River's End: River on Fire Part 16

"Didn't want to scare you would be my first guess... and it seems like you two probably had other things to discuss."

Hailey fell quiet as she followed the couple. She was clinging to them like a toddler does to her parents after a bad dream. She seemed so vulnerable and needy. After spending the morning helping them feed and water most of the stabled horses, which impressed her considerably, they tended their personal horses, which numbered over a dozen. The ranch hands took care of the other forty or so that people boarded there.

About noon, Hailey glanced up to see Brent standing there with her kids. They were confused, no doubt, as to why she was working with the ranch owners. She walked over to them.

"There's a bunch of fires burning uncontrollably."

The stubborn smoke was starting to hang lower as it covered most of the blue sky. The sun seemed like an odd red coin stuck in the sky and the light was diminished to an odd, rosy hue that hovered over the parched land. The air smelled horrible and Hailey's sinuses were already so stuffy, they were making her sneeze.

Brianna stared at her as she bit her lip. "Dad said Joey's out there fighting that one." She pointed to the hills where the biggest plume of smoke came from.

"Yes. I'm going to stay for a few days and make sure he's okay. After that... then I'll be home. I'm sorry, Brianna, but I think I need to see this through."

She nodded. "Dad already told me that. I know I need to be nicer and more understanding. You will come home though, won't you? After you see him, I mean?"

She grabbed her daughter and hugged her as a wave of relief washed over her. "I'll be home. I promise." She leaned her backwards, gripping her shoulders and convincing her with the confidence in her tone.

Brianna bit her lip and let her go. "Okay. I hope Joey's okay."

Brent caught her eye. "Do whatever you have to here. I've got the kids for as long as you need, okay? They'll be fine. You just... try and take care of yourself, okay?"

Hailey was emotional already, but she nodded, feeling so grateful for the first time in a long while. Brent was her kids' father again, and the man she chose to have kids with. They were still a team, which she hadn't felt for so long. "Thank you, Brent. I needed that. Okay? Let me have just a few days."

She hugged her kids and promised she'd be home soon. They soon pulled away and Erin approached her. "That must be hard."

"Yes. But I can stay. I mean, if that's okay with you guys. I just need to-"

"I think Joey would disown us if we didn't say it was okay. As a matter of fact, it's more than just okay, it's great, and also expected."

So Hailey stayed and watched the growing columns of smoke. Obliterating most of the sunlight, a weird zombie-like gray took over the sky. A few patches of blue, along with the burnt coin of sun, were the only exceptions to the shadowed sky. The fire's intensity grew exponentially. The smoke trailing over the ranch started to thicken, socking in the entire valley and something fluttered down over them, little leaves and twigs of white ash that fell like snow, and kept sprinkling down.

Hailey clung close to the Rydells. That night, everyone came to Jack and Erin's for dinner. Ian and Kailynn were still in town, as well as Allison, Shane, Rosie, AJ, and Kate. But no Ben. All of their faces were solemn and they discussed the mounting fires. Two of them had sprung up unexpectedly from blown embers, swiftly growing from six hundred acres into more than several thousand. The imminent fear that those two fires could combine outside the small town of Twisp, which was just upriver from River's End about ten miles, was on everyone's mind. Six homes that bordered the tiny town were evacuated and fire crews were trying to establish a fire line behind it.

"Don't worry, Hailey. He won't call us. We never expect him to check in, so he's not going to. He's fine. Trust me, it means nothing," Allison said, catching her eye. They were all a.n.a.lyzing the fire's path of devastation and the families they knew it affected. It was heart-wrenching for Hailey to picture. Family homes and acres of ranchlands, orchards and farmlands had already burned.

Erin insisted she sleep at their house, so Hailey did. She wasn't sure why but it made her feel closer to Joey. She knew it was stupid since he didn't live there. Nothing could happen to him. She was overreacting, and she knew she was, but she couldn't shake the fear of being completely unsure of his whereabouts and safety.

She woke the next morning to hear voices, lots of them, and quickly threw on her clothes and went downstairs. All Joey's brothers were there, along with their wives. Their expressions were grim. The entire atmosphere seemed so different from yesterday. All were concerned, yes, but yesterday, they seemed more resolute, adopting a been there before kind of att.i.tude. Now? Panic edged the air.

Jack glanced up when he saw her. "Joey called and said he's fine. Working very hard. He's currently about six miles north of here, trying to establish a defendable perimeter around a small cl.u.s.ter of houses near Carlton. He hasn't slept but a few hours and said it's really bad out there. The fires have grown so out of control. Two have combined and a third is developing and totally uncontained. We're expecting the temperature to climb over a hundred degrees today, and the winds are coming from the northwest, which isn't the norm.

"Did you tell him I was here?"

"No. I thought it better that he stay focused."

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"Look, Hailey, the situation might become... pretty alarming."

"Alarming?"

"There are four fires that started out miles apart, but one is burning towards the other... and with the direction of these winds, well, we might see, I mean, there is a definite possibility that they could combine. That puts us right in the middle of them," Ian said and his tone was soft and very serious.

Kailynn grabbed his hand. "You don't think... the ranch is in any danger, do you? I mean, they are all still miles north of here."

Silence answered her dark question. Then Jack replied, "We're probably in the safest place to be. The green alfalfa of our fields? And the irrigated orchards surrounding us? We'll run all the water we can now, and we'll be fine. But our friends and neighbors... I think this could end up being a game changer for many in the community. I think... we might be witnessing something pretty epic here. What started out so small and predictable has managed to grow into a colossal beast that is totally out of control. Some other ranchers have called to report..."

Allison interrupted. "What, Jack? How bad is it? Don't spare us the truth.. Your friends and neighbors are the best sources since they are calling it firsthand."

Jack sat down, his shoulders drooping. "The Red Cross is coming in and setting up a shelter in Pattinson for all the evacuees, as you probably already heard."

He grabbed his laptop and went on a local website, one that Hailey wouldn't have known about. Pictures of a rolling, spiraling wall of flames and black, thick smoke were shown in various mountains and pastures, some of which Hailey recognized from driving through there. She nearly cried out in grief. It was so much more real and graphic after seeing the pictures. The flames exploded and behind them, entire mountains were left to smolder, glowing red hot, as if being covered in an orange blanket. The thought of Joey being out there suddenly and very starkly became too real. No words formed in her head or her mouth, which she opened and then closed. She had no experience with wildfires. Nothing like this ever happened on the west side of the state. "Wow" was all she could say in stunned disbelief.

She stayed in the house as the temperatures outside started to rise. The afternoon brought the winds with it like a blast from a furnace. The temperature was already a hundred and five degrees and the wind speed was registering at nearly forty miles per hour.

Jack came back to the house with his brothers and there was a new spark of energy about him that was different than before. He was normally so solid, calm, like a rock. But not now. His nervous energy fairly radiated off him. He paced the floor with the phone to his ear. He'd talked on and off for hours to different community members.

Suddenly he frowned and threw it. "d.a.m.n signal's gone." He glanced around. They were all silent, sitting on the edges of their seats. Outside, the gray went darker as new plumes of smoke devoured all the brittle vegetation, glowing far off along the horizon in an unearthly shade of red.

"This last report... it's... pretty bad. Things are happening so fast. n.o.body expected this. The wind has made all the fires converge. It's now one t.i.tanic fire. I've never heard of anything like it. It's a fluid situation, so no one can tell what it will do next, it's so unreliable. The wind is whipping the fire into its own fire storm. The hot ash and embers of burning material have been blown up to a half mile into the air and falling down to start new fires. It's a roiling, swirling, oxygen-fed inferno that looks and acts like a monster consuming everything on the earth, be it natural or manmade."

Allison cried out and her hand covered her mouth as she pulled Rosie closer to her as if to rea.s.sure herself she was safe.

"I'm hearing reports from the ranchers of their cattle being burned alive. The fire is so fast and furious... They can't stop it or get any flanks of it under control. There is... so much tragedy and devastation from what I'm hearing."

There were no words, just a heavy blanket of sorrow that engulfed all of them. Kailynn jumped up. "I'm going to bring my dad here."

Ian followed her. "I think that would be best." They left.

The day only became more hot and miserable outside. The smoke was suffocating. The rainfall of ashes coated their eyelashes, hair, and bodies. The prevailing clouds of smoke trapped it all in, making it even more like a furnace. The subsequent reports were even more grim and a sense of hopelessness and apathy began affecting everyone more seriously.

Jack was on the house phone until it was suddenly cut off. The power went off too. He had just finished talking to the fire chief and friends of Joey and the other ranchers in the area. Leaning heavily on the counter for a prolonged moment of utter silence, the fear he experienced could not be masked, and seemed to spread through all of them. "It's utter chaos out there. Hundreds of people are fleeing with no way of knowing what's happening. The telephone lines are down, most of the power is out and all the cell signals are nonexistent. It already crossed Highway 20 and 153..." He glanced at Hailey. "Those are the only roads in and out of this valley. The valley's key arteries. The fire has gone from eighteen thousand acres to more than forty-four thousand acres, and it's still expanding on all sides. They have zero percent containment. It's racing down the river faster than they can move people. And burning so hot, it's creating fire tornadoes sparking new fires with spontaneous combustion." He glanced around, shaking his head. "It's coming this way." His voice was dead and flat.

"It's still got five miles to go and the river stands between us," Shane tried to argue.

Jack shook his head, suddenly moving forward. "It's jumping the river and roads like they aren't even there. It's spreading in every direction, like pouring oil all over the entire landscape. We need to be prepared for evacuation."

Hailey's heart wanted to scream, Prepared for evacuation? How could that be? Who would rescue them from this horrible catastrophe? She knew nothing about any of it.

Then Jack started rus.h.i.+ng all about the house, throwing duffel bags down and packing stuff inside them. Erin sat there, frozen, staring at her feet. "Are you sure? Our home is really in danger?"

"The whole resort and ranch are all in danger." He paused and walked over to Erin, bending down on one knee beside her. He cupped her cheek. "It's all in danger. Everything we know and love and every single person we know and love. There will definitely be huge losses. It's just a matter of luck as to how much is lost. But I can't find Ben. I've been calling everybody he hangs with, and no one knows where he is. No one's heard from him." He was running his hands repeatedly through his hair, his eyes bright with panic.

Erin shook out of her reverie. "I'm sure he's okay, Jack. He knows this area. He's been through plenty of fires. He wouldn't do anything stupid." Erin gripped his hand in hers, speaking with a fierce confidence that, until that moment, had only been coming from Jack.

He dropped down. "I don't know what to do. I've looked everywhere I can think of. That's what I spent all afternoon doing. I've called everywhere... Where could he possibly be?"

Hailey's heart was lodged in her throat as she hastily hurried off to the room she was occupying to give them more privacy. It wasn't time for her to be prying. Wow! She was startled by the look on Jack's face; he seemed so disturbed, something she'd never observed before. Her own heart was beating erratically as the threat of the fire grew more and more serious during the last twenty-four hours. More reports, pictures and phone calls, along with terrible, sad stories. The magnitude of losses was staggering, and it was all happening just miles from there. The worst part was the collective helplessness everyone felt by sitting there. Every one of them seemed inert, sitting around, and barely eating. The smoky air was so suffocating, it was almost impossible to remain outside for very long. It seemed like they were suddenly thrust on to a rare, alternate planet. How could this be the s.h.i.+ning, golden, bright land of only a few days ago? The dark, apocalyptic sky that now accompanied it was the most terrifying of all.

Then, Ian suddenly rushed in. "Joey just pulled in!" he exclaimed in a loud, eager voice, like no one had ever heard from him before. They all galloped up the ranch road, hurrying towards the main house.

Hailey followed them. She nearly collapsed to her knees with relief when she spotted Joey. He was with several other men, all dressed in the heavy fire r.e.t.a.r.dant material of black trousers, a s.h.i.+rt and even a hat. Jack had explained to her in one of several conversations over the last few hours that wearing all black was how they identified the volunteers from the true firefighters. Using colors to indicate their level of training avoided the chance that anyone might mistake them for full-fledged firefighters. Black soot covered his hair, forehead, nose, and cheeks. Utter fatigue ringed his eyes and the whites were all that showed.

Joey was talking to Jack when Hailey finally reached them. He didn't notice her at first. "It's turning this way. Evacuate now. It's a beast. Nothing to compare to it... Never seen anything like it, Jack. It's a f.u.c.king demon. It's devouring everything. Everything. It's spotting and nothing is safe anymore or off limits. When I say get out, I mean get out. It's-"

Joey's eyes grew wider, the only telltale sign of his reaction when he noticed Hailey. She wanted to grab him, but something about his demeanor held her back. He was working, and in a different mental frame. That much was obvious.

"Ben. I can't find Ben, Joey. That's why I called you." Jack's tone was desperate, hollow.

"I don't know where he is either, but there are no reports of anyone in trouble or anything like that. He probably already evacuated. We are all going to inform the residents, road by road, house by house." Joey suddenly grabbed Jack by the arms and shook him. "Listen to me. And for once, try to hear me. We are evacuating from here and going all the way to Pattinson, that's almost twenty-five straight miles. They are moving the shelter to Brewster. Do you get why? The path of the fire is predicted to reach there by tonight. Tonight! Now do you get what kind of monster we're dealing with? This morning, we set up an evacuation shelter there because the fire was so far away and no one ever expected it to get anywhere near. Now? It's definitely going to hit it. Unless something epic happens like a huge rainstorm stops it. We have every possible fire truck and bulldozer available working on preventing that. There are hundreds of firefighters and volunteers clearing perimeters and lighting backfires, as well as two DC-10s that are dropping fire r.e.t.a.r.dant... but we're still failing. We have not contained any of it. So far, we've lost, and this is a conservative estimate, a hundred houses and countless outbuildings. You need to leave NOW. Despite Ben's absence. You know how careless he gets about notifying us. He's fine, Jack. I'm sure of it. I'd bet my life on Ben's smarts. He wouldn't play chicken with something as big as this. He's safe. But... you aren't. We aren't safe here. I've never watched anything like it. It's a miracle that no one's been hurt... yet."

He finally glanced at Hailey. "What the h.e.l.l are you still doing here?"

Hailey's tongue felt thick at his sudden attention on her in front of the other firefighters, over a dozen of them, and his entire family. His fierce tone was challenging and angry.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," she whispered. All of her previous sureness of his response to her was quickly dissipating.

"Joey. Relax. It's been a stressful few days for everyone. She's been so good. Even helping us." Erin spoke up.

Joey's mouth didn't relax. "I thought you were gone... I thought you were safe. f.u.c.k. Do you have any idea how dangerous this thing coming towards us is?"

Her knees nearly gave out, not from her own fear, but her realization that his anger toward her stemmed from his fear and concern for her safety. She wanted to touch him, to just reach out and cling to him. But she couldn't now. This was about as serious as life got. They were in a life or death emergency and Joey was working with all his strength and smarts to save them.

"I need all of you to leave now. Please. It's cla.s.sified as a level three evacuation, so you know that means: we're not d.i.c.king around. We're getting ready to fight for our homes."

Jack's jaw was firm as he replied, "I won't leave. Not without knowing where Ben is. This is... this is my home. My land. I intend to fight for it."

"f.u.c.k off, Jack! You have no idea how big and erratic this is. It isn't like anything you've ever witnessed. It's going to eat us up like everything else in its path. The entire valley. If anything is left standing, we'll be d.a.m.n lucky for it. Erin, Allison, Kailynn, all of you, go pack. Now! Quickly!" Joey turned and left the crowd, grabbing Hailey's arm and jerking her forward. He proceeded to drag her towards the barn, away from everyone's eyes.

Once inside the barn, he almost slammed her against the wall, not out of anger, but a desperation that overcame him. His mouth crushed hers as he lifted her up so her hips had nowhere to go beneath his. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he pushed her into the wall and kissed her again. She clutched his neck and his hair, the sooty, black grime covering everywhere her fingers landed. Soot, ash, and utter destruction.

When he finally tore his lips from her, he pressed his forehead against hers and began breathing in giant puffs. His chest went up and down in an almost violent repet.i.tion. "What are you doing here?"

Tears fell from her eyes, and Hailey tried to wipe them, but they only flowed faster. "I couldn't leave you like that, Joey. Realizing how much danger you could be in, well... I had to stay here."

"What did you think you could do?" She touched his cheek and his harsh gaze finally softened. "What, Hailey? You need to leave. This wildfire isn't human or merciful. It's like a runaway freight train of heartache coming. I don't know how else to describe it." Fear made his eyes glisten and Hailey bit her lip. Could she let him go? Sure, it was so much easier and nicer, but she chose not to.

She kissed his lips, which seemed softer and sweeter now than they did during his nearly crus.h.i.+ng a.s.sault. "I love you, Joey. I just had to tell you that. I wanted you to know."

His eyes closed and his chest rose and fell harder with each breath. She clutched his shoulders, unable to penetrate all the layers. "Why now? Because you're scared?"

"I was scared to tell you before. Now? I just need you to know. Don't you want to know?"

He sighed and replied, "Course I want to know. I want you to promise me now to leave. I have to get back to work."

"Joey..."

"Please." He leaned his mouth against her cheeks, her temple, and her ear where he whispered, "Please leave immediately or I can't function and do my job. Right now, I need to think clearly and rationally."

She nodded, still clutching him. "I promise I'll go with Erin and the rest of them."

He nodded his approval and let her go, sliding her legs back down to the ground. He patted her face until a small smile appeared. "Now, you're wearing the fire," he told her, adding, "I'm sorry."

She shook her head, touching her face. "I don't care. I just care about you being safe."

He stepped back. "You promised me, Hailey, so don't forget."

"Why do you keep saying that? I plan to go with everyone else."

He sighed. "Because Jack won't leave. Ian and Shane will stay on too because he'll stay, no matter what I insist upon. They won't leave this place no matter how big the fire gets. So I need to know right now that at least you did."

"Surely they won't go against mandatory orders."

"Oh, yes, they surely will."

He grabbed his hard hat, which was also covered in black soot. It fell off his head when they started pawing each other upon entering the barn.

"I have to go now. Just make sure you do too."

He spun around and started to leave the barn. It wasn't lost on her that he had no response to her heartfelt declaration. But that was understandable under the circ.u.mstances; his head and heart were preoccupied with all the destruction, evacuation, and fear. He personally knew what was coming. He had a job to do that was far more important than her silly feelings about their relations.h.i.+p. Ben was still missing and there were too many who wouldn't evacuate...

She quickly scurried after Joey, returning to the main house to find Erin's hands on her hips. She was stomping her foot. "f.u.c.k that, Jack! It's my home too. You can't stay here and expect me to just leave you behind."

"Yes, I can. You can't stay; it's too dangerous. But I need to."

"Then I stay too. Wherever you are, I stand beside you, and vice versa."

Jack suddenly gripped her shoulders and stared into her eyes, almost shaking her. His face was as grim as Joey's as he repeated, "My son is missing. The fire that's coming isn't like anything we've ever dealt with. I need to stay here. The horses need me and I have to get water on everything around here that I can defend. I have too many things I have to do. The lives of the animals matter very much to me. But I need to find Ben also. I can't do it here. Please Erin, I need to know that you and Charlie are safe and... that you're out looking for Ben. I am with you as always, but I need you to do this for me right now."

Her entire body sagged and she flung herself at Jack. He caught her and pressed her against his chest with all of his might. She was crying hysterically. "I'll go, then, and I'll keep Charlie safe... and make sure everyone is out looking for Ben. Don't worry, Jack, we'll find him... we'll find him... I love you..." Hailey turned away as her own eyes filled with fresh tears. The other couples were exchanging the same sentiments and embracing.

AJ came walking up with Kate behind him. "I heard it's coming here and Ben's still missing. What do you need from me?"

Jack let Erin go. AJ had Kate's hand in his, and he turned to her and nodded, his gaze holding hers. He seemed so resolved in his duty. "You got this, my Kate. I need you to take care of Cami."

Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I got this," she whispered before letting him go.

"Go out and cut the fences down on all the orchards," he ordered with a quiet, ominous tone. Hailey tilted her head. For G.o.d's sake, why? Jack caught her puzzled look. "For the animals to shelter under. The main body of orchards should remain standing." He turned back to AJ. "Gather all the horses in the pasture closest to the river. I'm hearing some grim stories..." Jack shuddered. AJ nodded and left to follow Jack's orders. Ian said goodbye to his new wife and followed after Jack. As did Shane. Jack quickly turned to Joey, who was just getting back into the truck he drove up in.

"I knew you wouldn't evacuate. Watch your f.u.c.king back, brother," Joey said softly. Hailey was close enough to hear them.

Jack nodded and grabbed Joey in a tight hug. "You do the same."

"See you on the other side."

"The other side," Jack echoed, but their eye lock and exchange left Hailey in a cold panic of fear. They were scared. Both of the men were visibly unsure what awaited them on the other side and their place in it.

Hailey saw Erin crying. She was nearly doubled over. Hailey raised her chin. No, this was not her home or her life, but right now, she was the one who had the least to lose. She could best help them by taking the lead. Hailey dried her tears and started after Erin. Grabbing her, she lifted her up to standing. "Come on, ladies, I'll drive. Let's go find someplace where our help is most needed. We'll go to... to a command center where we can start looking for Ben." She had no idea where that might be or even if there were a command center, but it sounded like the responsible thing to do.