Silver frowned. “Sorry to hear that.”
For a time, no one spoke as Hawke drove upward along a series of dirt roads. Then off on his right, Joaquin saw them—McBride, Hunter, and Darcangelo. He caught only a glimpse of them, dust from the road obscuring his view.
Hawke drove them upward until they crested a ridge. To the northwest was Ski Scarlet and ahead of them…
“Jesus,” someone muttered.
Smoke filled the sky, gray and angry.
Hawke parked at the top of the ridge, the other trucks parking in a long row behind him. Joaquin piled out with the firefighters, moved to the east side of the road out of the way, and got his camera ready, Hawke shouting out orders to the others.
“The fire is below us. The wind is strong. There’s a lot of unburned fuel between us and an active crown fire. It doesn’t take a genius to know the blaze will cross that valley and run up this mountainside faster than we want it to. Stay aware of the fire’s behavior at all times. One person with their eyes open could save all our lives. Silver, you’re our lookout. I want you up there.” Hawke pointed to an outcropping of rock. “You’ll have an uphill run to safety, so leave sooner rather than later when that thing heads our way.”
A group of firefighters huddled together, holding what looked like gas cans with long wands. They ignited the wands, spread out along the length of the road, some disappearing out of sight, and went to work.
“Let’s show this bitch who’s boss.”
“Yeah!”
It was one of the most interesting things Joaquin had witnessed—like some strange kind of dance involving firefighters, wind, and fire.
Hawke’s crew drizzled live flame onto the dried grasses and shrubs, then let the wind blow it toward the road. When the fire reached the gravel, it went out, leaving a three-foot-wide stretch of blackened land behind it.
The firefighters went forward again, drizzled more flame. Once more, the fire flared up and was carried toward the road. This time it went out when it hit the blackened strip—or “the black,” as they called it.
And Joaquin understood.
They were burning away the fuel that lay in the fire’s path, fighting fire with fire, hoping to stop it in its tracks here before it could reach Scarlet Springs.
He raised his camera and went to work.
“Pleaselet me through.”Kenzie fought not to raise her voice or cry. “I promise, I’ll come straight back.”
She’d gotten a panicked call a few minutes ago from Chip about Crank. Crank, the sweetest pit bull in the world, was home in the evacuation zone while his daddies were at work in Boulder and unable to get to him. She’d promised to get Crank, together with their kitty, Kahlo, and keep them both at the kennel until the men could get off work and make it back to Scarlet. But Julia Marcs wouldn’t let Kenzie through.
“I’m sorry, Kenzie. If I make an exception for you, I’ve got to make an exception for everyone. This fire isn’t a joke.”
“But that’s just it!” Didn’t Julia understand? “If that fire burns their house down, Crank and Kahlo will die.”
The thought sickened Kenzie, fed a growing sense of desperation.
“I’m really sorry, Kenzie. I don’t want that to happen any more than you do, but I really can’t let you put yourself in harm’s way.”
Kenzie nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I know you’re doing your job.”
She loved Crank. He was one of her favorite pooches—a big, silly boy who only wanted to play and be loved. She’d never met Kahlo, the kitty, but she didn’t have to know or love an animal to be concerned for its life.
Julia seemed pensive for a moment, then something in her expression changed. “There are some cops from Denver helping us to clear houses in the evac zone. If you give me Crank’s address, maybe they can make it there in time. I can ask them to bring the animals to the kennel.”
“Thank you!” Kenzie had the address written down on a sticky note and handed it to Julia, who reached into her pocket for her cell phone and called someone named Hunter.
“Thank, man. I appreciate it. Yes, a pit bull named Crank and a kitty named …” Julia looked up at Kenzie.
“Kahlo.”
Julia repeated the name. “Thanks. If you could bring them down to the main roadblock, Kenzie Morgan will be waiting for them. Crank will recognize her.”
“Thanks, Julia. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to them.” Kenzie stepped back, made way for others who wanted to talk to Julia.