Chasing Fire

this season. Until Gulliver Curry. I’m enjoying watching how that one comes along.”
    “Leo Brakeman claims that Rowan and Jim were involved before he broke it off to be with Dolly.”
    Marg drank more lemonade and contemplated the mountains as DiCicco had. “Leo’s grieving, and my heart hurts for him and Irene, but he’s wrong. It sounds to me like something Dolly might’ve said.”
    “Why would she?”
    “For the drama, and to try to take some of the shine off Rowan. I told you, Dolly didn’t have girlfriends. She got on with Lynn because she didn’t see Lynn as a threat. Lynn’s married and happy, and the men tend to think of her as a sister, or a daughter. Dolly always saw Rowan as a threat, and more, she knew Rowan considered her . . . cheap, we’ll say.”
    “It’s obvious they didn’t get along.”
    “Up until Jim died they tolerated each other well enough. I’ve known both of them since they were kids. Rowan barely noticed Dolly. Dolly always noticed Ro. And if you’re still thinking Rowan had anything to do with what happened, you’re wasting a lot of time better spent finding out who did.”
    Time wasn’t wasted, in DiCicco’s opinion, if you found out something .
    “Did you know anything about Dolly getting work in Florence?”
    “No. I don’t know why she would. Plenty of places right around here would hire her on, at least for the season.”
    Marg loosed a long sigh. “I wouldn’t give her a reference. Her preacher came out, tried to get me to write her one. I didn’t like his way, that’s one thing, but I wouldn’t do it anyway. She didn’t earn it with the way she behaved.
    “I guess I’m sorry for that if she felt she had to leave Missoula to work. But there are plenty of places she could’ve gotten work without a reference.”
    Marg sat a moment, saying nothing. Just studying the mountains.
    “Was she coming back from there when it happened? From work in Florence?”
    “It’s something I’ll have to check out. I hate exaggeration, so you know I’m giving it to you straight when I say this is the best cookie I’ve ever eaten.”
    “I’ll give you some to take with you.”
    “I wouldn’t say no.”
     
     
    THE CREW IN IDAHO had the fire caged in by sundown. But up north, the battle raged on.
    She could see it. As Rowan stepped outside to take the air, she could see the fire and smoke, and the figures in yellow shirts brandishing tools like weapons.
    If they called for another load, if they needed relief or reenforcement, L.B. would send her. And she’d be ready.
    Her back stiffened at the glint of headlights, the silhouette of an approaching pickup. Then loosened again, a little, when she saw it wasn’t Leo Brakeman back for another shot at her.
    Lucas stepped out of the truck, walked to her.
    Some anger there, she noted. Still some mad on.
    He proved it when he clamped his hands on her shoulders, gave her a little shake. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me what happened? Finding the remains, about Dolly, about any of it.”
    “I figured you knew.”
    “Well, I damn well didn’t.”
    “You’ve been busy.”
    “Don’t pull that crap with me, Rowan. Your landing text said A-OK.”
    “I was. I wasn’t hurt.”
    “Rowan.”
    “I didn’t want to tell you in a text, or on the phone. Then it was one thing and another. I came down this morning to talk to you about it, but—”
    He simply yanked her against him and hugged.
    “I’m a suspect.”
    “Stop it,” he murmured, and pressed his lips to the top of her head.
    “The Forest Service agent’s questioned me twice. I had altercations with Dolly, then out of all the acres up there, I stumble right over what’s left of her. Then, Leo Brakeman came here today.”
    She unburdened, stripped it out and off because he was there to cover her again.
    “Leo’s half mad with grief. In his place, I don’t know what I’d do.” Couldn’t bear to think of it. “They’ll find whoever did it. Maybe it’ll help like they say it does, though I swear I don’t know how.”
    “He was crying when he drove away. I think that was the moment I stopped feeling sorry for myself, because I’d been having a real good time with that.”
    “You were never able to stretch that out for long.”
    “I was going for the record. Dad, about before. I’m sorry.”
    “So am I.” He wiped a hand through the air, a familiar gesture. “Clean slate.”
    “Squeaky clean.”
    “Where’s that guy you’ve been hanging