Wildfire - Honey Palomino Page 0,4

mountain.

If it weren’t for people’s cabins peppered throughout the forested mountainside, we’d most likely just let it burn.

“I hate to admit it, but I missed the smell,” he said, inhaling deeply.

“Yeah, I get it,” I replied. “Just remember you aren't a twenty-five year old kid anymore though.”

“I could say the same about you, old man,” he retorted.

“Don’t worry,” I laughed. “I’ve got your back, brother.”

“Shit, don’t be too cocky, Pearson,” he said. “This is a whole different game than pulling old ladies out of an apartment.”

“I’m well aware,” I said.

We joked around with the other guys, but I could smell the danger in the air as I made my bed later. It rolled off of us like a thick stench, bathing everything we did with impending doom.

I was sharing a large tent with three other guys on my same crew — Charlie, Frenchie and Brick.

One look at Brick and you knew why he was named that. He was the size of a semi.

“Heard you like to show off,” Charlie said to me, as he put his pack down next to his bed. Charlie was a bald guy with tons of tats that looked like he could lift an elephant.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“My friend took your spot on the company you just left in Portland,” he said.

“That so?”

“Yeah, you’ve got quite the reputation,” he said.

“I’m not surprised,” I replied, shrugging.

“Max doesn’t play around,” Charlie said. “And he’s a good leader.”

“He doesn’t look like one who would,” I agreed. “Look, man, I’m just here to make some cash and get my adrenaline flowing a little. I’m not looking for any trouble.”

“Charlie, knock it off,” Brick said, shaking his head, glancing over at me apologetically. Brick was more like a boulder, all muscle and more muscle on top of that. “He just likes starting shit.”

“No worries,” I replied. “I can handle it.”

“I’m sure you can,” Brick chuckled.

“Don’t worry, fellas,” Frenchie interjected. “I can keep Pearson in line.”

I burst out laughing and flipped him off just as the flap of our tent opened. We all turned to look, our laughter dying on our lips as we gaped at the beauty standing in front of us.

“What year is it?” she demanded loudly, throwing her pack on the empty cot next to mine.

“Huh?” Brick asked.

“The year?”

“2020,” he replied, confusion filling his eyes.

“Exactly. So why the fuck are you all staring at me like a freak just because I’m a woman?” she asked.

“Who are you?” Brick asked.

She looked over at him with a cocked head.

“Who the fuck do I look like?” she barked. She was dressed in the same green pants and yellow shirt that we were. “My name’s Fiona. I’m part of the crew.”

“Who’s crew?” Frenchie asked.

“Max’s crew.”

“You gotta be bullshitting me,” Charlie said. “We haven’t had a woman in five years. And that did not work out well.”

“I don’t give a shit about what happened five years ago. I’m here. I’m fucking good. And you need to deal with it.”

I stood nearby, taking it all in — taking her in.

She was petite, but built like a thoroughbred. She had long red hair pulled back from her face, with a small sprinkling of freckles across her nose. Her uniform fit her like a glove, showing off every curve of her tight body.

“Jesus, fine,” Frenchie said, holding up his hands in submission. She turned towards her cot, then saw me staring at her.

“You have a problem?” she growled, flashing her bright green eyes at me.

“Nope,” I said under my breath, turning away so she couldn’t see the lie in my own eyes.

Chapter 4

Fiona

I’d worked all my life to get to this day.

Wearing this ugly uniform of heavy forest green cargo pants and a bright yellow shirt left me with the feeling of pride I’d anticipated during all my years of training.

Today was the first day of my career as a hotshot wildland firefighter and I was doing a terrible job of containing my excitement. The last thing I wanted my fellow crew members to see was how downright giddy I was.

Instead, I wanted them to see me as someone who took this job as seriously as it required. This wasn’t a game, not by any stretch of the imagination, but the little girl in me who’d dreamed of this day was jumping up and down with glee.

I took a deep breath and wiped the smile from my face before opening the flap of that tent and walking in.

I knew I’d have to show up strong