It Happened One Night by Sharon Sala Page B

Harley’s front lawn looking around in complete confusion.
    Edna turned. “Harley, dear, is that you?”
    â€œYes,” Harley shouted.
    â€œWhere are you?” Edna shouted back.
    â€œUp the tree,” Harley answered.
    Edna’s mouth made a small o as she looked up in disbelief.
    â€œMy goodness, dear. How on earth did you get up there?”
    â€œI climbed a ladder and then someone stole it.”
    â€œOh my,” Edna said. “Are you all right?”
    â€œNo,” Harley said, trying hard not to cry. “I can’t get down.”
    â€œYes, I can see that,” Edna said. “Don’t you worry, though. I’ll go call for help right now. You wait right there.”
    She bolted before Harley could answer. Harley laid her cheek against her arm, resisting the urge to laugh. Where the hell did Edna think she could go?
    A few moments later, Edna was back. “I called the fire department, honey. They’ll be right here.”
    Harley moaned. Sam. Oh Lord. Something told her she’d never hear the end of this.
    â€œHoney?”
    â€œWhat?” Harley muttered.
    â€œNot that it’s any of my business, but why did you go up that tree to begin with?”
    â€œThere was a cat up the tree and I thought he couldn’t get down.”
    â€œBut, honey...how did you think it got up there?”
    Harley stifled an expletive. “I guess I didn’t think, did I, Edna, or else I wouldn’t be in the predicament.”
    To Harley’s relief, Edna did not laugh.
    â€œI think I hear a siren,” Edna offered.
    â€œGreat,” Harley mumbled and closed her eyes.

CHAPTER 4
    W hen the call went out for Sam’s company to roll, he donned his gear without thought, concentrating only on the impending job and wondering what they would find upon arrival. It wasn’t until he’d jumped onto the ladder truck that the captain had come running out, yelling that the call had come from his residence. Within moments, every fireman on the rig knew where they were going, and although they cast the occasional nervous glance in his direction as the big red engine raced through the Oklahoma City streets, no one spoke. To a man, they were all empathizing with Sam’s shock and fear.
    For Sam, the ride was a blur. All he could think was that Harley was in trouble. He’d been anxiously scanningthe horizon for smoke, but as they neared his home, he’d come to the conclusion that whatever had happened to Harley, it didn’t involve a fire—at least not anymore.
    As they turned the corner, he saw Edna Matthews standing in his yard and gesturing wildly. Sam was off and running before the truck came to a complete halt.
    â€œWhat happened?” he yelled, grabbing Edna by the shoulders. “Where’s Harley? Where’s my wife?”
    â€œUp  the tree,”  Edna  said,  pointing  up  and  over Sam’s head.
    â€œUp the what?”
    â€œThe tree! The tree!” Edna cried. “Someone stole your ladder and she can’t get down.”
    By now, it was evident to all the firemen that no one was in mortal danger. Relief swelled through the crew as they gathered around Sam and looked up the tree.
    Sam squinted. He could see a familiar length of bare leg and shoe, but he couldn’t see Harley’s face.
    â€œJunie. Are you all right?”
    Harley rolled her eyes. God, but this was humiliating.
    â€œSomeone stole your ladder. I only saw the top of his head but he was driving a big black truck.”
    â€œWhy did you climb up the tree?”
    Harley resisted the urge to scream.
    â€œIt’s a long story,” she said. “Suffice it to say, I want down. Would you please make that happen?”
    One of the firemen slapped Sam on the back as another placed a ladder under the tree.
    â€œSounds to me like she’s running out of patience, old buddy. If I were you, I’d save the questions