Chapter 33
SANTIAGO
Winter has a way of making the world feel bigger.
Ace’s hooves prance over the snow as we ride along the fence in the northern pasture, checking for broken posts. The Snake River Mountains stand tall against a cloudless sky, and for the first time in days, I almost relax.
The only thing that would make this better is having Blake here with me.
Brandon and Sam trot along with me. Jack and Todd rode out to the west pasture to take hay to the cattle there since the snow covers the grass, effectively cutting off the natural grazing.
My phone vibrates in my inside jacket pocket, and I contemplate ignoring it. I pull it out anyway and bring Ace to a stop as Brandon and Sam ride ahead.
A smile overtakes my face when I see Blake’s name on the screen, but that quickly fades.
Blake: I thought Manny was fired.
Brandon turns, directing his horse back toward me. “Everything okay, boss?”
“Yeah.” My answer isn’t fooling anyone.
I type out a light response, attempting not to alarm Blake.
Me: Don’t defile my phone with that cabrón’s name.
Levi: He was.
Walker: Why do you ask?
Blake: He was just here.
A chill unrelated to the cold disables me.
Brandon must sense my shift. “Boss?”
With my eyes still on the screen, I instruct, “Back to the barn.” My head snaps up. “Now!”
I type out my response and return my phone to my pocket.
Me: I’m on my way
Ace must feel my panic. He takes off at a breakneck speed before I direct him.
Wind whips against my skin, threatening to blow my hat off my head. But I don’t care. I’d give up anything if it meant protecting Blake.
The images of all the possibilities flash through my mind. None of them brings me a semblance of peace.
Ahead in the distance, a column of smoke rises into the air like a skyscraper.
My heart stops.
“Faster!” I shout in demand, and Ace obeys.
The sound of wood splintering meets my ears before the barn comes into view, confirming what I already know.
I didn’t think my dread could get any worse, but it does.
When the barn comes into view, the fire engulfing the walls pulls all the oxygen from my lungs. The velvet dance of light could be considered enchanting if it weren’t also destroying my love and my livelihood. Before Ace can come to a stop, I’m off his back and sprinting right for the flames.
My legs move faster than I ever thought was possible. “Blake!”
“Santi!” Blake’s reply is muffled by the roaring fire and thumping sound coming from the other side of the barn door.
I’m only a few feet away when I see the chain around the door handles. Without a second thought, I run for the bed of my truck on the other side. The large metal toolbox that permanently sits under the back window of the cab holds a variety of tools that I haven’t checked for some time.
Throwing open the top, I dig around. Wrenches, hammers, jumper cables…
Come on.
Come on.
There!
The fire breathes its embers toward me as I approach the doors. Ignoring the heat is nothing compared to hearing Blake scream for me.
“Santi! Help!”
The blades of the bolt cutters encircle a link on the chain. I take a deep breath to gather my strength, but my lungs fill with smoke. Pushing through the coughing, I thrust my hands together and break the chain. The ends dangle, and I grab hold of one end and tug.
The stench of burning flesh meets my nose, and it takes a moment for the pain to register in my hands.
But I can’t let go. I can’t leave Blake in there.
The metal drops to the ground, and I use my boot to push the handle and slide the left door open. The large wood only moves an inch, the fire having already warped the metal on the track.
“Shit!” I exclaim as I refuse to give up, kicking the handle repeatedly.
The horses’ cries and the shouts from Blake almost cripple me. Instead, I use them to fuel my strength.
Kick.
Nothing.
Kick.
Nothing again.
For the next kick, I throw all of my weight into it.
The metal screams, and the wheel on the track finally jerks loose. The door shudders, opening just an inch.
“Come on,” I grit out through clenched teeth.
I won’t give up.
When there’s enough space, Blake and Bear dart through the opening. Blake lands in my arms, and a bucket of relief pours onto my heart.
My arms wrap her in an embrace, and I move us back a few feet to get out of range of the fire. “Estás a salo, mi Cielo. Estás a salvo. Estoy aquí.” You’re safe, mi Cielo. You’re safe. I’m here.
When she pulls back, I’m struck by the ash smudges covering her face. Another reminder of how close things got.
Brandon and Sam rush by us on foot, affirming how fast Ace got us here, and dart into the burning barn.
“The horses,” she breathes out as her eyes widen, and tears streak through the soot on her cheeks.
“Don’t you dare go back in there,” I warn her.
“But—” She attempts to move out of my arms.
I tighten my hold. “Stay out here. I mean it.”
I don’t release her until she nods in agreement.
“Take Bear and stand about a hundred yards away,” I instruct.
She nods again, and I dash back into the flames.
The horses squeal as they kick the gates of their stalls. Smoke builds, obscuring my vision, but I can still make out shapes. The acrid scent of burning pine, scorched hay, and gasoline rolls into me. Heat slams into my face hard enough that I instinctively shield myself with an arm.
Brandon is approaching our only viable exit, a howling chainsaw in hand. Sam is with him, wielding an axe.
“We need to widen it!” Brandon informs me, and I spring into action.
Scanning the immediate area, I find a sledgehammer on the concrete near my feet. “Let’s get it done.”
They nod their heads in understanding, and we get to work.
As we exert ourselves, the heat builds in layers. Smoke builds in direct result from the fire spreading. The loose bits of hay are our greatest adversary.
One spark is all it’d take.
My eyes water from the smoke, and my chest aches from all the coughing.
Brandon has his side done before Sam and I clear ours, and it’s enough space for a horse. As three of us disperse in unison to unlock the latches on the stalls, I hear the blare of a fire engine horn.
Gracias a Dios.
A beam overhead lets out a long groan. I look up just in time to spot glowing embers raining down from the rafters.
“Look out!” I shout and shove Sam to the side as a burning board crashes where he’d been standing moments earlier.
The first horse I come to is Willow, a chestnut mare with white spots all over her hindquarters.
“Easy, nina,” I say in hopes of calming her, but it doesn’t work.
Instead, I lift and slide the latch. Willow kicks the gate open and sprints to the way out.
Duke follows Willow. Bandit nearly knocks me over trying to get outside.
When we’re done, I follow the same path the horses took. My ribs ache from coughing. Every breath burns from the thickening smoke.
Being the last to exit, I stumble out and fall on my knees in the snow.
A breath of fresh air has a whole new meaning for me now, as I finally breathe in untainted oxygen.
I’m almost tackled to the ground as a pair of feminine arms enwrap me in a desperate embrace, and the scent of amber, sprinkled with vanilla, fills my nose.
Blake.
When she pulls back, I search every inch for an injury. “Are you okay? Let me look at you.”
Her brows almost lift off her face. “Me? You’re burned.”
Blake’s statement brings the pain to the front of my mind. A few spots on my arms feel as if they have the world’s worst sunburn, but they’re nothing compared to my right palm. My hand throbs in a way I’ve never felt before.
“It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Blake reaches for my wounded hand and carefully flips it over. Her motions reveal the blisters covering my palm.
“This looks like a second-degree burn.”
“That’s all?” I question sarcastically.
Blake doesn’t laugh at my humor. “Come on. The ambulance just pulled up.”
Sure enough, the red and white truck comes to a stop behind the fire engine.
Blake helps me to my feet, and I suppress a groan. Every muscle in my body is sore. Blake places my arm across her shoulders and attempts to carry my weight.
I take a rough swallow and ask, “Did everyone get out?”
“You got everyone. Man and horse,” Blake assures me.
As we hobble in the direction of the ambulance, Hudson jumps out of the cab and rushes toward us. Hudson takes my other arm with my injured hand and helps us the rest of the way.
Glancing around, I find the entire fire department present, rushing about to put out the fire.
My eyes snag on the burning building, and it hits me.
My barn is gone.
My father built half of this place with his own hands. I grew up here. My mother walked those aisles every day.
Now it’s gone.
And someone tried to kill the woman I love.