Page 2 of Against My Fire

I for one know that I have not seen her before and she’s not one of my one-night stands. Whoever she is, she is in the wrong place. I cross my arms over my chest as I wait for her to make it to me.

She stops in front of me and stomps her foot. “Mr. Walker, I presume.”

I lift my eyebrow as I give her a once-over. “That’s what the name on the board says. I presume you are correct.” I grin my best Cowboy grin there is. Not only is she catching me way too early, I have no idea why she can be here.

“I’m Sasha Maxwell. I am here from Social Services.” I hold up my hand now knowing she’s at the wrong place. Social Services deal with kids and I don’t have kids. The only kids that come here are the ones we teach horse riding to. Shit, what if one of their parents complained about us.

“Ma’am with all due respect. You have the wrong place. There are no kids here.” I wave my hand around the front of my house as if she can see into the house.

“Mr. Walker. I am well aware that there are no kids here. That’s why I am here. I have some news.” She hands over a file to me but doesn’t allow me to open it. “I am here to inform you that you have a son…” My eyes widen and I burst out laughing. The type of laugh that is both a shock and scary at the same time. I don’t have a kid. I would know about him, wouldn’t I? “What’s so funny?” She stares at me tapping her foot on the ground.

“I don’t have a kid.” I turn around and make my way back to my house.

She rushes after me, grabbing me by the arm to stop me. “Tayna Miller ring any bells.” That definitely feels like someone threw me with ice water. I haven’t talked to or seen her since the day she left me. It can’t be. He can’t be mine. It’s been almost four years.

“What about her?” I ask dryly.

“She was in an accident and didn’t make it.” My day is getting better and better by the minute and it’s not even eight am. I should just go back to bed and stay there, but I am not that type of guy. I am not one to hide away from everything or anything.

“When?”

“Four days ago. She was declared deceased on the scene. Her little boy was at daycare and in the file you are listed as the father. His birth certificate lists you as the father as well.” She points to the file in my hands and I shake my head. This can’t be true. I am sure it is not my child. It can’t be. She wouldn’t be that cruel to keep my son from me. She wouldn’t not tell me that she was pregnant. I have to believe that she wouldn’t do that to me. I have to believe that she loved me enough not to hurt me like that.

“He’s not mine. Now please leave. I have work to do.” I surge her hand off my arm and walk back to my house without a second glance at her. How can she expect to just drop this news on me and expect me to believe it?

I walk into the house and head for the kitchen. I need to grab breakfast before heading to the ranch hand quarters for us to start our day. Me preparing breakfast is interrupted by a knock at the door. I grab a muffin and make my way to the door.

The lady is standing there with her arms crossed over her chest. She has this unimpressed look on her face. “Can we talk inside?” She subtly nods in the direction of the little boy.

I step back to let her in. “Sure.” She walks past me and heads to the living room. “Can I get you anything to drink?” If I have to do this, I will need a strong as hell coffee.

“Coffee would be good, thank you.” I nod and head to the kitchen. I need these few minutes to gather my thoughts. Why didn’t Tanya tell me about him? She must have been pregnant when she left, so why not tell me? That is if he is mine.

I bring out the coffee and put it on the table as I wait for Sasha to start speaking.

“Mr. Walker, your reaction is not what I want to see. This boy is scared and he doesn’t need a deadbeat father that is just going to refuse his responsibilities.” She says with a straight face. She doesn’t know me and yet she judges me on my reaction to something I didn’t even know about.

“Personally I don’t care what you think. What is the procedure for me to see the child?” Who am I kidding? I know it doesn’t matter if he is mine or not, I will still take him in. I just need to know how this works.

She pulls out a document from her file and places it on the table. “You will need to fill this in and then set up a time for a DNA test to be done. If it’s positive a Judge will grant you custody of the little boy. That is if you claim him as yours and not run away. You will still be monitored to see that the boy is adjusting to his new life with you.” Her tone is flat and unimpressed. I have a feeling she has been hurt by someone and now thinks all men are the same. If only she knew that Tayna left without telling me she was pregnant.

“I will do it. When can I see the boy?”

“After the results are in. If you are the father.” She gets up. “Let me know when you would like to do the test.” She walks to the door and I jump up to follow her.

“That’s it?”

“Yes. Do the test and then we will discuss the rest.” She walks out the door without looking back. She didn’t even drink her coffee. All she did was judge me. I need to get this test done as soon as possible. I will not let him be kept in some home for who knows how long. He should have a happy and healthy home. He should be with his family. Even if he isn’t mine. Tanya was family and that makes him family.

Chapter Three

? Bentley ?

My first shift is done and dusted. Working with these guys is seriously a dream come true. I have always had this feeling that I belonged somewhere, but never really knew where. Until now. I have only had one shift with them and I know this is where I was meant to be. It’s not all fun and games, but they work as a team, as a family.

Luke, Ashe and I are all unranked, but they have been with Firehouse 49 from the start and yet they don’t treat me like a newbie. Then we have Lieutenant Keelan and Lieutenant James, they are both strict but fair. Which is needed to keep us all safe. Captain Blake Falcon is a force to be reckoned with. He is protective of his team as well as leads us with confidence. I can understand why he is the Captain.

I am thankful for Luke that took me under his wing and showed me the ropes as we worked on our call. He never pushed me to find out why I needed a new start and I appreciated that more than he will ever know. I can see myself being friends with him. I won’t open up to him about everything. That will get me in trouble and put him in danger. He might just be the big brother I never had.