Big Daddy Firemen (Big Cedar Daddies Book 2)

Any citizen of Big Cedar who was interested met at the newly constructed town hall.

It wasn’t a huge building and Walker thought it resembled a log cabin far more than a stately government structure. But it served the needs of the small community and its newly elected mayor, Joe Graves.

In the main room along with Walker were Austin, Cane, Sheriff Quinn Hardin, Doc, Theo, Clyde, the mechanic who owned the town’s only auto shop, Joe, and Marsha.

Marsha was the odd one out, being the only woman in the room and the only one not connected to the unique lifestyle. It was clear she loved Big Cedar, having run the café there for years. In fact, before the Daddies and Littles had migrated to the town, hers was the only business that held on through economically trying times. Once they arrived, things started looking up and now business was slowly coming back to the community. So, she didn’t seem to have a problem with any of it. In fact, she even constantly talked about how adorable the Littles were. She seemed to genuinely like everyone around there and had the philosophy of “live and let live” when it came to their lifestyle.

What did seem to concern her, though, was the recent fires that had plagued the area.

“Haven’t seen anything like this around these parts,” she told the firefighters.

They were standing at the coffee urn, having just filled Styrofoam cups of the piping hot, black liquid. It was thick, almost to the point of being sludge.

Walker studied his for a moment and silently noted that Quinn must have made it. He always brewed it a little thick. Sometimes it was like drinking a cup of hot tar.

“Sure,” Marsha kept talking, “we’ve had devastating wildfires. I’ve been around long enough to remember some droughts. You know how it is: add hot temperatures and high winds and you have a recipe for disaster! But this is winter.”

Walker took a sip of the coffee, let it slide down his throat, and tried not to wince. He’d had cheap whiskey that was smoother than that concoction.

“I agree,” he told her. “We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”

She nodded in satisfaction, but it was evident she was still more than a little concerned.

The firefighter couldn’t blame her. What if the next fire was in her café? That was her livelihood and what she loved doing. Now, it, and everything else around them could potentially fall victim to whatever—or whoever—was behind these fires.

The folks started taking their seats and Joe approached the lectern. He was about to start the meeting when the door opened, and two more Daddies came in.

Spencer Chapman was a tall, muscular man with a thick, yet well-maintained black beard. He looked like a lumberjack and for good reason.

He was one.

The area forests were plentiful with timber and harvesting. It was a big business around those parts. He didn’t have a Little yet, but he’d gravitated to Big Cedar a few months ago thanks to the Daddy’s heart he possessed.

The other man was Jason Bennett. He was a Daddy, too, but far from a burly lumberjack. He looked more polished, befitting his real estate business. He sold cabins in the area, and it was just as big a business in those parts as harvesting timber was. Tourists flocked to the region thanks to its natural beauty. He’d come from Dallas, eager to cash in on the opportunity, finding the area easier to navigate than the crowded Metroplex market that was teeming with other agents.

It helped that he was a Daddy. His wife and Little, Selena, had either stayed home or was with the others over at Joe’s General store.

Walker wondered how it was going over there. Those cuties could be a handful. He smiled as he considered it, hoping Daisy wasn’t at her wit’s end.

He smiled even wider when he thought about what he had planned for that cutie when he got her back to the firehouse. Her other Daddies had big plans, too. They’d talked about it on the walk over, after leaving her at Joe’s.

Their little girl was in for quite a night.

Right now, though, they had to discuss these fires and that’s exactly what everyone had in mind as Joe got the meeting started.

“Glad you all could make it,” the store owner and mayor announced as he swept his eyes across the room. “As you know, some crazy stuff has been going on around here and we want to put everyone’s mind at ease that we’re looking into things. Or, rather, I should say our firefighters are looking into things.” He pointed his gaze in the direction of Walker, Cane, and Austin who were standing in the back. “Do y’all want to update everyone?”

Walker nodded, indicating he’d do the talking, and strode to the front of the room where he took over for Joe at the lectern.

“Good morning. I know tensions are running high around here. Lots of folks are wondering what’s going on. This sleepy little town of ours has been mighty lively lately.”

The crowd nodded in agreement. A few voiced it, as well.

“We don’t really have much information. The investigations are just getting underway. But rest assured that we will keep this town safe. We don’t have any reason to believe these fires are related. There isn’t any indication that they were intentional. However, we aren’t ruling out accidents. With the amount of tourists we get through here, some folks can be mighty careless. If anyone set these fires, even by accident, and didn’t report it, we will get to the bottom of it and make them face justice.” He paused before adding, “But again, there hasn’t been anything to indicate these were intentional.”

It was Clyde who raised his hand. “Is there anything to indicate they were accidental, though?”

“No. As of now, we have no idea what started them,” Walker admitted.

“The biggest one, the forest fire just the other day,” Austin interjected.

“The one that almost got those two young ‘uns!” Clyde called out with a nod.

“That’s right,” Austin said. “Those kids live in one of the houses out there about a mile from that old cabin. They’d wandered off without telling their mom. Just exploring and such. Of course, when we brought ‘em home and she realized the adventure they’d gone on, well, let’s just say she was giving them the what for.”

Everyone laughed.

“But anyway, if you’ll remember,” Austin continued, “it rained that day. It was a big help in putting that damn fire out.”

“That’s right,” Cane said. “But what he’s getting at is that data shows there were lightning strikes in this area up to two hours before that storm rolled through. Nothing severe, but it’s possible one hit a tree and… well, you know the rest of the story.”

“Potentially,” Walker said. “We’re going to look at all options.”

Looking at the folks in the crowd, Walker saw that the theory seemed to assuage some of their fears. Marsha didn’t look so convinced, however.

“Is there anything we can do to make sure the other buildings are safe?” she asked. She looked at Joe. “Our businesses.” Her eyes found Doc Worden next. “Your office.”

“We’ll be keeping an eye on things,” Walker told her. “But obviously we can’t be there all the time. Do you have cameras?”

“Yeah,” she said. “But does that mean there’s someone I need to be watching for?”

Walker offered her the best reassuring smile he could. “I didn’t say that. I’m just saying.”

“Walker, cameras wouldn’t do much good in preventing a fire.” Doc spoke up. “And if the whole place goes up in flames, those cameras will, too. Won’t be much use either way, it seems.”

Walker conceded the point with a dip of his head. “Yeah. But if you have your video uploaded to a server—well, say the worst did happen—we’d at least have a better idea of what started that fire. Assuming it’s captured on video. Might go a long way in preventing any more.”

Everyone seemed to agree with that. The mood was still pretty somber. It was Jason who stood up and gave voice to what so many others were feeling.

“This is a special community. The kind of place I’ve been looking for. A place where me and my cutie can build the kind of life we want. A lot of folks don’t get our… lifestyle. But Big Cedar is a safe haven. A refuge. I’ll be damned if I see it go up in smoke. Literally.”

Everyone cheered. Walker and the other two firefighters nodded.

“It won’t come to that,” Walker quickly assured him. He looked gravely seriously as he made eye contact with every other person in that room, his voice having a finality to it when he spoke again, adding two little but powerful words.

“I promise.”

At the general store, things were getting out of hand.

“I’m not sure your Daddy wants you stacking all those boxes,” Daisy told Mindy.

The Little just continued to giggle as she stacked more boxes on top of the tower she’d already constructed. “Don’t worry,” she answered. “They’re empty. Even if they fall on me, they won’t hurt. See?” She demonstrated by holding one over her head and then letting it fall. The cardboard thudded atop her skull and then fell to the floor. “Ouch! My noggin!”

Daisy sighed. “See?” She put her hands on her hips, cocked her head, and shot the naughty Little a glance that told her the stunt had not been smart.

“Sorry,” Mindy grumbled. “I didn’t think it would hurt at all.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me,” Daisy said. “It was your head.”

“Well, if we can’t stack boxes,” Grace chimed in, “then what are we supposed to build our forts with?”

She was across the room, arranging her boxes in a different shape than Mindy’s, going wider rather than tall. Propped against her fort was a long Nerf gun, ready for the battle that would be raging just as soon as everyone had arranged the defense positions.

Some were on teams—like Alyssa and Selena—while others were going at it alone. The room was big enough to accommodate it and based upon the items it held, was used for a playroom as much as, if not more than, the store’s inventory space.

“You’re the coolest babysitter ever!” Selena said to Daisy. She stopped building her fort, pulled out a box of candy from the pocket of the romper she wore, and popped some in her mouth. “Because you won’t tell my Daddy I’m eating candy before lunch. Will you?” She grinned.

“I, uh, well… I’m not sure,” Daisy admitted.

She didn’t want to get the Little in trouble, but she was supposed to keep them in line, too.

Selena was of average height and build, with curly dark hair and big eyes that held a healthy dose of mischief. Daisy suspected the woman was trouble with a capital T.

A loud thud jarred everyone and from their own activities.

Belinda opened her mouth, letting the pacifier fall from between her lips, as she offered a meek, “Sorry.”

The pink babydoll dress she had on didn’t do a lot to cover the bulky diaper she wore. Several of the other Littles were dressed in similar dresses, but only Belinda sported a nappy.

Alyssa, for example, had on pink, frilly panties that matched her own dress. She pranced around the room excitedly, getting ready for the impending Nerf battle. “I don’t think that box is empty, Belinda,” Alyssa said, walking over to the one that had just fallen.

She was proven right when the side of it split open to reveal packaged sippy cups bulging out.

“That’s merchandise,” Daisy noted. “I don’t think Joe would like it if we were making a mess out of all this. It costs him money.”

“My Daddy will let me get away with anything!” Mindy countered.

“Is that so?” A new voice spoke up.

Some of the Littles gasped. Everyone turned to see Austin standing in the doorway, shaking his head but wearing an amused smile.

The Littles snapped to attention. Janie voiced what they were all thinking. “Uh-oh.”

Austin pushed off the doorjamb and moved deeper into the room. “The meeting is over. Your Daddies are all talking, but you don’t have long. I’d say about five minutes. If I were y’all, I’d get this mess cleaned up.”

“Yes, Sir!” the Littles responded in unison.

It was a flurry of activity as they rushed to get things squared away. Even Daisy joined in, though she hadn’t helped make the mess.

They were just finishing when Joe and Doc walked in.

“Looks like you all played with Nerf guns,” Joe noted with a smile, seeing the toys that were still strewn about.

There wasn’t any sign of the forts they’d erected, and all the Littles looked rather relieved to have cleaned up in time. They looked at Austin, as if waiting for him to tell on them, but instead he just grinned and said, “I bet they had a good time.”

Daisy heard a couple of Littles breathe sighs of relief.

“Thanks for watching them,” Doc said to Daisy.

“Anytime,” she told him.

“Did they give you any trouble?” Joe inquired. “I told my Mindy to be on her best behavior or I’d redden that little booty of hers.”

Daisy waved it off. “She was a perfect angel.”

Her eyes darted beyond Joe to where Mindy stood.

The Little mouthed, “Thank you,” and grinned.

Daisy recognized the gratitude with a slight nod. She forgot all about the Littles’ shenanigans when she felt someone take hold of her hand. She looked beside her to see Austin there.

“You ready, honey?” he asked.

A giggle escaped her throat before she could suppress it. His touch was electric.

“Ready,” she said.

“Goodbye, Daisy!” Alyssa called out. “Come back and play with us sometime!”

“Yeah,” Grace agreed. “We can meet you on the playground if you want.”

Daisy waved to them and left with Austin.

Still holding his hand.