“I know,” the mother said wearily. “The dog didn’t come when we called and called, so we had no choice but to leave without him. Our home is one of the highest on the mountain.” Her lips trembled. “We couldn’t take time to hunt for Pokey. We barely had time to collect Kenny, the baby and pack a few belongings. The road is still closed, and we can’t go back until they say so.”
“Maybe tomorrow they’ll open it, at least for a little while,” Shannon offered hopefully. “I guess it depends upon the wind.”
Kenny’s mother nodded. “I’m Alice Gordon.” She smiled when Shannon introduced herself. “I’m glad to meet you, Shannon. We’re all praying they’ll get the fire out before it makes it over Prospect Ridge.” Shannon could see her lips quiver as she took her son’s hand. “Thank the Lord, we’re all safe here.”
She disappeared inside the building, leaving Shannon alone. Not wanting to go inside, Shannon continued along the sidewalk that led to the parking lot at the far side of the school.
She slowed her steps when she reached the lot and was about to turn around when she saw Ward heading for a pickup truck parked nearby.
Shannon was debating whether to call to him and give him a piece of her mind when he glanced back and saw her in the glow of one of the high arc lights.
He waved, then came quickly over to where she was standing. “I wondered where you’d gone. Hiding out, are you?” he chided with that easy teasing smile of his.
“Should I be?” she countered, still debating how she wanted to handle this infuriating man. “Have you decided to volunteer me for something else?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Not a good idea, huh?”
“Frankly, I don’t appreciate someone manipulating me like that.”
“Sorry, I thought that it would do you good just to mix a little bit with the others.”
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m perfectly capable of looking out for myself. Good night, Mr. Dawson.”
“Wait a minute.” Her cool and dismissing manner was a new experience for him. Ward wasn’t used to having any female, young or old, treat him with such cold indifference. None of the women he’d dated since Valerie’s death had come close to leading him to the altar. He’d given the reins of his life over to God, and so far, he hadn’t found anyone who held to the same spiritual values. A deep Christian dedication had been absent in his first marriage, and he wouldn’t make that mistake again. He didn’t know why he felt the need to challenge this stubborn, self-assured woman, but he did. Even though she’d made it plain that she didn’t appreciate his interference, he couldn’t help chipping away at her crisp edges.
“Laura said she appreciated the help and told me to thank you. You know, it’s going to take all of us pulling together to get through this thing.”
His clothes were dusty and wrinkled. Fatigue had deepened the strong lines in his face. Shannon wondered how many jobs he’d taken on.
“I really didn’t mind all that much,” she admitted. “But you would never have volunteered me for kitchen work if you knew what a disaster I am when it comes to cooking.”
“I guess that was pretty nervy of me,” he admitted with a wry smile. “I just thought things might be easier for you if you mixed a little bit with the others.”
“No harm done,” she said, suddenly contrite. She was ashamed for misjudging him. “What do you think my chances are of getting back to my place tomorrow to pack up my things?”
He surprised her by answering, “Actually, I think there’s a good chance. The weathermen are predicting that the wind shift is going to last until at least tomorrow night.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.” She almost clapped her hands.
Ward was stunned at how lovely and suddenly alive and beautiful she was. In the shadow of the building, she seemed like some kind of heavenly specter in her soft yellow dress and shiny hair. An undefined jolt shot through him as she smiled broadly at him for the first time, and something deep inside responded on a level that made no earthly sense at all.
Chapter Two
A ripple of excitement and relief moved through the cafeteria the next morning when a fire chief stood in front of the refugees and announced, “All of you who have homes below Prospect Ridge will be allowed back in the area for a two-hour period.” He emphasized the time limit. “Two hours only. You got that?” His steely eyes dragged around the room. “The wind could shift at any time, and anyone still on the mountain could be caught in a fiery downdraft. Concentrate on speedily collecting the necessities, and let the rest go. Understand?”
There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd, and as Shannon bounded out of the building with the other evacuees, her mind raced. Two hours! That was enough time to get herself cleaned up with a quick shower and a change of clothes, with time left over to pack all her belongings in the car. Once the highway was open to general traffic, she’d leave Beaver Junction as fast as she could. Just where she would go to find the quiet retreat she needed was something she’d have to decide later. Right now, her pressing need was to get out of the present situation as soon as she could.
As she drove away from the school, she felt a pang of sympathy for those who would have to remain and endure a heartrending vigil, not knowing if their homes would be spared. She already felt drained and off balance.
A line of cars trailing out of town and up the side of the mountain moved at a snail’s pace, and Shannon’s agitation grew as precious time slipped away. A heavy haze of smoke billowed into the sky from some point hidden beyond Prospect Ridge, and her nostrils quivered with the pungent odor of burning wood. Her chest tightened as she realized that thick drifts of aspen and pine trees on each side of the road promised more fuel for the greedy fire if it topped the ridge and came racing downward. She clutched the steering wheel with nervous hands as she drove up the side of the mountain, forced to take the serpentine curves slowly instead of with her usual speed.
By the time she pulled into the driveway of the rented mountain cottage, she had lost more than a half hour of her precious time limit. She raced into the small house, and before she did anything else, she went directly to the telephone and dialed the employment agency that had sent out her applications. She had tried to use her cell phone, but it had kept fading out on her.
Her mouth went dry as she waited for someone to answer. Common sense told her it was too soon to expect any results, but she might get lucky, and if anyone was interested in interviewing her this soon, she could immediately head to California. Her pragmatic nature desperately needed a definite course of action. She had never been able to stand not having a specific agenda, and her present situation had heightened a need to get back in charge of her life.
“I’m sorry, Miss Hensley, we don’t have anything right now, but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time,” a pleasant woman advised her after Shannon had made her inquiry.
Time. Shannon bit her lip. Patience had never been one of her most admirable qualities. In fact, she knew that impatience with herself, others and the world in general had been a driving force in her life, but she also knew she hadn’t accomplished her climb in the business world by wasting time. She was proud of her reputation as a hardheaded businesswoman, and at the moment, she felt even more driven because her life was at a standstill.
“I would appreciate your doing everything you can to facilitate my applications,” Shannon said as calmly as she could. She wasn’t about to reveal the anxious tremors she felt inside.
“I can reach you at this number, can’t I? If something should develop?” asked the lady in her professional, optimistic voice.
Shannon hesitated. Rather than go into the long explanation of the fire and her predicament, she answered, “I’m not sure, but I’ll