Harlequin Heartwarming October 2017 Box Set by Melinda Curtis

Author:Melinda Curtis
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488015700
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWO

SAM BLACKBURN HAD climbed The Eagle Nest so many times in his life that it had lost some of the thrill. Doing it in the fine mist that Sunday afternoon certainly added a degree of difficulty. Still not enough to satisfy the restless urge that had been plaguing him ever since he’d read about the opening for a spot on the Highland firefighting crew out of Colorado. They tackled the most dangerous wildfires out West.

That was the kind of challenge he needed.

Sam dropped down to sit next to Ash Kingfisher. They’d worked together for years and known each other longer than that. If he tried to start a meaningful conversation with Ash at this point, the man in charge of the Otter Lake Ranger Station might give him a hard push right over the edge.

Ash was a good leader but a terrible conversationalist.

The best thing about the rain was that it meant this trail, one of the most popular hikes in the reserve, was deserted. It wouldn’t do much to alleviate the drought that had started in the spring and lasted all summer, but it was nice to remember that rain was still a possibility.

Sam clenched his hands together to keep from twiddling his thumbs and stared out over the trees. Might as well be at the top of the world on a day like today.

“Out with it.” Ash inhaled deeply, his face completely expressionless.

“I’m going to apply for the wildland firefighting crew opening,” Sam blurted as he stared hard in the opposite direction. If Ash sneered, he’d know the guy had even less faith in his chances than Sam did.

“Might as well.” Ash rolled his shoulders and wiped a drop of rain off his forehead.

Then he stretched out the leg that sometimes gave him trouble and moved his foot from side to side. The climb up the rocky top of the mountain was a challenge for most people. Sam spent more time going up and down trails than he did on flat land, but Ash was in the office now.

“Don’t even think it,” Ash muttered.

“What?” Sam asked. He knew there was no way the guy could read his mind, but Ash missed nothing.

“I’m not slowing down a bit.” Ash turned his head slowly to give him a narrow stare.

“Fine.” Sam nervously chewed on his thumbnail and then yanked his hand away. He wasn’t a kid anymore. When he was growing up, Avery Abernathy would have snorted in disgust and pointed at him like he was a baby if she’d caught him chewing his fingernail. “Bad habit. Nerves. Knew a girl once who did the same thing but would deny it until the end of time.” Nervous babbling. No good. Sam clamped his hands together. “How good are my chances?”

Ash sighed. “Gonna be competitive.”

“All the good jobs are. I had to volunteer here for two years before I even got an interview,” Sam said. “That your only concern?”

Ash squeezed his eyes shut. “Are we about to have

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