Chapter 4

Two hours later,it was.The fire crews used water,chemical retardant,and trenching to control the burn.Captain Stewart got them together as the fire crews left.Around them,the trees dripped water and the smell of retardant wafted over on the breeze.

Sandy’s legs trembled.

So close,so fucking close.

Tanner was covered with ash and dirt and sweat.At some point,he’d taken off his tank top and used it as a scarf.His chest hair looked gray from the ash and Sandy caught a glimpse of the man he would be at sixty—still tall,buffed with a softer edge,those eyes dark and haunted.

Behind Tanner,a pair of Fire Auxiliary volunteers slogged through the muck,carrying water bottles.These two were high school-age and they giggled,handing Tanner a bottle of water.Tanner gulped an entire bottle down as the girls watched,took a second,gulped half of that one,then tipped the bottle over his face and shoulders.The water sluiced away the ash and grit.Tired as he was,it made Sandy stir.