“No, I have an apartment with my brother here in Estes Park. We typically only stay at the station when we’re on shift, but yeah … you’re here, so I’m here. I cleared you with the superintendent, so you’re my responsibility.”

I wrinkled my nose at the thought.

“If the guys get called out, your plan is to ride along, right?”

“Well … yeah.”

“Then I’m staying. They’ll be busy. They won’t have time to babysit you.”

“I went to kindergarten. I can follow directions.”

“I’m not arguing with you. This is how it’s going to be.”

“What about when you’re on shift?”

“Same thing.”

“Oh, so they won’t have time to babysit me, but you will?”

“Jojo wanted you to follow us around, right? This is how it’s done when we have journalists shadow. Someone has to make sure you don’t get hurt.”

“You can’t be serious. I’m assigned to you, and you’re assigned to me? I was just beginning to feel cool.”

“I’m not leaving you alone. It’s dangerous, Ellie.”

“You’re just precious.”

Tyler frowned. “I’m rethinking this.”

I suddenly felt heavy, and then panicked as bitter bile rose in my throat.

“I was just kidding. Are you all right? You look a little green,” Tyler said.

“I’m nauseous all of a sudden.”

“Bathroom’s down the hall, second door on the right.”

My stomach lurched, and I gagged, covering my mouth. I didn’t wait for it to happen again, sprinting to the bathroom just in time. Just as I bent over the toilet, I thought about my camera being dunked in toilet water and covered in vomit, but it was hovering over my right ear, held by the hotshot I loved to hate.

“Why am I so stupid?” I moaned, my voice echoing off the porcelain.

Tyler was holding my camera with one hand, my hair in the other.

“Is she okay?” one of the guys asked from the hall.

“She’s fine, Smitty. She’s caught that stomach bug going around,” Tyler said.

“What a bad ass,” Smitty said. “I was in bed for two days with that shit.”

I hurled again. Both men made the same sound, equally surprised and disgusted.

“I’m super excited to have an audience for this on my first day,” I said.

“Sorry,” Smitty said. “Feel better, Ellie.”

“Not humiliating at all,” I said, puking again.

Chapter Ten

CHAPTER TEN

“Whoa,” I said, taking a step back. I’d been on several house fires and car fires, and even a few grass fires my first week, but Tyler was right. Wildland fires were different.