Wesley appeared by her side. “You okay?”

The question annoyed her. “I’m fine.” It was Amber who was in trouble. And Alec, who might get hurt or worse trying to save her.

The flame leaped higher.

Alec’s foot touched the ground outside the truck.

He gripped Amber close to his chest, rising to rush away.

“Get back!” he shouted to the growing crowd, just as the hood blew open, missing the tree trunk and cracking against the roof of the cab.

He staggered forward, but stayed upright and didn’t lose his grip on Amber.

Three hands arrived with fire extinguishers, aiming them at the engulfed truck.

Stephanie backed away from the heat. Remembering the cell phone in her hand, she quickly dialed Royce’s number.

Another pickup pulled up, and Alec lay Amber carefully across the bench seat.

“Don’t try to move,” he warned her.

“Hello?” Royce’s voice came into Stephanie’s phone.

“Royce?” Her voice shook.

“Stephanie?”

She didn’t know what to say.

Alec scooped the phone. “Alec here.” He took a breath. “There’s been an accident. Amber’s fine.” A pause. “No. No one else was in the truck.” He glanced at Stephanie, then down at Amber. “She’s conscious.”

He moved the phone away from his mouth. “Can you talk to Royce?”

Amber nodded, so Alec handed her the phone. Then he motioned to everyone else to back off. They obeyed, with the exception of Wesley who still hovered next to Stephanie.

When Amber put the phone to her ear and listened, tears welled up in her eyes. Stephanie instinctively moved in to comfort her, but Alec stopped her with his arm.

“Don’t touch her,” he whispered, keeping his arm braced around Stephanie’s waist.

He reached into his pocket, retrieving his own cell phone.

Stephanie looked at him with a question.

“Medical chopper,” he said in a low voice, turning away from Amber to speak to emergency services.