“Shouldn’t you be over there helping your slut saveherranch?” Junior sneered. “See, you fucked up, Reed. All I had to do was give you Lina’s little stalker, and I knew Penn would be reachable.”
Reed’s eyes flicked to me for just a moment, a flash of fear as he spotted me on the other side of the fire. But it didn’t cause Reed to lose focus. The determined, strong man that he was only turned his hard gaze back on Junior.
“Are you really going to let the land you believe to be yours burn over a woman and her child?” Reed threw back at him. “Because I can tell you right now, if you don’t let my daughter go, I will put a bullet through your head and this land willneverbe yours. Any claim you think you have will die with you, right here and now.”
“Reed.” I sobbed, hearing his words. He had to see the gun at Junior’s waist. He had to know he could pull it just as easily as he could. My heart pounded, the smoke stinging my eyes andthroat. “Reed, please,” I breathed, knowing I was too quiet for him to hear me against the roaring flames … knowing I could barely get the words out as I watched him take a step toward them, the barrel trained on Junior.
“Let her go, Junior. You’re burning your land down.”
Junior appeared to be contemplating something. His jaw moved as if he were chewing his thoughts as his wheels turned.
Without a word, his hold barely loosened, and Penn was out of his grasp.
Running toward her dad. “Daddy!”
I choked a sob. Tears were streaming down my face, the heat drying them as soon as they fell.
Junior hopped into his truck. The engine roared to life. He put it into reverse, hitting the gas pedal. Hard. The truck barreled backward down the trail. Backing up right toward them, gaining on Penn as she tried her hardest to outrun the tires.
“Penn! The truck!” I screamed, my voice cracking against the choking smoke. I couldn’t watch this. I couldn’t see this terror play out.
Reed took off running toward her. My heart was in my throat, watching him as he swooped her up into his arms and took one giant step off the trail just as Junior’s truck rushed past them, nearly clipping them.
I clapped a hand to my mouth, sobbing.
“Give me that bucket.” Romy grabbed the bucket from my hand.
I stumbled toward the fire, watching them on the other side. I was completely helpless. My body was trembling. I couldn’t reach them. The fire was spreading, growing, covering them. What wasn’t ablaze was as black as tar.
“Reed,” I cried.
He looked at me through the flames, his eyes tortured as he gripped his daughter to him.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he told me.
“No,” I shook my head. “No.”
“Go, Lina,” Romy pleaded. “Go get Mushu and Warrior. Tell Reed to get to the river. You’re going to need to ride fast now. I’ll keep shoveling buckets until the fire department gets here.”
I turned to look at her. I couldn’t leave her and Charli to deal with this.
But her mouth was set in determination, her eyes bright with urgency. “Go!” she repeated.
I gave a single nod, staring at Reed and Penn for the last time.
“Get to the river!” I shouted over the blaze. “I’m coming to get you.”
40
lina
Ihit the throttle on the truck as soon as I reached the double-wide. I’d never driven so fast in my life. Dust and gravel spit from the wheels like shrapnel as I sped down the road to the stable and bunkhouse. I barely put it into park when I arrived there.
Twilight was setting in, quickening my steps. I had to reach them before night came. I had no idea how I’d find them or how they’d find the river in the dark.
My hands trembled as I grabbed Mushu’s bridle. I tied his lead to the outside of his stall. His eyes were bright and big, his ears flicking, reading me like he always did. Sensing the panic in the air. He nuzzled his nose against me, as if to check if I was okay. I nearly collapsed, leaning my forehead against his neck, breathing in his familiar horse scent.
“We’re going to need to go the fastest we’ve ever gone,” I whispered to him, my words breaking. “We need to find them.”
