Chapter 30
JULIAN
My heart is in my throat the entire drive back to my place. Ranger reaches over from the passenger seat of my truck and squeezes my knee. It’s been a week since I evacuated, and we were just given the all clear this morning to go back to my farm.
The fire ended up missing Ranger’s house completely, his county being allowed back in their homes after the first couple of days, which was convenient because I’m not sure how long I was actually going to get away with keeping Doc and my chickens in a motel room.
We’ve spent the past five days at Ranger’s place, letting Doc and the chickens roam on his land while the two of us kept busy building a barn.
I have no idea if he actually needed a barn built or if it was his way of keeping my mind off worrying about my house and my horses.
Either way, it worked, and he got a barn out of the deal.
If there are better distractions than sex and manual labor, I haven’t found them yet.
“Whatever we find, it’s going to be okay,” he promises me, and all I can do is nod, unable to trust my own voice right now.
PP whines from the backseat, straining against her seat belt, no doubt wanting to put her head on my shoulder to comfort me.
I take a few deep breaths, reminding myself that I’m alive, as many of my babies as I could manage are alive, and the rest was out of my hands.
Ranger’s right. Everything will be okay, one way or another.
That light optimism lasts me until I pull into my driveway and see the pile of ashes that used to be my house.
I put the truck into Park, a sob breaking free from my throat at the sight in front of me.
My fields are razed to the ground, and every structure that once stood is now nothing more than smoking cinders.
I throw open the door and stumble out of the truck, the sound of PP’s frantic bark little more than background noise as my blood rushes in my ears.
Everything is gone. Every last thing I owned, save for the few items now at Ranger’s, has been turned to charcoal. The house I scraped and saved to buy? Gone. The fence I built and rebuilt by hand? Gone. It’s all gone.
As soon as Ranger’s arms wrap around me, I sink into him, pressing my face against his shoulder and soaking his shirt with my tears. My body shakes with the force of my sobs, his strong embrace the only thing keeping me in one piece.
I’m not sure how long I stand there, getting snot and tears all over my boyfriend, but eventually I calm down enough to register the fact that PP’s bark has changed.
It’s no longer the frustrated whine she makes when she’s being prevented from doing something she wants—in this case comforting me.
It’s her excited yap. It’s rare to hear in her old age.
Rare enough that I manage to wipe my eyes with the back of my hand and pull away from Ranger to see what she’s getting worked up about.
At first, it seems like she’s just being strange.
I look around and don’t see anything other than the devastation that met us when we drove up.
PP runs a few yards away from us, then comes bounding back, still yipping.
I sniffle and use my own T-shirt to dry my face, Ranger’s hand now resting on the back of my neck as he waits stoically beside me.
“What is it, girl? What do you see?” I crouch, sling my arm around her, and follow her line of sight. A flash of purple bobs in the farthest field. My heart jumps, a flicker of hope taking root inside my chest.
“Is that…?” I’m afraid to say it out loud in case I’m wrong, but as the spec of color surges closer and closer, a laugh bubbles from my throat, raw from my tears. “It’s Butler.”
I should’ve known that stubborn goat would be just fine. The cloud that settled over me lifts just as quickly. A house can be replaced, even all the things inside the house can be bought again. If even one of my animals is okay, I’ll take that trade in a heartbeat.
I break into a jog toward Butler. He’s still far enough away that I’m not going to run all the way to him, but I’m too excited to stand and wait.
As I get closer, I realize he’s not alone.
It was easy to spot him because of the tattered pool noodles still on his horns, but the smaller black goat beside him comes as a surprise.
In spite of his years of animosity, Butler seems as thrilled to see me as I am to see him, and he trots through the field faster and faster until he reaches me.
I want to drop to my knees and throw my arms around him, but I doubt he’s grown that fond of me in the span of the last week, so I settle for patting his head.
New tears flow down my cheeks, relieved ones this time. “I’m so happy to see you.” I sniffle and laugh at the same time. “And who’s your friend?”
I turn to the new goat, which is sticking close to my boy, and slowly reach out my arm.
He bleats and gently butts against my hand.
He’s friendlier than Butler, that’s for sure.
“Don’t worry, buddy. We’ll find your family,” I assure him.
Butler doesn’t seem on board with that plan, though, getting between us and putting his back to me as he nuzzles his new friend.
Well, okay then. I guess once I find his family, I can see if they’re open to a visitation schedule or something because I don’t think my boy here is going to let him go.
I scan the charred tree line, my hope renewed and my optimism possibly a little too high now. To my amazement and relief, new movement catches my eye, and seconds later, Talon emerges from the trees, followed by Dino, and one by one, all five of my babies appear.
It feels like every single Christmas and birthday all rolled into one, and joy bursts through me like fireworks as my horses gallop toward me, whinnying and snorting.
They’re all a bit sooty, their manes tangled, and the acrid smell of smoke is clinging to them.
They’ll need baths and a thorough check by their vet, but they’re all alive. Each and every one of them is okay.
I wrap my arms around Bella’s neck and hug her tightly while Butler’s new friend nibbles on my shirt.
Daisy brings up the rear while Raleigh noses at my pocket in the hope of finding an apple no doubt.
Lucky for him, I did bring apples in case I found them.
I pull the baggie out and pass out apple slices to each of my babies, sniffling the whole time.
I probably look like a horse whisperer, walking back toward Ranger with five horses and two goats all following me closely.
“Is this everybody?” Ranger asks.
“Every last one.” I smile through the happy tears that won’t stop flowing. “It’ll be tight, but all five horses should squeeze into the trailer, and the goats can ride in the dog kennel in the bed of the truck.
“Um, is it just me, or have you gained a goat?” He frowns at Buddy, the name I am officially giving to Butler’s new friend, and scratches his head.
“It looks that way.”
The goats are exhausted and dehydrated enough that they don’t fight me putting them into the dog cage. Once everyone is loaded up, I climb back into the truck and sink into the seat with a relieved sigh.
“Good thing we got that barn built, huh?” Ranger jokes.
“Fiddlesticks, I should’ve asked if you’re even okay with all of us coming back to your place.
” If he says no, I have no clue where to go.
I could try to find a boarding facility for the horses until I work out my housing situation, but it’ll be difficult to find a place willing to take so many on such short notice, not to mention pricey.
“Hey.” He threads his fingers through mine. “Of course they can come to my place. You have all the time you need. I’m glad they’re all okay.”
“Me too.” I bring his hand to my lips and press a quick kiss to the back of it. “And thank you for giving us a place to stay while I figure everything out. I don’t know what I’d do otherwise.”
“Of course. What are boyfriends for?” He gives me a lopsided grin, leaning in to kiss me.
“blowjobs mostly. But help with housing crises is always a bonus.”