“The captain’s log? Like in Star Trek?” I joke.
“Not exactly,” David laughs. “It’s a log I keep of protocols and details about calls—notes that I keep for follow up, clarity, and a backup to any incident report.”
I walk behind David into the office. It feels odd, but also right being here while the rest of the crew is out in the bay running checks. I’m officially going to be their captain now.
“You’ll probably still go on fires until we hire your replacement,” David says.
“Sounds good.”
“Have a seat,” he says. He walks to one of the two chairs in front of the desk and eyes the empty seat he always took behind the desk.
I walk over and sit down, swiveling and tugging the chair so it’s tucked into place.
David pulls up a notebook and opens it.
He thumbs through, showing me the types of entries he’s made in the past.
His gaze follows mine toward the door leading out into the bay. Then he says, “Low-risk calls, you can stay behind. You’ve watched me over the years. When it’s all hands, you’re on the field in a turnout with everyone else. Otherwise, you’re here running point and holding down the fort for other needs.”
I nod.
“You’ll adjust, Cody.”
“I know. I really feel like I will now.”
“Good.” David’s smile is warm and assuring. “You’ve got a bright future in the department.”
The laughter of the crew filters in from the bay. David stands to walk into the kitchen, and I settle into my new desk chair.
Chapter 29
Carli
I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day.
~ Nicholas Sparks
Codyand I have resorted to sneaking time around the edges again. We met at the fence line late at night one night. Him on Jasper and me on Lark. Our kiss was frantic and hurried. Then we separated. He calls me to say goodnight when he can. We text. But we’ve been forced into collecting desperate scraps of time, nothing as sweet and luxurious as our day in Nashville or the night he stayed over.
He’s been on shift. I’ve had work. Family obligations on both sides. With McKenna’s wedding approaching, everything’s tighter.
This morning he came over to check on Dad as an emissary of his family. I don’t know how he managed to be the one they sent. But I’m certainly not complaining.
We’re in the main hog barn. Farrowing’s over. Sows aremilking, early litters are in the nursery, and we’re getting ready to send some older hogs to market.
I’m mucking stalls.
Yeah. Glamorous way to impress the boyfriend: scooping hog manure.
Jace steps into the barn. “Chet, help me with the chute.”
Chet looks up and nods, walking out of the barn, leaving me and Cody alone.
The doors to the outside pen are huge and we’ve slid them open to shuttle hogs into the outside area before loading them onto the truck when it arrives.
Chet and Jace’s voices carry in from outside. If I stand just right, I can see Jace’s plaid shirt and a part of his face. He’s focused on the task at hand, but there’s only about thirty yards between us and where he and Chet are standing.
Cody steps toward me. His voice is a whisper.
