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"I’ve heard that before…"

"Well, this tiht No one’s going to drive by a firefighter, even though you could just as easily be an inmate on the run Especially the way you put yourself in the middle of the road--nice touch"

They drove in silence awhile; Jack rehydrated hih speed on the deserted road It was only about fifteen minutes before he came to an intersection with the county road; it would have taken Jack et this far on his ankle--if he didn’t collapse or drop dead first

"There will be cars along this road, don’t worry" He reached behind hirabbed a couple of bottled waters "Stay off the ankle, go slow, ration the water--"

"I’ve been in the desert," Jack said irritably

"Yeah, I know Just wait for a ride I have to go, man That’s all there is to it"

Jack narrowed his eyes "Why can’t you be just a hundred percent good or a hundred percent bad? Why do you have to keep hed "My specialty--confusion Listen--that fire was set I can’t prove it, but all I’ are the facts People died Far as I’ainst the rules"

"I don’t knohat you are, man," Jack said "Half the time I see you, you really piss h And you’re aon your arm But there are shitty marines out there, so I didn’t let that influenceasSince on’t see each other again, it would be better for me if you didn’t talk it around that I picked you up I’d really like to go up in a puff of sht now So to speak"

"I should tell the police what you said, about it being set…"

"You knohat? When they find the source of that fire, there will be a body That body had nothing to do with ossip a lot about this free ride, like I was there, and get so to die And like I said, I consider that against the rules"

Jack grinned Okay--here was a guy as an illegal grower, but couldn’t see lives like crazy, and didn’t mind if the police heard what he’d been up to, but didn’t want the other growers in the area to catch wind…He uy would he have to be to fear the growers , pal Appreciate the ride Slon a little, huh? You’re frickin’ dangerous"

"I’et there? Thanks for the ride Try to stay out of trouble"

Once the truck door was closed, he peeled out, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake

The drizzle continued, stearound; it was still so hot The hottest su forest

Mel wouldn’t leave the porch Doc came to the bar, touched her forehead and asked her if she wouldn’t lie down for just a fewfor Jack"

"The boys said Search and Rescue are coain, to look We can wake you the second soht I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway"

Muriel tried to press a brandy into her hand, but she shook her head She wanted to be sure she could feel everything, because she could still feel hiht as well have his arht in Virgin River, the horrible cabin, the torrential rain, and the brandy from Jack’s bar that warmed her She had snapped at hi, she’d had a terrible day And he had only grinned and said, "Good thing I have the cork out of the Remy, then"

And later, when he’d held her as she cried over her dead husband Then he undressed her, dried her off, gave her that brandy She’d had a huge e You should be proud

His pride in her was the greatest gift He told her often he was proud of the care she gave, proud of her co wherever help was needed When aShe felt herself s

The volume on the TV in the bar was turned up She’d never heard it so loud She knew Jack’s boys weren’t resting, but glued to the news, hoping to catch sohters They took turns on the porch with her, afraid to leave her alone, because they thought she was losing it Quietly and stoically, but losing it "I’m fine," she told the up to leave again, stuffing down sandwiches for fuel, guzzling water to rehydrate Mel accepted water, had her baby brought to her to nurse, held her son for a bottle, but she was determined She stayed on the porch She never once asked if there was any news of Jack

The hters confir notification Talking quietly a themselves, the men conferred about how some notification could be on its way soon, and they would stay on in Virgin River as long as necessary, be there for Mel They would help her lay hi as she needed them, someone would be there

The men had had a break of a couple of hours, food and water, called their families to report that they were unharmed, and were almost ready to take their personal vehicles back to the area and continue the search Joe and Paul each sat on either side of her, occasionally reaching for her hand She stared straight ahead