I'm startled awake by a noise. Sitting up in bed, I rub the sleep from my eyes and note the time. The clock on the table beside the bed says it is two fifty-two in the morning. The noise sounds again, and it's then I realize it's the dogs barking in the distance from outside. Then suddenly, my grandfather's voice booms from outside the bedroom door.
"Cat!"
Suddenly, Easton is up and on high alert. Both of us jump from the bed at the same time. Easton makes it to the door first and flings it open. "What is it, Arthur?" he asks my grandfather, who is charging toward us.
"The barn is on fire! I've already called nine-one-one."
I stand rooted in place for all of two seconds before only one thought comes to mind. "Oh god! The horses!"
Easton goes to reach for me, but I am too quick. Within seconds I am flying down the stairs and dash out of the house. Easton is hot on my heels, booming my name.
"Cat, wait!"
I don't listen, though. The only thing on my mind is getting to my horses. Ignoring the rocks digging into the bottom of my feet as I run across the gravel driveway toward the field. All the air leaves my body once the barn is within sight. Red and yellow flames shoot out from the roof, and the horse's cries are all I hear. Picking up my pace, I run as fast as my legs will carry me. Then, movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. It's a dark figure moving off in the distance, heading toward the woods. I don't give whoever it is a second thought because all I can think about is saving my horses.
"Cat!" Easton calls for me again the moment I breach the barn doors. The heat from the flames is almost unbearable, butI push forward. Debris and embers fall from above my head and nip at my skin. Ignoring the pain, I make it to the first stall.
"Goddamnit, Cat! Get the fuck out of here." Easton clamps his hand down around my wrist.
"No! Not until the horses are out."
"Fuck," he hisses. "I'll get the others. Hurry."
Nodding, I pull open the latch on the stall, revealing a very spooked Nelly. It doesn't take much encouragement for her to flee. Once I have Nelly out, I move on to the next stall just as Fancy gallops past me. "Come on, Tucker, time to go." I tug on Tucker's halter, and he too takes off out of the barn. Just as I exit Tucker's stall, Blue flies past me, followed by Easton. He's drenched in sweat and soot. Easton doesn't say anything. He just grabs my hand. "Let's go! The roof is about to give!" he hollers. No sooner do we make it out of the barn when the entire roof gives way and caves in.
"Cat?" My grandfather's trembling voice calls out to me.
"I'm okay," I say, trying to catch my breath. Sirens blare in the distance, letting us know the fire department is close. A minute later, the fire truck is in front of us and the firemen work fast at extinguishing the flames. I don't know how much time passes, but I stay rooted in place. My grandfather is standing to my left and Easton to my right. Finally, the three of us have no choice but to watch the destruction in front of us.
Three hours later, the fire has been put out, and the fire trucks are gone. I finally was able to convince my grandfather to get some rest.
I'm standing in the shower with the hot water beating down over me, and I watch in a daze as the soot that once covered my skin disappears down the drain. Then, when the water starts to run cold, I'm knocked from my trance. Cutting the water off, I step out of the tub and wrap a towel around my body. I find Easton sitting on the edge of the bed when Iwalk out of the bathroom. His eyes land on me, and they don't waver. The expression on his face gives nothing away, and I'm desperate to know what he's thinking. Easton hasn't said a word since he helped me free the horses from the fire, but he also hasn't stopped looking at me the way he's looking at me now. "Easton…" I go to say when he cuts me off.
"Don't ever, and I mean ever, do something like what you did tonight," he hisses in a tone I've never heard before.
"Easton, I…"
"No," he growls, climbing to his feet and in an instant is in my face. "I could have lost you tonight. You ran into that fire with no regard to your own life."
"The horses, Easton."
"I don't give a shit, Cat," he barks. "You could have died. I almost watched the woman I love die right in front of my eyes."
"The woman you what?" I breathe.
Easton cups my face. "The woman I love."
"You…you love me?"
"Just said it twice, baby."
"Yeah, but I thought maybe I heard things."
Easton shakes his head. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you. I know we just found each other, but now, I can't imagine a life without you in it."
Looking into Easton's grey eyes, I see nothing but the truth, and behind that, pain. I see the pain he's feeling at the thought of losing me. And it's that glimpse of anguish that has me unable to hold back my tears. "I love you too, Easton."
Pulling my truck into a parking spot in front of the bank the following day, I cut the engine and stare out the windshieldwhile mentally preparing myself for the meeting I am about to have. I called John Dixon, the man who has been handling the loan on the ranch, and asked if we could have a sit-down today. I'm going to ask for a second loan so that grandpa and I can have a new barn built to replace the one we lost to the fire. Getting approved will be a long shot, but I have to at least try. Lev had shown up at the house early this morning. Miles had phoned Easton just before I left, and the two were in deep conversation when I left.
