Let Me Burn (Angel Sands 1)

* * *

Ember had left the café and was hurrying to her car when her phone rang. She pulled it out of her bag, her frown deepening when she saw Deenie Russell’s name lighting up the display.

“Hello?”

“Ember? It’s Deenie Russell. I just heard from the station that Lucas’ crew is standing down. The rain has reached the higher ground, and it stopped the flames in their tracks.”

“It has?” Ember said, breathing a sigh of relief. “That’s wonderful, I can’t believe it rained today of all days.”

Deenie gave a little chuckle. “I know. It’s unheard of. But the great news is that the local crews can cope with finishing what’s left, and the White City crews are coming home.”

She felt a warmth blooming in her stomach, radiating out to the rest of her body. “When will he be back?”

“Soon. I reckon if you head over to the station now, you might make it there in time to welcome him.” Deenie’s voice was warm. “If that’s what you want, of course.”

“Don’t you want to go?” Ember asked, feeling awkward about butting in where she wasn’t wanted.

“No. I’m pretty sure it’s not me he’ll want to see when he comes back.” Another chuckle. “Tell him to call me when he’s cleaned up and had some rest. Until then, he’s all yours.”

Was he? Ember felt uncertain. The last time she’d seen him she’d been in shock about Will’s announcement. It seemed as if a lifetime had passed since then.

But it didn’t matter how he felt – or how she felt for that matter. The important thing was that he was coming home. She knew from watching the news programs that he’d be exhausted, messy, and desperate for sleep. Whether he felt as strongly for her or not, she could help him with that.

“I will.” She nodded, her voice resolute. “And thank you for calling me.”

“I did it for him as well as you,” Deenie replied, a smile still in her voice. “Have a good evening, Ember.”

Within minutes she was in her car, heading toward the highway that led to White City. In the distance she could see the rain clouds they’d been talking about, looming grey above the inland mountains. Strange how for most people clouds like that felt ominous and foreboding, because right now she’d never seen anything more beautiful in her life.

* * *

They were a mess. There wasn’t another word for it. Six of them had piled into the fire truck – Lucas’ crew plus a couple extra who were wanting to get home – and every single one of them looked as though they’d been through the wringer. Even with their protective gear removed their bodies were thick with grime and soot, their hair matted and their faces grey thanks to the debris that was still thick in the air.

But his appearance was nothing compared to how messed up he felt inside, dog-tired didn’t begin to cover it. Every muscle in his body ached from constant tree cutting over the past few days. Even his bones were weary. Now that he was sitting down in the truck he wasn’t sure he’d be able to climb out of it again.

“When I get home, I’m falling asleep in the shower,” Mark was saying, leaning his head against the back of his seat. “And then my wife is gonna give me a full body massage with one hand and feed me pizza with the other.”

“Better hope she doesn’t get the two mixed up,” Georgia said. Even the chuckles that came as a result of her words were muted.

“It’s okay for you,” one of the other firefighters said. “My kids are gonna want to hear everything that’s gone on, they won’t let me sleep until I’ve described it in intricate detail.”

“I’ll be thinking of you while I’m sitting in a bath with my boyfriend.” Georgia raised her eyebrows at him. “There’s a bottle of Sauvignon in my refrigerator with my name all over it.”

“I didn’t know your name was Jacob’s Creek.”

Lucas smiled along with the rest of them, then turned his head to look out of the window. They were on the highway, leaving the wildfire – or what was left of it – behind them, heading for the White City station, where they’d all go their separate ways. What would he do? The same as he always did, he guessed. Drive home, clean off the grime, and get some shuteye.

It was easy, it was simple, but it didn’t feel like enough anymore. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy at the way the others were going home to their loved ones. His thoughts turned to Ember, again, and he wondered if she was feeling better yet. Had she seen Will again since the party?

Was she still in love with him?

He’d thought about calling her as he rushed to leave to fight the fire, but he’d hesitated. He’d promised to give her space, to let her call him when she was ready, and he’d decided to do just that.

Lucas sighed as the truck pulled off the highway and onto the main road into White City. Their speed slowed as they entered the built-up area, the tall towers of the financial district looming overhead. He waited for the familiar thrill to hit him – the one he always felt when he was in the big city – and the pride he had that he’d made his way out of Angel Sands.

And yet it wasn’t there, instead he felt a yearning he couldn’t quite put a name on. A need for comfort and warmth and ease. He wanted to bury himself in the woman who’d come to mean so much to him, and never dig his way out again.

The truck took a right, followed by a left, and then they were on the road that led to the station. Lucas could see a news truck out there – waiting to film them as they arrived back, no doubt. There were a few cars, too, friends and families maybe.