“This has to be the worst fire in this area ever,” she said softly, realizing a lot of people would lose everything. She fought back tears again, not only for herself, but for everyone who was being affected.
“Just try to focus on what you’ve saved. You have your animals. They didn’t burn.”
“Thanks to you, I didn’t lose my life in this fire. It’s just awful.”
“Be careful tonight. Things happen, and everything can change in seconds.”
“I’ll be careful. I know what a close call I had today.” She looked at his profile, her pulse beating faster as it did each time that she got on a personal level with him.
“We’ve always been enemies, but now...” She left the thought unspoken.
“Yeah,” he said. “A kiss sort of changes things.”
Unable to smile about it, she nodded. He was right. But his remark reminded her how temporary this truce was. It wouldn’t last—it couldn’t, with over 150 years of hatred in their backgrounds. They shouldn’t kiss. The minute she reminded herself of that, her pulse jumped and beat at a faster pace. Jake’s kisses were the sexiest she had ever experienced, and she had a feeling she was going to feel that way for a long time. She needed to try to forget kissing him, try to stop thinking about it, and above all, resist him from now on. Given their family history, kissing Jake was asking for pure trouble.
Her attention shifted as he drove to where temporary headquarters were set up for firemen. The area was filled with people. There were tents with hastily drawn signs for medical help, for tools, and a desk beneath a tree where volunteers could register to help. Another desk listed emergency help along with a posted list of missing people and other sources of information. She saw another tent with a hastily scribbled, crooked sign that stated Food.
“They almost have another town right here,” she said as he parked his pickup in a row of vehicles.
“Well, I see where I need to go. I’ll just look for you back here when I’m through.” He turned to her. “You’re in it now. If you want to quit, you’ll have to wait until I’m back to take you to my place.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m glad to help, and it looks as if they need it desperately. Let’s go.” She opened her door to step out.
“See you later,” he called and was gone. She could see him moving through the crowd of people because he was taller than most. His broad shoulders made him look capable and reliable. She watched him until she lost sight of him, then lined up at the desk for volunteers. In minutes they had some people she was to drive to the hospital in Persimmon. To her surprise, Jake reappeared. He had a hard hat, a fire-retardant suit, goggles, gloves and a shovel.
“I’m digging ditches. They have some experienced firefighters flying in here, so they’re getting more experienced help, which is good. When they let us go, I’ll meet you back here. Take care,” he said.
She worried about Jake, because the fire was formidable. Then she had to laugh at herself. Since when did she worry about a Reed? Instantly, an unwanted answer popped into her thoughts—since his first kiss. A kiss like no other in her life. A kiss that might be unforgettable. Also, since he saved her life.
Her family would be wild with anger if they knew she was with him. It wouldn’t matter to them that he had saved her life. She hoped they didn’t even find out about Jake. At least not for a long time. Her two older brothers would plot to beat him up and try to scare him into staying away from her forever. She knew their way of thinking. She hated their interference in her life, and she wanted them to back off. She would be furious if they did anything to Jake, but that would make them think she was really serious about Jake and they had something big between them. Caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place, she just hoped they didn’t find out she had even talked to Jake.
Her dad would just be angry, but he wouldn’t get involved now. He was getting feeble and wrapped up in his own world, plus he lived far away. To her relief, none of her brothers were in the area any longer, so hopefully they would never even know about Jake.
If she went out with him even just a few times, they would cut her out of the family and never speak to her again—they had been that way about her sister, although Regina didn’t know their reactions, because she hadn’t ever stayed around for them to snub her.
Her paternal grandparents and her dad had taken Regina out of their wills, ceased trying to communicate with her and told the family to never mention her name in their presence again, that she was no longer a relative as far as they were concerned. She had married a Reed, and to them, she had become a Reed.
Claire felt that the biggest loss was theirs, not Regina’s. Sometimes she still hurt when she thought about her sister. Claire had looked up to her and loved her, and she had had so much fun with her when they were young.
She had despised the Reeds for taking her sister from her, blaming all Reeds for the calamity, but over the years she’d gradually begun to process it. Until today. Being with Jake had brought that resentment back. She wondered how bitter he was toward Regina for taking his older brother away from him. She thought about the pain and bitterness she’d felt when her sister had left, and now with Jake, memories were pouring back. They still hurt.
Suddenly she was too busy with the problems at hand and helping people to think about the family feud. She spent the next hours working furiously to help people with whatever they needed.
She worked with other volunteers, finding rides for people displaced from their homes and lining up places for them to stay. With a furnished car, she took several people back to Persimmon to the hospital.
Time passed swiftly, and then as they moved through the night and into the early morning hours, the stream of people thinned to almost none. Someone thanked her for her help and told her to go home; they would call her if they needed her again.
She turned to find somewhere to wait for Jake when she saw him striding toward her.
He had a purposeful walk that drew her attention. The stubble on his jaw was thick, his black hair was tousled and he had streaks of dirt on his clothes. At the sight of him, her pulse jumped—she was glad to see him. He stopped in front of her.
“Good morning. They’re sending some of the volunteers home,” he said, his voice firm despite how quietly he spoke. “How about you?”
“The same,” she replied. “I was told to go, and they would call if I’m needed again.”
“Good. Let’s go. Last night more trained firefighters flew in here, and they finally have the fire under control and are beginning to douse it.” He jerked his head slightly. “C’mon, we’ll go back to my cabin.”
“I won’t argue with that one,” she said, falling into step beside him and keenly aware of his height as he walked beside her.
