by Janet Dailey
“Beau!” The familiar shout reached his ears. Will’s bulky form, running toward him, materialized through the smoke. “You damn fool!” Will’s strong arms caught him, pulled him toward the pickup that waited ahead. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”
“Trying to . . . save your ranch. But I couldn’t . . .” Beau was out of breath. His feet stumbled as Will dragged him the last few yards and piled him into the pickup.
“Our ranch, you knucklehead,” Will growled. “We can talk about that later. Right now let’s get us both out of here.”
Seconds later they were rocketing back toward the ranch yard with a wall of smoke and fire towering behind them.
From outside the barn, Sky watched the fire sweep closer. The last of the trailers had vanished up the road, the men from Beau’s fire crew riding along in the trucks. But there was still no sign of Beau, or of Will, who’d gone looking for him.
The blaze was a monster now—an unstoppable juggernaut, burning everything in its path. It was time to get out of its way. But he couldn’t leave without knowing what had happened to Will and Beau.
Relief swept over him as Will’s pickup burst through the smoke with two men in the front seat. The ranch might burn, but at least his brothers were alive and safe.
Will swung the pickup close to where Sky stood, hit the brake, and rolled down the window. His smoke-reddened eyes were like burning coals in his soot-black face. “Jump in. Let’s get out of here,” he said.
“Go on,” Sky said. “I want to check the place one last time. I’ll follow you in my truck.”
“Fine. Don’t take long.” Will gunned the engine and disappeared up the road to the caprock.
Sky raced through the barns, checking each stall to make sure no animals were left inside. Jasper’s ATV was in the shed behind their duplex. Sky would have liked to save it for the old man, but he didn’t have the key and the fire was roaring close now. There’d be no time to rig the ramp and push the ATV into his pickup. There were some valuable saddles in the tack room but no time to take them and load them in the truck. Flames were shooting up beyond the bunkhouse and the commissary. Soon the sparks would ignite the barn and the wooden roof of the house. He could smell the acrid smoke, taste it. His stinging eyes burned with it. He had to get out—now.
His silver-blue truck was parked in the open. Sky grabbed the key ring out of his pocket. Flinging himself into the driver’s seat, he thrust the key into the ignition, touched the gas pedal, and gave the key a turn.
There was a faint click, then silence.
He pumped the gas pedal, jiggled the key, and tried again.
Nothing.
CHAPTER 20
Lauren’s babyhood home was gone. From the shelter of the brick and metal syndicate office, she’d watched the flames in the house shoot up higher than the tall poplars. Then the trees themselves had caught fire, blazing like candles around an altar.
Losing the house saddened her. But it was Sky’s safety that had her frantic. She’d tried again and again to reach his phone but had gotten nothing but his answering message.
Finally, after several desperate tries, she managed to call Tori on the caprock. “Everybody else made it out ahead of the fire,” Tori told her. “But we’re still waiting for Sky. He wanted to check the barns before he left.”
“Can’t somebody go back and make sure he’s all right?”
“Not anymore,” Tori said. “The fire’s burned past the bottom of the road. We can only hope he’s headed up here or that he got out some other way. Don’t worry, Lauren. Sky’s too smart to get caught in the fire. As soon as he shows up, I’ll have him call you.”
Minutes after the call ended, Lauren’s phone rang. She shook with relief when she saw Sky’s name and heard his tired voice. “I saw the smoke when your house went up,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”
“I’m fine. I’m at the syndicate office. I’ve tried and tried to call you.”
“Sorry, I’ve been busy. And I left my phone in the truck.” Something in his voice set off a warning. A cold premonition crawled up her spine.
“Where are you?” she asked. “Tori said you weren’t with the others.”
“I’m still at the ranch. But I don’t plan to be here long.”
The fear sharpened, cutting deep. “Sky, what is it? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” In the background, behind his voice, she could hear a sound like wind, but more than wind. “I just wanted to tell you something, that’s all. I’d planned to wait till everything was perfect and I could get down on one knee with a diamond ring in my hand. But I think I need to say this now. I love you, Lauren. I’ll always love you. Whatever happens, never forget that.”
“Sky, what’s going on? Tell me—”
But there was no reply. She’d lost the connection. When she tried again there was no answer.
Lauren’s heart slammed. She should have sensed the truth the instant she heard his voice. Sky had known he was in life-threatening danger. The call had been his way of saying good-bye. By now he could be dying, or even dead.
The urgency was a scream inside her. Whatever it took, she had to go to him.
Her Corvette was in the parking lot, but the low-slung car wasn’t made to go off-road, and if it got too near the fire, it would burn. She’d have to take a horse.
She ran to the metal-roofed stable, where she grabbed a saddle and a bridle with side-blinders from the tack room. One horse was hers to take—a horse strong enough to carry her where she needed to go. But that horse had a strong will of his own. She could only hope Storm Cloud was in a mood to behave.
She’d used a silk scarf to tie back her hair when she’d left the house. Pausing, she pulled it free and stuffed it in her pocket. There was a chance she’d need it to blindfold the horse. She couldn’t risk letting the wind blow it away.
The big, black gelding was in his stall. He was nervous, most likely spooked by the smell of the fire, but he allowed her to saddle and bridle him and to climb on his back. She walked him out of the stable and looked around to make sure the way was clear before digging her heels into his flanks.
Storm Cloud responded as if a gunshot had gone off behind him. They rocketed out of the yard. Lauren crouched over his back like a jockey, planning her route as she rode. Trying to pass through the smoke and flames would be too dangerous, and the ground already burned would be too hot to cross. She would have to circle wide and come into the Rimrock from the north, ahead of the fire. That would mean trusting that the wind would hold—a risky bet, but one she would have to take.
“Hey! What’re you doing!” a male voice shouted somewhere behind her. “Come back here, you crazy woman!”
Without a backward glance, Lauren kept on riding.
After calling Lauren, Sky had taken the loaded revolver out of the glove compartment and stuck it in his belt. He’d rationalized that he might find some poor burned animal and need to put it out of its misery. The real reason for having the weapon was one he didn’t like to think about. If the flames cut him off from all hope of escape, a quick bullet to the head would be better than burning to death.
But things hadn’t come to that yet. He still had a fair chance of surviving this fire. All he had to do was find it.
The well and reserve tanks had been drained in an effort to water down the house and barn. Turning on the outside tap, Sky wet himself down from the trickle that remained. Blown by the wind, the fire was burning from east to west. The escarpment on the west would be the safest place, but he’d never make it on foot. No man could hope to outrun a roaring, windblown fire for any distance. There was an unburned break to the north, but even if he could make it that far, the fire would get there first.
The bunkhouse was already burning, and the water-soaked roof of the long barn had begun to steam. Soon it would be smoldering. Staying in the open, away from the buildings, wasn’t an option. When the full force of the fire swept through, i
t would suck all the oxygen from the air.
Sky scanned the yard for shelter. The house was stone, but once the roof caught it would be an inferno. The same for the sheds and the duplex he and Jasper called home. Was there a root cellar? Lord, he couldn’t remember. Even if he could find it, would it give him enough protection? Would anything?
Sky’s frustration exploded in a string of curses. He didn’t want to end his life like this. He wanted to live out his years with his brothers in this place that gave him all he could ever need. He wanted to build a home on his land, to marry Lauren and fill her sweet belly with their children. It wasn’t right that it should all end here—he couldn’t let it happen. Dammit, he wouldn’t.
An unexpected sound made him turn. There, galloping hell for leather down the open strip to the north, was a big black horse. At first he couldn’t make out the rider, but when he caught a glimpse of flying red hair, he knew.
Lauren was risking her life to come for him.
The unburned gap was narrowing. Anytime now, with a fresh breath of wind, it would close. Lauren could be trapped by the flames.
What if that were to happen? Sky had the pistol. He could shoot the horse if he had to. But could he shoot Lauren?
“No! Lauren, get back!” Sky raced toward her, trying to wave her to safety. But she kept coming, urging the horse ahead. Sky could tell Storm Cloud was terrified. He could easily throw her to the ground and bolt.
With the fire closing in, they met halfway. Still gripping the reins, Lauren slid to the ground. Sky caught her close, but only for an instant. He knew they were running out of time. Without a word, Lauren handed him the reins. The black gelding was tossing and snorting, on the verge of panic.
Springing onto the saddle, Sky pulled Lauren up behind him. As she settled into place, her arms around his waist, he spoke to calm the horse. “Easy, boy, it’s all right.” Storm Cloud seemed to recognize his touch and voice. His agitation lessened. But when Sky turned the horse back the way Lauren had ridden, he saw the danger. The unburned gap had closed. They would have to leap the fire to get away.
“Protect your head,” he told Lauren. “Press your face against my back and hold on tight. We’re going through.”
He took an instant to pat the gelding’s lathered shoulder. He knew he was asking a lot of the horse. He could only hope Storm Cloud would trust him. “You can do it, boy,” he said. “Let’s go!”
Communicating with his knees, weight, and hands, Sky urged the horse to a thundering gallop, then to a soaring leap that carried them over and through the flames. A searing breath of heat brushed past them. Then they were clear and running, the fire blazing behind them.
Sky swung the horse toward the safety of the escarpment. They were gaining distance on the fire now, but Storm Cloud was tiring. Sky slowed the gelding’s pace to an easy canter. They had a little time now.
He freed a hand to reach back for Lauren. Her fingers caught his and held on tight. Later they would talk and make plans. Right now no words were needed.
They were nearing the escarpment when the whirring, droning sound of aircraft reached their ears. “Sky! Look!” Lauren cried.
Sky turned the horse. Behind them, above the ranch, planes and choppers were swarming in to dump their loads of water and fire retardant. Sirens wailed as the ground crews moved in from the far side of the fire. The flames were already losing the battle.
As the sun set over the caprock, Sky halted the horse in a shadowed canyon by a spring, dismounted, and gathered Lauren into his arms. The fire had done plenty of damage. But grass would grow again. Fences and buildings could be repaired. Only lives were irreplaceable. Lives and love.
EPILOGUE
August Fifteenth
Will and Jasper sat on the front porch, listening to the sound of the cool rain drizzling off the eaves. They were waiting for Beau and Natalie’s wedding, which would take place in the family parlor as soon as Sky arrived with Lauren and Reverend Sykes, who suffered from a mild narcolepsy that kept him from driving safely.
Will glanced at his watch. “Damnation, where are they? I need to get out of this blasted suit and get back to work on the bunkhouse.”
Jasper’s mouth twisted in a half smile. “Stop your gripin’, Will Tyler. Look around you. The rain’s fallin’, the grass is growin’, the barn’s got a new roof, and your brother’s gettin’ hitched to a fine woman. For Pete’s sake, relax and enjoy the day!”
Will exhaled and shifted his legs. True, he had plenty to be happy about. The fire had spared the house and the duplex, and only damaged the long barn. The machine sheds and their contents had been saved, as well as the four bungalows for the married hands a half mile away. With the rains, the land was greening fast, both here and up on the caprock. Soon there’d be plenty of feed for horses and cattle. Meanwhile, Sky had opened up his untouched acreage to the Rimrock for grazing.
And Beau would be staying—that alone was enough to celebrate. He and Natalie would live in one of the bungalows until their new house on the ranch was finished. Natalie would work part time in partnership with the new vet who was renting her house and clinic.
There was another house going up, this one on Sky’s land. Proud as always, he’d insisted on putting off his wedding to Lauren until he could offer her a suitable home. For now she’d found a small apartment in town, where she was working to grow her accounting business. But the two were already spending most of their nights together.
“Did Abner ever figure out what happened to start that fire?” Jasper asked, making conversation.
“Not Abner,” Will said. “As you know, we all figured that the fire came from that burned SUV down by the east property line. But when the deputies found a body in it, the FBI got involved. We didn’t hear anything for a while, but Beau made some calls. They’d traced the rented vehicle to a hit man for the Dallas mob, and the DNA was a match. But nobody seems to know how it caught fire in the first place.”
“What about Sky’s cousin, that woman who shot me? Maybe she got burnt up in the fire, too. It’d serve her right!”
“The FBI didn’t find any sign of her or her motorcycle. A clerk at a truck stop in Wichita Falls remembered selling cigarettes to a woman matching her description—hard to forget, with that scar. But she’s in the wind—until she gets caught, which is bound to happen sooner or later.”
Jasper spat off the porch. “Never mind. We all know who was behind this mess.”
“We do.” Will thought of Stella, like a black widow spider with a network of webs, too crafty and too dangerous to get caught. “Her day will come, Jasper. And when it does, Blanco County will be a better place.”
“Hope I live to see it.” Jasper peered through the rain at the new dark blue truck that had turned the corner onto the long, graveled lane. “Well, I’ll be damned. Here they come, and right on time.” He glanced at Will. “Sky and Lauren make a right handsome couple, don’t they? And those looks they give each other—” The old man gave a low whistle. “I’m guessin’ there’ll be another wedding before long, maybe sooner than we think.”
“And I’m guessing there’ll soon be more little Tyler cousins to run around the ranch.” Will let the words hang, fully aware of what he’d just said.
Jasper’s jaw dropped. He stared at Will. “How long have you known?”
“I’ve suspected all along—those blue eyes, the little mannerisms, the way my dad treated him. But I didn’t know for sure until Sky got shot and we had to give him blood. How many people have AB negative? Sky knows, doesn’t he?”
“He didn’t for a long time. I finally told him, but he’d never say anything to you or Beau.”
“He wouldn’t, of course,” Will said. “I do plan to tell him, but in my own time, whenever that is. Maybe on his wedding day.”
Jasper grinned. “Remind me. When you’ve got time to listen, I’ll tell you the whole story.”
The pickup stopped at the foot of the porch. The reverend got out of the backseat a
nd hurried up the steps through the rain. Sky climbed out of the truck and went around to Lauren’s side. She handed him an umbrella, which he held over her until they reached the cover of the porch.
The two of them were so much in love. Will remembered when things had been like that between him and Tori, before his world crashed and he’d lost her. What he wouldn’t give to have that feeling back. But as Jasper would put it, there’d been too much water under the bridge. Too much time. Too little forgiveness on both sides.
The front door opened. Tori and Erin came out onto the porch. Erin looked heartbreakingly grown-up in her simple blue sheath dress, her hair twisted up and pinned with a silk flower. At some point she’d gotten her ears pierced—how could he have missed those little pearl studs? And was that lip gloss she was wearing? Now that was a shock.
Tori had put aside her black court suit for a flowing, flowered dress that made her look like a young girl. Her golden hair was loose, falling over her shoulders, and she wore gold gypsy hoops in her ears. She looked delicious—and so sexy that Will felt that old, familiar stirring. He forced himself to ignore it.
“Come on inside,” she said. “Everybody’s ready. Beau’s just waiting for his best man. Isn’t that you, Will?”
Will followed his ex-wife and daughter into the house, where the wedding was about to begin. As the vows were spoken, he would stand with his two brothers and the women they loved.
And he would ache for what he’d lost.
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2015 by Janet Dailey
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
