Page 21 of Rescued Dreams

“And over there is Amelia Patterson. She’s, uh, another firefighter here.”

Thankfully Ridge caught himself before he said “lieutenant,” saving them all from having to hear the whole explanation.

She let go of the mug and waved. “Nice to meet you, Kane.”

“You too.” Broody guy studied her a little too long.

Yeah, no thanks. “Who’s cooking breakfast?” She moved to get up.

Zack said, “It’s ready,” and set a casserole dish in the center of the table on a hot pad. Cheese bubbled around the edges, and she spotted sausage and potato.

Amelia eased back into her seat. Plates were passed around, and each person took a turn getting a portion. Across the table from her, Eddie squirted far too much ketchup on the breakfast casserole.

Ridge looked at Kane, now seated beside him. “What brings you here?” He took a bite of breakfast.

Kane said, “Actually, I think I might do the tryout to be a firefighter here in Last Chance County.”

Amelia got herself a slice of the meal and set it on her plate. She grabbed her fork, hesitating as always. Looking around like she needed something. Waiting for a few of the others to eat a couple of bites. That way she knew it couldn’t possibly be spiked with something.

It wasn’t like she could personally supervise what went into every meal.

This was the only way she could get close to being sure it wasn’t going to send her into a tailspin because it had been dosed with a drug that had no business in her system.

After no one reacted to it right away or watched her too closely, she took a small bite.

Ridge said, “Thought you were looking at search and rescue.”

“That’s the problem.” Kane shrugged. “I kinda have no idea. It’s driving me crazy, asking God and asking again and hearing silence.” He shook his head and took a bite.

Kane’s attention came to Amelia, too fast for her to look away.

She ducked her head. They seemed like brothers. More like Bryce and his twin Logan in Alaska. Logan had recently suffered one too many blows to the head and now worked at the jump base up in Copper Mountain as a coordinator for the Bureau of Land Management. He wasn’t ever going to fight fire or jump from a plane again.

If anyone knew what it was like to lose everything they’d built, it was Amelia.

She just had to get her rank back, then she’d feel like she had her equilibrium again. That was all. Then Ridge would have to give her spot back.

Amelia wasn’t going to go down without a fight.

She lifted her head and looked at Ridge and his cousin, feeling all the frustration of her entire life bubble up inside her. “Hey, maybe I’ll get fired and then Kane can have my spot.” Her fork clattered onto the plate, and Amelia strode from the room. She didn’t stop in the hall but pushed through the heavy front doors and stepped outside.

Trying to get some air.

She heard a car door slam, but that was the only thing to enter her awareness. Amelia looked up at the wide expanse of sky, tinted orange with the rising sun. Hands on her hips. Breathing hard. So what if the best part of her life was falling apart?

It didn’t mean she would just let it happen, roll over and say nothing.

Pounding footsteps approached her from behind. Amelia twisted around just in time to see two men run over. Both had hoods pulled up to disguise their faces. “What do you?—”

They didn’t stop but slammed into her, knocking her to the ground.

Hands grabbed at her.

Amelia’s back pressed into the ground, and she cried out.

A gruff voice said, “Where is it?”

EIGHT