Colorado Fireman. C.C. Coburn

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      The television crews zeroed in on a developing human interest story. The Carly woman shifted her kid to the other hip and smiled.

      Adam groaned.

      His mom looked as if she wanted to argue further. Adam lay back down, replaced the oxygen mask over his face and closed his eyes.

      Moments later, he heard his mother huff and go off in search of someone else to pester.

      “Your mom seems concerned about you.”

      “She’s concerned about everyone. Unfortunately, she’s insanely overprotective of me.” He wanted to assure her he wasn’t gay, but what was she to him? No one important. Just the mom of a kid he’d rescued. He’d never see her again after today. What did it matter what she thought about his sexuality? What did it matter what anyone thought? Even his mom.

      “You’re the youngest?”

      He opened an eye. “How’d you guess?” He felt he had to at least try to be polite, since this woman had just lost her home. In reality, he didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. Especially anyone of the female sex. Between his mom’s nagging, this woman’s nosiness, Lucy’s brutal treatment, Molly the dog and Louella the pig slobbering on him, he’d had his fill of females for the day. What he really wanted was to take a long shower, have a beer and maybe watch a hockey game on TV with his dad. His dad rarely talked, never nagged. Mac O’Malley, patriarch of the O’Malley clan, was probably his best friend in the world. Pity Adam would never be able to talk about the night Rory Bennett died, even with Mac.

      “Mothers have a special place in their hearts for the baby of the family.”

      Did this woman ever shut up? Adam wondered. He was so sick of being called the baby of the family.

      “Ma’am?” Adam was thankful when his captain’s voice intruded. He wanted to sleep instead of being surrounded by chattering people. Most of them women. “Your kids have all been cleared by the paramedics. You’re good to go.”

      “Thank you. Thank you for everything,” she said. Then her lip quivered.

      Oh, no, here come the tears, Adam thought.

      Sure enough, the woman started to cry.

      “Hey, there,” Lucy said, patting her back. “Your children are fine.” She pulled out her cell. “Who can I call for you? Do you have family nearby or friends you can stay with?”

      The woman shook her head and staggered away.

      Adam had never seen anyone look so desolate in his life. And he’d seen a lot of sorrow during his years in this job.

      “Oh, my goodness.” His mom appeared out of nowhere and went to comfort the woman. She glared at Adam over her shoulder, as if he was the cause of her misery.

      Adam strained to hear what they said to each other, then gave up. Lucy had given him the all clear, and Martin had released him from duty for the rest of his shift. It was time to head home and hit the shower. He sat up and glanced around. There were even more spectators than when he’d brought the dog down the ladder.

      He could see his brother Matt conferring with the television crew. Matt was nodding his head. He turned in Adam’s direction and waved. Then he smiled. Matt rarely smiled.

      As a youngster, Adam had held out for praise and encouragement from his big brother. He’d come to learn that exuberance wasn’t Matt’s way. A wave and smile would be all the compliment Adam could expect.

      He stood too quickly and stumbled, but was caught by Matt’s strong arms before he hit the ground. “Hey, easy there, kid,” he said. “Sit down for a bit.”

      Exhausted, Adam could only shake his head. “Need to get out of here. Take a shower.”

      Molly was still lying on her back playing dead—except her tail was wagging. Matt bent down and rubbed her tummy. She rewarded him with a squirm of pleasure.

      “The television people want to interview you.” Matt indicated the crew he’d been speaking to behind the police cordon.

      “What for?” Adam looked away from their prying cameras. “I was just doing my job.”

      He felt Matt’s hand on his shoulder and welcomed its warmth. “You’re a hero, little brother.”

      He hated that word. He was no hero. “Like I said, I was just doing my job. Do you do interviews every time you arrest some bad guy?”

      “You saved the life of a child and a dog. You know how this town loves dogs.”

      “Then tell ‘em to donate generously to the pound.” Adam was fed up with talking. “Where’s your vehicle?” he asked. “Can you drive me home?”

      Matt crossed his arms in a gesture that said he wasn’t pleased. “Since you live at home, why don’t you have Mom take you?”

      “Because I want peace and quiet, not Mom alternating between singing my praises and getting hysterical about how risky my job is.”

      “Mom is never hysterical.”

      “You didn’t see her earlier.”

      “Darling!”

      “Speak of the devil,” Adam muttered as their mother returned.

      “Could you drive Adam home?” she said to Matt. “Carly and her children don’t have anyone to stay with, so I’ve offered them the apartment over the stables for as long as they need it. Molly’s coming, too.”

      What am I? Chopped liver? Adam felt like asking. Instead, he said, “In case you’ve forgotten, Mom, I’m living in the apartment over the stables.”

      “Yes, I’m aware of that, darling, but I’m moving you into the house so Carly and her little brood can have some privacy. You don’t mind, do you?” Without waiting for his answer, she turned away and directed the Carly woman and her children toward her SUV.

      Adam stared after her. “Is this the same person who, last week when I returned home, practically kissed the ground I walked on?”

      “The very same,” Matt said. “You know Mom can’t resist a waif, and now she’s got five of them to care for. Correction—six.” Matt indicated Molly being lifted from her stretcher by one of the firefighters and carried to his mom’s vehicle.

      “Can I stay at your place?” Adam begged. Matt and his wife, Beth, lived in a large home their brother Jack had built them in a picturesque valley outside town. Adam would love to live in that same valley one day. Someday. After he’d confronted his demons.

      “Sure. I did tell you Sarah’s teething, didn’t I?”

      “No, you didn’t. Now that you mention it, maybe I would be better off at home,” Adam said, and followed Matt to his vehicle. Although where he’d sleep, Adam had no idea, since one of his three nieces was occupying his old bedroom.

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