After a while we quit making out and just lie there, on the rock, like giant satiated lizards or something.I keep having the urge to say dumb things to him, likeI love youormove to Lodgepoleorlet’s get marriedorhow many kids do you want?
I know it’s just because of those chemicals the brain releases after sex, but it surprises me howsolidthose dumb things feel.
Try waiting until you’ve dated for a whole week before you start naming your kids, maybe?
Ridiculous.
I’m still lying there, my head on Hunter’s chest, when he suddenly jerks to half-sitting, and I slide off.He’s looking upward, and after a second, I follow his gaze to the column of smoke.
We both stare for a long, long time.
“It’s bigger,” I finally say.
“Yeah,” he says.
Another pause.
“Shit,” he says, and stands.
For the first time since we got to the waterfall Ifeelnaked, and I look around, wondering if someone else arrived while we were half-dozing, but there’s no one around.It’s just us and the column of smoke above, notmuchbigger but definitely bigger.
Neither of us says anything as we get dressed again, put on our packs and our shoes, and head away from the waterfall.Before we leave, I take a pebble from the side of the pool, then look back over my shoulder as we leave, wishing I’d brought a camera.It reallyisa beautiful place.
Hunter goes first down the boulder scramble, saying that if I fall he can probably catch me while the reverse isn’t true.I think he’s right, and even though I go on boulder scrambles all the time and don’t fall, I don’t argue with him.
For now, at least, his protective concern is sweet, though it’ll probably get on my nerves in a couple months.
I hope this lasts long enough for me to get annoyed, I think, just as my foot sends a shower of pebbles down the slope.
Hunter stops and looks back at me.
“I’mfine,” I say, and he nods.
It’slate afternoon by the time we get back to the lookout, and we’re mostly quiet the whole way back, glancing at the smoke every so often.My brain has started blossoming with worry, fromwhat if it gets to the lookout before we can leavetowhat if Hunter has to hike in there to fight it?
It’s a tricky hike on a sunny day, in perfect conditions.Forget carrying heavy equipment in a smoke-filled canyon.
The moment we get back, I call it in to Mike.We talk for a while.Then Randy’s in his office, and they’re trying to share a radio, and it’s kind of a shit show but the three of us discuss the fire for a while.
Randy’s still sure it’ll burn itself out, even though he admits that he can see the column now, though only if he uses binoculars.Mike’s found a map of towns and settlements in the area, and after a while, the conversation devolves into Randy insisting that it’s nothing to get excited about, and Mike just repeating how far various points of civilization are from the fire.
I think they’re driving Hunter crazy, so he goes outside for a while.Hell, they’re driving me crazy, but this is my job so I can’t leave.When he gets back, they’re still doing the exact same thing, but it’s not like I can hang up on my boss so I’ve just got my head down on the kitchen table, listening to Mike tell Randy that Eaglevale isonlyfifty miles from the current fire, and with the right conditions and bad luck, it could be theretomorrow.
“But it’snotthe right conditions,” Randy is saying.
Hunter comes up behind me and puts his hands on my shoulders, massaging the tense muscles there.I let Mike and Randy argue as I lean back into him, his thumbs rubbing small, hard circles up and down my neck.
“They still at it?”he murmurs into my ear.
“Yeah,” I say, sighing.“I just want to know whether we need to leavenow, or in the morning, and whether...”
I stop talking, because I’m about to saywhether you’re gonna have to go fight this thing, but even if he doesn’t go tothisone, he’s going somewhere, and I get to worry aboutthat.
“Whether what?”he asks.
I swallow.
“Whether you’re gonna have to hike in there and fight this thing,” I say.“It’s dangerous.”
