“What?” Wilder throws his hands up. “They’re famous as fuck for fucking.”
I glance at Alena, but she’s not blushing with shame. “So, you’re a fan?” No, she’s smiling, proud.
“Darlin’”—he mounts his bike—“with the way you two experiment? I sure ain’t youronlyfan.”
Remi rumbles away. Wilder follows, after blowing Alena a kiss. I’d shoot him for it, but he’d only tattoo the scar with a smiley face.
“Yeah, so”—I turn to Alena—“about our guests that night at the club.”
She laughs, swishing toward our cabin. “Don’t tell me. It’s hotter that way.”
Alenaand I may be hot online and in bed, but the next day, it’s biting cold. Gusts lash the mountains, rattling our windows. The alert on our radio awakens us with a severe wind advisory.
Quickly, we get dressed. Alena scrambles eggs for our breakfast while I pack our lunches.
Maybe it’s the change in barometric pressure. Maybe it’s my paranoia. But I insist, “You ride with me today,” while I toss a sandwich into her backpack.
“You know we can’t.” She takes my empty plate and my kiss on the cheek. “It’ll be all hands on deck. Last year, one of these windstorms flipped a truck and backed up roads for miles.”
“Don’t care. I have a feeling.”
“You always have a feeling.”
“Alena, I’m serious.”
“Loch.” She reaches for me, cupping my face. “I seriously love you, and I’ll be fine.” She puckers for a kiss. I give it before she mutters over our lips, “Besides, this ismypark. I know how to find my way home to you.”
Dispatch cracks over our radios. We listen to the report—a fallen tree in the park has struck two cars. It caused one to careen off the road, down the riverbank. The other is trapped under the massive oak. Three are critically injured, and two are trapped.
“See?” Alena grabs her backpack. “We gotta go.”
Jumping into my truck, we race to the ranger station. There, multiple agencies are rushing to the scene.
She turns to take a Forest Service SUV, but I grab her hand and pull her back. “Hey. I love you.”
“Love you too. Be careful today.” She gives me a rushed kiss before jumping into her SUV and speeding away.
I aim to follow her, but dispatch sends her to the accident scene, while I’m sent to a campground with an RV, toppled by the wind.
It’s hours of havoc until I get a chance to call her. She doesn’t pick up. Not unusual when we’re busy. So, I text and wait an hour for her reply.
Nothing.
Speeding back to the station, I see another ranger who was working the accident.
“Hey, Morris!” I call out across the parking lot. “Where’s Allen?”
He shrugs. “Last I saw, she was on the riverbank, helping with extrication.”
“How long ago?”
“’Bout two hours.”
Fuck orders. I drive to the accident site. Choppers had to land for emergency transport. Multiple agencies had to investigate. Crews are everywhere cleaning up.
“Hey.” I grab a firefighter’s arm. “Have you seen Allen?”
He knows her. He’s on the swift water team with us. “Earlier.” He glances around. “But, nah, man. Guess she’s gone.”
