“How far is Ben’s place?” Travis asked.
“About four miles.” Another pothole; their bags bounced off the seat and onto the floorboard. She leaned forward, peering into the thick haze. “But it’s mountain road. It’ll take longer than normal.”
“And Gloria and Vernon?” Travis asked. “How far are they from Ben and Liz?”
“They own guest cabins and live in one of their own a mile further up the mountain.”
The dirt road went uphill and Hannah pressed harder on the gas pedal, the engine groaning in response. As the truck ascended higher up the mountain, the orange glow surrounding them deepened and the black smoke grew thicker, turning day into night.
She flipped on the truck’s headlights and their bright glow threw tall trees and bare branches into stark relief against the bright orange backdrop. Wind whistled through the thick underbrush lining the road and dead leaves mixed with falling ash and red embers, swirling in the air and tumbling across the windshield.
The air inside the cab warmed and sweat trickled over her temples. “We’re getting close to Ben’s place.”
A loud crash erupted to the left of the road and Hannah flinched, her hands jerking the steering wheel. The truck swerved to the right, tires spinning wildly over rough terrain as she struggled with the wheel, finally managing to drag the truck back onto the dirt road.
Hannah sat up straighter, her spine stiffening.
The truck cleared the top of the incline and sped down the other side. Small flames appeared on the ground, flickered along the sides of the dirt road, blazing thin trails among fallen leaves and thick bushes. More flames licked high in the treetops.
Hannah’s foot began to tremble against the gas.
“Slow down.”
“What?” Hannah glanced at Travis, his composed expression unnerving her. “Are you crazy?”
He had to be to speak in that low, calm tone of his, completely unfazed when the world was burning down around them.
“I want you to slow down and pull over,” he said quietly.
“You are crazy.” Her breath caught as she scanned the flames spreading beside the road.
Another crash—this time to the left. Her hands shook so badly, she could barely grip the wheel.
“Stop the truck.” Travis’s tone was firm. “I’m gonna take over.”
A humorless laugh burst from her lips. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Dear God, he’d lost his mind, and she was beginning to, but at least arguing with him was a welcome distraction from the flames. “We’re heading right into the middle of a firestorm.”
“I know, and you’re rattled. That’s why I want you to stop.”
“No way. You told me yourself that you don’t drive, and you choose now—this moment—to decide to take it up again?” She scoffed and shook her head. “Forget it.”
“Hannah—”
“No!” She shot him a glare. “I said, forget i—”
A sharp crack split the air and Hannah caught the flash of something falling toward the road. She slammed on the brakes, heard a screech, the snap of activated seat belts, and felt a broad hand slam into her chest just as the truck jerked to a halt, throwing her forward.
The steering wheel flashed closer into her vision, but the strong palm at her chest propelled her back into her seat, the back of her head thumping against the headrest.
She sat still for a moment, staring at the flaming pine tree that lay across the road in front of them, then down at Travis’s strong hand still clamped to the center of her chest. It shook slightly against her.
He slid his hand away as their rapid breaths filled the cab. “Are you okay?”
Heart pounding, she turned her head, met Travis’s dark eyes, wide with concern, and nodded. “I’m good. And we’re stopped, so you can take over now.”
Before he could answer, she unsnapped her seat belt, thrust her door open, and climbed out. Intense heat hit the bare skin of her face and neck, and smoke rushed into her lungs. She doubled over, coughing.
Travis’s arms slid around her from behind, lifted her by the waist, and sat her back inside the truck. She slid over to the passenger seat as he followed her in and shut the door.