Opal came out of the house to sit by her on the love seat. She was still in her night clothes which involved baggy old sweats that had seen a thousand washings.
“How are you?” Opal said. “I’m worried about smoke inhalation. We should take you in to the hospital so they can check you over.”
“Jake said he’d take me later. Right now I can’t move. I’ll be okay.”
“But you don’t know. You need to get yourself checked.”
“Who’s that coming?” Fiona said, her attention drawn to a dust cloud in the road.
“Maybe Rosemary. That looks like her rig. If it is, Esme will be with her. They’re always together.”
The rig pulled up in front and stopped. Rosemary and Esme got out, armed with plastic grocery bags.
“Fiona, we are so sorry,” said Rosemary. “We came as soon as we heard and brought you some clothes because someone said you lost everything.”
They dumped the stuffed plastic bags at Fiona’s feet like offerings to a goddess. Fiona was overwhelmed with the kindness and buried her face in her hands.
Rosemary hunkered down beside her. “Hey, gal. You just cry yourself silly. That’s an awful thing happened. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel if you just cry it out.”
Esme looked toward the smoldering knoll. “That is amazing. What could have caused it? There’s nothing up there to set a fire except maybe the little propane stove. There weren’t any storms in the area last night.”
Opal said, “She wasn’t cooking. She said she was working on her computer, and she heard noises, and the next thing she knew the place was in flames.”
“Someone set that fire,” said Rosemary. “I just know it. It wasn’t any ghost either.”
“It’s mighty suspicious how quick it went,” said Opal.
“Is anyone going to investigate?” said Esme.
“Hoover is on his way,” said Opal. “He’ll get to the bottom of this. Someone set that fire.”
Jake came around the side of the house, wiping his hands on a rag. “I got the pump working. You should have water in the house. Fiona can shower.”
She used the blanket to wipe away her tears. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”
“I do,” Jake said. “You had a brush with death. That’s a crying situation if you ask me.”
She looked at him. “Thank you for coming to the rescue.” The smile she managed didn’t do justice to how she felt. “I wouldn’t have made it if you hadn’t helped me.” Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands.
Jake moved to place a hand on her shoulder then stroked her hair. He didn’t say anything.
Rosemary cleared her throat like she was about to cry herself. “Let’s get you cleaned up. You’ll feel better.”
“Yes,” said Opal, “we need to take her into town to have her checked over at the hospital. She could have lung damage.”
“I’ll take her,” said Jake. “You gals help Fiona. I’ll clean up get the boys started on the day’s chores.”
Fiona said, “Could someone see if any of my clothes made it out the door? I tried to toss them out. I don’t know where anything landed.”
“I’ll go look,” said Esme. “I’ll see what I can find.”
Jake helped Fiona into the house. Her muscles were sore, and she was so shaky from the ordeal she could barely walk. She was thankful for the support of these wonderful people. Beyond that she couldn’t think and didn’t care.
By the time she had showered and shampooed, Rosemary had put together an outfit for her to wear from the clothes they brought, which involved jeans and a long sleeve western cut blouse. She felt somewhat restored but her throat was sore, and her head ached. Esme found some of her clothes scattered across the sagebrush and rocks at the back of the bunk house, and she had found her purse which Fiona didn’t remember throwing out the door. Her cell phone worked because her friend, Olympia, called as she was going through the contents of her purse which doubled as an emergency preparedness kit. Olympia had plenty of news to report, and she launched in before Fiona could put her thoughts together.
“My latest title hit the New York Times bestseller list at No. 1. Isn’t that thrilling, Fiona? I’m so thrilled. Aren’t you thrilled?” She didn’t pause for a reaction but gushed on. “I finished my next novel and sent it off to my agent and editor. They are thrilled with it. They say it is another No. 1 best seller for sure. It’s in production. Isn’t that thrilling, Fiona? I’m ready for a vacation, and I’m coming to see you, aren’t you thrilled? I bought plane tickets to Portland, and I’ll be there tomorrow. Fiona? You aren’t saying anything.”
Fiona sighed. Sometimes she needed a strong drink to deal with Olympia, and it was too early in the day. “Olympia, how many times have you been on a best seller list?”
“Hundreds, dear. Hundreds and hundreds, maybe thousands, but every time is like the first time.” She let go with a huge guffaw that usually got Fiona going but not today.
“Fiona? What is wrong? Are you okay?”
“No.”
“Tell me what is wrong this instant.”
“Everything.”
“Don’t you worry. I’m coming out to see your new place, and we’ll kick back and have ourselves a great time. It will be just like margaritas on the beach in Australia.”
“Olympia, will you please slow down? There is no house. It burned down. And Portland is nowhere near Rocky Point.”
“I’ll rent a car and drive. You know how I love to drive. I’ll find you.” She paused. “What do you mean the house burned down?”
“Just what I said. It’s a long story. I got to go. Talking makes my throat hurt. I’m going to the hospital to get checked out.”
“What? What hospital?”
“I’ll tell you the whole sad tale when you get here.”
“Wait. One more question. What about Mr. Hunky?”
“He’s alive and well. Good thing. He’s the one who rescued me.”
Five
Jake sat in the emergency room waiting area with Fiona, holding her slender hand in his tough skinned one. She looked dazed but beautiful. He touched her dark, shiny hair, and she smiled at him. He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t good at this kind of thing.
“Would you like coffee?” he asked her, wanting to say something, anything to communicate with her to try to take the dazed look from her eyes.
“Sure.” Her voice was hoarse. She could barely get past a whisper.
He came back with two cups of coffee and handed her one. She took it with a small smile. His heart warmed his lips into a smile. They sat in silence, waiting her turn. A young mother tried to quiet her crying child. An old couple sat stoically, the man’s face pinched and drawn.
Finally, Fiona said in a hoarse whisper, “What am I going to do?”
“Rebuild,” said Jake, not missing a beat. He sensed that had to be the big question on her mind. “That old place wasn’t worth fixing up. I never liked it anyway.”
“All I have is a burned piece of ground, a burned tree and a pile of rubble.” She sighed over a sip off coffee.
He didn’t want to say she was feeling sorry for herself because she had every right to be. He tried to cast a positive light on the situation. “Look at it this way. Be glad none of the repair work had started. You aren’t out that. The spot has a great view. You can do something interesting with it. You’re talented.”
She sighed again and couldn’t seem to muster the energy to talk.
A nurse came through the door. “Miss Marlowe? Come this way, please.”
Fiona followed the nurse inside. Even her walk was forlorn. He waited, finished his coffee, wondering what to do. He was as much at a loss as Fiona. He was glad her friend, Olympia, was coming. That would cheer her up. He rose to get another cup of coffee in the waiting area of the new, fancy hospital that had recently opened. Everything smelled new, including the coffee.