The season in Wild River was magical and the sights outside the window reminded her that this was the season of miracles. If she survived medical school, she could survive a vacation.

But her friend was quiet.

Was Cassie contemplating ditching her on the side of the road?

She released a slow, steady breath before asking, “Is there a bar nearby?” It was before five but it was already getting dark, daylight growing shorter this time of year, so drinking was acceptable, right? It might help her relax a little. Anything to help her vacate her life.

Cassie nodded emphatically, as though she, too, had come to the conclusion that alcohol might be their only savior that week. “I know just the place.”

* * *

“DON’T EVEN THINK about turning down those drink offers.”

Reed laughed. “If you’re cool with a drunk-ass bartender this evening, I’ll toss them all back.” The outpouring of congratulations was the same after every successful rescue, but yesterday’s rescue had everyone breathing a deeper sigh of relief. Rebecca had suffered a broken tibia and femur and frostbite to her fingers on her right hand, as he’d predicted, but she’d been released from the Wild River Community Hospital that afternoon.

The bar’s owner, Tank—affectionately nicknamed for his six-foot-five height and two hundred and seventy pounds of solid muscle—hesitated, then shrugged before heading toward his office in the back of The Drunk Tank. “I don’t care. Just don’t forget to lock the place up.”

“You’re leaving?” Reed asked, twisting off several beer caps and setting the bottles on the bar in front of Wade and Tyler—two other rescue team members who’d been on the search the night before.

Tank turned and held out a shaky hand.

Reed nodded. “Got it.” Tank was a support member on the search and rescue crew, had been for far too long. He should have applied to be a full member by now, but he couldn’t get past the lingering anxiety after the rescues. Admittedly, the ones that hadn’t gone successfully left their scars and took some time to bounce back from, but the successful ones left Reed pumped.

Tank—the biggest softy on the planet—had a tougher time. Especially when kids were involved. A single dad, last night’s emotional reunion between Rebecca and her parents had Tank ditching the scene immediately.

Reed worried about Tank being on the team when he had so many other responsibilities, namely Kaia, to take care of, but they each had their reasons for being on the crew. And they certainly needed the members.

“Okay, grab your backpack, let’s go home,” Tank said, reappearing with his coat.

Kaia climbed down from the barstool and slid into her coat, tucking her dark hair into her hat and grabbing the Wonder Woman backpack that was a million years old but she refused to part with. “Bye, Reed. Thanks for the chocolate milk.”

“Anytime.” He waved as they left, turning his attention to Wade and Tyler. “You guys good?”