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"Aw, fuck," Paul said He got tears in his eyes "That wouldn’t happen" He looked at Joe "After all we’ve gotten through? That wouldn’t happen, would it?"

"Nah Couldn’t"

The firefighters and volunteers moved down the line to a new location, but now that the fire was in River, other crews to the northere taking over A few hours later, the sun setting, the chief was ready to pull his cain River, relocate the base cain River volunteers houre out where he is"

"No one came out the other side, Preach And he’s not here I think maybe--"

"No," Preacher said "No HeWe’ll go back to wherehiet, set up a peri That clear?"

It was quiet for a moment until someone said, "Clear, Preach That’s e’ll do"

By five o’clock, the firefighters were in River, but the , finally rown eerily quiet and by seven, clouds began to roll in froht the children back to town and Mel was at long last able to nurse Emma and cuddle David for a while She settled thee’s quarters Walt and Muriel continued to work the kitchen and bar, keeping an eye on the TV for local news updates, convinced that the ry By ten o’clock, still no word from their men, Mel saw the first few drops of rain fall on the dusty street outside the bar She leaned out of the porch with her palreet She stayed on the porch and watched, the smell of rain like the answer to a prayer

She sat in one of the Adirondack chairs on Jack’s porch and remembered the early days, before she married Jack, before the babies came Back when she was alone and sure she’d never have love in her life again Jack, so large and powerful, could have swept her up in his strong arentle He’d waited for her to say it was ti that didn’t hurt And then his hands on her, his lips, had drawn fro response she’d ever felt A love so sure, so dependable, so constant Jack didn’t do anything halfway He’d been a carefree bachelor, a lover of ed only to her A co while you’re my wife It’s my job to ht now, Jack, she thought

At ht, she stuck her head into the bar and found Muriel slumped in a chair with her head on the table while Walt still stood behind the bar, watching the news on the new TV Ready Waiting "Go lie down somewhere, Mel," he said "I’ll call you the second they co on the news?" she asked

"They’re saying the fire’s contained And noith the rain, they should be on top of it before long"

"Then why aren’t they back?" she asked

"Maybe they’re still needed for so Go Sleep"

Jack never slept while she worked, just in case she needed him--which she sometimes had She shook her head "I won’t sleep until I have my man back," she said "He’s on his way" Inside, she could feel each step he took toward her, though her heart was beating suspiciously fast But she was sure He was on his way Maybe he was out there looking for someone…

She remembered the first time she’d met these remarkable men, these marines ould never abandon each other She fell instantly under their collective spell--their humor, camaraderie, pure zest for life, theseforth They were fun and lusty, brave and loyal Jack had proudly sent Rick off to become one of them

Jack had fathered Rick in every way he could, with as ive the fruit of his own loins She re his own child, his heart breaking into pieces Herhis chest didn’t explode

I’ll never let you go, Mel I want you to trust me, you know you’re safe with h there was no one to hear "I love you I trust you And I know you--you’ll never give up"

He had saved her life when it was bleeding out of her after Emma’s birth She was only se words You’re my life! Don’t do this, Mel Stay with me Don’t you leave me!

"Don’t you leave et rid ofon the porch, alert She had spent a very long night thinking about her husband He had so erous expression for an enemy, a threat A soft and tender expression when he turned his eyes to her A sweet pride when he held their children A joyful gleam when he ith his friends

She remembered when he had first talked her into those stolen kisses, deep and ful and passionate It had been hard to resist hi And how fortuitous, because that saiven her the children--she just couldn’t say no to Jack His love was blinding, it was so bold

Finally, finally, a truck pulled into town, a farmer’s truck In the back sat their men, dirty and exhausted She stood on the porch and watched as one by one, they crumbled out of the truck Mike came up the porch steps The black ash on his face was split by damp tracks of tears