Page 22 of Burning Escape (Chasing Fire: Alaska #3)

ELEVEN

Orion parked the base truck and stared up at the hardware store sign.

He should be out there fighting the fire with his crew.

Not shopping for lawn mower parts. He was now relegated to groundskeeper, tasked to mow the grass around the jump base.

His shoulder hurt, but it wasn’t debilitating.

He’d be fine if they would let him jump.

But nope. He was grounded.

He’d done everything right. He’d sacrificed. Pushed hard. He’d even waited to take this shot until his mother was ready. So why had God sidelined him now?

But he wouldn’t be for long. He just had to get through today. Tomorrow, Jade was going to test him. If he was healed enough, he’d be back on the crew.

His phone rang as he stepped out of the truck.

Dad.

Still weird to see that word pop up on a screen.

Up until last year, he hadn’t known who his father was.

But when Charlie Benning had shown up last year to join the Jude County Hotshots, it’d been obvious he had a history with Jayne Price.

It hadn’t taken long to connect the dots and realize he was Orion’s father and that Jayne had never told him she was pregnant.

They’d come a long way in the last year.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Orion answered.

Charlie Benning chuckled. “I was gonna ask you the same thing. All good here. But we hadn’t heard from you in a while. And Jade reached out.”

“My boss is calling my parents? Why do I feel like a kid in trouble at school?” And if he sounded grumpy, so be it. This was ridiculous.

“Don’t get your shorts tied up in a knot.

It wasn’t like that. She called a few days ago to see if we had any connections to get an airplane, but when I casually asked how you were doing, she was surprised we hadn’t heard from you ourselves.

Said there was a lot going on, but she wouldn’t say anything more.

Your mom and I waited a few more days, and when we still didn’t hear anything, I thought I’d reach out.

I know you’re busy, Ry, but we’ve been concerned. ”

“You don’t need to worry about an airplane. Logan’s girlfriend Jamie is loaded. She bought a new Twin Otter for the base camp.”

“That’s not what we’re worried about. But why’d she do that?”

“Probably her way of thanking us for rescuing her and her brother Tristan from this militia they got caught up in.”

“Yeah, but a new plane? What was wrong with the one the team was already using? It need an upgrade?”

There was a reason he hadn’t been in touch. But guess there was no going back now. “Um, it crashed.”

His father was silent for a moment. “I’m assuming no one was in it when it went down?”

Orion winced. “Only Neil and Saxon, but they’re okay now. The rest of us jumped before it hit the ground. Which is why I didn’t say anything. No need to worry Mom. I know she has a hard time with me being out here in the first place.”

“She’s come to terms with you being a smokejumper. But she’s not happy about you ghosting us. I get you wanted a fresh start, but we didn’t think that meant you’d cut off all communication.”

“I wasn’t trying to. It’s just been busy, and Tori and I got waylaid on our way back to base. And I thought you understood that when I moved out here, things would be different. I have to do this on my own.”

“That’s why you went out to Alaska instead of staying with the Jude County crew here?”

Orion gripped the phone. “I didn’t want any favors. I needed to know that I didn’t make the team because of who my parents are or who my grandfather was.”

And maybe also, come to think of it, because if he failed, he wouldn’t have to face the disappointment in his mother’s eyes again. And now his father’s too.

And yet word had still gotten back to them, thanks to Jade.

Apparently, Alaska wasn’t far enough.

“What are you trying to prove, Orion?” Charlie’s voice came through strong, steady. The question probed at the dark places inside though.

But his dad had only come into his life last year. He hadn’t been there. He didn’t understand.

“Mom sacrificed everything to raise me. Her own mother kicked her out of the house because of me. Now it’s time for me to do this. To show Mom that—” He couldn’t finish the sentence.

“That it wasn’t a waste?”

How did he do that? Read his mind even though they’d only met a year ago.

“Maybe.” Orion kicked at a pebble. “I have a legacy to live up to. Grandpa Jack. Mom. You. I want my life to mean something.”

“I get that. But the legacy that is most worth achieving is a life surrendered to God. It’s not all up to you. And it doesn’t mean you have to push everyone else away to do that. Come on, kid. You barely escaped a plane crash and didn’t tell us? Is there anything else that happened?”

Orion pushed the hair off his forehead and grabbed his neck. “I…may have injured my shoulder and hit my head pretty good while we were running away from the militia, but that was a couple weeks ago.”

“I see.” Charlie paused. “But…you’re okay now? The jumps are going okay?”

“I’m not jumping right now.”

“Why not?”

So he was going to make him spill the whole humiliating story?

Fine. “Tori—my partner—and I were separated from the group when we jumped. We were stuck on this commune for a couple days, and now we’re back.

But Tori has a stalker. Someone tried to abduct her, and in fighting him off, I reinjured my shoulder.

I’m grounded. So…Mom’s probably glad about that. ”

“Glad? Not hardly! Don’t you get it? We’re here for you. Praying for you every day. Why wouldn’t you tell us what you’re going through?”

Orion winced. “I don’t want you to worry. I’ve got this. Sure, it sucks to be grounded, but I’m fine.”

“We know it’s a dangerous job, but that’s why there’s a team.

It’s not a solo gig. And as your family, we’re part of your team too.

You guys taught me that last year. I was ready to face my kidney disease alone, thinking Alexa, and then your mom and you and everyone on God’s green earth, was better off without me.

But there is strength in relying on others.

And here I am in remission. Because you guys wouldn’t let me do this alone.

So I’m gonna push back. You don’t have to do this alone either, Ry. ”

Didn’t he? Wasn’t that part of being a man and standing on his own two feet?

But it was nice to know Charlie cared. That his mom and sister were there for him too.

“I’ll try to do better at keeping you in the loop.

Jade is going to run me through some drills, and if I pass them, I’ll be back on the crew.

But you’re not gonna fly out here with a cheer section or anything, are you? ”

“No promises. I’m sure I can find a set of pom-poms and a flight to Anchorage in a pinch.”

Orion cracked a smile. “As long as I don’t have to see you in a skirt.”

“Deal.” Charlie paused. “So, you mentioned your partner. Tori? Is she okay? What’s going on with this stalker business?”

“She’s strong, good. Even better than she was before, since she’s come to faith through the whole situation. But this creep is still out there, and there’s a lot going on. I’m doing everything I can to protect her.”

“And is there anything…more to this relationship with Tori? She sounds like a special woman.”

“She is. And I guess the short answer is…I’m not sure. I like her. A lot. We were rivals for a bit, but I dunno. Things have shifted.”

“A believer. A strong woman. And she doesn’t mind your company? Sounds like something to pray about.”

“Sure. Add it to the list.”

“I will. But I better let you go. Before I do, I think your mom would appreciate a call. I’ll leave it at that. She’s out with the wilderness kids on an overnight though.”

“Tell her I’ll call her tomorrow.” Orion sighed. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Anytime, kid.”

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Best get back to what he’d come here for.

Orion pushed open the door to the hardware store, the smell of lumber welcoming him. A few other people lingered in the store. After finding the lawn mower blades, he asked the woman at the counter where to find mulch.

“You purchase it here at the counter and then drive around back. We’ll get ya loaded up in the lumber yard.”

Orion ordered what he needed and drove the truck around the block to the back of the store. He scoped out the mulch, but everything in reaching distance was gone. They’d need a lift to get the unopened pallet on the top shelf.

Noise came from the other side of the shelving.

“Hello?” Orion called as he moved to the next aisle. Nothing. “I could use some help. Anybody there?”

Suddenly a tower of packaged cedar shavings toppled over, knocking him to the ground.

And trapping him.

Orion sucked in a breath and yelled, “Someone help!”

* * *

Tori beat the low flames with her wet burlap. It wasn’t glamorous work, but she loved it. There was something therapeutic about smothering fire and stomping out the destructive nature of it. Funny that once it’d been darkness she’d fought.

Now she was fighting a source of light.

But unlike the sun that gave good light and provided warmth, not asking anything of people, fire didn’t play fair.

It burned and left ash and darkness behind.

It was selfish and all-consuming, its light deceiving, drawing her in only to burn her, destroying whatever was in its path. And here she was fighting back.

Take that!

She smothered the orange embers at her feet, the grass now black and ashen.

She walked back over to the tank they’d set up and wet the burlap again.

“Hanging in there?” Jade asked as she mopped her face with a dripping wet bandanna.

“All good.”

“I think we’ve almost got this one. It’s creeping, and with the night shift coming in, they’ll probably be able to finish it off.

There’s another crew out of Fairbanks fighting a smaller blaze just north of here too.

So we’re gonna gather up and pack out. Buses are waiting for us three miles out. Go ahead and gather your gear.”