Chasing Fire

His, someone else’s. Because he’s out there. And if he didn’t start those fires, whoever did is out there, too.”
    “It’s been three weeks. That’s a long time between.”
    “But it doesn’t feel over and done.”
    “No. It doesn’t feel over and done.”
    “That’s the bullshit waiting.” She gestured. “Why don’t you take that direction, I’ll take this one. We’ll cover more ground, then meet back at camp.” She checked her watch. “Say six-thirty.”
    “In time for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.”
     
     
    SHE BEAT HIM BACK to the clearing by the bubbling stream. The campsite, a hive the night before of very tired, very grungy bees, held quiet as a church now, and shimmered in the rays of evening sun. She stowed her gear, checked on the six-pack of beer and the six-pack of Coke she’d asked L.B. to drop.
    She’d rather have that, she realized, in this remote spot on the mountain than a bottle of the finest champagne in the fanciest restaurant in Montana.
    In anywhere.
    She went back for her PG bag and her little bottles of liquid soap and shampoo.
    Alone in the sunlight, she pulled off her boots, socks, stripped off the tired work clothes. The stream barely hit her knees, but the cool rush of the water felt like heaven. She sat down, let it bubble over her skin as she looked up to the rise of trees, the spread of sky.
    She took time washing, as another woman might in a hot, fragrant bubble bath, enjoying the cool, the clean, the way the water rushed away with the froth she made.
    Drawing her knees up, she wrapped her arms around them, laid her cheek on her knees, closed her eyes.
    She opened them again as a shadow fell over her, and smiled lazily up at Gull. Until she saw the camera.
    “You did not take my picture like this. Am I going to have to break that thing?”
    “It’s for my private collection. You’re a fantasy, Rowan. Goddess of the brook. How’s the water?”
    “Cold.”
    He, as she did, pulled off his boots. “I could use some cold.”
    “You’re late. It’s got to be close to seven.”
    “I had a little detour.”
    “Did you find fresh spots?”
    “No, all clear. But I found these.” He picked up a water bottle filled with wildflowers.
    “You know you’re not supposed to pick flowers up here.” But she couldn’t stop the smile.
    “Since we save them, I figured the mountain could spare a few. Yeah, it’s pretty damn cold,” he said as he stepped into the water. “Feels great.”
    She pulled out the bottle of soap she’d shoehorned between rocks, tossed it to him. “Help yourself. It feels like we’re the only two people in the world. I wouldn’t want to be the only two people in the world for long—who’d do the cooking?—but it’s nice for right now.”
    “I heard birds in the black. They’re already coming back, at least to see what the hell happened. And in the green, across the meadow where I got the flowers, I saw a herd of elk. We may be the only people here, but life rolls on.”
    “I’m going to get dressed before I freeze.” She stood, water sliding down her body, sun glinting to turn it to tiny diamonds.
    “Wow,” Gull said.
    “For that, and the bottle of wildflowers, I guess you’ve earned a beer.” She got out, shivering now, rubbing her skin to warm and dry it. “We’ve got spaghetti and meat sauce, fruit cups, crackers and cheese spread and pound cake for dinner.”
    “Right now I could eat cardboard and be happy, so that sounds amazing.”
    “I’ll get the campfire going,” she told him as she dressed. “And you get the beer when you get out. I guess cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will consist of—Holy shit.”
    “That I don’t want to eat, even now.”
    “Don’t move. Or do— really fast.”
    “Why?”
    “Life rolls along, including the big-ass bear on the other bank.”
    “Oh, fuck me.” Gull turned slowly, watched the big-ass bear lumber up toward the stream.
    “This may be your fantasy come true, but I really think you should get out of the water.”
    “Crap. Throw something at him,” Gull suggested as he stayed low, edging through the water.
    “Like what, harsh words? Shit, shit, he’s looking at us.”
    “Get one of the Pulaskis. I’m damned if I’m going to be eaten by a bear when I’m naked.”
    “I’m sure it’s a more pleasant experience dressed. He’s not going to eat us. They eat berries and fish. Get out of the water so he doesn’t think you’re a really big fish.”
    Gull