Page 98 of Burnin' For You

So they would bring Brownie and Patrick in for a fair trial. In front of the town of Ember.

Reuben considered that it might not, in reality, be so fair.

Kate tapped Conner’s shoulder, and he flung himself from the plane. His canopy billowed out, a light blue against the vault of the sky.

Jed went next, and Reuben watched him fall, nodding to himself when Jed’s square opened.

Kate put a hand on Reuben’s chest before he could go out the door. “Bring him home,” she said.

He nodded, but looked over his shoulder at the pilot, who had her hair pulled back in a cute ponytail.

She glanced back at him, her blue eyes in his.I love you. Come back.

Or he imagined that’s what she said—mostly because she’d said those very words this weekend as they rode together through the moonlit fields of the Triple M. His second time home in two weeks, this time to attend Ford’s football game, the kid following in his big brother’s footsteps.

Then, later that night, under the cascade of stars, he’d taken Gilly in his arms in the barn and asked her to dance.

Keeping his promise. Knowing, finally, exactly what he wanted, no looking back. This life as a firefighter. Gilly. A tomorrow without regrets.

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

But all of this, of course,afterthey found justice for the Jude County Smokejumpers.

He leaped out into the blue, the rush of wind galvanizing him, stirring his pulse. He fell, soaring, arms out, counting.

Jump Thousand.

They’d get on the ground, sneak through the woods and, using Conner’s latest high-tech drone, find Patrick and Brownie.

Look Thousand.

He spotted Pete already on the ground below and Conner drifting out over the landing zone.

Reach Thousand.

Reuben’s hand went around to his chute pull, and he wrapped his grip around the pull, the other hand still out for balance.

Wait Thousand.

Wait and take in the view one last moment. Conner landing safely, Jed drifting down in his wake. The view of Gilly soaring off to his right.

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Pull.

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