Where There's Smoke

Fergus Winston had arrived, Lara noticed. He was holding his wife in his arms. Darcy was gripping the lapels of his coat and crying copiously. “You’re sure, Fergus? You swear to God?”

“I swear. Heather called to tell me that they were having an extra cheerleading practice tonight. I gave her permission to leave her shift early.”

“Oh, Jesus, thank you. Thank you.” Darcy collapsed against him.

He held her close, smoothing back her hair, stroking her tear-ravaged cheeks, assuring her that their daughter was safe. But his long, sad face and woebegone eyes reflected the light from the fire that was rapidly consuming his business.

When the clap and clatter of helicopter blades reached her ears, Lara looked skyward. A Flight for Life helicopter had arrived. Minutes later it lifted off with two patients aboard. Shortly after that, Key landed the private helicopter he’d borrowed before to transport Letty Leonard. Lara directed two women who had sustained severe cuts and bruises from a blown-out window to the chopper.

“Have you seen Janellen?” he shouted over the racket. Lara shook her head. “Our housekeeper said she went to Longview.” He shrugged. “No one at Tackett Oil can locate Bowie either.”

“If she shows up, I’ll tell her you’re looking for her.”

He gave her a thumbs-up sign. “I’ll be back when I can.” The chopper lifted off.

Lara returned to her task, which she worked at unceasingly until time had no relevance. She measured it only by the number of survivors she could keep alive or make more comfortable until they could be transferred to a hospital. She tried not to think about those whom she could not save.

She wasn’t without volunteer help. Jimmy Bradley and his wife of two weeks, Helen Berry, arrived and offered her their assistance. So did Ollie Hoskins. Her form

er nurse, Nancy Baker, was a most welcome sight. She was able, quick, and experienced enough to handle even the most gruesome injuries. Other townsfolk who had previously shunned her volunteered their services. She didn’t refuse anyone’s help.

That night the motel had been staffed by six employees. The total number of guests occupying rooms was eighty-nine—and two that no one knew about.

Bowie Cato carried his bride over the threshold of the honeymoon suite in the downtown Shreveport hotel.

“Oh, Bowie, it’s beautiful.” Janellen admired the skyline view as he set her down in the center of the room.

“I shopped around. When I heard about this place, I had to get written permission from my parole officer to come over here on account of it being in Louisiana.”

“You went to a lot of trouble.”

“It was worth it if you like it.”

“I love it.”

“For what it’s costing, we might not eat for the first month of our married life.”

She laughed and placed her arms around his waist. “If you ask your boss nicely, I bet you’ll get a raise.”

“There’s not going to be any favoritism to me just ’cause I’m the boss lady’s husband,” he said sternly. “I’m no gold digger. I made that plain the night I talked myself right out of an affair and into an elopement.” He shook his head in bafflement. “Still can’t quite figure how that happened.”

“You refused to let me be gossiped about like I was trash. And I said the solution to that was for us to get married.”

He worriedly gnawed the inside of his cheek. “Your mama might have it annulled.”

“She can’t. I’m a grown-up.”

“Key might shoot me.”

“I’ll shoot him back.”

“Don’t joke about it. I hate like hell to come between you and your family.”

“I love them, but nothing is as important to me as you are, Bowie. For better or worse, you’re my husband now.” She coyly ducked her head. “Or you will be as soon as you stop talking and take me to bed.”

In high heels, she was as tall as he. Leaning forward, she kissed him lightly on the lips. He made a grunt of acquiescence and took her into his arms, drawing her close for a deep kiss. He became fully aroused almost immediately and stepped back self-consciously. “Want me to leave you alone for a while?”

“What for?”