that? Barely any bars, nothing to do. And the selection of women, I'm sure, leaves plenty to be desired. I'd die of boredom.”
I could practically feel Trey seething through the phone. I'd packed up and moved to Waco soon as I graduated high school. Trey had always been the family favorite, so why bother sticking around?
“I didn't call to argue, Max. Our local fire department's running on a skeleton crew this year. Nothing but volunteers, you know. Fire season's about to hit us, and it's gonna hit hard. We could really use an extra pair of hands.”
I sat up in my chair. “What are you saying?”
“Well, I know you bought that RV a while back. You kept talking about going on that road trip. Remember?”
How could I forget? That was the trip Jayce and I were supposed to take together. We were gonna drive to the west coast and have the time of our lives. Apparently, having a wife and kid disqualified him from having fun anymore.
“I thought maybe if you had some free time, you could come down for a couple weeks and help us out.”
“Help what? Put out wildfires? I got no experience with that kind of thing.”
“They'll teach you. You already have the basics down. Trust me, you're far ahead of most of the other volunteers.”
I laughed at him. “Why do you sound so desperate? This isn't the only reason you want me there, is it?”
He quieted. “No. I'd like to see you. You haven't been back here since...”
“There's a reason for that. You damn well know why, so don't ask.”
“If it's about mom and dad, they moved away. They're living in their home in Cancun now, so you won't have to see them.”
“They moved without telling me?”
“They probably figured you wouldn't care. You haven't called them in years.”
Did I care? No, not really. It just kind of hurt, being left out of the loop like that.
“So what do you say? Come on down, pay your brother a visit and help your hometown put out some fires, too. You won't get paid, but you'll earn a load of good karma.”
I almost said no. I wasn't in the mood for this crap, not right now.
But what about my trip to California? I never went because I never had enough time. Now that I lacked a job, I had all the time in the world.
Bastrop was about two hours south. I could stop in, say hello to Trey, and be on my way. Better that than wasting away here in my living room as I wallowed in self pity over my mistakes.
“I'll think about it.”
“Aw, come on. It'll be like old times. Remember how we used to raft in the Colorado River? Perfect weather for it right now.”
“You bring the beer and then maybe we got a deal.”
“Shiner?”
“Always.”
“You've got it.” His smile was audible. “Just get down here quick, if you can. If the wildfires get bad enough, they might start closing the roads and evacuating folks.”
“Sounds like my dream vacation.”
We hung up, and I sat there for a while, rolling the empty beer bottle from hand to hand. What had I just gotten myself into?
I'd just lost my job, and it wasn't coming back. I needed direction. A sign, something to point me which way I should go next. Not that I was one to believe in such hokey nonsense, but...
Maybe I still had a purpose in life after all.
Chapter 3 - Anna
The chickens weren't happy, and neither was I. No shade, no water, temperature inching up to near 98. Waves of heat rippled off the blacktop as I gazed into the abyss beneath the truck's hood.
Staring at the smoking parts did not, unfortunately, make the vehicle come to life again.
“You old piece of crap.” I kicked the tire. “You want me to send you to the junkyard?”
Threatening it didn't work either.
The hens, safe but annoyed in their cramped crates, clucked their disapproval. One poked its little white head through the slats in the box. She studied me with beady eyes.
“Sorry, girl. This was just supposed to be a short trip. We'll be there soon – I hope.”
Or not. I'd had the bad luck to
I could practically feel Trey seething through the phone. I'd packed up and moved to Waco soon as I graduated high school. Trey had always been the family favorite, so why bother sticking around?
“I didn't call to argue, Max. Our local fire department's running on a skeleton crew this year. Nothing but volunteers, you know. Fire season's about to hit us, and it's gonna hit hard. We could really use an extra pair of hands.”
I sat up in my chair. “What are you saying?”
“Well, I know you bought that RV a while back. You kept talking about going on that road trip. Remember?”
How could I forget? That was the trip Jayce and I were supposed to take together. We were gonna drive to the west coast and have the time of our lives. Apparently, having a wife and kid disqualified him from having fun anymore.
“I thought maybe if you had some free time, you could come down for a couple weeks and help us out.”
“Help what? Put out wildfires? I got no experience with that kind of thing.”
“They'll teach you. You already have the basics down. Trust me, you're far ahead of most of the other volunteers.”
I laughed at him. “Why do you sound so desperate? This isn't the only reason you want me there, is it?”
He quieted. “No. I'd like to see you. You haven't been back here since...”
“There's a reason for that. You damn well know why, so don't ask.”
“If it's about mom and dad, they moved away. They're living in their home in Cancun now, so you won't have to see them.”
“They moved without telling me?”
“They probably figured you wouldn't care. You haven't called them in years.”
Did I care? No, not really. It just kind of hurt, being left out of the loop like that.
“So what do you say? Come on down, pay your brother a visit and help your hometown put out some fires, too. You won't get paid, but you'll earn a load of good karma.”
I almost said no. I wasn't in the mood for this crap, not right now.
But what about my trip to California? I never went because I never had enough time. Now that I lacked a job, I had all the time in the world.
Bastrop was about two hours south. I could stop in, say hello to Trey, and be on my way. Better that than wasting away here in my living room as I wallowed in self pity over my mistakes.
“I'll think about it.”
“Aw, come on. It'll be like old times. Remember how we used to raft in the Colorado River? Perfect weather for it right now.”
“You bring the beer and then maybe we got a deal.”
“Shiner?”
“Always.”
“You've got it.” His smile was audible. “Just get down here quick, if you can. If the wildfires get bad enough, they might start closing the roads and evacuating folks.”
“Sounds like my dream vacation.”
We hung up, and I sat there for a while, rolling the empty beer bottle from hand to hand. What had I just gotten myself into?
I'd just lost my job, and it wasn't coming back. I needed direction. A sign, something to point me which way I should go next. Not that I was one to believe in such hokey nonsense, but...
Maybe I still had a purpose in life after all.
Chapter 3 - Anna
The chickens weren't happy, and neither was I. No shade, no water, temperature inching up to near 98. Waves of heat rippled off the blacktop as I gazed into the abyss beneath the truck's hood.
Staring at the smoking parts did not, unfortunately, make the vehicle come to life again.
“You old piece of crap.” I kicked the tire. “You want me to send you to the junkyard?”
Threatening it didn't work either.
The hens, safe but annoyed in their cramped crates, clucked their disapproval. One poked its little white head through the slats in the box. She studied me with beady eyes.
“Sorry, girl. This was just supposed to be a short trip. We'll be there soon – I hope.”
Or not. I'd had the bad luck to
Similar Books
Flameseeker (Book 3)
R.M. Prioleau
Star One: Tycho City Survival
Raymond L. Weil
Mortal Taste
J. M. Gregson
Play Me Right
Tracy Wolff
Blue Bamboo: Tales by Dazai Osamu
Dazaï Osamu
Objection
Sawyer Bennett
Behind the Veils of Yemen
Audra Grace Shelby
Dark Secret Love
Alison Tyler
Rush
Maya Banks