All of a sudden there was a terrific commotion on the other side of the partition and a tall young man with blond hair rushed through the curtained wall yelling, “FIRE! FIRE!” Without a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed her around the waist and carried her out of the store, her stomach riding on his hip..
Esmeralda barely had time to say, “Wha …” and he had run back into the store.
By that time she could hear the alarm sounding and the sirens of the fire truck from eight blocks away, and the young man - who was some kind of a giant with the strongest arms Esmeralda had ever seen - came back out holding her cash register and purse.
“I believe these are yours, Ma’m.” he said with a slight bow and a smile making his blue eyes sparkle. Esmeralda suddenly couldn’ t make a sound “Are you o.k.?’ her rescuer said, pounding her lightly on her back. “Did you swallow some smoke?”
“Why, yes,” she said catching a breath. “Yes, I think I might have.” Frankly, Esmeralda hadn’t even smelled smoke, but she could feel her cheeks turn pink and that excuse was a life saver. The young man gave her a smile that was as dimple-filled as her own. “My name is Chad,” he said, holding out his hand. “Chad Sparrow. And you’re …” “I’m Esmeralda Jackson.” Esmeralda said still breathless.
“Yes Ma’m, Miz Jackson, I know who you are. I peek in your window from time to time” He said with a grin.
By then the fire truck had arrived and the sheriff pulled up, hauled his body out of the car, and was talking one by one with everybody who had been there. “I hear you’re a good man in an emergency,” he said, lumbering up to Chad and sticking out his monstrous hand. “Here’s my card, if you’re ever looking for work give me a call.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you sir, sheriff,” Chad looked at the card, “Uh … Q. Ball?”
“Q. for Quincy, boy, Q. for Quincy.”
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