Page 61 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
He chuckled as he towel dried his wet hair. “Not really.”
I turned from Beau standing in the middle of the room to Michael sitting in the log chair next to me on my cot. “You agree with me, don’t you?”
I didn’t get the reinforcement I’d been looking for. Michael just shrugged and smiled at his brother.
“Why am I the only one in this room that thinks a fire, today of all days, is ludicrous?”
“They’re just celebrating,” Beau said. “A lot of crews have traditions like this. The Big Sky Hotshots always camp out and party after their first fire of the year.”
“I don’t understand you Montana men. If I was covered in black soot and smelled like a burnt match, the only thing I’d want would be two consecutive showers, a gallon of soap and an actual bed. Having a campfire party would be the last thing on my mind.”
“These guys don’t give a shit about soap and most like sleeping under the stars,” Beau said.
“Don’t get me wrong. I don’t begrudge them the chance to relax and celebrate a job well done. I can’t imagine the stress and demands of their job but I’m just surprised they aren’t making the quick trip home to party there.”
Beau gave me a gentle smile. “It’ll be fine.”
He knew I was worried about these men hanging at the outpost longer than necessary.
There was still a chance one of them could recognize me and question my presence. Though if they hadn’t suspected anything by now, I was likely in the clear. Even if they did start asking too many questions, the amount of alcohol they were consuming would probably make it difficult to remember in the morning anyway.
Another irony, the crew hadn’t bothered packing tents but had found plenty of room for alcohol. I decided not to bring that one up to the Holt brothers, knowing I wouldn’t get any sympathy on that topic either.
“You guys want to go out there for a while?” Michael asked, standing from his chair.
“Sure,” Beau answered for us both.
What? He wanted me to mingle at a bonfire while I was supposed to be in hiding?
While Michael rummaged around the kitchen, Beau tossed his towel aside and came to me on the cot. With one good tug, he pulled me up and into his space.
“Um, what are you thinking?” I hissed. “Don’t you think it would be best if I stayed in here? You know, in hiding?”
“Yeah, I do. But I also think it will be kind of suspicious if you stay inside. Trust me, they’ll ask more questions about you if you stay inside than if you’re out there with them.”
“I’ll hide in plain sight.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay,” I sighed. “Just no talking about pine beetles.”
He chuckled. “Deal. Did everything go okay with Michael?”
I smiled. “He’s great. I had fun getting to know him.”
“No problems?”
“None.”
Beau and I hadn’t had a chance to debrief from the last two days. After the helicopter had landed, Michael and I had stuck close to the outpost, waiting for the team to make the hike back down. The pilot had stayed, needing to discuss something with Beau, and shared some details about how fighting the fire had gone.
The wind, which had started out working against the crew, had settled that first night and the team had been able to dig a good perimeter trench and start backfires. With a series of strategically placed air drops of water and fire retardant, the blaze had been tamed and was no longer at risk of spreading. The crew was free to return, job well done.
The team had emerged from the forest early this evening, dirty and happy to shed their heavy packs. Beau’s face had been nearly black, the skin around his eyes and cheeks the same color as his beard, but when he’d flashed me a bright, white smile, I’d almost cried with joy.
Whatever my future held, I’d never forget that smile. It had taken my breath away.
Beau hadn’t wasted any time debriefing the team and talking to the helicopter pilot. The entire time, Dylan had stood away from the crowd, doling out angry glares to anyone who dared make eye contact. Clearly, something had happened up on the mountain but I hadn’t had a chance to ask what.
