Lili jammed her feet into her own hiking boots.
“No,” Sam said. “You’re staying here.”
The fountain of dark hair bounced as Lili’s chin jerked up. “You can’t leave me here! What if the fire comes this way?”
Good point. If the fire turned in this direction, she might not make it back to get Lili. Damn! “Then I’ll have to drop you—”
“Where?” Lili’s voice was shrill. “There isn’t anywhere.”
Sam stared at her, trying to think of a safe place to deposit the child. Her mind was filled with visions of flames licking through the forest, a small fire growing larger by the second. Panic growing as birds and deer and bear circled within the smoke, tree frogs frantically searching for twigs that wouldn’t scorch their skin.
“The trees are burning right now,” Lili said, as if reading her thoughts.
Sam didn’t need to be reminded: her imagination was loud with screams of terrified animals.
“I’ll do exactly what you say.” Lili made the sign of the cross over her chest.
“You bet you will.” Sam blew out the Coleman, stuffed her flashlight and first-aid kit into her daypack. Her fire-retardant suit, along with shovels and Pulaskis, were locked into a metal toolbox in the park’s oldest pickup at the bottom of the tower.
Lili worked in silence, throwing gear and water bottles into her own pack as Sam picked up the radio again. When the dispatcher finally answered, Sam informed her that Lili Choi would be riding with her to Marmot Lake. She heard a sharp intake of breath on the other end.
“No choice,” Sam said into the radio void. “Three-two-five, out.”
~ END OF PREVIEW ~
About the Author
Pamela Beason lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes novels and screenplays and teaches workshops. She has worked in many fields at many different jobs, including as a private investigator. Every chance she gets, she explores the natural world on foot, on cross-country skis or snowshoes, in her kayak, or underwater in her scuba gear.
Books by
Pamela Beason
Sam Westin Mysteries
ENDANGERED
BEAR BAIT
UNDERCURRENTS
Neema Mysteries
THE ONLY WITNESS
THE ONLY CLUE
THE ONLY ONE LEFT – COMING SOON
Langston Green Romantic Suspense Series
SHAKEN
BOOK 2 – COMING SOON
Run for Your Life Young Adult Trilogy
RACE WITH DANGER
RACE TO TRUTH
RACE FOR JUSTICE – COMING SOON
Nonfiction E-books
SO YOU WANT TO BE A PI?
SAVE YOUR MONEY, YOUR SANITY, AND OUR PLANET
Keep up with Pam on her website:
http://pamelabeason.com