Rumor Going 'Round (Lyrics and Love #3) - Lind, Samantha Page 0,22

in my car for all the emergency vehicles to pull out before I leave the parking lot. They turned left while I turn right and head home.

7

Tucker

I roll out of my bed at the firehouse, my back popping as I stretch my tired body. Our call last night was a long call. A fire broke out on a farm, first in the fields, and then reaching one of the smaller equipment barns. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but with the gas and other chemicals that were in the barn, things got a little hairy when they caught fire and sent a ball of flames in the air. We worked with another firehouse for a few hours to get everything out.

The new shift of guys will be here in about thirty minutes, and I want to be ready to head out as soon as they’re here. My bed at home is calling my name, and then I need to pick up my girl.

“Mornin’,” my dad calls out as I make my way to the coffee pot.

“Morning,” I grunt more than say. I need coffee before I’m going to function today, apparently.

“You guys did good work last night,” my dad compliments as he stands sipping his own coffee.

“Yeah, it was a late night, but no one was hurt, so I’ll call it a win.”

“The report I got from Chief Bower said that everyone worked efficiently and that the landowner was thankful that we kept the fire from reaching their other barns or, worse, the house.”

“They were very concerned about that, but it would have taken a lot for the fire to eat up that much distance,” I tell him as I finish my first cup of coffee, filling my cup right back up for my second cup this morning. “Unfortunately, the one barn was a total loss, along with all the equipment inside of it. A few tractors and I’m sure a lot of tools.”

“All stuff that can be replaced,” Dad states. Being in this business as long as he has, he’s the first to remind everyone that stuff is replaceable, people and pets aren’t. So, if we can respond to a call and leave with everyone intact, we’ve accomplished the most important part of the job, according to him. “Are you bringing my granddaughter over for dinner tonight?” he asks, changing the subject to his favorite one, Paisley.

“Maybe, let me see what transpires today. I’m going to head home here in a little bit and crash for a few hours. I need to catch up on some sleep before I do anything.”

“Okay, well, just let Mom or I know so we can plan for dinner.”

“Will do; see ya later, Pops,” I tell him, smacking him on the shoulder. He heads down the hall toward the offices while I head to the locker room so I can grab my things from mine and head out. A few of the guys from the next shift have started to trickle in, so I visit with them until everyone is accounted for, and my shift is officially released for forty-eight hours, when we’re expected to report back for our next shift.

I wake up a few hours later, feeling like a well-rested man. I head first for the bathroom, where I step into the shower, turning the water up as hot as I can stand it and then letting it beat on my body. The tension melts from my tired muscles as the water works its magic. While I’m showering, an idea springs into my mind, so I set about to make it happen.

I’m out of the shower, dried off, and dressed, all within fifteen minutes. I run a comb through my wet hair, attempting to style it before I head out.

I pull into the parking lot at the hospital a few minutes later. I only know that Lindsay is here because she told me that she was covering a shift today right before I ran out on the call last night. I assume it will be in the ER, since that’s where she usually works.

I walk through the automatic doors, walking into a waiting room that only has a few people in it. The aide at the desk looks up, smiling when she sees me. “Tucker, what brings you in today?” she asks.

“I was actually hoping to talk to Lindsay, if she isn’t busy?” I ask, realizing that my plan might not work.

“I think she’s available, just have a seat and let me check,” Mary