Hero's Journey Read Online Free PDF Page A

wants to take. He doesn’t take big-screen TVs, no laptops, or any other electronics. He has a definite pattern going.”
    â€œYou’re worried about the time when the small fire becomes a big one.” She nodded. “Me too. That kind of thing can get out of hand really quickly.”
    â€œWe’re also worried about when he thinks no one is home and someone is. We’re working as hard as we can. They even sent a few people down from the county to help us. I thought you should know, being the fire chief and a citizen.”
    Stella agreed. “Chief Rogers doesn’t think I should know. I get it. Thanks for telling me.”
    â€œI know you have old Eric Gamlyn protecting the cabin up there. It’s kind of remote, though. Someplace our thief might want to hit. Keep a sharp eye, and make sure you lock up when you leave.”
    â€œI will. Thanks for thinking about me.”
    â€œI
always
think about you, Stella.”
    It was her turn to sound a little husky. “I appreciate that, John.”
    He left, and Stella finished her paperwork. It wasn’t a surprise that Sweet Pepper police chief Don Rogers wanted to keep her out of the loop. They couldn’t seem to find a middle ground where they could get along and work together for the good of the community.
    Don thought of her as the enemy. He’d been adversarial since she’d arrived. She was both a woman and an outsider. He didn’t think a woman was the right person for the job of fire chief. Being an outsider was simply another slap in the face for him.
    He never bothered to hide his eagerness to see the last of her. She felt the same about himStella went to post a heads-up in the communication station. Everyone needed to be aware of what could be coming. She was glad John was a volunteer firefighter as well as a police officer. His loyalty to both groups created conflicts for him sometimes, but it probably helped the town run more smoothly too.
    After saying good-bye to Ricky and a few others still at the firehouse, Stella put on her helmet and got on her Harley.
    She was facing a conflict of her own. She knew she needed to go shopping, but she was also curious about how things had gone with the chimney sweep. Because she liked going shopping for food even less than she liked writing reports, she was soon on her way back up Firehouse Road, returning to the cabin.
    Patrick’s truck was gone. Stella crossed her fingers and hoped that meant the job had gone well. She wished she’d told him to stop in at the firehouse on his way out.
    As usual, the porch light was on. The front door opened as she approached.
    â€œI hope you don’t plan to pay that moron for what he did.” Eric began ranting before she was completely in the cabin.
    â€œWhy? Did he do something wrong? Is there soot all over the cabin?” She looked around as she spoke. Everything appeared normal.
    â€œIt only took him five minutes to get on the roof and put that broom up and down the chimney a few times. How much did he charge you?”
    â€œFifty dollars.” She bent over to look into the hearth and up into the chimney. “It looks like he did a good job to me. I guess we’ll know next time you start a fire.”
    â€œThat’s not the point.” He paced through the furniture. “How can someone charge that much money for that little time?”
    She laughed. “He’s a specialist. Besides, he risks his life climbing on people’s roofs. And it’s a dirty job. I think it was well worth the price to be warmer this winter.”
    â€œAs long as
you
think so.”
    â€œHave you seen Hero since I left this morning? He wasn’t at practice.”
    Eric stopped pacing. “No. I completely forgot about him. He must still be outside.”
    Stella went to the door and called the puppy. There was no response. “Call him, Eric. He always answers you.”
    â€œI did. Let me check the