Chapter 21
Lachlan
Iwould do it tonight.
I stared at the ring in the little box. I hated that I couldn’t do it this morning, but after I proposed, I wanted to be able to have all the time with her and I had already promised I would come in to work on Christmas.
Tonight would be perfect. I would make dinner, set up the living room with candles and flowers, and make sure I put a giant bow on Tony’s head just for decoration.
The thought brought a smile to my face. I couldn’t wait to get back home to her and let her know that I wanted her forever.
I didn’t care about the alibis and lies.
I planned on also showing her the paperwork stating that she was now half owner of the farm.
She’d put so much work into it, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her.
If she said no or wanted to take things slow, I would.
I could stay at the office to give her space—pretty sure one of the couches in the waiting room pulled out.
I’d wait however long she needed. All I knew was that I needed her.
She had become everything to me and I knew she was it for me.
This was no longer a game, and I wanted to be sure that she knew it.
I spent all day at work trying to think of the perfect thing to say.
My work friends chided me more than once, teasing me that I had it bad for my woman, and they would be right .
We didn’t have any crazy calls today, but as it was reaching the end of my shift, the alarms started going off.
As Joey rushed to suit up, I could tell from the way he looked at me that something was wrong.
I rushed with him.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my brow furrowed.
“Lachlan, the call came from your farm,” he said, and my blood ran cold.
Logan . . .
“Go! We’ll meet you there.” He didn’t have to tell me twice because I was already running.
I didn’t even stop to change out of my gear. My boots pounded against the pavement as I sprinted to my truck, heart punching hard against my ribs. My hands shook as I turned the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life, and I peeled out of the lot.
The pavement blurred.
I took the back roads, as they were faster. I kept calling Logan’s phone, but it just kept going to voicemail. “Fuck . . . FUCK!” I shouted, banging on the wheel as if it would make the truck move faster. Smoke rose on the horizon before I even reached the property.
No. No, no, no.
I slammed on the brakes as I got to the edge of the woods and jumped out before I had even stopped fully, leaving the door hanging open. The trees near the back of the property were glowing, orange flames licking up bark and blackening the edges of everything.
I didn’t think. I ran.
Branches tore at my arms, smoke burned my throat, and every second I didn’t see her felt like a knife twisting further and further into my heart.
“Logan!” I shouted repeatedly.
Nothing.
My foot caught on a root and I stumbled, hands hitting the dirt hard, but I didn’t stop. I scrambled back up, and then I heard barking.
“Tony!” I gasped, turning toward the sound.
He shot toward me from between the trees, his fur dusted with ash, and he didn’t stop. He barreled into my legs, barking frantically, circling, and then taking off the other way. I didn’t even hesitate. I followed after him.
“Take me to her, buddy. Take me to her,” I begged.
We rushed through the woods, Tony weaving through the trees until I saw Logan.
She was crumpled on the forest floor, one hand still clutching at her face.
Her other arm was curled around her stomach like she’d fallen trying to shield herself.
Her face was smudged with soot, her hair tangled with fallen leaves, and she was too still.
I dropped to my knees beside her, nearly slipping in the dirt.
“Logan,” I choked out, pressing two fingers to her neck. The faintest flutter of a pulse under my fingertips nearly broke me in half.
She was alive.
I gathered her into my arms as gently as I could, her head rolling limp against my shoulder. “I’ve got you,” I whispered. “Baby, I’ve got you.”
I didn’t look back. The fire raged behind me, but I held her close and ran like hell through the smoke. I could hear the sirens coming in now, the others arriving, shouting orders, getting boots on the ground, but all I cared about was her.
The second I burst through the tree line, someone yelled my name.
People reached out, taking her from me, placing oxygen over her face, checking vitals.
I climbed into the back of the ambulance without even thinking.
She was on the stretcher, her chest rising and falling with the help of the mask, and I sat beside her, gripping her hand in both of mine like I could anchor her to this world.
Another paramedic wanted to check me over, but I waved him off. “Focus on her, I’m fine,” I growled, and he didn’t try to argue with me, just turned his attention back to Logan. I saw Joey walking past before they closed the ambulance doors to leave.
“Joey!”
He paused. “Yeah? How is she?”
“She’s alive, but I need you to do me a favor.
Take Tony to the vet and watch him until I get back.
I don’t know how long he was out there, but make sure he’s alright.
I don’t care about the cost.” A paramedic was holding Tony by his collar, keeping him from jumping in with us.
His tongue was lolling out of his mouth and he looked like he was going to fall over any minute.
He needed rest and water, but I had to take care of Logan first.
“Yes, sir.” Joey took Tony, and I could hear Tony barking, tugging against Joey’s hold, but then the paramedic closed the door and we took off to the nearest hospital.
The sirens wailed as we sped toward the hospital, but all I could hear was her shallow breaths and the thunder of my heart as I prayed she’d live to hear the question.