Chapter 9

“Who’s that?” Dane asked Bear.

“John Burrell. He’s been helping out for about six months. Wants to get into the fire academy, but there’s a waiting list. The only community college we have for firefighting covers our county and two others.” He shook his head. “Knowing he’ll have a hell of a time finding an opening for a job somewhere once he’s graduated hasn’t seemed to discourage him. People tend not to leave these jobs.”

“Do you think we ever looked that wide-eyed and excited at our early fires?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t looking at myself, and I doubt you were looking at you either. That’s probably how I felt, however.”

Dane laughed. “Oh I’m sure I was wide-eyed and excited.”