“I’ll go with you.”
Wade didn’t argue, because sending her to Lost Lake on her own seemed unwise.If she wanted to volunteer, she might as well do it alongside him.He climbed into the truck again.Suddenly ravenous, he tore into the sandwich she’d made and ate half of it in three bites.
Rain continued to fall as they drove toward the center of the destruction in Rocksprings.The area was flat and desolate, without the historic charm of Lost Lake.When they reached the outskirts of town, forward progress became impossible.An old water tower had fallen across the middle of the road.Its support beams stretched out like spider legs.The side of the tank saidRocksprings, TXin faded block lettering.
Wade slowed to a stop, gaping at the downed tower in disbelief.This was not a problem he could solve with his truck and a tow chain.Water tanks weighed a ton.He couldn’t get around it, and even if he could, it wasn’t the only obstacle.Multiple structures beyond the tower had sustained damage.Some homes and buildings appeared untouched, while others were heavily damaged.The road was littered with debris.Lumber, furniture, and roofing materials were strewn all over the place.Survivors were visible, picking through the rubble.
Wade grabbed his phone and scrolled through the list of contacts until he found Sheriff Nava.He pinned his location, took a photo of the destruction, and hit send.Then he put his phone away, stomach roiling.
“Do you have gloves?”he asked Mary.
“No.”
He fetched his backup pair from the cab and tossed them at her.“Stay near me, or at least within shouting distance.We might have to transport victims to the evacuation center or hospital.If you smell gas, tell me.”
She donned the gloves, her face grim.
“It’s okay to prioritize.The very old and very young are the most vulnerable.”
“I understand.”
“Don’t rescue any dogs, Meadows.”
She gave him an irritated look.“Worry about yourself, Hendricks.Try not to break anything with your face.”
He laughed, shaking his head.He appreciated her sense of humor in this tense moment.They were about to step into the fray.The next few hours could be a horrifying, soul-crushing exercise, or it could renew his faith in humanity.
They climbed through the metal legs of the water tower together.On the other side, it was a different world.It looked like a wrecking ball had come through the neighborhood.There were gaping holes in the sides of buildings.Vehicles on the street were covered with debris.Wade stepped over torn shingles and broken pieces of sheetrock.
At the epicenter of the disaster, a group of people was searching the rubble for survivors.Wade and Mary joined their efforts.He scanned the area before wading in.Rain slicked every surface and turned the ground to mush, adding to the difficulty.Wade lifted wet bedding and moved aside heavy pieces of furniture.
“Here!”a man’s voice called out.“Over here!”
Wade rushed toward him, heedless of broken glass and twisted metal.The man stood near a ruined wall by an old-fashioned bathtub that was upside down.A little set of fingers wiggled beneath it.
It took several minutes to free the child.Mary appeared at his side, and the three of them worked relentlessly, removing a haystack of lumber and overlapping items.Then they lifted the bathtub together.The little girl underneath was barefoot and appeared unharmed.She wept in her father’s arms as he carried her to safety.
Wade watched them go.Mary stood beside him, her hair damp from rain.Her hazel eyes met his, quiet and assessing.Saying nothing, he continued his search.Luckily, the damage wasn’t as widespread as he’d thought.Most of the injuries sustained were minor.Wade organized a first aid station, and Mary offered a ride to a family of survivors.
Amidst the chaos, another deputy from Lost Lake Sheriff’s Department arrived, along with a firefighter and a pair of EMTs.Wade greeted the team with relief.It was a daunting task to be the only trained first responder at a scene like this.The firefighter started checking gas valves while the EMTs carried their gear toward a small crowd.There was a group of residents nearby who’d been waiting for assistance.
The officer stepped forward to shake Wade’s hand.“Jackson Nava,” he said.“You must be our new addition.”
“Wade Hendricks,” he said, studying Nava.He was a young man in his twenties.His uniform was filthy, as if he’d been doing search and rescue somewhere else.“Are you related to Sheriff Nava?”
“He’s my father,” Jackson confirmed.“Currently at the evac center, shouting at every official he can get on the phone about the need for emergency assistance.”
“What’s it like in Lost Lake?”
“I don’t know.I’ve been in Lakeside.”
“Bad?”
“It looks like this,” Jackson admitted.“Lots of damage, minor injuries.”
“Fatalities?”
“None so far.”
