“Great,” Alexander said. “Let me just get my briefcase and wallet out of my car.”
Once Alexander had what he needed, Janie guided him in the direction of Ricky’s truck. It was a good thing he was parked on the street, and not in the parking lot, where people were so frantically trying to get out. It was a nice truck, so no wonder Janie had been apprehensive about taking it.
“We’re headed that way,” Janie said, pointing at the thick plume of smoke in the distance as Alexander slid onto the leather seat.
He’d been taught to run away from fire, and now he was running into it. While it felt somewhat strange to him, he couldn’t help thinking that was also what he was doing by being here in the first place. Running straight into the fire with his mixed-up emotions.
“It seems strange to have a wildfire in November,” Alexander said, trying to take his mind off those emotions.
“It’s been a dry year,” she said. “While we don’t usually get much snow in the fall, we haven’t had any, so add in the dry summer, and everything is a tinderbox. You must have noticed all the signs about the fire danger on your way here.”
He’d spent his whole life traveling through Colorado, seeing signs about what level the fire danger was, but until now, he hadn’t realized just how important they were.
“I guess you never think it’s going to happen to you,” he said.
Which pretty well summed up the events leading to this day, this moment. He’d never imagined his father would be some dead rodeo cowboy, or that the monster woman he was chasing was actually a tenderhearted person who cared for others, or that he’d be willingly putting himself in danger.
But what other choice did he have?
Chapter Three
Janie shouldn’t have been surprised at how eager Alexander had been to help. After all, helping others was a large part of who Ricky was. Alexander might not have been raised in that family, but some genes ran strong.
The closer they got to the fire, the more desperate the situation looked. The smoke was so thick, it was hard to see in front of them. Even though the truck windows were closed, Janie could still smell the unmistakable scent of fire.
She stole a glance at Alexander, who appeared intensely focused on the road. Was it wrong to think about how good-looking he was? Seeing the compassion in his eyes as he’d offered to help made him even more attractive to her. Crazy, since she hadn’t thought about dating in years. Not when she had a son to raise. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d found a man attractive because she’d worked so hard to shut that emotion down.
Alexander glanced back at her. “Your little boy is really cute. You and your husband must be very proud. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet him.”
Not this again. Everyone always made the same assumption about her and Sam, especially since she was a pastor’s daughter.
Bracing herself for the coming judgment, Janie said, “I don’t have a husband. I’m not married. Never have been. I don’t talk about Sam’s father. He’s not in our lives. He has never been, and never will be. I made a mistake when I was younger, and I’ve repented. But God chose to give me the greatest blessing of my life in spite of it.”
Someday it wouldn’t feel so terrible giving that answer. But the silence between them was deafening.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” Alexander said. “I was just making conversation. I was pretty sure you didn’t want to talk about your mother, and I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t mean to offend you. He seems like a good kid, though.”
Now it was her turn to feel bad. Alexander had just been trying to be considerate of her grief. Her mother used to tell her that she had too big of a chip on her shoulder over being a single mother, and seeing the way Alexander responded to her explanation, she had to wonder if perhaps her mother was right after all.
Even in avoiding her grief, she was still coming face to face with the pain of her loss.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I get a little defensive about the subject. It’s just frustrating that everyone assumes that as the pastor’s daughter, I’m perfect. But I make mistakes just like everyone else. In this case, my sin is very evident, so I’m a little self-conscious about it.”
“It’s okay,” Alexander said. “I can’t imagine how difficult your situation must be. Raising a child on your own, one parent, one income—it can’t be easy. And then to feel like people are judging you, I’m sure, is even worse. I just don’t understand how a man can father a child, then choose not to be involved in that child’s life.”
It was sweet to see how readily he came to her defense. Funny how all the men in her life seemed to do that, but not the man she’d needed. She’d given up any thoughts of Sam’s father being involved in his life. Especially after that creepy investigator’s visit. But it didn’t mean that as she’d seen her friends find the love and wholeness in a new family, she didn’t sometimes long for that for herself.
Though Ricky had been concerned about roadblocks on the way to the Peterson ranch, they didn’t encounter any. But when they arrived, the smoke was thick, and the horses in the paddock were antsy, squealing like they knew something bad was happening.
Alexander put the truck in Park. “I’m assuming that trailer by the barn is the one we’re supposed to use,” he said.
“Yes. I’ll get the dog first, and if you can pull the trailer close to that gate, it’ll be easier for me to load the horses.”
She pointed at where she wanted him to go, but she almost didn’t need to. The horses were already lined up there, like they knew it was their only means of escape.
Then he looked around the truck, like he was searching for something. He reached into the center console, then pulled out a couple of bandanas.
“Take this. Cover your nose and mouth with it. I’m not sure how much good it will do, but we shouldn’t be breathing in all this stuff.”
She took the bandana. “How do you know this?”
Alexander shrugged. “I’ve seen a few movies with fires. Everyone has protective stuff over their nose and mouth. I know this isn’t specialized equipment, but it’s got to be better than nothing.”
He had a point. One more reason to be grateful he’d come with her. And even though his questions had made her think about uncomfortable topics, he was good company.
Was it weird to like a man she’d barely met?
“Hurry,” Alexander said. “I think the fire is moving faster than they told us.”
He didn’t need to tell her twice. She jumped out of the truck and raced toward the house. Thankfully, it was unlocked, which was typical in their small town. City people often thought they were crazy, but most of them never had any reason to lock their doors. Ricky did, of course, at his ranch, but that was because it was a guest ranch, and guests expected a certain level of privacy.
As she entered the house, a text came through on the phone from Ricky, asking her to grab the small portable document safe out of the bedroom closet. The Petersons had asked for more items from their home, but the fire was spreading quickly, and there wouldn’t be time to get anything else.
Dobby barked at her from his kennel in the laundry room, not just because she was an intruder, but also because he could probably smell the smoke rapidly filling the house. Even though the fire was still a ways away, the interior of the house was starting to feel warm. Too warm. She went to the bedroom first, and grabbed the safe. She paused at the dresser, where an old photo of Jack and Connie Peterson at their wedding stood proudly. Maybe there wasn’t time to save everything, but they would probably be glad for this one sentimental item.
The safe was small and had a handle so she could carry it like a briefcase. She went to the dog’s kennel and let him out, then put him on his leash.
“Come on, buddy, we’ve got to hurry.”
Dobby barked like he agreed,
and they rushed out to the truck, where Alexander was just finishing hooking up the trailer.
She put the dog in the back seat of the truck along with the items she’d grabbed from the house. On her way to the tack room, she said to Alexander, “When you’re finished with that, can you go back into the house, in the laundry room, and grab Dobby’s kennel?”
“I have one more thing to hook up, then I can do it. Is there anything I can do to help with the horses?”
Janie shook her head. “Not if you don’t know what you’re doing. But thanks anyway. This shouldn’t take long.”
She grabbed halters and ropes for each of the four horses, grateful that Jack Peterson always kept his tack room organized. The first horse, Molly, was easy to catch, and she loaded her into the trailer without complications. The next two were also easy, but when she got to the fourth, a stubborn mare named Lady, she wouldn’t let Janie get the halter on.
“Come on, Lady, we’ve got to get you out of here.”
Lady reared, nearly knocking Janie to the ground. Alexander ran to her.
“Are you all right?”
Janie nodded. “Stand back. Lady is spooked as it is, and I don’t want you getting hurt. You’ve still got to drive us out of here.”
Though Alexander took a step back, she could see that he was watching closely.
“Do horses like treats or something?” he asked. “Could we calm her down and move her into the trailer with one? I could see if they have apples or carrots in the house. I’ve seen people give them to horses on TV.”
If they weren’t in such a dire situation, she might have given him a hard time, but they didn’t have time for that. “I left the door to the tack room open. I think I saw a bag of horse treats on the shelf. Grab it.”
Though she didn’t like rewarding bad behavior with treats, if it meant getting this horse to cooperate in a dangerous situation, Janie was willing to give it a try. In the distance, she could see flames cresting over one of the hills.
They didn’t have much time. Lady had to load within the next couple of minutes, or they were going to have to set her loose and hope for the best—otherwise, they were all going to die.
Janie’s phone rang. It was Ricky.
“You’ve got to get out of there now,” Ricky said. “The wind has picked up. Even the firefighters are leaving the area because the fire is burning too hot and too fast.”
“I can see it,” Janie said. “Lady won’t load. Alexander went to get some treats to see if we can coax her in, but I’m not sure if it’s going to work.”
“That dumb mare.” Ricky made a disgusted noise. “I told Jack not to buy her, but Connie loves that stupid horse. See what you can do, but you’ve got to be out within the next five minutes.”
Janie hung up and focused on the horse. Lady reared again.
Alexander arrived, holding the bag of treats.
“Come on, nice horse,” he said. “I’ve got a yummy bag of treats for you. Besides, if you don’t come with us, you’re going to die.”
It was kind of cute, the singsong voice he used, trying to cajole the horse into obedience. It was too bad horses didn’t understand what people said. But for whatever reason, Lady did calm down.
Janie grabbed a treat out of the bag. “Come on, girl.”
She held the treat out to Lady, but Lady snorted and backed away.
“Let me try,” Alexander said.
This was a bad idea on so many levels, but Lady had calmed down at the sound of his voice.
“Put the treat in your hand and hold it flat, or else she’s going to bite you.”
Alexander did as she told him, and Lady took a step toward him.
“Good girl,” Alexander said in his silly voice. “You’re such a good girl. We’re going to get you to safety.”
Lady took the treat from his hand, and it gave Janie the chance to get the bridle on. Immediately, Lady pulled back, but Alexander started talking to her again.
“It’s okay.” He placed another treat on his hand. “Come on, girl, we’re going to help you.”
Lady took the treat, but when Janie tried getting the horse to move, she remained where she was. Alexander seemed to understand what was going on, so he took a few steps closer to the trailer and held out another treat to her.
“Come on. You know you want another treat.”
He seemed to know the way to this mare’s heart, because Lady did exactly what Alexander was trying to get her to do. She came toward him and took the treat. Then Alexander went to the trailer and did it again. Lady took the treat, but Janie couldn’t get her to go into the trailer.
“This probably isn’t a good idea,” Alexander said, “but I’ll get in the trailer with her.”
He went into the trailer, then held out another treat. “Let’s go, sweetie. We’re almost there.”
Alexander was right. It wasn’t the smartest idea to get into a trailer with the horse who was already spooked. But he seemed to have Lady’s number. Because she stepped right up into the trailer just as easily as the other three had.
Alexander scooted around the horse. “Okay, girl, don’t kick me or bite me. We’ve got to get out of here.”
He hopped out of the trailer, allowing Janie to secure the back, and they were quickly on their way. She had to give him credit—for someone with no horse experience, he’d done a good job.
As they pulled out of the driveway, Janie could see the fire lapping at the trees at the farthest edge of the pasture.
“You need to go as fast as you feel safe,” Janie said. “The fire is almost here.”
She said a prayer for their safety, and also for the Peterson family and the devastation they were going to feel at losing everything. Yes, she’d saved their precious animals, a safe and a wedding picture. But Ricky had said their list was longer, and she wished she’d had time to get it all.
Alexander didn’t need to be told twice, and Janie was grateful for the fact that the Petersons lived off the paved road, not a dirt one like so many of the ranchers. That would have slowed them down considerably.
Janie’s phone rang again. “Ricky, it’s okay. We’re on our way back to town. We got everything.”
“You’re going to have to find another way. The fire crossed County Road 42, so you’re not going to be able to get through. Turn around and go south, then cut across to the east along the old canal.”
“The fire is dangerously close to the Peterson ranch. I don’t know if we’ll make it past,” Janie said. “Is there another route?”
Before Ricky could answer, the phone crackled and went dead. Janie stared down at it.
“What’s wrong?” Alexander asked.
Janie dialed Ricky’s number, but she was immediately greeted with an “all circuits are busy” message. She hung up and looked over at Alexander.
“I lost my connection to Ricky. He said the fire has compromised the main road we need to get back to town, but the route he wants us to take is right past the ranch, where the fire is. I don’t know what to do.”
Alexander slowed the truck, then pulled over to the side of the road. “Ricky has more information about the overall path of the fire than we do. But I don’t know the area. You tell me what you think is best, and we’ll do it.”
As much as she hated to admit it, Alexander was right. Ricky did have more information about the best route to get back to town, even if it sounded crazy to her.
“We should probably go the way Ricky said, but I’m scared.”
The admission was harder to make than she thought, but in the back of her mind, she could hear her mother telling her that she should never be afraid because God was with her wherever she went.
“Turn around and go back toward the Peterson ranch. Go as fast as you can, and about a mile past, you’re going to turn left, but the turn isn’t obvious, so I�
�ll let you know when we’re coming up on it. I know you said you aren’t much of a churchgoer, but if you have any faith in God, you will pray with all your heart for His protection, and just in case, you might want to make right whatever you need to make right with Him.”
Alexander took one hand off the wheel and reached for hers. “I have faith that we’re going to make it through. And when we do, I’ll let you talk to me about God.”
The warmth of his hand as he squeezed hers gave her courage. Strength. And as she felt the whisper of her mother’s prayers in her heart, she had the same faith that they were going to make it.
“You have a deal,” she said. “Talking to people who aren’t sure they believe in God is one of my favorite things to do.”
As they headed back toward the Peterson ranch, Janie could see the fire growing in the hills. Too close for comfort.
But when they got to the turnoff, it looked like there was logic in Ricky’s recommendation to take this route. From the top of the small hill they were on, Janie could see the fire spreading in the distance. This old canal road would take them farthest from it.
Alexander must have come to the same conclusion she had because as he slowed to make the turn, allowing for the difference between driving on a paved road and a barely used dirt road, he let out a sigh of relief.
“We’re finally headed away from the danger,” he said.
Janie took a deep breath as she nodded slowly. “We are. It doesn’t mean we can take our time, but at least we aren’t racing against the fire for now.”
In the back seat, Dobby barked, like he too was relieved they were finally headed for safety.
Janie reached behind her and petted him. “Good boy.”
Then she turned back to Alexander. “You got his kennel? I didn’t even ask when we were at the house, but I suppose it doesn’t matter now.”
“I did. It’s in the bed of the pickup. I hope it’s okay, but it looked like Mrs. Peterson had been working on some old scrapbooks on the dining room table. The pictures were black-and-white, like they were heirlooms. So I grabbed those, too. It sounds kind of dumb, but I thought it might give her some comfort, knowing her whole house has burned down.”
His True Purpose Page 4