Refining Fire Read Free Page A

refused.
    â€œSo have you decided what you’re going to do?”
    Thane looked up from his cup and met Wade’s gaze. “I suppose I’ll just go on working as I always have. I don’t expect Mr. Taylor to understand my need for a raise. He doesn’t care that I intend to do more with my life than just mend boats.”
    â€œMaybe they will hire you into a paid position at the fire department. After all, you did say they were doing more of that these days.”
    â€œYes, but you have to know someone to get those jobs. I might one day find a sponsor to help me get one of the lower positions, but that will still take time. This city has so much to do regarding fire safety, and it has little money to spare. The City Council has its hands full trying to figure out how to get a better water flow throughout the city.”
    Thane pushed his hand back through his wavy red hair. He’d lived in Seattle for ten years and in all that time had worked for Mr. Taylor, learning to repair small sea craft. His real interest had changed, however, when one of the customers convinced him to become a volunteer fireman. There was something about working in that capacity that made him feel alive—worthwhile. Almost like the past would never matter, even if the truth were told.
    Wade returned from pouring them both more coffee. “I read that the pressure isn’t enough to reach all of downtown. Sounds like a major problem waiting to happen.”
    The protests had been many, and Thane had been known to raise his own concerns. “The wooden mains are too small and feed too many hydrants. That makes the water pressure unreliable. If there is more than one fire at a time, there is never enough water.” He got up and pulled on his coat. “You’d think being a harbor town would resolve all issues for extinguishing fires, but when the tide is out, there are very few streets from which the pumps can reach any substantial amount of water. It makes working as a volunteer fireman quite a questionable adventure.” He drank the lukewarm coffee in one gulp.
    â€œI can see that.” Wade wrapped Thane’s winnings in a section of newspaper and handed the package over. “I’m just glad we have men like you on the force.”
    Thane tucked the cookies under his coat. “Well, they won’t have me or anyone else for long if the council doesn’t figure out how to resolve some of these issues.”
    He left Wade’s and started back to his small apartment not far from the docks. The cold air nipped at his bearded face. Maybe it was time to leave Seattle. Maybe go south. He’d heard great things about Portland and even San Francisco. The latter would surely always need another fireman.
    He noticed a couple of old men hunkered over a small fire. They were wearing ragged clothes, and from the look of it hadn’t bothered to groom themselves in some time. Was that all that Thane had in store for his future? What about family? Surely there were happy ones out there somewhere.
    â€œHey, fella, got some change for a pint? Need a bottle to help ward off the cold,” one of the men said as he passed.
    Thane handed him the only change he had. “Better to get a meal, friend.”
    The old man smiled a mostly toothless grin. “Gin goes down easier. Thank ya kindly.”
    Thane shrugged. It was the old man’s business what he did with the money . . . and with his life. Just as it was up to Thane to decide his own future. Unfortunately, the past weighed heavy against him, and he did well just to survive the present.

2

    B y Sunday Militine felt able to once again deal with church and the idea that God existed and cared for her well-being. There were certainly worse things to ponder, and today was a day of rest. There would be no tiresome cooking and sewing classes, nor studies on table settings and flower arrangements.
    Abrianna arrived at her door just as