Into the Fire (First Responders 3)

Love. Just yesterday afternoon she’d realized she was in love with him. It was nearly too much to take in and make sense of. The way he’d stood up for her, the way she’d felt when they’d made love, the fear and dread running through her body right now. “I can’t go. I don’t know…I’m a mess, Kendra.”

Kendra smiled. “I know how you feel. It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Jake and me either. But it’s worth it, Ally. Chris is a good man. He’s the kind of man a woman can count on, and he’s head over heels for you. Again, from what I understand.”

Ally nodded. The whole town had been shocked when Kendra and Jake Symonds had come out as a couple. But seeing them together, they made perfect sense. It was clear they adored each other. Whatever issues they’d had, they’d apparently worked through. But Jake had been in the military and he understood risk, didn’t he? Maybe having a girlfriend who was a cop didn’t scare him the way Chris’s chosen vocation bothered her. Volunteer or not, the risks were the same. It was a broken arm today, but how close had it been to being something else?

“You should at least go see him. It’d put his mind at ease before he goes into surgery.”

Kendra was right. She couldn’t really not go. Maybe they hadn’t come right out and said the words, but like it or not, they were involved. It would be selfish and cold to stay away now. They could sort through everything else later.

“I’ll get my coat,” she said. “And I have to let out Moose and feed him.”

She let out the dog and made sure he had his breakfast and a full water bowl before shutting the door to the mud room. Chris wouldn’t be out of the hospital today, so she’d have to come back later and look after the dog. He was so shy she knew she couldn’t kennel him away somewhere. While Chris was in hospital, Moose was her responsibility.

Then she got in the police car with Kendra and made the drive into Kentville to the hospital.

Chris was still in emergency waiting for surgery when they arrived. A nurse showed them through and Ally took regular, measured breaths to stay calm. She hated the smell of hospitals—sickness and antiseptic. Kendra stayed by her side; whether it was being a friend or making sure she kept her word, Ally wasn’t certain. But she was glad to have someone with her. The nurse took them to a curtained area and let them in.

Ally stifled a gasp. Chris looked terrible. His arm was beneath the sheet and she was glad. She didn’t want to see it if it was mangled. His left cheekbone sported a bruise that was already turning purple, and the stubble on his chin looked even darker than normal against the pale pallor of his skin.

He opened his eyes and turned his head slowly as they stepped inside the curtain.

“Hey, you.” He smiled faintly. “I’d hold out my hand, but I don’t seem to have any use of that right now.”

“Hey, yourself. You scared the crap out of me, sending Kendra to the house.”

“Sorry about that. I thought it would be better than the phone. Besides, you didn’t have wheels and I wanted to see you.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Loopy. They gave me something for the pain. It’ll be better after surgery, they said.”

She perched on the edge of a chair next to the bed. “Kendra says you’re going in this morning.”

“Yeah. Broke my ulna and radius. They’re going to put some titanium in there and fix me right up.”

“I’m gonna go,” Kendra said from behind them. “Unless you need anything?”

“I’ve got all I need,” Chris replied, making something uncomfortable swirl through Ally. He sounded so sure, so confident. And she felt anything but.

“I’m fine,” Ally said. “Thanks for coming to get me.”

“Any time. Take care, Chris.”

She slipped out

of the curtained area, and suddenly Ally was awash with emotion now that they were alone. All the fear she’d felt going to the door when Kendra knocked came rushing back. She had really thought she’d lost him. And it had felt like someone had ripped her heart right out of her chest.

“You scared the hell out of me,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry. But I’m fine, really. I’ll be good as new in no time.”

“You might have been killed.”

Chris’s jaw tightened. “But I wasn’t. Please don’t freak out on me right now, Ally. Not when I’m too doped up to say what I really mean. How’s Moose?”

“I let him out and fed him before I left. I’ll go back later and take him for a good romp. Don’t worry about Moose.”

“Thanks.”