"She will heal, Billie, and we will put this behind us. We can only move forward from here."

  Billie's attention was drawn to the door. "Cat, it looks like her doc is here. I'll get an update, before I return to your room. I'll see you soon."

  Billie hung up and met the doctor halfway across the room. She extended her hand. "Billie Charland. I'm one of Tara's moms."

  Tara's doctor was a middle-aged woman. She shook Billie's hand. "Nice to meet you. My name is Dr. Kittle, but you can call me Mary. So, are you the doctor?"

  Billie grinned. "No, that would be Tara's other mother, Cat. I'm a lawyer. Tara and I were actually together when the wildfire hit. We both took a pretty traumatic ride over a waterfall. Unfortunately, Tara didn't fare as well as I did." Billie rubbed the large bruise on the side of her face.

  "Did you just say you went over a waterfall?" An astonished expression crossed the doctor's face.

  "That's exactly what I said. We were kayaking and had to flip our kayak and hide under it while the fire crossed over us. When it was over and we climbed back into the kayak, it was dark and smoky, and by the time we saw the falls, it was too late to avoid it. I will never forget that nightmarish ride."

  "Well, that helps to explain some of Tara's injuries."

  "Dr. Quinten told us the bleeding was coming from her liver."

  "Yes. Luckily, we were able to seal off the blood vessels. She lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion, but we should see only improvement from here in that respect. My only other concern is the head injury. It looks like her skull may have been fractured. We'll need to assess whether she'll have any permanent disabilities because of it."

  "You mean like, seizures, depression and aggression?" Billie asked.

  Dr. Kittle cocked her head to one side. "Yes, those are some potential side effects, as well as Parkinson's Disease and even Alzheimer's. I take it you know something about TBI's?"

  "A little," Billie admitted. "Actually, a lot, but that's a story for another time."

  "I'm more concerned about immediate physical problems, like paralysis or other physical impairments. Her involuntary reflexes are good so far, but we'll have a whole battery of tests to determine if other problems exist after she is well enough to participate."

  "So, she's going to be okay?" Billie asked hopefully.

  "In my professional opinion…yes. If she continues to improve, we should be able to move her out of the ICU in a day or two."

  Billie let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. She shook Dr. Kittle's hand again. "Thank you. I can't tell you how much I needed to hear that. Cat will be thrilled as well. I'll let her know when I go back to her room."

  Dr. Kittle frowned. "Her room? Is she here as well?"

  "Yes. She was hiking with our son when the fires hit and was trapped under a fallen branch. She's in traction with a broken leg."

  "And your son?"

  "He's okay. Thank you for asking."

  Dr. Kittle squeezed Billie's arm. "Well, someone was looking out for you. Tara has a long road ahead of her, including rehab, but she has youth in her favor." Dr. Kittle took the stethoscope from around her neck. "I'll take a quick look at her vital signs, but I'm certain they'll be fine. You said your wife's name is Cat?" Dr. Kittle withdrew a small notepad from her pocket.

  "Caitlain Charland. Cat, for short. She's in room 349 in the orthopedic wing."

  Dr. Kittle wrote down Cat's information. "Okay. I'll drop by to introduce myself to her after I examine Tara."

  "Thank you. Well, I guess I'd better get back to Cat. If Tara wakes up while you're still here, could you tell her I'll be back soon?"

  "Will do!"

  Billie nodded and left Tara's room with her heart a little lighter than it had felt for days.

  EPILOGUE

  Billie and Cat sat solemnly in the boarding area of the Cody Wyoming airport while they waited for their flight.

  "I'm looking forward to going home," Cat said.

  "You and me both," Billie agreed. "It's been a long road."

  "It has. If anything, it has taught me to cherish every moment we have together. You could lose it all in the blink of an eye."

  Billie took Cat's hand and held it close to her heart. "I will never again take what we have together for granted, Cat. As much as we went through, we are the lucky ones, and I thank the heavens above that we were spared. The Robertsons weren't so lucky. I can't imagine huddling with your wife and kids in a cave and thinking you're safe, only for all of them to die from smoke inhalation. As awful as it was to be in the path of the fire, at least we were all out in the open."

  "It was touch and go for a while with Tara. I don't know what I would have done if we had lost her, Billie. I think I'd want to lie right down beside her and die."

  Billie lowered her chin to her chest. "I'm so sorry, Cat. I wasn't able to protect her. I will never forgive myself for what she went through."

  Cat turned in her seat to face Billie. "Billie, look at me. How many times do I have to tell you that what happened to Tara is not your fault? Sweetheart, you did the best you could under the circumstances. We all did. It happened three months ago. Please stop beating yourself up over it."

  Billie nodded. "I'll try."

  "It certainly was a harrowing experience, but oddly, one filled with moments of joy and pride. Billie, Seth was amazing. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for him. He kept his head even when I went off the deep end. I am so proud of him. He is truly my hero."

  Billie smiled. "The moments I remember most were when I first saw Seth and Sky at the infirmary in the Ranger Station, and when you and I were finally reunited in the hospital emergency room. As horrid as the previous twenty-four hours had been, those two moments made everything better. That, and the moment we realized that Tara was going to survive."

  "This is certainly one vacation I'll never forget," Cat said. "Especially since it was spent almost entirely in the hospital."

  "I was only there for two days, but you and Tara weren't so lucky. You were there for about a month—right?"

  "It seemed like forever!" Cat replied. "You were certainly the lucky one among us. You and Tara both went over the falls together, yet you basically ended up with a concussion and multiple bruises, while Tara nearly died."

  Billie frowned. "I would have willingly traded places with her, Cat."

  "I know you would, love. I know you would. I'm not being critical. I'm just amazed at the differences in your injuries when you basically lived through the same experience."

  "I can't explain it, Cat. On the plus side, my quick recovery made it possible for me to sit by Tara's bedside during the days while you were in traction with your leg. It felt good to be there with her."

  "I was so happy to get out of that contraption," Cat said of the traction she was in for the first half of her hospital stay. "It was great to be able to use a wheelchair and to finally visit Tara, although I have to admit, seeing her for the first time in person was traumatic. She seemed so fragile and small in that bed…and it didn't even look like her with all the bruises. I know we did the video call after her surgery, but it did nothing to prepare me for seeing her up close. My heart hurt so much for our baby girl." Cat wiped the tears from her eyes.

  Billie squeezed Cat's knee. "Are you all right, love?"

  Cat nodded. "I'm fine. It's just that when I think of how close we came to losing everything we loved…"

  "I know. I know. Luckily, someone was looking after us."

  "I had a lot of time to think while I was laid up in traction, Billie. I came to realize just how blessed we are. I mean, look at what we went through, and we all came out of it alive in the end. Damaged, maybe…but alive. I also realized that we have our own personal angel—Jen. No one asked to her fly to Wyoming to be with Skylar. No one asked her to take Seth and Sky home with her while you and Tara and I recuperated. She was supposed to be taking her certification class, but she dropped everything to be there for us. Thank God the school system still allowed her to begin teaching and to finish her training in the evenings."

  "You are spot on, Cat. Angel is a good way to describe Jen. We share a level of love and emotional intimacy with her that usually only happens on a romantic level. It's like we live inside each other's skin and breathe each other's air. We share a heart and a love too profound for words. I am honored to be her friend."

  "While I was laid up, I also thought a lot about Tara, and I've come to realize that my fears are unfounded," Cat said.

  "How so?" Billie asked.

  "I've realized that Tara's preferences in life are part of who she is, and after staring death in the face, I have to admit that we have no other option except unconditional love and support. We can't live our lives in fear. Hell, that's not living at all."

  Billie grinned. "I agree. You know, Tara's a tough cookie. Seeing her fight for her life made me realize she's stronger than we knew. I think she can handle anything life throws at her relative to her lifestyle."

  "That, she is!" Cat said. "This bump in the road made me realize that Tara doesn't need our permission to be true to herself. She needs only our love and acceptance."

  Cat resettled herself on the hard and uncomfortable airport chair. She groaned when she repositioned her leg.

  "Still hurts, huh?" Billie asked.

  "Yeah. I think it will for a while yet, considering how much damage was done by the tree falling on my foot—not to mention the broken tibia. I'm actually lucky they didn't amputate it. I think if I had stayed trapped under that tree for much longer, there would have been a very different outcome. Thank God Seth was able to find help when he did. As it is, I'm looking at several more surgeries and rehab before I regain total function again."

  Billie bumped shoulders with Cat. "Do you think you'll be able to stand at the stove long enough to cook? Otherwise, the family will have to eat my cooking."

  Cat raised her hands into the air. "Heaven forbid! I will do my best to avoid that catastrophe!" Cat laughed.

  Billie chuckled at their running joke and then checked her watch. "They'll be boarding us soon. I'd better find the bathroom so I don't have to use that broom-closet size bathroom on the airplane."

  While Cat waited for Billie to return from the bathroom, she thought back to when they had brought Tara home after a full month in the hospital in Wyoming. Jen picked them up at the airport.

  Unbeknownst to them, Jen had arranged for a small gathering at Cat and Billie's house to welcome the three of them home. Their family was waiting for them as they pulled into the driveway. Seth, Skylar, Fred, Karissa, Steve, Kelly, Doc and Ida were all there and all were very excited to welcome their loved ones home.

  Jen pulled the car to a stop in front of the garage. Both she and Billie climbed out—Jen to assist Cat, and Billie to retrieve a wheelchair from the trunk for Tara.

  "Let us help you with that." Seth and Steve offered to transfer Tara from the car to the chair. "Put your arms around our necks, Tare. There you go." Seth looked at Steve. "On the count of three, we lift and gently put her in the chair, okay? One, two, three!" With one swift movement, the boys had Tara comfortably seated in the chair with her broken leg extended straight out on the leg rest. "Easy peasy!" Seth said. He bent down and planted a quick kiss on Tara's cheek. "Welcome home, sis."

  Tara struggled to hide her tears. "Thanks, bro." She looked at Steve. "Thanks to both of you," she added.

  "I've got your crutches, Cat. Here, give me your hand." Jen offered her hand for Cat to anchor against in order to pull herself out of the car without putting too much weight on her bad leg.

  Jen handed Cat's crutches back to her and closed the car door behind her just as Doc and Fred approached to escort her to the party.

  As the group circled around the car toward the yard, Billie thought it was curious that Ida, Jen, Kelly, Karissa and Skylar were all standing in a straight line in front of the stairs. She stopped and looked at the group. "Why do I think you guys are up to something?" she asked.

  "Surprise!" they yelled as the group parted to reveal a wheelchair ramp the guys had constructed especially for them.

  Tara grinned and Cat cried as they each reacted in their own unique ways to the gesture of love before them.

  "Cool! That'll be fun to freestyle down in the wheelchair!" Tara exclaimed.

  Billie stood beside Cat. She leaned down to whisper in her ear. "That's our girl. Tara the Terrible is back!"

  Cat laughed and elbowed her in the ribs.

  After countless welcome home hugs, the family dispersed to the backyard where Ida and Jen had prepared a picnic lunch.

  Billie pushed Tara nearly halfway across the lawn toward a shaded area of the yard when she suddenly realized Kelly was walking a short distance away. Billie stopped and looked at Kelly. "Hey, Kelly? Wanna do me a favor and push Tara into the shade over there?" She pointed to a secluded area of the yard where years earlier, she'd built a bench that completely encircled a shade tree.

  Kelly eagerly took over the controls and soon, she sat on the bench, under the shade tree with Tara.

  The girls sat in total silence for several long moments. Neither knew how to start the conversation. Finally, their eyes met and they both giggled and blushed deep shades of pink. Before long, Kelly offered her hand to Tara, who took it willingly.

  "I missed you," Kelly said softly.

  Tara could only nod. Her throat was constricted with emotion.

  "I wanted to die when I heard you were hurt," Kelly continued. "I have never felt so lost and sad in my entire life."

  Tara locked gazes with her friend for several long moments. Her chest ached with penned up emotion. Finally, she raised Kelly's hand to her lips and kissed the back of it. "I'm sorry," Tara said hoarsely. She blinked rapidly and tears gently cascaded down her cheeks.

  Kelly touched the side of Tara's face. "Don't be sorry. It wasn't your fault."

  Tara's insides felt like mush and the warmth she felt in her abdomen spread through her entire body. She had no idea what to say or do. She was powerless to look away as Kelly's gaze saw deep into her soul.

  Kelly slid down the bench so she was close to the side of Tara's wheelchair and then, without warning, she leaned in to delicately kiss the tears from Tara's cheeks.

  Tara closed her eyes and released the breath she was holding. She smiled and blushed in embarrassment at Kelly's gesture in front of her family.

  "Oooo! Tara and Kelly sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G," teased Seth and Steve.

  "I'm gonna kick your ass, Seth!" Tara yelled while trying to fight the grin on her face.

  "Tara Charland! Do you eat with that same dirty mouth?" Cat yelled from across the yard.

  "Sorry, Mom, but he started it!" Tara called back.

  At that moment, Jen walked by, carrying a salad from the house to the picnic table. "I see things are back to normal," she joked without stopping.

  Billie stood behind Cat with her arm draped around her waist. They watched the teenage girls from across the yard. Cat pressed her head into Billie's chest. "They're cute together," Cat commented softly.

  Billie kissed the side of Cat's head. "Yes they are," she admitted. "They kind of remind me of us."

  Cat chuckled and thanked the heavens above that their lives had been spared and that they would have many more opportunities to share moments such as these.

  "Ladies and Gentlemen in the gate area. We will be boarding flight D324 to Albany, New York in a few minutes, beginning with those who may need assistance, active duty military and families with small children under the age of two."

  Cat was snapped out of her reverie by the sound of the PA system. She sighed heavily and anticipated putting this chapter of their lives behind them. Physical injuries aside, the most devastating experience any of them endured by far, including Skylar and Jen, was the emotional turmoil as each of them realized how fragile life was. They came so close to losing each other forever. The devastation at Yellowstone made them realize how precious family is, and how quickly life can be snuffed out.

  Never was that so evident than in the death of Jack Kilburn, who died saving Cat from a certain death. He made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life. It was a sacrifice he knew he could be called upon to make, but never in his wildest dreams, did he believe would ever happen. Cat was tormented by grief and guilt for weeks following his death.

  It was because of Jack's death that Cat and Billie were in the Yellowstone International Airport on this day. They had flown home with Tara two months earlier, but had returned for a special occasion: a memorial service honoring Jack Kilburn and the other firefighters who had given their lives during the Yellowstone Wildfires.

  Cat would carry the vision of Jack dying before her eyes for the rest of her life. It was a death that was the result of courage, conviction and dedication to duty. He was truly a hero. This, she shared with his family and she hoped it brought a measure of comfort to their grieving hearts.

  Cat looked around the gate area and noticed Billie walking her way with two cups of coffee. She smiled broadly. "You read my mind!" Cat said and she gratefully accepted the coffee while Billie sat beside her. "They'll be boarding soon," Cat said.

  "I heard the announcement," Billie replied.

  Cat shifted uncomfortably in her seat and manually repositioned the walking splint that encased her foot.

  "Are you okay?" Billie placed a comforting hand on Cat's leg.

  "Yeah, it's just a little uncomfortable dragging this thing around all the time," Cat complained.

  Just then, their flight home was announced over the intercom.

  Billie stood and helped Cat her to her feet. She handed Cat's crutches to her, took her coffee and then followed her as she hobbled to the gate for early boarding. Billie stopped just before entering the gangway. She turned around and scanned the seating area with a bittersweet smile on her face.

  Once settled in their seats on the plane, Cat looked at Billie who appeared to be deep in thought while she stared out the window.

 

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