Unbridled Trails

by Bonnie R. Paulson

  And drown.

  Chapter 18

  Kyle

  Grabbing a bucket when he got back to the ranch, Kyle sprinted around the south end of the barn and joined the line at the trough to funnel water to the fire line.

  While swinging the bucket, he searched the crowd for anyone who knew who Sherri was.

  Soot covering his face, Jareth rushed by.

  Kyle clutched his brother’s sleeve. “Jareth, have you seen Sherri? Is she inside?”

  Jareth shook his head, pushing his hat off his sweating forehead. “Nah, Cyan keeps calling for her, but we don’t have time to search for her because Nate said you were. The field caught on fire on the only side of the field we weren’t on. You better find Sherri. I’d hate to be the one to tell Cyan something happened to her best friend.” Jareth’s eyes widened as he looked past Kyle’s shoulder. “Holy crap, I haven’t seen that bastard in a long time.”

  Kyle turned, narrowing his gaze. Guy stood beside his truck, arms crossed and a smirk smudging his face.

  Approaching at a slow swagger that sped up into a near-sprint, Kyle and Jareth came at Guy like a couple of jaguars, cautious but hungry. “What are you doing here?”

  Tilting his head toward the flames, Guy pretended to yawn. “I saw the fire and thought I’d come see what was going on. Looks like you have a bit of a problem.” He cocked his eyebrow, like he hadn’t done anything wrong.

  Where was she? Just the thought of what Sherri was probably going through curled Kyle’s lip. He lunged forward, wrapping his fingers in the upper material of Guy’s shirt. Yanking the weasel to him, he forced Guy onto his tiptoes.

  Lips tight and teeth clenched, Kyle growled. “Where is she?”

  As he realized who Kyle spoke about, Guy’s eyes grew round. “That chick? She’s not back?” He searched what he could, but his vantage point was tiny and hard to maneuver with the hold Kyle had him in. “She should’ve been back by now. I didn’t wreck her truck that bad.” His voice turned into a whine. “Seriously, Darby, I didn’t mean to get her hurt. I thought for sure she’d make it down here by now. I just wanted—”

  Kyle gave him a little shake. “You started the fire, right?” He didn’t acknowledge the firefighters and fire marshal who had walked up behind them. He just needed witnesses and he’d take them in anyone he thought was viable.

  Guy whimpered.

  Kyle shook him again, repeating louder. “You did the fire, right? Trying to hurt Sherri?”

  Nodding, Guy shuddered. “Yes, yes, I did it.”

  Kyle dropped him, looking over his head to the officials and nodding his head. He turned to Jareth. “I need to find her. I can’t just wait here.”

  “You’re going to have to wait, brother. The fire is too high.” Jareth clapped his hand on the upper part of Kyle’s arm. His grim expression didn’t help Kyle’s spiraling despair. He’d given up too soon. He could’ve saved her. She was out there still. But where? Where was she?

  A shout in the distance drew their attention. The fire had spread across the prairie, making any attempts at extinguishing it next to impossible. The fire ate at the ground, driven relentlessly by the wind and dry grasses.

  The rancher-style home and barn lay directly in its path.

  “Grab more buckets!” Nate’s shout reached the group over the wind that had suddenly picked up faster and the panicked neighing. “Get to the barn.”

  Kyle bent at the waist, swooping up his dropped water bucket and sprinting toward the barn. He had to release the horses. Lady was already out. She huddled against the only fence that hadn’t been attacked by flames. Kyle reached the doors as men screamed from the far side that the roof had caught on fire.

  Running inside, he unlocked the stall doors and chased the horses out of the building. Clapping his hands, he searched every stall for any strays. Even as the barn filled with smoke, he couldn’t take the chance that even one of the animals would be left behind.

  As soon as the stalls were checked, Kyle locked the doors behind him and breathed the fresher air with a desperate gulp.

  Even with all the men organized and fighting the flames, the wind proved to be too much and the house caught fire as well. Its golden brown logs charred and blackened while the glass burst as the heat reached it.

  The firefighters pulled everyone to the side and made them stay out of the way as they fought to keep the fire contained since the log home burned too hot and fast.

  Kyle’s cousins slumped against the wooden logs of the fence, defeat belaboring their expressions. The entire Montana Trail group had lost more than their job site there. They somehow had lost all hope for their future.

  Too much loss for that day compounded itself into more loss than a decade could support.

  “We lost the whole place. Mr. Jonesy won’t be happy.”Nate moved up beside him, eyes teary and blood shot. “Did you find Sherri?”

  “He’s insured though, right?” Jareth moved up beside Nate. Leaned across to Kyle and looked around. “Did you find Sherri?”

  Kyle shook his head and swallowed hard. His answer was more a croak. “No. I tried. I couldn’t find her. It’s not like she could hide in some water and —” He snapped his head up.

  Could she have made it to the butterfly pond? Could she be out there waiting for someone to save her?

  Him?

  He couldn’t risk the lives of any of the horses. Breaking into a run, he hollered over his shoulder. “Call nine-one-one, Jareth. I think I know where Sherri is.”

  With the fire raging closer to the mountain range and pulling back from the edge of the woods, maybe the small clearing had fared better than the ranch or the surrounding fields.

  Did he have enough time or had he wasted time working on a ranch no one had been able to save?

  He pushed his guilt to the side until he could mull it over later.

  Heat pulsated off the rolling waves of fire, slapping him with the full frontal abuse it could manage from only a hundred feet away.

  From that angle, he’d never get in. Stomping through the remains of the cremated field, Kyle adjusted his sweat-dampened bandana up over his nose. He’d go around, see if there was a break in the flames and heat. No one had seen her and the fire had crossed the road. All of Clearwater County would be worried about the fire at this point. Hopefully, they were able to contain it to the area immediately around Taylor Falls.

  As long as Kyle didn’t think too hard, he wouldn’t have to face the glaring truth that his vigilantism was the reason Guy had started the fire, was the reason Sherri was in danger – if even still alive.

  The blame belonged to Kyle. Which went to prove the saying that no good deed goes unpunished.

  Another helicopter hovered above him then dipped and pushed its bucket closer to the clearing Kyle headed for. Stopping and making as if to lower the bucket, the helicopter halted the lowering and angled up at a slant, then flew to the right, disappearing over the fields to get closer to the river that ran parallel to the town.

  Kyle tromped closer to the clearing. Had they seen something? Could she be there? The heat was too high and Kyle stopped. He’d never get past the heat barrier.

  If he couldn’t get in, how would Sherri ever survive inside?

  The helicopter returned, its bucket swaying back and dropping water behind it. Stopping, the helicopter didn’t go past the area it’d hovered before. Kyle backed up to see better.

  The bucket tipped, pouring its contents as the helicopter moved. The pilot angled backwards, spilling the water over the less burning smaller trees as if to create a path for Kyle. The heat dissipated, but not enough for Kyle to get inside. With only the one chopper working with the water, the heat evaporated the water faster than he could get it.

  Chopping sounds from the opposite direction made Kyle turn. Another helicopter zoomed overhead, its bucket full and ready to tip. The first helicopter returned for more water and the second spread its offering. The flames dissipated more, the heat turning down
a few notches.

  While the second continued dropping its water, the first made progress getting that way.

  Spray from the steam soaked Kyle, cooling him even for a moment.

  All of the flames on the clearing perimeter closest to him fell back, revealing blackened corpses of fallen and scorched trees and bushes.

  Kyle didn’t wait for the fire to return. He kicked hard, lifting his knees and running as fast as possible through the break in the fire to the clearing.

  Ash and scarred debris littered the surface of the pond. A long black branch had fallen into the water, protruding from the edge. In the center of the pond, an oddly shaped island the size of a shoe floated just at the water surface.

  Kyle held his breath as he didn’t even stop at the edge, but plunged into the luke warm waters. He wrapped his arms around Sherri’s body, claiming her as his. Dead or alive, he didn’t wait to find out.

  They didn’t have time. He had to get her out of there before the fire reclaimed the trail the choppers had created. The water the helicopters had dropped wouldn’t hold that torrential fire at bay for long.

  Kyle lifted her soaking body from the water and she clung to him, spluttering and coughing as he rose from the pond bed. He croaked past impending tears, “Hang on, Sherri. Let’s get out of here.” Relief that she was still alive flooded him, releasing the band around his chest and allowing him to breathe better. To hope again.

  He tightened his arms around her, but she pushed from him. “I can stand.”

  Kyle set her on her feet and pulled on her arm. “Let’s get out of here.” The brown of her shirt began lightening around the edges as it dried in the intensifying heat. She focused on the ground in front of her, not meeting his gaze as her hair dripped around her face. They took off at a jog, running through the steaming and smoking sections of the previously dampened area.

  He didn’t relent, pushing Sherri at full speed until they reached the safety of the already-burned fields. The heat there wasn’t as hot as it beat down on them from the sun and sideways from the fire.

  Slowing, Kyle didn’t wait until they’d fully stopped before pulling Sherri into his arms. He rocked back and forth, his eyes closed.

  The immense emotion overwhelming him took his voice and all he could do for a moment was just hold her.

  She clung to the backs of his arms. Hers bent and then suddenly her weight dropped and unprepared, Kyle sank to the ground with her rather than drop her.

  She’d passed out and judging by the red welts on her face and hands, she still wasn’t safe.

  His adrenaline abating, Kyle struggled to his feet, scooping her into his arms again. He’d get her safe, if it killed him.

  The next hundred yards stretched before him like miles. Once he reached the driveway, he fell to his knees, hollering for help from anyone who would give it.

  The man watching over Guy rushed to Kyle’s side. He checked Sherri’s pulse and lifted his fingers to his lips, emitting a piercing whistle. Another fireman dropped a bucket he worked at the well and helped with Sherri. They stretched her out and stabilized her neck on Kyle’s lap.

  He tried not to cry as he asked, “Is she going to be alright?”

  “I don’t know. We’re going to call an ambulance. Just hang on.” The grim set to the firefighter’s lips chilled Kyle in the sweltering heat.

  What if she didn’t make it?

  What if Kyle had lost the ranch and his girl all because he had to have revenge?

  Chapter 19

  Sherri

  Being pulled from the water wasn’t as memorable as being cradled in Kyle’s arms. Her throat didn’t want to let her breathe. She’d choked on smoke and coughed up water. Everything felt scorched and singed and achy and tight. Would she ever be pain free again?

  Waking up in the hospital, Sherri hoped it was all a dream. Her throat burned and her lungs ached. If it was a dream, it’d been a nightmare.

  They released her after clearing her for edema in the lungs and verifying all her burns were only two-degree.

  No one came to visit. She stayed in the hospital for a few days, but after they determined she would be okay, they released her.

  Standing at her place in the doorway after paying for a cab left her bereft and more isolated than even half-drowning in that pond.

  Had Tommy been okay? Would anyone even miss her, if she died? Kyle had disappeared after carrying her somewhere. She didn’t remember much of anything.

  She sat on her patio, not willing to cram herself and her nerves into the small, lonely home.

  Wrapping her bandaged arms around her knees, she brushed her hair off her forehead. Singed ends curled tightly around her fingers. She didn’t allow herself to cry. She couldn’t.

  But the tears still escaped. She had forced her tears back all that time. Even the sobbing hadn’t been real crying, just a way to release her pent up fear.

  Four days and no one had come looking for her. No one. Not even Cyan.

  The only that would keep Cyan away from Sherri was if Cyan herself was dead. Real dread flooded Sherri’s heart. Cyan. Had Cyan died in the fire? Had something happened?

  All the hospital staff had talked about was the fire. It still raged on, even now, mostly burning north and to the west on National forest land. But the danger was still there it would shift with the winds and head toward Taylor Falls and Colby.

  The rumble of M.T.’s Bronco announced his arrival, but Sherri didn’t look up. She stared at the brown dry edges of the green blades of grass. Blistered, her hands ached and she didn’t pick at the grass as she normally would have.

  Before.

  Even the orange and red burning flames along the horizon didn’t warrant more than a passing glance. She’d been up close and personal with those flames. She didn’t want to see more of them then absolutely necessary.

  M.T. left his rig running. He rounded the front with urgency hardening his strong jaw and the normal tenderness in his eyes. “Sherri, where have you been? We’re evacuating the reservation. You need to —” He stopped feet from her, taking in her appearance. “Holy crap, Sherri. What happened?” He bent and brushed her hair from her face.

  Sherri swallowed, her throat tight and still painful. She whispered, “I need to see Kyle.” She had to see him. He knew what she’d been through, but not only that, he’d saved her. He’d been there. He’d been there when she needed him. He’d come for her when no one else had. If what she remembered about the rescue, the small amount that she did, then he’d come for even when the flames burned higher than him.

  M.T.’s face stiffened. His long hair moved with him as he pulled from her. “Did he do this to you?”

  Sherri stood on aching legs. She lifted her chin. “M.T. that’s not what happened. He pulled me out of the fire. I can’t call the taxi service from Colby. Not if they’re evacuating. Can you get me to Kyle? He’s probably at the Rourke Ranch. He saved me.” Too many words. Her throat closed up again and she shook her head instead of continuing.

  One hand at her throat, she held up a finger for him to wait and ran inside. She needed Tommy. She couldn’t leave him in case the res burned down.

  She grabbed Tommy in his traveling case and looked once at her place. If she didn’t see her stuff, she wouldn’t be heart-broken. She hadn’t been alive long enough to create a lasting bond with anything. But now, thanks to Kyle, she had a chance to more time to develop relationships with more, be more.

  Need more.

  She had to tell him how much he meant to her. Even if they weren’t ready for I love you, at least they would have the time to find out.

  M.T. helped her up into the cab and closed the door. He climbed in beside her and backed out of the drive. After a moment, he spoke cautiously, “He saved you?”

  She nodded, but couldn’t speak. She clutched her hand to her throat, the pain holding her words in. Rolling down her window, she spit the excess saliva out of her mouth.

  “Maybe I owe him more than je
alousy.” He pulled over to the side of the road and turned toward her. He held up his hand, his dark eyes watching her. “I know you can’t speak, which is perfect for me. You always shut me down before I even get started.”

  M.T. studied her, his smile tender but sad. “I love you. You know I do. I always have. But I’m not stupid. I’ve seen the way you look at this guy. If you care about him,” he swallowed, “love him, then I’ll back off. I just want you to be happy. But if you don’t, tell me now. I won’t give up, if I think there’s the smallest chance.”

  Grasping the moment to really see him, not just as a brother or a constant fixture in her life, she could honestly say everything about him entranced her. She’d grown accustomed to M.T. being around but where his eyes were dark she wanted to see blue and where his black hair hung long, she wanted to see the shorter hair peaking from under a cowboy hat.

  She scrunched her nose, blinking back bittersweet tears, and whispered. “I love him.” Immediately, she slapped her hand over her mouth.

  Maybe he hadn’t heard. She couldn’t love Kyle. She wasn’t supposed to love anyone. Insects were her choice, they didn’t hurt you and they were consistent, reliable, predictable. Even though Sherri’s childhood had been relatively boring, she’d been around Cyan and Rachiah long enough to see that men could hurt you or leave you, leaving you with your heart ripped out and your soul despairing. A woman was better off not needing a man.

  But she’d already accepted that she needed him. Was it such a stretch that she could love him, too?

  “You love him? You barely know him.” M.T. snorted in disgust, turning angrily to the steering wheel and pulling onto the road.

  Did Sherri know Kyle enough to love him? How much did she need to know? He’d saved her twice and hadn’t taken advantage of her either time – when he had more than enough opportunity. He teased her and made her laugh and he was jealous of her – he wanted her all to himself.

  The horror at her sudden admission melted away. She could get used to the idea of loving him. Just because she felt the way she did, didn’t mean she had to marry him that day. She could do what Cyan had done and take her time.