Page 24 of Fire Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #1)

Chapter

Twenty-Four

TWO MONTHS LATER

Ash arrived at the Fire Station, stepping out of his truck into the crisp autumn air. The leaves in the parking lot had begun to turn shades of orange and red, and a thin veil of morning mist clung to the edges of Fate Mountain. With the cooler season settling over the region, the sense of threat was gone. He inhaled the chill, grateful for the quiet that autumn brought.

The garage door of the station stood open, revealing the red engines parked inside. Ash headed in, stepping across the concrete floor. The overhead lights cast bright patches in the otherwise dim interior. A couple of his fellow firefighters were there already.

Kyle was checking fluid levels on the brush truck, while Erin was sweeping up a corner of the bay. They both looked up as Ash approached, and Kyle gave a casual salute.

“Mornin’, Chief,” Kyle said, voice echoing slightly in the tall space.

Ash smiled. “Good morning.”

Erin nodded and leaned on the broom handle. “The cooler weather should make drills easier. None of us enjoyed hauling hoses in that searing summer heat.”

Ash recalled how intense the station workload had been back in the thick of summer. Arsonists on the loose, fires threatening Eliana’s orchard, every day more chaotic than the last.

Now he felt a sense of relief that they could focus on typical duties instead of crisis after crisis. He made his way through the bay and into the rec room, a smaller space lined with worn couches and a round table.

A few more firefighters, including Jake and a younger recruit named Bryant, were there. They sat sipping coffee from chipped station mugs, the aroma filling the air. The old television in the corner was tuned to a local news channel. Ash took one of the spare seats, exchanging brief greetings with the others. Jake offered him a half-smile.

“Must be nice to have some calm after all the fires this summer,” Jake said, swirling his coffee.

“Things have definitely settled,” Ash said.

Jake raised his mug in a mock toast. “Here’s to quiet times on Fate Mountain.”

Ash leaned back, sipping his coffee. Autumn often brought fewer fires. He enjoyed the slower pace, using the days to hone training skills rather than rushing from one crisis to another.

A short time later, the team assembled in the yard behind the station for morning drills. They practiced ladder raises and ran through search-and-rescue scenarios. The clang of metal rungs and the hiss of water lines echoed in the crisp air. Ash oversaw the exercises, offering tips and ensuring everything stayed efficient.

The sun rose higher, lighting the trees around them in bright swaths of orange and yellow. He took a moment to appreciate how the mountain wore its autumn colors.

After lunch, one of the station’s administrative officers approached Ash, telling him there was a call from Detective Parker. He headed to the small office near the front of the station, where a phone waited on the desk, and he picked it up. “Chief Bright here.”

Detective Parker’s voice greeted him. “Hi, Chief, I wanted to fill you in on the latest developments in the arsonist case.”

“Yes,” Ash said.

There was a pause, then Parker continued. “The criminals who attacked Eliana’s orchard went to trial this morning. The evidence we provided was strong. They have been convicted of arson, kidnapping, and various other offenses. Sentencing came down fast. They’re looking at long prison terms.”

Relief washed through Ash’s chest. The orchard saboteurs were finally getting real punishment for what they had done. He clenched the phone a bit tighter, recalling how close they came to burning down Eliana’s entire livelihood.

“That is good news,” he said softly. “But we still don’t know why they did it.”

“They pleaded innocent until the end,” Parker replied, his tone measured. “Law enforcement did what we could. Even after questioning and digital forensics, we don’t know who hired them. It’s possible the men we put away don’t even know where the money came from. My gut tells me there are organized crime or corporate-backed interests behind these attacks. Either way, these hired hoodlums are off the street.”

“Thanks for letting me know, Detective.”

When Ash walked outside after his shift, the autumn sun was low in the sky. He climbed into his truck and started the engine, setting off toward Fate Mountain’s small downtown.

During the drive, he passed trees with brilliant foliage, leaves drifting to the ground in slow spirals. The farmland near the outskirts showed hints of harvest season, pumpkins and gourds lining roadside stands.

His truck rumbled over the main street of the small downtown, where storefronts displayed pumpkins and autumn-themed wreaths. He parked outside a small jewelry store, one that had a wooden sign proclaiming the owner’s name in simple lettering.

It was the kind of shop that mostly catered to Fate Mountain’s local community, known for personalized service and handmade pieces. A little bell jingled when Ash pushed open the door. The interior was softly lit, with glass cases showcasing rings, necklaces, and bracelets. Polished wooden floors creaked under his boots.

A kindly older woman, the jeweler who ran the place, recognized Ash right away. She gave him a bright smile, greeting him with that familiar Fate Mountain warmth. “Hello there, Chief Bright. So good to see you. I have your special order ready. It arrived this afternoon.”

Ash felt a surge of nerves in his chest, which was unusual for him. He was a Fire Chief who had faced blazing infernos, yet picking up an engagement ring for Eliana made his heart flutter with excitement and uncertainty. He cleared his throat and managed a faint grin. “That’s great. I... I appreciate you getting it in so quickly.”

She bustled behind the main counter, gently lifting a small, velvet-lined box from a locked drawer. “I made sure it was sized exactly to the measurements you provided,” she said, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “It should be a perfect fit.”

Ash nodded. He had spent weeks ensuring he got Eliana’s ring size right, even going so far as to borrow one of her old rings to compare. He had not wanted to risk a last-minute adjustment. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “She means the world to me, and I wanted something that fit her style exactly.”

The jeweler opened the box, revealing a diamond ring with a graceful, timeless band of white gold. The diamond was not massive, to be practical for her to wear, but it was cut so precisely that it sparkled in the shop’s warm light. Ash’s chest constricted with emotion. It was precisely what he had imagined for Eliana.

“I believe this suits her,” the jeweler said, passing the open box to him for inspection. “When you described her taste, I thought of this design. It is elegant, not too flashy, yet the diamond should catch every bit of light in the orchard.”

Ash found his gaze lingering on the stone.

He pictured Eliana’s hand wearing it, how it might reflect sunlight when she worked among her apple trees, or when she reached out to greet him at the end of the day. A sudden rush of warmth filled him. He closed the lid. “It’s perfect,” he said, voice low. “Thank you for making this happen.”

Her smile deepened. “Of course. Your family has done so much for this town, and I love seeing young couples begin their lives together.” She slid a small, neatly wrapped bag across the counter. “She is going to love it.”

When the jeweler handed over the wrapped box, Ash thanked her quietly. He paid, carefully slipping the box into his jacket pocket. His hand hovered there for a second, savoring the feeling of how momentous this was. For so long, he had told himself that his job was all he needed. But finding his mate had changed him in ways he could barely articulate.