My Mountain Man’s Desire (Rock Creek #1)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

Griffin

“ W here’s the fire now?” The moment the alarm sounded I knew instinctively what it was and at the same time was pissed at myself for not hauling those stupid dumb ass kids out of the woods by the scruff of their necks when I had the chance.

I glance at the bedroom door. The last thing I want to do is worry Sophie. Not until I know exactly what we’re dealing with.

Briggs doesn’t mince words. “It’s on the south slope and moving fast.”

Out the picture window the sky is black with smoke, but occasionally I can make out orange flares in distance.

“What about the gorge. Dad’s out there with Will at the hunting cabin.” I do some quick mental calculations. It’ll take me too long to get to them. Especially since I don’t know the behaviour of the fire. “You need to send someone out there right away.”

“Already on it, Griff. I sent Ryder to get them.” I should have known he would. My brothers love William like their own. “Right now I’m more worried about you. If the wind changes, you won’t have much time. You’ve got to get out of there. Take the quad and?—”

“I’ll take the truck.”

Putting Sophie on the quad would be too risky. Knowing my son is taken care of, she is my only priority and I’m not going to do anything to put her at risk.

“The truck? That’s not?—”

“I’m not alone. The truck is the only option.” I don’t have time to argue. “I have the radio. I’ll let you know when we’re on the way down.”

Briggs wouldn’t argue. He has too much to do. “Stay safe, Griff.”

I disconnect the call and turn away from the window to see Sophie watching me. “Is it…are we…”

It only takes two strides to cross the room and pull her into my arms. “It’s a forest fire. But we’re going to be fine.”

“Was it my bro—Seth? Was it them?”

I know in my gut it was those morons who started the fire, but there’s no point bringing it up. “It doesn’t matter.” I kiss the top of her head. “Everything is going to be okay. But we have to evacuate. Do you understand?”

She nods and looks up at me with fear in her eyes. But I can also see she’s being brave. “William? Your son is he?—”

“My youngest brother Ryder is on the way to get him now.” Her worry for William was touching. “Right now we’re the only ones in real danger if the wind shifts. With a forest fire you never know what can happen. We need to go. Now.”

Sophie limps to the front door. Her ankle is obviously still bothering her but she doesn’t want to say anything. My brave but stubborn girl. I move as quickly as I can, grabbing the radio and my truck keys before scooping her up in my arms.

The air outside is already thick with smoke. I put Sophie safely in the front seat before jumping into the driver’s side and driving as fast as I can away from the home I’d built with my own two hands. Moments before I round the first corner I peek in the rearview mirror expecting to feel a wave of sadness knowing my house might not be standing when I return.

But to my surprise the grief doesn’t come. William is safe and Sophie is by my side. That’s all that matters.

I reach across the bench seat and take my girl’s hand in mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze as I press down harder on the accelerator.

Sophie

The smoke is so thick it’s hard to breathe the further down the mountain we get. Griff is driving so fast, flying around each bend and curve in the road that it might have terrified me if I didn’t trust him so implicitly.

I’m scared, but at the same time having Griff by my side makes me feel protected and cared for. He’s not going to let anything happen to me. I feel it deep inside.

Griff explained there was only one way down the mountain so we would get a lot closer to the fire before we got away from it, but when the first flames appear I’m not fully prepared for the shot of terror that races through me.

Right next to the road there are pockets of flames as brush burned around us.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. These are just hot spots. The fire is still?—”

“Griff. Griff. Come in.”

He put’s his arm out to brace me as he slams on the brakes and reaches for the radio. “What’s going on?” he asks into the radio.

“The wind shifted.”

Three little words, but I know they’re bad.

Before Griff can respond, the voice on the radio speaks again. “The fire jumped the road. If you’re not down the mountain yet?—”

“We’re not.”

“Shit, Griff. You’re going to have to?—”

“I’ve got this.” Griff barks into the radio. “We’ll be down right away.” He tosses the radio on the dashboard and grabbs my hand again.

“Griff?”

“Do you trust me?”

“With my life.” There’s no hesitation.

He pulls me toward him and slams his mouth against mine in a rough kiss. “I love you, sweetheart. Do you feel it?”

Tears spring to my eyes because I feel his love with my entire body. “I do.”

“Everything is going to be okay.” He cups my cheek with his big, strong hand. “Do you know how I know?”

I swallow hard and stare at him unable to answer.

“Because I know that you and me are meant to be together and now that I’ve found you, there is nothing that will stop us from being together.”

I suck a breath into my lungs and bite my bottom lip a little. “I love you, too, Griff.”

“Fuck ya you do.” He kisses me hard and pulls away to once more put the truck in gear.

“I need you to hold on, sweetheart. This is going to be fast.”

Fast was an understatement. I do as he asks and brace myself in the front seat as Griff flies down the gravel road, straight into the flames of the fire.

It’s just like I imagine it must be to drive through hell. All around us trees are burning. The smoke is impossibly thick. How Griff can even see to stay on the road in front of us, I’ll never know. The roar of the fire is deafening and for an instant if feels as all my sensations have been taken away from me.

And then as quickly as it began, it’s over. The truck bursts through the smoke and onto the highway. All at once my senses return to me but Griff doesn’t slow down until we see the sign announcing our arrival into the town limits of Rock Creek.

Griff pulls the truck into the parking lot of The Den, throws the truck in park and a moment later scoops me up from the front seat of the truck.

He kisses me quickly when I wrap my arms around his neck and let him carry me inside where he settles me into a booth before disappearing into the kitchen leaving me alone.