by Piper Stone
“What about Bo Dreyfus?”
“He won’t go far. I promise you that.”
“What’s the address?” Boone demanded.
“Boone, I’m not going to tell you that. Two deputies are already headed in the direction. Take it easy. We’ll find Dr. Parker.”
“What if it’s too late?” Boone shivered and heard the sound of emergency vehicles, sirens going off all around.
Sheriff James patted his arm. “Go home. I’ll give you a call as soon as I know anything. Okay?”
Refusing to answer, Boone paced the area, glaring at the body of the man they called Drake Dreyfus. He’d gotten close enough to see the single shot to the man’s forehead, no doubt killing him instantly. Had Stasha been inside?
Squawk!
The alarm yanked Boone out of his fog. Before he had a chance to respond, his cell phone rang. He raced up the embankment, answering without looking. “Boone Martin.”
“Boone, Captain Phillips. Listen to me carefully. Several firefighters are on their way to your address. There is a report of a fire.”
“What?” Blinking, Boone headed for his car. The pounding of his blood created a swimming echo in his ears. Stumbling, he pushed himself up, finally making it to the road. “What did you say?”
“There was a report of a fire at your ranch. Teams are on the way. Where the hell are you?”
“I’m on my way.”
“Boone, wait. Let the fire department handle this.”
Boone jumped into the car, turning over the engine and screeching away from the curb. “I have nothing left, Captain, nothing but my horses and I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose them too.” Ending the call, he tossed the phone and hit the accelerator, hugging the curves. Fear and rage encapsulated his entire system, increasing his blood pressure until breathing became difficult.
Swerving around an approaching car, he rounded another corner. Flames lit up the night sky. “Fuck.” As he floored the gas pedal, moving in excess of seventy miles per hour, he knew given the raging fire that his ranch was gone. Had she been taken there? Were they both meant to die in the fire?
Red and blue lights were everywhere, shutting down the road. Skidding to a stop, he jammed the gear into park, cutting the engine and jumping out of the car. He could see two fire engines and several other trucks and cars. The entire team was here.
Racing around several of the firefighters, no one tried to stop him. As he cleared the line of emergency vehicles, moving into the clearing in front of his ranch, his knees buckled. “God.” Anger pushed him forward, trotting toward the house. There was little left but a crumbling wall, the stone fireplace. “No!” He headed toward the porch.
“Boone. Stop. It’s okay.” Riker wrapped his arms around Boone, yanking him back. “Listen to me. You can’t go in there. Do you understand?”
“I have to. Stasha might be in there!” Boone hissed, trying to pull away.
Stoker approached, wiping soot from his face. “There’s no evidence of anyone having been inside.”
“How do you know!” He managed to jerk free but immediately, Moose stepped in front of him.
“We’re not letting you in there.” Riker glared at him. “The firefighters are doing their jobs.”
“What about the horses? I have to get to the horses.” Boone turned from right to left, his entire mind frazzled.
“I went to the barn first,” Sawyer choked as he wiped his mouth and coughed. “They’re not in there.”
“What the hell happened?”
“We have to stop this fire. Do you understand me?” Riker confronted Boone. “You can either stay here and we’ll understand, or you can help us, but we need to contain this. What’s it going to be?”
Boone looked off to the side. The flames were rolling hot, spreading through the tops of the trees.
“The horses no doubt ran for safety. Let’s save the forest. The fire is racing toward two other houses. Come on, Boone.” Sawyer nodded, doing his best to smile.
“The firemen have the area here contained,” Moose added, his expression stilted.
Training. Discipline. You can do this. You have to do this. Boone gave a single nod.
“Good man. I have your equipment. Let’s get this done. The others have managed to cut off the south side of the fire. They’re working on the east side now with scratch lines. We need to get in the middle of the forest and cut this fucker off. Riker, bring the torches just in case. Boone, roll with the blades and Moose, you’re with me. We can do this, men,” Sawyer directed.
“On it!” Moose took off, heading toward the forest.
Boone grabbed the bag, yanking out his gear and following behind. There was no saving his property, but he’d been trained to save others. And he damn well wasn’t going to let anyone take that away from him.
They went to work, their training keeping them on edge.
Firebrands fell all around as they worked, the large airborne chunks of wood and embers floating, falling into the tops of the trees. Crown fires popped up from every direction, burning through the tops of the trees. But they were making headway, the flames backing off.
Boone cut through tree after tree, creating a line of debris. He could still hear the sirens, screaming all around him, fueling his bitter rage.
Moose and Riker swung the picks, cutting through the dirt as they dug trenches, encircling the fire. Sawyer worked by Boone’s side, tossing the debris left in Boone’s wake.
Working on sheer adrenaline, Boone pressed on, his mind numb, his limbs aching. Smoke rolled toward the night sky but as the firemen moved alongside, dousing the flames, the smoke began to turn to steam.
“We’re almost there,” Sawyer huffed and rubbed the sleeve of his shirt over his eyes. “We’ll be able to save the homes.”
Boone stopped briefly, catching his breath, leaving the chainsaw idling. He leaned against a tree, studying the surrounding area. He could only hope that the horses were going to be all right.
“What the hell is that?” Riker rose to his full height, taking steps deeper into the forest.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Moose answered.
Whhaaa!
“Wait. I heard that.” Riker turned in Boone’s direction. “Sounds like a horse.”
Boone cut the power on the chainsaw and took several long strides, listening, straining to hear anything.
“I don’t know what you think you heard. Let’s get this finished,” Sawyer flanked Boone’s side.
Whhhaaa!
The cry was louder and distinct.
“That’s Blaze. I’d know his whinny anywhere.” Dropping the saw, Boone raced past the others, heading deeper into the forest.
“Jesus Christ, Boone,” Sawyer hissed.
Boone continued running, bolting over underbrush, thwarting lower branches. “Blaze!”
Whhhaa! Wheee!
He was close. So close. Just a few more feet. Just a few more. Please, God. Ignoring the cries of the team, he pressed on, skidding to a stop when he noticed Blaze. The massive animal snorted when he saw his master and took only a few steps toward Boone.
“Are you okay? Jesus, baby. Come on. Come here.”
Snorting again, Blaze stamped his hooves, pawing the ground.
Boone jumped over another fallen limb, reaching out to touch his baby. Blaze backed up. The horse was standing over a woman lying on her side, his eyes wide, his stance full of pride. “Oh, Jesus.” Racing to her, he dropped onto his knees, gently pulling the hair from her face. “Stasha.” Please God, let her be alive.
Leaning over, he pressed his ear to her mouth. She was breathing.
“Boone!” Sawyer swung around a tree, panting as he came to a stop. “Is she…”
“She’s alive. Stasha.” He ran his hand down her arm as he studied the rest of her body. There were no outward signs of broken bones, no cuts to speak of. While she didn’t seem to be hurt, he rolled her over carefully, fearful of harming her. Caressing her face, he breathed a
sigh of relief. “What were you doing?”
“One smart horse,” Sawyer closed the distance, patting Blaze on the flanks.
“Mmm…” A single moan escaped her lips as her eyelids fluttered then finally opened. “Boone.”
“Don’t try and talk. We need to get you out of here,” Boone gulped air as tears dripped from his eyes. “I was so worried.”
“The fucker is still here. They’re dangerous and there are two of them,” she managed then coughed.
“I know. The sister.” Boone rubbed her face. “Are you hurt?”
She gave him a slight smile as she lifted her arm, using her index finger to trace a circle around his mouth. “Just my pride. Blaze?”
“He’s fine. Stood right over you.”
Stasha struggled to sit up.
“Whoa. Let me help you.” Boone slipped his arms under her, cradling her against his chest as he rose to his feet.
“My cowboy protector.” Leaning her head against him, she kneaded his shirt. “Your house. I’m so sorry. I saved the horses.”
“A house is just four walls and a roof,” Boone murmured. “Home is something else.”
“I tried. I just couldn’t stop the monster.”
“You’re crazy and amazing and wonderful and I’m so going to beat your ass.” Kissing the top of her forehead, Boone laughed and mumbled a thank you toward the sky. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Let’s all get out of here.” Grabbing Blaze’s halter, Sawyer guided him around the fallen debris.
As Boone led them out of the forest, he could see the level of devastation, but he realized that nothing in his life mattered as much as the woman in his arms.
“Yes!” Stoker clapped.
Garcia slapped his leg. “Boone has all the luck.”
“A hero, a girl and his horse,” Landen teased as several of the others clapped, their whistles ringing into the night air.
“You did good,” Antonio dropped his ax. “Glad you were with us, Boone.”
“Yeah, I am too.” Boone knew in his gut this wasn’t over.
Sawyer patted Blaze. “I think the horse is the hero tonight.”
“I agree,” Zane laughed. “That was one hot fire.”
“Why were you the target, Boone?” Steel asked, his question pointed.
“My guess would be stirring up a hornet’s nest.” Boone shook his head.
“All because of a woman,” Sawyer teased.
“At least she’s a looker,” Garcia said then winked.
“You boys are just like this man, insufferable.” Stasha managed a laugh.
Growling, Boone walked toward the bank of firemen and the fire chief as he walked closer. “Thank you for everything, Marty. Any idea what sparked the fire?”
“Gasoline. Straight and to the point. We found several cans dumped. The arsonist doused and ran.” Marty shook his head.
“I bet they were hoping I was still inside.”
“I was worried that you were,” Stasha whispered.
“Sorry about your place, Boone. There was little we could do to save it. Boys got here as fast as they could.” Marty shrugged.
“How did you hear about it?” Boone asked.
“Anonymous tip. Maybe the jerk off who did this has a conscience.” Marty patted him on the shoulder.
“I asked someone to call it in.”
Boone looked down at her. “I have a feeling I’m not going to like the story.”
Stasha sighed. “No, you won’t, but you’re alive.”
“She’s right, Boone. Things can be replaced. I’ll get out of your hair.” Marty tipped his hat.
“I appreciate everything. I’ll rebuild.” In truth, Boone had everything he needed. “What about the assholes who did this? Any sign of them?”
“Nothing that we noticed. When the fire is completely out, we’ll rope off everything. You know Investigator Nelson.” Marty smiled then tipped his head to Stasha. “Ma’am. You okay?”
“I would be if my cowboy here would let me down,” Stasha said then laughed. “I’m okay, Boone. Really.”
“Well, we’ll finish up with the rest of the fire, boys and a big thank you to your team for coming to help.” Marty held out his hand.
Stasha pushed her hand against Boone, forcing him to let her down. Rolling her eyes, she brushed dirt off her jeans.
Boone’s legs continued to tremble as he shook Marty’s hand. “We’re always here to help.” Hearing a commotion behind him, both he and Stasha turned. “What’s going on?”
Stoker was visibly shaken and shoved his phone into his pocket. “I gotta go.”
“It’ll be all right, Stoker.” Garcia called after him. “I’m going with him.”
“Call us when you know anything,” Antonio stated between clenched teeth. “Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?” Stasha asked, looking back and forth between the men.
“They have to do an emergency C-section,” Landen choked. “Jessica’s blood pressure skyrocketed. They’re worried that…” Swallowing, he kept his head lowered.
“What?” Boone shifted closer. “They’re worried that what?”
Riker exhaled before speaking. “They’re worried that they can only save the mother or the baby and not both.”
Stasha stood at the end of the hallway, a cup of nasty coffee in her hand. Pinging noises were mixed with status updates coming from the nurse’s station. The scent of cleaning agents and alcohol remained in her nose, creating wave after wave of nausea. Hospitals. She hated them. Loathed the concept of fighting for life through devastating illness, the sadness hovering all around as if death was waiting around the corner. But she had to be here, by Boone’s side.
She’d been lucky that the last shot had only terrified Blaze. While the fall had been hard, the fact he’d stayed with her had perhaps given her the added protection. Although she had to wonder why Bo or the female she’d seen glimpses of hadn’t simply finished the job, snuffing out her life. There was no love between Drake and Bo, no sense of family at all. Yet the two men were so much alike. Tossing the cup into the garbage, she rubbed her hands together. Her fingers were almost white, chilled but not by the air temperature.
She studied the various men, smokejumpers with hearts. Exhaling, she leaned her head against the wall, wanting more than anything to be a part of such an amazing extended family, but after Boone heard everything about her past, she realized the dream was just that. A fantasy.
Boone sauntered toward her, his expression one of sadness. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. How’s Jessica?”
“I don’t know. They haven’t told Stoker anything. I’ve never seen him this distraught. He’s been like a rock with all of us, but Jessica has brought him so much joy. I just can’t imagine what he’s going through right now.” Boone closed his eyes.
“I guess they’re in God’s hands. I’m sure the doctors are doing everything they can.” Stasha had no method of knowing what words to say. When she felt Boone’s hand, his fingers intertwining with hers, she shivered. “Boone. You know we have to talk.”
“I know. We need to talk to the sheriff as well. We will, but honestly, I need to be here. I hope you understand that.”
She turned slightly, taking in the slight lines around his eyes, the way his brow remained furrowed with worry. Using a delicate touch, she wiped soot from his face.
He opened his eyes, gazing into hers. “I thought I’d lost you. When I saw the crushed SUV, I knew you were inside. I couldn’t even tell at first when the fire department cut him from the wreckage. I imagined you and I was petrified.”
“But it wasn’t me. Drake had no idea what he was doing.”
“What do you mean?”
“Drake was someone I was close to for a couple of years. I thought he was one of the good guys, but I was wrong. However, I guess there can be a spark of good even shoved into the middle of madness or evil. Don’t you think?” The fog surrounding her mind had lifted, perhaps t
emporarily and she remembered seeing another person, hearing a bitter argument. Drake had meant to say goodbye, even leave her alone. Then everything had changed.
His grip tightened. “There are times I think love is capable of shining in everyone, even those who will never find redemption or even salvation. Love is often blind to the ugliness, even in one’s self. I brought a horse with me when I moved out here. Her name was Sadie. She was such a beautiful horse, but so skittish. She and I had been through a lot together.”
She held his hand, allowing him to talk.
“She was the one thing I brought with me after the move. Granted, I didn’t have much to start with and what hadn’t been stripped away I sold. I wanted to start over again. Fresh. Isn’t that what they call it?” Boone issued a strangled laugh.
“Starting over isn’t always a bad thing.”
“I know. I lost so much in the fire in Texas, or so I thought, but I gained much more.”
Stasha inched closer. “You had a fire in Texas as well?”
He chuckled and nodded his head several times. “I know. I think karma is trying to tell me something.”
“I don’t even know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say. The fire chief was right. Things can be replaced. People. Animals. They are precious. I thought I’d realized that when a smokejumper helped me save Sadie, my beautiful horse.”
“Is that why you became a smokejumper?”
“Mostly. I’d been a volunteer firefighter for years, working around the rodeo schedule. After the fire, I realized that God must be telling me something. Quit the rodeo and worked very hard to join the smokejumping team and let me tell you, they did not want the likes of a broken-down cowboy at first.”
Stasha nuzzled into his neck, kissing the underside of his jaw. “I find that hard to believe, a man as sexy and adorable as you are.”
“Oh, believe it. If you ask Sawyer or Antonio, they’ll tell you stories. You know. Maybe I tempted fate taking up the rodeo again. If I hadn’t joined up, then…”
“Then,” she interrupted, “you would have never met me and maybe, just maybe, you wouldn’t have been able to save my life.”
“You did that.”
“Nope. I blame you for everything.” Purring, she slid her arm around his waist, cuddling against his chest. “What happened to Sadie?”