Flashover

Chapter 12

Sophie was not goingdown like this.

Not for a national security threat she had no clue about. Watching them terrorize Houston made her realize she would do anything to live—and have him in her life. Houston wasn’t a liar. The sheriff was coming. But would he make it in time? There would be no hiding from the fear that clawed inside of her.

God, help me to trust You in this, too.

Fire sparked around Houston from his position on the ground. His gaze focused on Finn, who had his knife in one hand and the broken tiki torch in the other. Where was the gun Finn had? Her gaze darted from outside the fire to the ground around the hole to where Ozzy had been standing.

Ozzy had shot at Houston, but Lewis had bumped his shoulder into him, disrupting his aim. After the miss, Ozzy yelled at Lewis, and the boy had fled into the woods with his mentor roaring after.

She couldn’t see either of them now, or the missing gun, with the grip Preston had on her hair and the pain that was shooting from her stitches. She needed to think.

God, help me not to be afraid of the wrong things. If You are for me…then I shouldn’t fear anyone else.

She glanced over her shoulder, but no police rushed toward them. No physical rescue in sight. However, the words Houston had sung as they had gone into the fire tent captured her mind.

“Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control. That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.”

Peace in God was more than what she could see. More than a feeling inside of her. It was putting all her trust in the God who made all things. In good times and in tragedy.

She was so tired of running from the One who loved her.

Preston jerked once more on her ponytail. His yank brought tears to her eyes. “Don’t think about moving.”

Spit from his words hit the back of her neck. She tightened her fist around a handful of dirt. She inhaled another deep breath, her lungs ablaze.

Then an idea sparked. What if she didn’t resist Preston’s hold on her? When he tugged, she could spring back toward him and throw dirt like Houston had. Then land a punch, just like Crispin had taught her.

The fire flashed higher around Houston, who was crouched low. Had the gunshot hit him? Or was it the fire itself reminding him of the past?

God give him strength too.

He’d battled so much fire the last few days, but trauma crept back on its own timetable. Finn was inside the fire circle too and worked his way closer to Houston. A teen or not, Finn was still armed and dangerous.

“Houston!” Sophie gasped. “Get out of there.”

Preston pulled so hard on her scalp that her teeth throbbed, but this time, she didn’t fight the movement. As she tipped backward, she hurled a handful of dirt toward Preston’s face.

She clenched her fist, twisted her heels, and slammed a punch into his stomach. With her left hand, she raked her nails down his cheek.

Preston hollered and released her. He bent at the waist and his hands flew to his injuries.

Sophie scrambled away.

Footsteps thundered behind her.

She needed to lose Preston in the darkness of the woods. But what about Houston?

As she glanced at the pit, something shiny caught her eye. The shovel.

Three more steps and she could have a weapon of sorts.

Just two more.

Preston growled from behind her. “I’m going to kill you for making me bleed.”

One last step and she grabbed the shovel handle sticking up out of the ground. Splinters jabbed her skin from the worn wood, but she only gripped it tighter.

She spun around and swung the metal blade at the same time Preston lunged.

The shovel thumped against Preston’s head. It vibrated the handle, stinging Sophie’s palms. She cried out.

Preston hit the dirt.

Sophie held the shovel like a baseball batter swinging for the fence.

Except Preston didn’t get up.

She couldn’t tell if his chest moved up and down or not, and she wasn’t going to hang around long enough to wait and see. Her lungs squeezed. She couldn’t stop and ponder the boy’s fate until Houston was safe.

A gunshot cracked through the air.

Sophie dropped to the ground. A stick jabbed into her side. Her gaze whipped around to Houston. He hadn’t been hit. Ozzy must be shooting at Lewis in the woods.

Lord, please keep the boy safe, for Marley’s sake.

Houston stood with two sticks in his hands that he must have grabbed from the ground. He held them out like swords. Finn slashed toward him with his knife. Houston blocked the movement with the stick in his right hand.

Sophie sprang up, tightened her grip on the shovel, and ran. Two was better than one. She could attack Finn from behind.

But when she reached the fire, the temperature of the flames separating her from Houston and Finn hit her face. The heat made her gulp for her next breath. Her cheeks heated. Sweat dripped down her back. She had to get in there.

She tucked her chin and jumped over the two-foot flame.

Finn twisted toward her, and a gummy grin spread across his face before he spun back toward Houston. He jabbed his knife at Houston’s chest.

Houston blocked the movement with the stick in his hand. Blood on his arm glistened in the firelight.

He was hurt.

Houston’s gaze locked onto Sophie’s. “Get out of here, Soph.”

“I’m never leaving you.” They would face this trial just like the others. Together.

And most importantly, not be swallowed up by the wrong type of fear. She may not always understand God’s ways, but His plans were far better than anything Sophie could orchestrate on her own. She was done hiding. Done running on her own strength.

She sprinted in Finn’s direction and wound back the shovel. Finn turned his knife in her direction. She swung the shovel and knocked the knife away.

Houston ran at Finn. He wrapped his arms around the teen, and as he tackled him, they both fell close to the fire.

“Houston!”

Houston locked his elbow under Finn’s chin.

Finn gasped for air. His fingers clawed at Houston’s arm. But the blood didn’t allow Finn to get a grip on Houston.

Finally, Finn’s eyes closed, and he stilled.

Houston released his hold, and Finn didn’t flinch on the ground.

As Houston rushed to her, his arms circled around her. “You okay?”

Sophie nodded against his chest. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’ve survived worse. You should have left. Saved yourself.”

Sophie put her palm on his chest and looked at the night’s grim sky. One star slipped through the haziness. It was only one of trillions of stars. And the only One who could truly keep her safe was the Lord, who created everything. It was past time she gave Him her fears. “God didn’t bring you back into my life so I could leave you alone to die.”

Houston gave her his side smile. “I can’t die yet. I was hoping to spend some time with you that involved less adventure and more dinner and a movie type of evening.”

He tightened his hold on her and edged his chin down. His mouth came only inches from hers, but he didn’t move any further.

Sophie slid her arms around him. “I’d love to spend more time with you.”

Forever sounded perfect, actually. But she didn’t want to scare him off with that knowledge yet.

There was no more waiting as Houston pressed his lips to hers.

She relaxed into his chest, and he wrapped her up like he never wanted to let her go. A hum of a growl came from his throat as he ended the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. His heartbeat under her fingers seemed to gallop along with her own.

No, she didn’t want to run a horse barn all by herself. She wanted to love and be loved by more than just her animals. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew she was willing to make compromises in order to have the man she had fallen in love with in it, even if that meant selling her ranch. She could have horses anywhere. But there was only one Houston. A man who not only challenged her to endure life’s battles, but pointed her in the right direction with love and kindness, reminding her that there’s always hope and peace in the Lord.

Houston picked something up off the ground. He extended Finn’s knife. “You take this.” He grabbed the shovel Sophie had left behind her. “I have to get this fire out.”

Houston sank the blade of the shovel into the ground and flung the dirt on the hungry flames. Grit and determination aided his actions, not panic. He faced the fire without hesitation. He repeated the motions four times before Sophie made it to him.

“What can I do?”

As about a four-foot section of the fire had been snuffed out, Houston took her hand and led her to the other side of the flames. Now on the outside looking in, he said, “We’re going to get you back to your truck and to safety.”

“And leave the fire?”

Houston exhaled. “You’re more important. If the crew gets here in less than thirty minutes, it shouldn’t spread too much.”

She glanced over the fire. It wasn’t out of control. Yet.

Her eyes stopped on something black on the other side of the circle of fire. It was the discarded gun.

She rushed around Houston and picked it up. “New plan.”

* * *

Kissing Sophie had been worth the wait. If only there was time to press his lips to hers again. But the woman never ceased to challenge him to do the right thing.

He nodded. As much as he wanted to get Sophie out of here, the fire wasn’t something to ignore completely. “Watch for Ozzy. Call the sheriff again. If you see any burnable debris in the path of the flames, kick it away. But don’t get too close. When I finish the trench around, I’ll come back and stomp the fire out. Then we’re out of here.”

“Perfect.” She pulled out her phone and kept her attention on the woods surrounding them.

Houston moved around the fire, trusting Sophie to watch his back. Finally, he scooped out the last pile to complete the trench. He turned to Sophie, who had both hands on the gun. “The fire isn’t completely out, but it shouldn’t go anywhere else.”

The last thing the town of Ember needed was another forest fire.

He turned on his flashlight app and reached for Sophie’s hand. She held tight to the gun in her other hand as she laced her left fingers with his.

After four silent steps through the dim woods, Houston asked, “Did you get hold of the sheriff?”

Sophie’s next step made a leaf crunch beneath her. “Dispatch said he was on his way. Your crew as well.”

“Good.” He weaved around a line of trees. The old schoolhouse property should only be about fifty yards away. He could just about make out the framed outline. “That’s good.”

He kept his phone light steady, but there was something still making his chest squeeze. And it wasn’t the gunshot that had barely sliced the top of his arm. It was not knowing where Ozzy and Lewis had gone.

“Do you think Lewis is okay?” Sophie whispered.

There had been far too much evil tonight. He hated to think the worst for the teen. “I don’t know.”

An owl hooted overhead. Houton paused his steps.

Sophie tugged his arm forward. “I see the dusk to dawn light at the schoolhouse. We’re almost to safety,” Sophie whispered.

And that’s when Ozzy’s voice rang out in the darkness behind them. “Drop that gun, or I’m going to drop Romeo beside you, Ms. Lamb.”

Sophie’s hand shook in his palm.

“Hurry and duck behind that tree beside you,” Houston breathed.

“I’m never leaving you.”

Never could mean forever. He’d love to have a life with Sophie. But they couldn’t do that if she wasn’t safe.

The sound of Sophie dropping the gun made him tighten his grip on her.

Lord, my future’s all Yours.

“Hand over the phone.” Ozzy’s growl came from over Houston’s left shoulder.

As Houston turned, a flashlight shone in his face. Houston held out his phone.

“Is that it?” Ozzy snarled.

With a frown, Houston squinted, and that’s when he noticed it was Lewis holding the light as he hid behind Ozzy, shaking his head. His face displayed three whelps. Two on either side of his cheeks. And one that already made his right eye swell shut. Ozzy had beaten the kid and yet he remained by his side.

Sophie stepped up beside Houston. “Let us go. You already have the other phone.”

Houston moved in front of Sophie. But Ozzy stomped over and had them both in view. He pivoted his aim to Sophie’s chest.

Houston raised his hands and slid his body closer to Sophie. “We don’t have the phone. Remember, you…” He glanced at the last person to have had the phone.

Had Lewis dropped the phone and blamed them?

“That’s too bad for you.” Ozzy extended his gun, but before he pulled the trigger, a shout rang out behind them.

“This is the police. Put down your weapon.”

Ozzy lifted his gun higher, and a shot whizzed past Houston.

Houston yanked Sophie to the ground as Ozzy grunted and grabbed his side.

As Houston checked on Sophie, Lewis screamed. “No!”

Ozzy had dropped to his knees, but his gun was locked on Sophie. Another bullet popped through the night, but this time from Ozzy’s gun.

Houston lunged to cover Sophie at the same time Lewis leaped in front of Houston.

Ozzy’s bullet struck Lewis’s chest as another bullet flew overhead from the police.

Houston caught Lewis as Ozzy placed his hand over his heart. The gun dropped, and Ozzy collapsed to the ground.

Lewis’s chest heaved, and Houston propped him up. Blood seeped into his shirt.

After everything, the boy had saved his life.

Lewis licked his lips. “S-sorry.”

Houston eased Lewis to the ground and put pressure on the bleeding wound. Except the boy kept trying to move.

“I know it hurts, son, but you have to keep still.”

Sophie knelt beside them. “Oh, Lewis.” A hiccupped cry spilled from her mouth.

Tears filled Lewis’s eyes and met Sophie’s. “I-I messed up.”

Houston pressed harder on the wound. Blood leaked through his fingers. “We all do. God gives forgiveness. He’s the only One who can change our past and make us whole.” Houston’s arms shook, but he held the pressure on Lewis’s wound. “He did it for me. I’d gotten in with the wrong crowd. But that didn’t stop God from redeeming me.”

“And me,” Sophie whispered.

Physically, Lewis’s body may be failing, but he still had time spiritually as long as he drew breath. “It’s not too late to have your own redemption story.”

Each new life for Christ mattered. This could be the very reason Houston had to endure the closed door at Last Chance County. And Lewis’s eternal life would be worth it.

Lewis closed his eyes. “Sorry…” A deep gasp and then, “God.”

He cried out as Houston shifted him to raise the boy’s head higher than his heart. They needed to stop the blood.

Another set of hands came and lifted Lewis’s head. Blood also coated the sheriff’s arm and shoulder. “He saved you.”

Houston readjusted his hold on the boy. “Something tells me you helped tonight too.” He flicked his gaze toward Ozzy’s dead body.

“Sorry it took so long.” He grabbed his radio. “Get my medics back here.” Then to Houston he said, “Your crew isn’t far behind.” He tilted his chin. “I smell smoke, but where are the flames?”

Sophie leaned against his side. “Houston trenched the fire.”

Footsteps and lights were coming their way. “Sheriff?”

“Right here, Smith.” The sheriff waved his flashlight.

Two men, one carrying a stretcher, sprinted over.

“We’ve got a male teen with a gunshot wound,” the sheriff instructed.

“Finn and Preston are up that way. Though not sure if they are…” Sophie paled.

The Sheriff nodded. “I’ll go check them out.” After the medics bandaged Lewis, he stood. “Can you two make your way toward your vehicle and wait for me there?”

Houston held out his hand toward Sophie. She fitted her fingers around his.

The medics loaded Lewis on the board. “We’re heading out with this one.”

Houston stepped back, and his boot kicked against something. As the medics left, Houston kneeled and picked up what he’d kicked.

It was a phone. A tattered one.

He held it out to Sophie. “Lewis must have had Crispin’s phone the entire time.”

But instead of grabbing for the phone, Sophie laid her head on his shoulder. “Do you think he’ll be okay?”

He didn’t know if she meant her brother or Lewis. Or maybe both. Houston pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I think God still works miracles of all kinds.”

Including changing Houston’s stubborn heart.

Sophie turned to him and held his grimy cheeks with her dirt-lined hands. “I know He does.”

Then she kissed him, and Houston found himself thankful for all of his interrupted past plans.