narrow way of escape—an old firebreak. Hot coals were dying on its edges.
“This way,” he shouted, shining his light on the path as he led his small company through the space, down the other side of the ridge, and toward the glorious sounds of the creek.
Hitting the stream, Ryder tugged off his headgear and splashed his face with the cool, clear water.
“I hear the helitanker,” Rick said, scooping a handful of water to drink. “Let’s keep moving, get out of the drop zone.”
“Head east.” Ryder reached for his radio as he started down the stream, kicking through burnt debris dropped by the wind. “Captain, come in. Donovan over.”
