I stroked my palm over his shoulder, feeling his strength and power, knowing he’d ride aggressively for me. I just hoped Warrior would be able to keep up.
The smoke was permeating the air now.
As soon as I finished with Mushu’s tack, I took a quick glance around the stable, mentally cataloging the horses in the other stalls, praying we could get back to evacuate them before the fire spread.
I rushed to Warrior’s stall, hooking the lead rope to his halter and bringing him out beside Mushu. Grabbing a handful of mane and his withers, I hopped myself up onto Mushu’s bare back, gripping the reins with one hand while I held Warrior’s lead in the other.
“Come on, boys. We don’t have any time to lose,” I told them, turning us out of the stable and into the yard.
I could already tell Mushu was raring to go, only holding back until we were on open ground.
The gray light was darkening by the time I turned us into the pasture. Dark smoke billowed in the sky. Whatever light was left on the horizon was turning orange, reflecting the flames.
I clicked my tongue while I squeezed my heels into Mushu’s sides and gave him his head. Racing toward the bluffs. Toward the river. Toward Penn and Reed. To where my heart was hopefully waiting for me.
I was racingagainst the night. Not a clock. Not against other racers. Not for a buckle. I was racing for the love of my life—thelovesof my life.
I could feel the fire at my back like a threatening weight, looming down on us. My heart was pounding in sync with the horses’ hooves. I didn’t know how much time we had. I didn’t know how in the hell I was going to find them.
But if it meant staying out here all night, tracing up and down the river, letting the fire consume my ranch, I’d do it. I’d do it in a heartbeat. Over and over again until I found them.
When we finally reached the river, the wakes flickered red and orange with the fire now towering over the tree canopy. I peered up into the sky. Any stars that could light my way were quickly being choked out by the smoke.
As soon as we reached the trail along the river, I started calling out to them, “Reed! Penn!” My heart cracked each time my cries were met with silence. The rushing waters and the crackling flames carrying their names away from me, smothering them out.
Anxiety and fear gripped me. “Come on, Reed. Where are you? I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I sobbed into the night. Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision.
Mushu and Warrior looped down the trail. I was no longer guiding them, letting them feel their way.
The smoke was starting to choke me, stinging my eyes and throat. “Reed. Penn.” My voice was weakening the farther we went.
The darkness seemed to consume us. The fiery glow flickered off the water—our only light on the trail.
“I don’t know how I’m going to do this.” I sobbed, slouching against Mushu’s neck.
The adrenaline was starting to dissipate. I didn’t want to voice it, but my mind was starting to spiral, to think the worst. That I might never find them. That they were going to be lost to the fire.
We started to slow. The horses were spent, too. We’d ridden hard to get to this point. I rested my head against Mushu.
“Mushu, please find them, take me to them. How will I live without them?” I croaked.
Mushu shifted his weight beneath me, as if to rock me, to soothe me. I gripped his mane.
Then I thought I heard someone in the distance. I sucked in a breath, listening intently for sounds of them.
I heard it again.
I sat up, alert, listening, squinting to see through the smoky, orange haze.
“Li-na!” It was far off, but I’d recognize his voice anywhere.
“Reed!” I rasped, trying to yell back, but it was like a knife in my throat.
I kicked my heels into Mushu’s side, urging him forward, pulling Warrior along with us, heading toward him.
“Reed,” I tried to call back again, listening for a reply.
We kept moving forward, the smoke we were wading through thick as soup.
