Colorado Fireman

by C. C. Coburn

  “There, boy,” she murmured, carefully opening the door to his box and feeling along the wall for a rope to attach to his halter. The animal reared up in alarm. “I know, I’m scared, too,” she said. “How about if you come with me?” she cooed, catching his halter and clipping the end of the rope onto it.

  In the distance, above the sound of wood exploding and splintering as it burned, and the horses screaming in fear, Carly could hear sirens.

  At last Adam would have more people to help him save the stables. But in the meantime, she had to save this horse. The only thing was, he wouldn’t move! She tugged on the rope, but he backed up hard against the back of the box as if now that freedom was offered, he didn’t want it.

  “Damn it!” Carly growled. “Come on!”

  She yanked the rope once more and the huge animal charged out of the stall, almost knocking her over. Carly recovered her footing before she hit the floor and held his rope more firmly. She closed the door behind her. Only yesterday, Daisy had been telling her that if horses were caught in a fire, they’d often run back to where they felt safe. Carly was thankful that she and Daisy had had that talk.

  The headlights of the fire trucks were trained so they shone directly into the stables. Firefighters raced past her, armed with hoses and axes.

  But the bright lights startled the stallion and he reared up. Carly stepped back, but not far enough or quickly enough. His front hoof glanced off her cheekbone and knocked her to the floor. Dazed, she lay there for a moment, recovering her breath.

  The stables were suddenly silent, as if someone had hit the mute button during a very noisy action movie. She could see people rushing toward her, ready to help as the stallion reared up again. Determined to do this on her own, Carly staggered to her feet, clasped the halter in her left hand, pulled the stallion’s head down and punched him in the nose. Shocked, he stopped tossing his head and stared down at her, nostrils flaring, hooves stamping the ground.

  “Don’t you ever do that again!” she roared, then wondered why she couldn’t hear herself.

  Luke grabbed the reins from her. His mouth was moving, but she couldn’t hear him, either. She shook her head and yelled, “What?”

  He gripped her elbow and led her and the horse out of the stables. The cold, clean air made Carly gasp and cough. She tore the scarf away from her nose and coughed some more. She still couldn’t hear herself.

  “I think I’m deaf!” she shouted at Luke.

  He nodded and passed her to his father, who led her and the stallion to the house. He tethered the horse to the veranda railing beside several others and turned toward her. His lips moved.

  “What?”

  He leaned closer and yelled in her ear, “I told you to go in the house!”

  “No way! I couldn’t leave those animals to die!”

  He leaned toward her again. “You don’t have to yell at me. I’m not deaf. You are!”

  Carly blinked at him. “I am?” she asked. Almost involuntarily she raised her hand to the side of her head and hit herself, as if that would restore her hearing. Her hand came away covered in blood. “I’m bleeding,” she muttered.

  “And you’ve got a huge shiner developing under your eye.”

  “What?”

  Mac shook his head, then led Carly up the veranda steps and handed her over to Sarah. He said something to his wife as he released Carly and hurried back to the stables.

  “I have to help them,” she said, but Sarah ignored her. Believing Sarah not to have heard her, she screamed, “I have to help them!”

  Sarah grabbed Carly’s hand when she tried to go back down the steps and held on tight. “Leave it to the men,” she yelled into Carly’s ear. “You’re hurt. Come inside.”

  “I’m fine! I can help the dogs. Someone’s doped them!” She indicated Becky, collecting another dog from Will’s arms and carrying it away from danger.

  Carly was aware that she was shouting, but she wasn’t sure how much Sarah could hear above the din that was coming from the stables and the railings where the horses were tethered, whinnying in fear. Daisy and Sasha were with them, trying to calm them down, soothing them with long, gentle strokes.

  The ornery stallion was behaving himself, at least. Carly didn’t know why she’d punched him like that; she’d only known she had to show him who was boss. She wanted to apologize to the horse, but she’d probably end up yelling at him and upsetting him more. Maybe when her hearing returned…

  A paramedic approached her. She said something. Carly shook her head and pointed at her ears. “I can’t hear!”

  “You need to come inside so I can examine you!” she shouted into Carly’s ear.

  “Not until everyone’s safe!”

  She glanced back at the stables. The fire seemed to be under control. No more flames were visible, but smoke still poured from the doorway.

  She saw the doped dogs lying in the snow and did a quick count. They were all there. Thank goodness Molly had stayed in the house! she thought. Still standing on the porch she saw Luke and Jack leading four horses from the rear of the stables, from the door she’d slipped out of earlier that night to investigate what she’d seen moving in the yard.

  “That’s the last of the horses, Grandma,” Daisy yelled up to Sarah as she set off across the yard to help her father bring them in. “They’re all okay!”

  A couple of firefighters started picking up the dogs and carrying them to the veranda. They were completely out of it, their tongues lolling out of their mouths, eyes unfocused.

  Blankets were produced from the house and they were wrapped in them and taken inside to warm up.

  Luke was attending to the horses, along with Matt and Mac. Will and Jack carried the remaining two dogs into the house.

  Carly glanced toward the living room window and saw her children standing there, petrified. She waved to them to let them know she was fine. She should go to them and hold them and tell them yet again that everything was going to be all right. But they’d only worry more if she started yelling at them because she was half deaf. She’d give it a few minutes and then go see them.

  Worried about Adam, she scanned the yard looking for him. He was the only one from his department who wasn’t wearing protective firefighting gear. Was he okay?

  She raced toward Matt. “Where’s Adam? Is he out? Is he safe?”

  He shook off her arm. “What do you care?” he shouted at her.

  “What? What are you saying? I care a lot!” she screamed back, enraged by his attitude. “I haven’t seen him since he first went in there!” Bewildered by his strange remark, Carly didn’t immediately realize her hearing wasn’t as bad as it had been minutes ago. She could actually hear herself. A little.

  She dashed across the yard, counting the number of firefighters. There were two trucks, which meant eight firefighters. The battalion chief was there, too, but no sign of Adam.

  “Where’s Adam?” She grabbed the battalion chief’s arm.

  “Adam’s in there?”

  “Of course he is! He was using the fire hose in the stables!”

  She released him and started for the stables, but the chief’s arm shot out and held her back. “Let the men go in. It’s too dangerous!”

  “What?”

  “Leave it to us!”

  “No!” she cried, and broke out of his grip, running to where the smoke poured out the stable doors.

  And then she saw him. He’d emerged from the damaged structure and was walking toward her.

  She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, God! I thought you were dead!”

  She felt rather than heard Adam’s gruff laugh reverberate against her cheek.

  He mumbled something, but she couldn’t hear him. “You’ll have
to yell, I’m deaf!”

  He smiled and nodded. His lips moved. Those lips she loved. “I love you!” she cried, and hugged him tighter.

  Suddenly they were surrounded by children and adults and firefighters, and there was no chance to kiss Adam or talk anymore.

  FINALLY, CARLY RELEASED her grip on Adam. He began to embrace Carly again, but Charlie was clinging to his leg. He hoisted the toddler into his arms and perched him on his hip.

  Tears streaked down Charlie’s cheeks and Adam wiped them away with a grubby finger. “It’s okay, little guy. Everyone’s fine.”

  Charlie still clung to him, his grip even fiercer than Carly’s.

  Adam turned to Carly and said, “I saw you hit the horse. That was brave.”

  “What?”

  “I said, I saw you take charge of the stallion. That takes real guts.”

  Carly grinned at him. “I have no idea what you’re saying,” she yelled. “I’m deaf!”

  “And so will we all be,” said his mom. “If we don’t get her checked out by the paramedics.”

  The group moved toward the house but Adam stayed where he was. “I need to invite my buddies in when they’ve finished up here,” he told his mother.

  “Already done, darling,” she said. “Megan’s making coffee and sandwiches as we speak and we’ll be taking them to the guys who have to stay out in the cold to investigate the cause of the fire.”

  Adam didn’t miss Matt and his father exchanging a glance. Surely they didn’t think Carly was responsible for this fire, too? Or any fire!

  He’d deal with the suspicions Matt had raised earlier in the evening, but not yet. For now, they all needed to get inside and warm. Although one thing kept playing on his mind: Who had locked the stable door? He’d had to break it down with an ax.

  Once inside, Charlie allowed his mother to pry him away from Adam’s neck and take him into the kitchen, which was full to overflowing with dogs, people and children. Carly’s kids were mute with fear. He went over to them and sat down at the table. Maddy climbed up on his lap, shaking uncontrollably. He hugged her and spoke soothingly. Carly joined them holding Charlie, who had his thumb in his mouth and a soft toy clutched in his hand. She reached out to touch the back of Jake’s head and draw him against her.

  Carly’s children seemed to relax a little once their mom was with them, but they’d been traumatized by the fire. His nieces, however, seemed to think it was all a big adventure—apart from Celeste, who was holding on tightly to Luke. Daisy was happily looking after the horses outside, trading shifts with her father and grandfather to check on them.

  Adam noticed Molly curled up on his old blanket. She was obviously confused, frightened by all the commotion. He indicated to Alex and Jake that they should go and comfort her. Both sat on the floor with her; Alex lifted her head into his lap while Jake rubbed her back. As the other dogs started to come to, Jake went to comfort them.

  The boys had inherited their mother’s healing touch, Adam decided, as each of the dogs gradually regained consciousness and moved to the sheltering warmth provided by the two boys.

  Luke unwound Celeste’s arms from his neck and gave her to Megan. The child went willingly, clinging to her stepmother.

  “Once everything’s settled down in the yard,” Luke said, “we’ll take the machinery out of the shed and set up temporary stables in there for the horses. The dogs will spend the night in the kitchen. First thing in the morning, I’ll rent a couple of mobile homes for the ranch hands. I’ve already called Chuck and told them to stay in town for the night.”

  He turned to Sasha. “I’m so proud of you, honey, for handling everything so calmly when you noticed the fire and rang the alarm bell and got all the children downstairs safely.” He glanced at his nephew. “You, too, Nick. I know you gave the credit to Sash, but you’re equally responsible.”

  He kissed the top of his daughter’s head and shook Nick’s hand as the teenagers beamed with pleasure. Then he hurried back out to the yard, followed by Cody, Matt and Will.

  Adam chugged down the glass of water his mother had given him and wondered yet again why those stable doors had been locked from the inside and where Carly was when it all started.

  He leaned toward her and said, “I need to talk to you.”

  “What?”

  Since she was still suffering the effects of being kicked in the head by the stallion, Adam decided their talk could wait until Carly completely regained her hearing.

  Sarah clapped her hands, attracting their attention and stopping any further conversation. “We need to rearrange the sleeping around here. Sash is going home with Becky and Will. You can have her room, Carly, if that’s all right with you.”

  Carly looked at her blankly. Adam knew his mother would sort everything out, and make sure everyone was happy, whether Carly could hear her or not. “Carly can have Sash’s room and share it with Charlie. We have a portable crib up in the attic that Adam will bring down for him. And there are a couple of spare mattresses up there that Matt and Jack can get for the boys and put in Sash’s room. Maddy can share with Celeste…”

  This brought screams of excitement from the two little girls, who jumped to their feet, clapped their hands and raced upstairs without further encouragement.

  “Since Daisy insists on helping out with the horses, she’ll sleep on the sofa so she can be closer to them during the night. Okay, battle stations!”

  Sarah clapped her hands once more and everyone sprang into action. In spite of the circumstances, Adam couldn’t help smiling. His mom liked nothing better than organizing people. To her, this was like a military campaign.

  He doubted that in the light of morning, when the damage to the stables was finally revealed, she’d be quite so chirpy.

  “What’s happening?” Carly yelled in his ear.

  “Mom’s rearranging sleeping quarters, and the paramedics are going to take a look at you.”

  They did and insisted on driving Carly to the E.R. for a scan to rule out a cerebral hematoma or any other injury, but she refused to go until Charlie was asleep and the boys and Maddy were tucked in.

  Adam had dismissed the paramedics, saying he’d make sure she got to the E.R.

  But now Adam could feel his frustration levels rising as she kissed each of her children good-night and patted Charlie’s bottom until he’d drifted off.

  Megan had said she wouldn’t be able to sleep for the rest of the night with Luke reorganizing the stabling of the horses and having to keep up an endless supply of warm drinks for the workers. She’d stay in Sasha’s room and keep an eye on Charlie and the boys until Carly’s return.

  Finally, Carly decided she was ready to leave. Adam helped her into his SUV and headed for the gates leading out of Two Elk Ranch.

  As they crossed the cattle grid, he turned to face her and said, “Matt thinks you’re an arsonist.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “What?”

  Adam realized she wasn’t questioning his statement; she still couldn’t hear properly. Carly also looked sleepy. The paramedics had been wary of leaving her behind, saying if she had a concussion, they should take her to the hospital immediately. But Carly was having nothing of it. Now Adam regretted not being more insistent that she drop everything and go straight to the hospital with them.

  Was he supposed to keep her awake? “Carly? Carly!”

  “Huh?” She snapped into wakefulness. “What’s wrong?”

  “You were falling asleep.”

  She frowned.

  “Stay awake!” he yelled, and went back to concentrating on the road. He wanted to floor it, but that might jostle Carly too much and cause her more injury. He wanted her awake and alert when he asked her about those locked doors. Meanwhile, he tried to make the ri
de into the hospital in Silver Springs as smooth as possible.

  I love you. Carly’s words echoed in his mind. Had she meant them?

  He’d sure liked hearing her say those three little words. But then again, if she was suffering from concussion, she probably had no idea what she was saying.

  AT THE HOSPITAL, CARLY was given a battery of tests and scans, then kept overnight for observation. Adam hadn’t wanted to leave her, but he needed to get back to the ranch, to help clean up and restable the horses.

  “HEY, MATT,” CARLY greeted him the following morning as he entered her hospital room. “Is everything all right at the ranch?”

  An uneasy feeling crept up the back of her neck. Matt wasn’t smiling.

  The uneasiness turned into a heavy sense of alarm, settling deep in her stomach. Sarah had sounded a little strange when Carly called the ranch earlier to check that her children were fine and to say that she expected to be discharged in the next hour or so.

  “Everyone’s safe,” he said, his voice abrupt.

  “Then why the frown?” she asked, needing to clear the air.

  “I don’t want to have to do this,” he said, “but here goes. Carly Spencer, I’m arresting you on the charge of arson in the first degree.”

  “What?” Carly’s hearing had been gradually returning, but now she wasn’t so sure of that. “What did you just say, Matt?”

  “You have the right to remain silent,” he said. “You have the ri—”

  “Is this some kind of a joke?”

  “You have the right to an attorney.”

  “What?”

  This time the query came from Adam. Carly had been so transfixed by Matt’s statement, she hadn’t even noticed him entering the room.

  Matt took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Adam, but I’m arresting Carly for suspected arson. Four counts.”

  “Oh, come on!”

  Matt turned back to Carly, all business. He looked so forbidding, she felt sick to her stomach. This couldn’t be happening!