Married For Jeremy (Under Fire Book 1) (7 page)

              Scooter had to be going crazy at home alone. Ellen left the apartment and headed back to the cabin.

              Anna folded her hands over her open bible. “Dearest Father in Heaven, be with my boy tonight. Give him strength and wisdom to know what to do. We know it’s your world, but Lord we pray you’ll keep the damage to a minimum and be with the people involved. Remind them that you reign over their lives and that their possessions are only earthly. Please allow lives to be touched in a positive way. In Your Name, amen.”

              The log cabin really had become home to her. Ellen got out of her car. The apartment had seemed lonely and sterile, not homey and familiar like the log house. Scooter barked frantically as she unlocked the door and was a wiggling ball of energy as she let him out of his cage and outside. She sat on the steps and watched the dog romping around the front lawn. When the retriever finally calmed down, Ellen headed into the house and checked the television again. There wasn’t any new news on the fire, so she gave Scooter a dog treat and put him to bed, then got ready for bed herself.

              “James, Zack, you two know anything about cows?”

              James wearily set his pack down and looked at the Chief. “I can fake it.”

              “What about you Zack?”

              “Not a thing. Why?”

              “I’ve just met with the farmer east of here and warned him we may need him to evacuate if the wind changes at all. He’s going to move his heifers and dry cows south to another pasture and try to leave the milking herd here as long as possible. I thought I’d send a few of you that way to help him out, then you can help with the other evacuations on that road.”

              “Sure Chief.”

              Roy met them as they headed to Truck 77. “Comin’ with me on cow detail?” he asked.

              “Apparently.” James replied, hopping into the passenger seat.

              Zack climbed into the backseat. “I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do. I don’t really do cows.”

              “It’s easy, Chief said the guy has called some buddies and could just use a couple guys to help him herd them onto the trailers.”

              “What do you know about cows?”

              “I used to be in 4-H.” Roy put the truck in gear and they took off.

              “Is there anything you haven’t done?” Zack asked.

              “I haven’t been skydiving, my wife won’t let me.”

              “We’ll now go to our correspondent, Laura Hilton, on the scene at Maple Valley Road. Laura.” Ellen watched the screen shift from the news anchor to the brunette reporter.

              “George, I’m here on the scene of one of the evacuations on Maple Valley Road. A road potentially in the path of the wildfire. Firefighters, Police and members of the Red Cross are helping people evacuate and move to safe places in town. As you can see, some properties are more complicated than others. Behind me is Tom Barker’s dairy farm. We were unable to interview Mr. Barker as he is involved moving seventy young cows to safe pasture south of this location. As you can see behind me, firefighters are getting their hands dirty helping herd animals onto waiting trailers.”

              Ellen leaned forward at the sight of three firefighters in red coveralls encouraging the Holsteins onto a large aluminum stock trailer. She caught her breath as she saw James slam the trailer door and latch it. The brief glimpse she got of her husband’s face showed him to be sweat drenched and sooty. Why hadn’t she been more understanding? James was out there helping people, probably thinking she was still mad at him.

Chapter 7

              James didn’t think he could stand up any longer. He drained another bottle of water, then gratefully climbed up onto a truck. The Captain had offered him a break and he hadn’t even thought to refuse. He rested his head against the dashboard and was asleep almost instantly. It had been three days of hard labour and very little sleep, but the fire was contained now and hadn’t actually reached any residential buildings. A couple of hunting cabins had been burned in the path, but otherwise, the damage was limited to trees and brush. The forest would come back stronger.

              Four days after discovering the fire, James stumbled through the front door. Scooter dove at his legs. “Sorry Boy, but I’m not in the mood.” He looked up through watery eyes to see Ellen. “Hey, thanks for taking care of the dog.” His Grandmother had left him a message on his cell phone the morning after the fire started to let him know Ellen would be taking care of his dog. It had saved him the trouble of finding someone else to let Scooter out.

              “It was the least I could do.” Ellen replied quietly. “Are you okay?”

              “I was going to hit the shower, but I think I’ll just fall asleep and drown myself if I do.”

              “Then go to bed. If you’re that dirty, you can just wash your sheets later.”

              “I think I will.” James headed for his bedroom.

              James slept all night and most of the next day. Ellen was started to worry about him when he finally came out late in the afternoon.

              After a long shower, he came out to the kitchen.

              “Are you hungry?” Ellen was at the sink washing dishes.

              “Starving.” James rummaged in the fridge.

              Ellen came up behind him. “There’s some leftover spaghetti, or enough roast beef to make a hot sandwich, you just have to warm up the gravy.”

              “Spaghetti and roast beef, sounds wonderful.” James grabbed all three containers.

              “You’re not actually going to eat all of that are you?”

              “You bet I am. I haven’t eaten real food in four days. Or is it five now? What day is it anyway?”

              “Thursday.”

              “I see. I guess I should phone Dave and see if I still have a job.”

              “Doesn’t he understand when you’re away?”

              “Yeah, but I haven’t been absent for five days before.” James dumped the spaghetti onto a plate, then arranged meat on a slice of bread and spread cold gravy over it. “I bet this would taste good even if I didn’t warm it up.”

              “James, that’s gross. It’ll take 2 minutes in the microwave, you can wait that long.”

              “Fine.” James put the plate in the microwave and programmed it. Leaning against the counter, he turned back to Ellen. “So, are you still mad at me?”

              Ellen shook her head. “No, I stopped being mad about two hours after I left.” She sat down in a kitchen chair. “And, I gave up the lease on my apartment yesterday.”

              “You’re kidding me.”

              “No, but if that’s a problem, I’ll find somewhere else.”

              “No, it’s okay, I’m just surprised.” The microwave beeped and James turned around to take his plate out. He set the plate on the table and sat down. “Why?”

              “I realized that this is my home now. I’m married to you for better or for worse, and having somewhere I can run to is just a temptation I don’t need.”

              James twirled his fork in his spaghetti. “Do you think we’ll ever work this out?”

              “I don’t know, but I know we do have to keep trying.”

              “I’m leaving for church James, are you sure you don’t want to come?”

              “Positive.” James crossed his arms across his chest. “Mass is one thing, but you’ve gotta be crazy to want to go to one of those other churches.”

              “This one is different. I like it. I put some soup on the stove, add some macaroni to it if you want.”

              “Okay.”

              Ellen put her coat on and headed for her car. Soon she wouldn’t need a coat. The breeze on her face had a warmth it hadn’t had before. It felt strange to be missing mass, but at the same time, she felt like she’d be missing out if she didn’t go to this church. Sitting in the pew, she tried to follow the hymns, but most of them were still new to her. A deacon made the weekly announcements, then the Pastor got up to preach.

              Ellen was mesmerized as he spoke. He said he’d been led to go back to the basics of Christianity and lay some foundation. He told of how God had made the world perfect, then Adam and Eve had sinned, making it necessary for someone to redeem mankind. He went on to the story of Jesus’ death on the cross and how His sacrifice made a way for people to commune with God. As he finished his sermon, he offered the congregation a chance to come to the altar and dedicate or re-dedicate their lives to Christ. Ellen sat quietly as the pianist began to play. A few people went forward. She felt almost as if she was being pulled in that direction. Then it was as if a voice quietly whispered. “Come to Me.” Taking a deep breath, Ellen stood up and walked down the aisle.

              “How was church?” James asked dryly when she walked through the door.

              “Wonderful.” Ellen knew her life had changed that morning. “I gave my heart to Jesus.”

              “You what?” James didn’t look impressed.

              “The Pastor was talking about how we’re sinners, and we need Jesus to get to heaven. I prayed. It was amazing. I feel like I found what I’ve been missing all my life.”

              “I’m glad you feel that way. Can we eat?”

              “Don’t you care James? You could have Jesus too, He can change our lives.”

              “I think I’m good Ellen. Do whatever you want, but I’ve had enough church to last the rest of my life, so leave me out of it.”

              Ellen was a little crushed, but decided to wait and see if he came around.

              Ellen didn’t realize James wasn’t in the house until after she’d had breakfast and he came through the front door. “James, where have you been?”

              “Structure fire. Place was finished when we got there, but I ended up in a pack on a hoseline almost all night.”              

              His voice was slurred from fatigue. Ellen moved toward him. “Are you still coming to church?”

              “I think I’ll just hit the shower then get some sleep, I’m wiped out.”

              “But you promised.” Ellen almost felt angry, but by the streaks of soot and his sweat soaked shirt, she didn’t want to push him too hard.

              “I’ll go some other time.” He brushed past her, heading for the bathroom.

              Feeling a little disappointed, Ellen got ready for church herself.  James was already sound asleep when she left.

              “Will you come to church next Sunday?” Ellen asked cheerfully that afternoon. James had woke up just as she was getting lunch ready.

              “I don’t know, I don’t think I want to go to church,” he said flatly.

              “But you promised.”

              “I did not promise.”

              “I thought you did.”

              “Well you thought wrong.”

              “You are so stubborn.”

              James didn’t say anything. Ellen cut him a piece of meatloaf and spooned out some mashed potatoes and green beans. She set the plate in front of him and he ate silently.

              “Are these potatoes from a box?” he said roughly.

              “Yes, I didn’t exactly have time to peel the real thing this morning.” 

              “I guess not.” James took another bite. “It’s not that they’re bad, they’re just...”              

              “From a box?”

              “Yeah.”

              “Aren’t you used to that? You’ve only got thirty cans from every food group in your cupboard,” Ellen said wryly.

              “I know, but you can get snowed in real good up here. It never hurts to be prepared.”

              “Really?”

              “Yeah. How long have you been up here?”

              Ellen thought for a moment, “Almost four months.”

              “You’re in for a surprise when winter really gets here then.”

              “What do you mean?”

              James put his fork down. “Well, you can’t live in a northern part of the Canadian shield without getting huge snowstorms several times a year.”

              “So we might get stuck here?”

              “Yeah. Stuck here.” James smiled. “Together.” He picked up his fork again. “Maybe someday that’ll actually be a good thing.”

              James didn’t mention church for three weeks and Ellen didn’t want to bring it up because she knew he’d probably get angry. She knew she needed to get some supper ready for him, but felt too sick to get off the couch. Her book said this shouldn’t last past the first trimester and that was over in another week so she hoped this would end soon.

              She put her hand on her abdomen where the tiny bump had started. “You know you’re a piece of work,” she said quietly. She heard James’s truck pull into the driveway, then heard the screen door squeak.

              “Ellen? Sorry I’m late.” James looked around for her. “Oh, there you are. Are you okay?”

              “I’m feeling pretty sick.”

              “That sucks, can I do anything for you?”

              “No, but you’ll have to make your own supper.”

              “That’s fine. I got you something.” James reached into his pocket.

              “What?”

              “These.” He handed her a package. “They’re sea-bands. They’re supposed to help with morning sickness.”

              “How?”

              “I don’t know, but it was a slow day at work, so I googled it and it was the one thing you’re not already doing. Wearing them is supposed to help and I figured it couldn’t hurt.”

              “You googled morning sickness?”

              “Yeah.”

              “Thank you,” Ellen said quietly. “I just don’t understand why you care.”

              James knelt down in front of her. “You live here, so you’re my responsibility and I hate seeing you feeling so sick. It’s not fair.” He brushed her hair out of her eyes. “You don’t have to use them,” he gestured the package. “But it might be worth a try.” James stood up and headed for the kitchen.

              James didn’t want to cook anything because he was afraid the smell would bother Ellen, so he got out a box of cereal and after a couple bowls, knew there was something he had to do.

              “Ellen, are you still awake?” James walked back to the couch.

              “Yeah.”

              “Um, if you’re feeling better in the morning, I’d, well, like to go to church with you.” He shoved his hands into his pockets.

              “Are you serious this time?” Ellen sat up and looked at him.

              “Yeah.”

              “All right. I leave at nine-thirty.”

              “I’ll be ready, unless I get a call again.”

              “Okay.”

              James woke up slowly, then remembered he was going to church for the first time in almost ten years. He found Ellen at the table with some apple juice and realized his own stomach felt unsettled. In a few hours, he’d be sitting in a pew, on display for anyone who wanted to see into his past and make expectations of what he should be.

              He put some bread in the toaster, then turned to Ellen. “Are you any better this morning?”

              “Much. These really help.” She held up her wrists to show him the bands. “Can you make me a piece of toast while you’re up?”

              “Sure.”

              “Do you want some coffee? I’ll start a pot if you want.”

              “I think I’ll pass.”

              “Since when do you skip coffee?” Ellen asked laughing.

              “I just don’t want any this morning. The caffeine will probably make me jumpy.”

              James put the first pieces of toast on a plate and handed it to Ellen, then made more for himself. Too soon it was time to get dressed for church. Ellen was already in her room getting dressed, so James quickly changed, then slipped the two gold bands into his shirt pocket and went to find her.

              Ellen tried on a third shirt. She was wearing maternity pants now, and it was hard to find a shirt that didn’t at least suggest she was expecting. She heard James knock on the door as she took the shirt off and set it with the rest.