Now, two days later, with the fires largely out, damage was being assessed. Since the fire had impacted the most rural segment of Rogue’s Hollow, it looked as if only four homes were lost—no people or livestock had died, thank goodness—along with the old logging camp behind Arthur’s home. But his home was spared, as was the vacant property next door. Not all evacuation orders had been lifted, as firefighters were still working hard to put out random hot spots on BLM property, but the capricious weather was turning cool. Rain was in the forecast, and Tess expected that sometime today everyone would be let back into their neighborhoods and homes.

She bought a cup of coffee from the Hollow Grind, nodding and talking to people here and there. After a year she’d come to know a lot of the coffee shop regulars and felt welcome and at home. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits despite the ordeal of the last few days. The emergency served to bring people together, she noticed. She even saw some neighbors who’d been torn apart by the contentious issue of recreational pot sitting and enjoying coffee together.

Oliver would be happy to see that, she thought. Oliver and his church were working overtime to help everyone they could.

Thinking of Oliver made her smile. His unrestrained bear hug when she returned to the command post after the odd encounter with Livie Harp still made Tess flush warm. True, they’d been seeing each other for a couple of months, ever since the gunfight at Arthur’s home, when Tess had faced off against a wanted drug dealer, but they hadn’t been at all demonstrative in public. It was an adjustment to be together, for him because he’d been widowed only the year before and for Tess because the idea of trusting God and stepping back into a lifestyle she’d abandoned years ago was still very new. But he’d whisked her up into his arms before she could say a word, and she hadn’t protested. It felt good to be in his arms and wonderful to know how much he cared.

In her heart of hearts, Tess knew her feelings for him were just as strong.

Memories of the shoot-out at Arthur Goding’s house with a corrupt DEA agent and a wanted drug lord surfaced. She knew Oliver had a morning meeting at the jail with one of the main players in the incident from a couple months ago. She didn’t see Don Cherry the same way Oliver did. Oliver saw him as a soul to save, and while Tess didn’t think that would hurt, she’d never get as comfortable with the man as Oliver had. Even after Oliver jumped Cherry and punched him out to save Tess, the two men called each other friends.