She stopped, listening. Over the howl of the fire she heard a sound.
A horn honking!
Jake! It had to be! She recognized the truck’s horn as it came again, insistent. Outside, from the front. It was louder, then louder still, bearing down on them.
“Emma!” She pulled the child as far to the side as possible.
The double doors of the barn seemed to explode. Wood flew. Savannah pressed Emma against the wall, shielding her body.
Gasping for air, Savannah turned back.
Jake had driven the truck right into the barn!
Savannah blinked hard to clear her burning eyes. She watched as Jake jumped from the cab, kicking debris out of the way. “Savannah! Emma!”
“Over here!”
His large hands reached through the thick dark smoke and grabbed Emma, then tossed her into the cab of the truck. Savannah picked her way through the splintered wood, tugging on Betsy’s rope. The animal protested, but Jake lifted the calf and in one fluid movement had her in the truck bed. Savannah cried out as Jake snatched her up, as well, and heaved her into the cab.
“Hang on!” Jake yelled. He threw the pickup into reverse and floored it. The truck lurched backward with the crunch of metal and cracking wood. Savannah pulled Emma tightly against her and muffled the child’s scream against her chest.
Jake stopped the truck well out of harm’s way. As he pulled Emma and Savannah out of the cab, all Savannah could hear was the sound of the roaring fire. She glanced at the barn, and a wall of flames engulfed the building.
“The horses,” she whispered, but it was more like a rasp. Her lungs ached.
He set them both gently down on the ground and knelt beside them. “They got out.”
Savannah closed her eyes in relief, opening them again when Emma began to cough. She held her niece against her, rocking her until the spasm passed.
The barn roof collapsed and the ground shook.
“Oh, Jake,” she said weakly, tears choking the back of her raw throat. “Your barn.”
Ashes swirled through the air and slowly drifted to the ground.
He glanced over his shoulder at what was left of the structure. A muscle jumped in his clenched jaw. “Never mind the barn. The only thing that matters is that you and Emma are all right.”
Betsy bawled from the back of the truck. Jake lifted the calf out of the bed and placed her beside Emma, who started to cry as she threw her arms around the animal.
“I didn’t do it, Jake,” Emma sobbed. “I didn’t start the fire. I was just saying goodbye to Betsy.”
“I never thought you did, sweetheart,” Jake said softly and brushed Emma’s hair from her soot-and-tear-covered face. “Sometimes things like this just happen.”
“Savannah! Emma! Oh, my God, are you all right?”
Savannah turned. Jessica left her car door open as she jumped from the station wagon and ran toward them, her eyes wide. Jared was right behind her, his face tight with worry.
“We’re fine,” Savannah said, but she coughed at the effort the words cost her. Light-headed, she leaned against the side of the truck. Spots swam in front of her eyes. “I’d appreciate it if you’d take care of Emma, though. I’m...feeling a little...”
She never finished the sentence before the darkness closed around her.
* * *
“Hell of a day,” Jared said to Jake two hours later as he handed him a shot of whiskey. “I’d say you’ve earned yourself a drink.”
“Day’s not over yet.” Jake paused just long enough in his pacing to down the liquid, then hand the glass back to his brother. “Save the bottle.”
Jake felt his brother’s silent gaze follow him as he continued to pace the length of the living room. He hadn’t changed his soot-streaked clothes yet, and he could smell the stench of smoke on himself.
“What the hell is that doctor doing in there?” Jake glanced toward the bedrooms. “Playing Monopoly?”
Jared settled back on the couch and sipped at his own drink. “It hasn’t been long, Jake.”
Jake ran a shaky hand through his hair. He looked at his fingers, covered with ashes, then closed his eyes and swore. He felt Jared’s hand on his shoulder.
“They’re all right,” Jared said quietly.
Jake opened his eyes and stared at his brother. “If I hadn’t seen the smoke when I did, they’d have...”
“Life is full of ifs.” Jared’s hand tightened on Jake’s shoulder. “It’ll only tear you up inside to think about them.”
Jake sighed and nodded, realizing that no one knew that better than Jared. Savannah and Emma were alive.
That was all that mattered.
Jessica came out of the bedroom then, followed by Dr. Stanley Sanders, a portly man with gray sideburns.
Jake felt his heart hammering against his ribs as he moved toward the doctor. “Well?”
“Your ladies are fit as fiddles,” Dr. Sanders said. “Lungs and eyes are clear, no contusions, burns or lacerations. I’d say they were mighty lucky.”
Lucky? They almost died in a fire, for God’s sake, Jake thought irritably. Still, he slowly released the breath he’d been holding. “Can I see them?”
“You can see Miss Roberts now, but Emma is sleeping.” The doctor pushed his wire-frame glasses higher on his nose and took in Jake’s ragged appearance. “How ‘bout we have a look at you first, son?”
“Not necessary.” He started to brush past the doctor, then stopped at the sound of a woman’s voice calling him from outside.
Oh, God, no. Not Myrna.
His stepmother ran into the house, an expression of complete horror on her face. “Jake, what happened?”
“Maybe you can tell us, Mrs. Stone.”
Jake whirled at the Southern voice that spoke from the hallway. Savannah. She was dressed in her robe, her jaw tightly set as she stared at Myrna.
“How could I tell you?” She looked confused. “I just drove in from town.”
Savannah moved into the room, her hard gaze never leaving Myrna. “I saw your car driving away from here not more than two hours ago, just before the fire started.”
Everyone in the room stared at Myrna. Her face paled against her red hair. “But I’ve been at the hairdresser’s all morning. I just heard there was trouble out here when William picked me up.”
William.
An alarm bell went off in Jake’s head. Jared must have had the same thought, because they were both suddenly moving toward the front door.
The driver stood by the side of the car, arms folded, chewing at a toothpick as he kicked at the ground with the toe of his boot. He glanced up, and his eyes widened at the sight of the Stone brothers bearing down on him. Fear registered clearly on his face, and he glanced around as if he might run, but realized it would be futile.
“Hey, Jake, Jared,” he said nervously. “Too bad about the barn.”
Jake stood no more than a foot away from the man. He could smell the liquor on his breath. “Where were you two hours ago, Billy?”
The toothpick shifted from one corner of Billy’s mouth to the other. “I, ah, was in town. Took Mrs. Stone there for her weekly hair appointment like I always do.”
“So you don’t know who might have set my barn on fire, then.”
Billy’s mouth tightened. “I told ya, I was in town. Everybody seen me. I was there when Mrs. Stone come out of the beauty shop.”
“It takes an hour and a half to drive to town and back.” Jake moved in closer still to the man, close enough to see the sweat bead on his forehead. “Myrna’s appointments take at least that long. Where were you between the time you dropped her off and picked her up?”
“I had things to do.” He shifted from one foot to the other.
“Like set fire to my barn?”
“Hey, I don’t like what—”
Jake grabbed the front of the man’s shirt and nearly lifted him off the ground. “I don’t like my barn being burned down, either, Billy. You were see
n here. Driving away just before the fire started.”
The man’s weak protest only increased Jake’s anger. Rage built inside him, and he tightened his grip on Billy and shook him furiously. “My sister was in that barn,” he said in what sounded like a low growl. “She might have died.”
Billy’s glazed eyes widened. The toothpick fell out of his mouth. “But Mrs. Stone said you was at the airport, that you were all gone. I checked—” The words had rushed out of his mouth like a dam breaking open before he stopped short and blinked, suddenly realizing all he’d said.
“What else did Mrs. Stone tell you?” Jake shook the man again. “To set fire to my barn? Like you did the shed?”
“I ain’t saying nothing!” Billy yelled. “I want a lawyer.”
“You’ll get a lawyer.” Jake’s eyes narrowed. He shoved Billy against the car. “But first you’re going to need this doctor I’ve got here.”
He swung his arm back, and Billy doubled over as Jake’s fist connected with his stomach. Jake was reaching for Billy again when Jessica moved beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Jake,” she said anxiously, “I’ve called the sheriff. He’ll be here soon.”
His fist still raised, Jake turned and saw Savannah standing a few feet away, her face ashen as she watched. She’d seen enough for one day, he realized, and let his arm drop. He swore heatedly and shoved Billy to the ground.
“Get a rope, Jared,” Jake said between clenched teeth. When Billy gasped, Jake smiled malevolently. “Don’t worry, Billy. We’ll save the hanging for later, when the whole town can watch.”
“Jake.” Myrna’s voice was shaky as she stepped close. “I hope you don’t think I had anything to do with this.”
Anger jumped in Jake’s temple as he stared at his stepmother. “What better way to get my land, Myrna, than to slowly drive me bankrupt? Losing my barn ought to put the last nail in my coffin.”
“But I didn’t... I would never hurt you that way. Or the child. My God.” She swung around and faced Savannah. “You have to believe me. I was angry at Angela. I even hated her for taking J.T. away from me. But I never would have hurt the child. Not then, or now. I swear it.”
“You knew?” Savannah’s brow tightened and she took a step toward Myrna. “About J.T. and Angela?”
“He was going to divorce me,” the woman whispered raggedly, and hugged her arms tightly to her. “He’d moved into the east wing and contacted a lawyer. I couldn’t let him leave me. I couldn’t.”
It would have been easy to feel sorry for the woman, Savannah thought numbly. In her own way, Myrna had loved J.T., but not enough to let his happiness come before her own selfishness. “And the baby—you knew Angela was pregnant with J.T.’s child?”
Myrna pressed a shaky hand to her mouth and nodded again. “I had a friend who worked in the doctor’s office.”
The Stone children all stared at Myrna in disbelief. All those years she’d known and never told anyone, Savannah realized.
“If J.T. was divorcing you, why did Angela leave?” Jake asked.
Myrna straightened her shoulders and faced them all. “J.T. was my husband. She had no right to him. I did what I had to do to keep what belonged to me.”
“And what was it you had to do?” Savannah asked carefully.
Myrna lifted her chin defiantly as she swung toward Savannah. “I told her I was pregnant. That J.T. and I were going to have the child we’d always talked about.”
Jake swore. Savannah drew a sharp breath.
“She was pregnant, for God’s sake!” Jake’s eyes flashed in anger.
Myrna’s lips trembled. “She was younger than me. Prettier. She could find someone else, even with a child. I needed J.T. Can’t you understand?”
In desperation, Myrna looked at every face watching her. They all turned away, including Dr. Sanders.
“Jessica,” Myrna choked out, “you understand, don’t you? I loved your father. How could I let him leave me?”
Jessica shook her head and took the older woman by the arm. “I’ll drive you home after the sheriff gets here,” Jessica said quietly. “Let’s go sit in the house now.”
Myrna nodded slowly. “I know I’ve done some bad things, but I had nothing to do with the things that happened to Jake. Please believe me—I didn’t.”
“I believe you.” Jessica looked at Jake, who frowned.
Savannah watched them walk away, trying to sort out the emotions ricocheting through her at the moment. A lie. Angela had sacrificed her love and denied her child a father because of a vicious lie.
She should feel better now that she knew the truth, Savannah told herself. But the only thing she felt was an emptiness, a sadness so profound it brought tears to her eyes. With a weary sigh, she turned on shaky legs and slowly walked back to the house.
* * *
An hour later, Jake knocked softly on Savannah’s door. At her quiet response, he entered and found her standing at the window, arms folded, looking out toward the burned rubble that had been his barn. When he moved close to her and smelled the smoke still clinging to her hair, the image of the barn in flames came clearly to his mind, as did the feeling of terror when he realized that she and Emma were inside. A fresh wave of what-might-have-been shuddered through him.
And the realization hit him, stronger than any lightning bolt and more intense than any fire.
He loved her.
Loved her. The words rang through his head, and he had the craziest desire to shout them at her. He wanted to take her in his arms, pull her tightly to him and beg her to stay.
Beg her to marry him.
He started to reach for her, then drew his hand back.
What was the matter with him? He had nothing to offer Savannah now. The loss of his barn would cost him the ranch. He had no doubt about that. He was already too far behind financially. How could he ask her to marry him when he didn’t even know where he’d be sleeping in a month?
What a cruel joke. He finally realized that he not only loved Savannah, but that she would never do anything his ex-wife had done. He knew he could trust her with his love and his life, and he couldn’t offer her either one.
“What’s going to happen now?” she asked, turning to face him.
She looked tired, he noted. He wanted to lay her down on the bed and gather her close to him. He wanted to listen to her heart beat as she slept and know she was all right. He couldn’t do any of that.
“Billy’s been arrested for setting the barn on fire,” he said tightly. “It shouldn’t take long to prove he also torched the shed, not to mention all the other problems the ranch has been having.”
“But why?” Savannah asked.
“I wouldn’t give him a recommendation to work on another ranch after I fired him for drinking. He had to resort to working for Myrna as a chauffeur. I suppose that’s enough to drive anyone to desperation, but I never would have expected him to be so angry he’d go to the extremes he did to pay me back.”
Savannah drew a weary breath. “And Myrna?”
Jake frowned. “The sheriff doesn’t think she’s involved. Unless Billy tells us different, she won’t be charged with anything.”
“What do you think?”
He sighed heavily. “Jessica and Jared don’t think so, but by admitting she lied to your sister like she did proves she’s capable of deceit.”
“She loved J.T.,” Savannah said softly. “She was wrong in what she did and I don’t condone it, but I almost think I understand.”
Jake shook his head. “J.T. had the right to know and to make his own decision. Myrna took that away from him.”
The silence stretched tautly between them. From outside, Jake heard Jared shouting directions to some neighbors who had come by and offered help cleaning up.
“What about you, Jake?” Savannah asked quietly. “What are you going to do now?”
“I’ll work something out with the bank,” he said blithely. “I should have a new barn up by
fall.”
She looked at him, and he knew that she knew he was lying. Her eyes searched his and he saw the need there. The need for him to hold her and for her to hold him. He kept his distance.
“Emma and I could stay and help,” she offered. He heard the hope in her voice, felt a spark of it himself.
Maybe, just maybe, with Savannah’s help, I could do it. Work longer hours, get some work in town. If they were married...
He nearly laughed at the idea. What the hell was the matter with him? How long would she want to hang in there with a flat-broke rancher? He’d be gone all day, every day, and there weren’t enough hours in any of those days to save this ranch. What kind of life was that to offer someone?
It was a stupid fantasy. He was only human, and he was tired. Damn tired. He’d lose this ranch whether Savannah was here or not. He wouldn’t drag her—and Emma—down with him.
“Thanks, but I’ll manage.”
He saw the sharp hurt in her eyes. “I’m sure you will.”
“Savannah—”
She turned her back on him and stared out the window again. “I think it’s a good idea to let Emma rest today. There’s another flight out tomorrow morning. I’ve already booked us on it.” Her words were clipped and terse.
They’d been through this once today. He wouldn’t have thought it could possibly hurt more than it already had. But it did. It hurt a hell of a lot more.
He turned and for the second time that day, walked out of Savannah Roberts’s life.
Twelve
Jake stared at the letter in his hand, read it for the third time, then crumpled the stiff white paper between his fingers. He threw it across the room.
Dammit, dammit, dammit!
Fists clenched, jaw tight, he stood at the kitchen table, dragging in a deep breath to control the rage pouring through him.
Foreclosure.
The word was like a steel band closing around his chest, shutting off the air. There were other words, too. Like We regret to inform you...policy of the bank...vacate in ten days. Or the last line of the letter and the final insult—If there’s any way we may help...
They could all take a flying leap, that might help, he thought angrily.
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