Chapter Five
Lila
Foxfire Valley was not what I'd expected.
As Griffin's truck crested the hill and the town spread out before us, I found myself staring at a landscape that seemed plucked from someone's fever dream. Neon casino signs blinked cheerfully next to rustic fire stations, while a row of wedding chapels with names like "Hitched in Heaven" and "Love's Last Stand" competed for attention with a massive billboard advertising "Rex's Rescue Training—We Save Lives and Serve Beer."
"Welcome to Foxfire Valley," Griffin said, clearly enjoying my expression. "Population 3,247 on a good day, depending on how many people Elvis married the night before."
I turned to stare at him. "Elvis?"
"Chapel number three employs an Elvis impersonator. He's surprisingly popular." Griffin's grin widened as we passed a building shaped like a giant slot machine. "The town motto is 'Where Adventure Meets Matrimony.'"
"That's... actually kind of brilliant," I admitted, watching a group of firefighters in full gear emerge from what looked like a converted saloon. "Weird, but brilliant."
"Wait until you meet the crew," Griffin said, pulling into a parking lot beside a building that bore the simple sign "Foxfire Valley Fire and Rescue." "They're going to be... curious about you."
The fire station was a fascinating blend of old and new—the bones of a classic firehouse with modern equipment bay doors and what appeared to be a helicopter landing pad out back. As we got out of the truck, a man in his fifties emerged from the building, his salt-and-pepper hair military-short and his bearing suggesting he was accustomed to command.
"Griffin!" he called out, striding over with a broad smile. "Right on time, as always."
"Captain Doyle," Griffin replied, clasping the man's hand in a firm handshake. "Good to see you, sir."
Captain Doyle's gaze shifted to me, his eyes kind but assessing. "And you must be the stranded traveler Griffin mentioned. Doyle Sanderson," he said, extending his hand. "Welcome to our little slice of organized chaos."
"Lila King," I replied, shaking his hand. His grip was firm, his calluses speaking of years of hard work. "Thank you for letting me tag along."
"Are you kidding? We need all the help we can get. Rex!" he called over his shoulder. "Sabine! Come meet Griffin's passenger."
Two figures emerged from the station. The first was a man in his thirties with sandy hair and an easy grin that suggested he was the crew comedian. The second was a woman about my age with short auburn hair, muscular arms, and an expression that said she didn't suffer fools.
"Rex Donovan," the man said, practically bouncing over. "And you're the one whose car died in the desert? That sucks, but hey—at least you got rescued by our boy Griffin here."
"Nice to meet you," I said, charmed despite myself by his enthusiasm.
The woman stepped forward, studying me with sharp green eyes. "Sabine Kerr," she said simply. "You survived a road trip with Griffin, so you're either very patient or very tough."
"Jury's still out," I replied, earning a surprised laugh from her.
"I like her already," Sabine announced to Griffin. "She's got backbone."
Griffin shot me a look that was half pride, half warning. "Don't encourage them."
Captain Doyle clapped his hands together. "Perfect. Lila, I hope you don't mind getting your hands dirty. We've got a casino night to set up, and these three are notorious for their inability to arrange auction items with any sense of aesthetic appeal."
"Hey!" Rex protested. "I arranged them by size last year."
"Which is why we had a dinner cruise next to a pile of firewood," Sabine said dryly.
I found myself laughing, drawn into their easy camaraderie. "I'd be happy to help. I have some experience with event planning."
"See?" Captain Doyle said to Griffin. "This is why you should visit more often."
The next few hours flew by in a whirlwind of activity. The casino night was being held in the community center, a sprawling building that had clearly seen better days but possessed a rustic charm that worked perfectly for the event. Local businesses had donated everything from restaurant gift certificates to a weekend getaway package, and my job was to arrange them in a way that would maximize bidding interest.
"The key," I explained to Rex as we sorted through the donations, "is to create visual flow. You want people to move naturally from item to item, building excitement as they go."
"Like foreplay," Sabine said, carrying over a case of locally made wine.
