Chasing Fire

irresistible love and passion.
    He knew he’d sprawl out in the lounge, listening to cross talk and bullshit season after season, as long as he was able.
    He knew, he thought as Rowan came in, he’d wait for her to come home whenever she went away.
    “Man, they let anybody in the country club these days.” She dropped down beside Gull, shot a hand into the chip bag. “Score?”
    “Tied,” Trigger told her, “one to one due to seriously blind ump. Top of the fifth.”
    She stole Gull’s ginger ale, found it empty. “What, were you waiting for me to get back, fetch you a refill?”
    “Caught me.”
    She pushed up, got a Coke. “You’ll drink this and like it.” She downed some first, then passed it to him.
    “Thanks. And how’s the ball to my chain?”
    “ What did you call me?”
    “He said it.” Gull narked on Trigger without remorse.
    “Skinny Texas bastard.” She angled her head to read the cover of the book Gull set aside. “ Ethan Frome ? If you’ve been reading that I’m surprised I didn’t find you lapsed into a coma drooling down your chin.”
    He gave the Coke back to her. “I thought I’d like it better now, being older, wiser, more erudite. But it’s just as blindingly boring as it was when I was twenty. Thank God you’re back, or I might have been paralyzed with ennui.”
    “Get you.”
    “It was a crossword answer a while ago. How’s your dad?”
    “He’s in love.”
    “With the hot redhead.”
    Rowan’s eyebrows beetled. “I wish you wouldn’t call her the hot redhead.”
    “I call them like I see them. How’s by you?”
    “I had to get by the flower beds he’s planted, the flowers in vases, candles, the potpourri in the powder room—”
    “Mother of God! Potpourri in the powder room. We need to get a posse together ASAP , go get him. He can be deprogrammed. Don’t lose hope.”
    Since he’d stretched his legs across her lap, she twisted his toe. Hard. “He’s got all this color in the place all of a sudden. Or all of an Ella. I told myself it was fussy, she’d pushed all this fussy stuff on him. But it’s not. It’s style, with an edge of charm. She brought color to the beige and bone and brown. It makes him happy. She makes him happy. She filled the hole he couldn’t let heal—that’s what he said. And I realized something, that she was right that day we saw her in town. Ice cream day. She said that if I made him choose between her and me, she didn’t stand a chance. And if I’d done that, I’d be just enough like my mother to make myself sick. Either/or, pal, you can’t have both.”
    “But you’re not.”
    “No. I’m not. I have to get used to it—to her, but she’s put a light in him so I think I’m going to be a fan.”
    “You’re a stand-up gal, Swede.”
    “If she screws him up, I’ll peel the skin off her ass with a dull razor blade.”
    “Fair’s fair.”
    “And then some. I need to walk off the not-too-shabby skillet cuisine I prepared, then I’m going to turn in.”
    “Wait a minute. You cooked?”
    “I have a full dozen entrées in my repertoire. Four of them are variations on the classic grilled cheese sandwich.”
    “A whole new side of you to explore while we walk. I want my shoes.”
    Gibbons came in as Gull tossed the Edith Wharton onto the table for someone else.
    “You might want to wrap up that card game. Everybody’s on standby. It’s not official, but it looks like we’ll roll two loads to Fairbanks tonight, or maybe straight to the fire. L.B.’s working out some details. And it’s looking like Bighorn might need some help come tomorrow.”
    “Just when my luck’s starting to turn,” Dobie complained.
    “New shoes for baby,” Cards reminded him.
    “I rake another couple pots in, I can buy the new shoes without eating smoke.”
    “Anybody on the first and second loads might want to check their gear while they’ve got a chance,” Gibbons added.
    “I’ve never been to Alaska,” Gull commented.
    “It’s an experience.” Rowan shoved his feet off her lap.
    “I’m all about them.”
     
     
    SHE STUFFED more energy bars into her PG bag, and after a short debate added two cans of Coke. She’d rather haul the weight than do without. She changed from the off-duty clothes she’d worn to her father’s, and was just buckling her belt when the siren sang out.
    Along with the others, she ran to the ready room to suit up.
    The minute she stepped onto the plane, she staked her claim, arranging her