Fire Always Burns - By Krista Lakes Page 0,53

walked in. He headed towards her, slightly surprised. "Do you know if they have more of those donuts with the sprinkles on them?"

"Yeah, they just got another box in. Do you want me to go get you some?" Andrew answered.

"Oh, I'll get them. Got to take care of my girl," Jimmy said, patting Andrew on the shoulder. Andrew watched him go, before turning back to Louise.

"I didn't know you two were together," he started, trying to find a way to ease into a conversation. Louise laughed.

"I thought this baby was going to be the end of the world. But it wasn't. I've had a thing for Jimmy for as long as I can remember, but he didn't seem interested in me. Then this happened and I found out he had a thing for me too. This wasn't exactly what either of us had planned, but it is working out better than I could have dreamed. Jimmy is going to be a great dad," she said glowing.

"You mean he isn't mad about the whole situation?" Andrew asked bluntly.

"Mad? No. I suppose he was a little bit at first, but the whole thing is half his fault too. I didn't just magically get this baby in me. He helped," she laughed. "This isn't what I expected, but that's life. You take the good with the bad."

Andrew nodded slowly. Jimmy returned then with a plate full of donuts, and Andrew returned his seat. He said goodbye and walked slowly around the gymnasium, glancing every so often at the happy couple. He kept thinking of Holly. How happy she had made him feel. Her smile. Where was she? She should be here.

Andrew pulled out his phone. He had a vague uneasiness that he couldn't shake. He was about to open a text message, but he saw Mike, the manager of the grocery store. Holly was probably just working. Andrew put his phone back in his pocket and went to talk to Mike; that way, he could put his mind at ease without having to talk to Holly.

"Hey Mike, is Holly working today?" Andrew asked catching his attention. Mike shook his head.

"No, she had this weekend off. Besides, the store is now in the evacuated area- it's closed right now. If you see her will you tell her that the store is closed until further notice and she doesn't have to work?" Mike scratched the back of his neck and smiled.

"Sure. If I see her, I'll let her know," Andrew said politely. The tightness in his chest increased. There was something wrong. Andrew pulled out his phone. One message wouldn't hurt.

Where are you?

Andrew hit send, feeling a little better since he had done something. The tightness was still there though, and it would be until he knew Holly was safe. Just because he was mad at her didn't mean he wanted her to be in danger.

"The fire remains at zero percent containment here in Conifer, Colorado," blared out the TV reporter from the screen. Someone had brought a TV into the gym on one of the old stands he remembered from movie days in school. "Winds are gusting and severely hampering all efforts of the firefighters to stop this fire from spreading," the scene cut to the fire chief, his face covered in soot and ash. "Fire burns faster going up a mountain rather than down. The heat from the fire rises and pre-bakes the trees above it. With these gusting winds, the fire is jumping faster than we can contain it. It's going to take the mountain." A map of the area popped on the screen, with red marks all over the mountain. Holly's house was firmly in the red now, the arrows marking the fire's direction pointing right at her. Andrew's jaw tightened. No messages on his phone. Where was she?

Chapter 15

An epic battle. Men verses flame, spirit against nature. Water poured from hoses like rain. Planes and helicopters poured red dust as though it had no end. Masked yellow uniforms felled trees and dug trenches, giving the flames no place to run. The flames screamed in defiance, casting embers to the sky. The chief called for more. It had to be enough.

My voice didn't seem to carry in the smoke and I quickly grew hoarse. I knew I was going to have to leave with or without my dog soon if I wanted to make it off the mountain at all. I called out frantically, hating the idea of leaving her to