Wildfire - Honey Palomino Page 0,8
Looks like we’re going to be spending a lot of time together.”
“Guess so,” I grumbled. He cocked his head and opened his mouth to say something else, but quickly shut it. Just as well, I thought. I wasn’t here to win any popularity contests. But at the same time, this was the one person assigned to help me out if I needed it, and I should probably maintain a small sense of friendliness.
“Hey, thanks for coming in when you did last night,” I said.
He looked over at me in surprise and nodded silently. “You’re welcome. But I have no doubt you would have handled the situation just fine yourself.”
“That’s true,” I shrugged.
He smiled and picked up his backpack. “Looks like it's time to load up.”
“Yep,” I replied, hefting the heavy pack over my shoulder. He paused, as if he was going to offer help, then thought better of it and walked off without me. I watched him walk away for just a beat too long before I started after him.
With the way that uniform fit him, I’d be able to focus a lot more if I didn’t have to watch him from behind.
I bit my lip and shook it off, attributing the heat flushing through my body to the fire I was about to walk into.
Chapter 9
Jesse
I’d prefer not to be paired up with anyone.
I didn’t play well with others, but I couldn’t very well tell Max that. I was here to battle the blaze, not rescue some chick trying to trail-blaze herself into a career. I hoped like hell she knew what she was doing, so I didn’t have to spend too much time taking care of her.
From her little show of force last night, I had high hopes for her so far.
It didn’t take long to get to the mobilization center, or MOB as it's called, and once we arrived, we all got to work checking in and organizing our gear.
Our basecamp was much smaller than the air attack base we’d stayed at last night. Workers from each of the teams were present, from the helitack crew to the hand crew and the engine crew to our own hotshot crew — we were set up all over the mountain, working together to identify and fight back the flare ups as they occurred.
We needed to stay as mobile as possible, and with the winds picking up the way they have been, we never knew which direction we’d be required to turn.
At the same time, we needed access to our tools — chainsaws and explosives and a large variety of hand tools that we shared, not to mention various methods of communication.
We started suiting up and Fiona stayed by my side.
“Is this your first time on this crew?” I asked.
“Yes, but I was on a hand crew in the Vail fire in Colorado last year. And before that I was on an engine crew here on Shasta during the Silver fire and the Horse fire.”
I nodded, “Impressive.”
“I’ve been working to be on a hot shot crew all my life. I’m so stoked to finally be here.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” she said, eyeing me. “What about you? What’s your story?”
“My background is mostly working with fire departments in a few different cities. I moved around a bit.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Guess I have a bit of a wandering spirit,” I joked.
“Does that mean you keep getting fired?” she asked, astutely.
“Maybe,” I chuckled.
“So you don’t have any wildland experience?” she asked.
“I do, a few seasons right out of college. Been awhile.”
“I’m surprised they let you in,” she said. “Lots of guys trying to get into this program.”
“And not enough women, apparently,” I said.
“Is my gender going to be an issue with you?” she asked, suddenly snapping at me again.
“Sorry, sorry,” I said, shaking my head. She was sensitive.
“Good,” she said, wrinkling a brow. “But you didn’t say how you got in.”
“Oh, I pulled some strings, I guess,” I shrugged. “And I guess my reputation preceded me because it appears Max hates me already.”
“I’m not sure that guy likes anyone,” she said, winking at me.
I smiled and turned away, trying like hell not to look at her. But the more I talked to her, the more I liked her. And the more I liked her, the more I wanted to look. Because when I looked…well, it was damned hard to stop looking.
Each time I allowed myself a glimpse, I found something new.
Like the way the freckles on her nose were darker under her eyes. And the way her