The Daring Storm Chaser - Page 11

“Local law enforcement told us this serves as the shelter for the town.”

“It does. Thanks for helping us round everyone up. My guys and I are prepared for the worst, but it’s a relief to know that most of Main Street has sought shelter.”

“Happy to help,” I tell him.

“I could use another strong set of arms to move some cots and chairs if you don’t mind.”

Marjorie brushes my arm away from her head. “I’d like to help, too.”

Griff points to a pretty woman in a business suit. “My sister-in-law, Cressida, has access to the first-aid kit. She’ll get you a bandage for your cut, and then she’ll put you to work.”

Marjorie surprises me when she stands on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on my lips before dashing off to see Cressida. After I help move some furniture, I find her again. She has a band-aid on her head and is holding a clipboard.

“What are you doing?” I ask her.

“What I do best,” she says, smiling. “Organizing. I met a woman named Cressida who thinks the same way I do. We’re working on getting a headcount, plus the names and ages of everyone here, as well as an inventory of supplies. We want to—”

A shrill siren howls outside. “The tornado siren!” I pull Marjorie to the ground, covering her body with mine. The firehouse is fortified and should be safe, but my instinct to protect the woman I love overwhelms my senses.

The woman I love.

I love Marjorie Raynes.

She clutches my shirt. “Oz…”

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I assure her. “It’s going to be okay.”

The lights flicker and then go out, plunging the room into darkness. A few people shriek in terror, but others whisper soothing words of encouragement and support.

Outside, the wind howls, sounding like a hundred freight trains. I wrap my arms more tightly around Marjorie, whispering to her again that we’ll be okay.

I don’t tell her that the rest of the town won’t be.

This little town that we’ve both grown so fond of is going to have a ton of damage.

Chapter 8

Marjorie

The fire station’s emergency backup lights kick on, filling the room with an eerie green glow. The wind stops howling outside and everyone glances around fearfully at each other.

“Everyone okay?” the fire chief yells to the crowd. People throughout the room murmur that they’re okay.

“We’re going to open the doors now,” the fireman says, “but I’m going to ask everyone to stay put for now, okay? Let us survey the damage first to check for downed power lines and other hazards.” He gestures for Oz to join him and the other firemen. Oz starts to pull his hand away from mine, but I grip him tightly.

“It’s okay,” he whispers soothingly. I believe him, but I’m not willing to let him out of my sight. Not yet.

We walk together to the front of the firehouse. The garage doors are raised, and outside, it looks like a bomb went off. There are flipped cars, pulverized buildings, and twisted trees. The bakery down the street is nothing but a pile of rubble. The B&B where I spent the best night of my life with Oz hasn’t fared much better. The pizzeria was spared except for a broken windowpane.

“Marjorie,” my new friend, Cressida beckons for me, and I realize that as much as I want to cling to Oz and never let go, I’m needed elsewhere.

I let go of his hand. “I’m going to help Cressida,” I tell him.

He nods and heads over to meet with the firemen.

As I’m walking over to join Cressida, a petite blonde hurls herself at me. As she wraps her arms around me and sobs on my shoulder, I realize that it’s Holly, the baker.

“We would have died,” she sobs. “If you hadn’t told us to head over here when you did, we would have died. The tornado siren didn’t go off until it was already on us. We wouldn’t have had time to seek shelter.”