“Nothing.” He consulted his phone and frowned. “There’s someone moving around by the barn. It could be an employee, but I can’t tell. You go back with Mom and I’ll walk over to check it out. I suspect it’s someone unfamiliar to the cats, and they don’t like it.”
“You’re not going by yourself. I can call for help if something happens.”
He squeezed her hand. “I know better than to argue with you.”
She walked with him toward the barn. The stars twinkled brightly in the dark sky, and the tigers had quieted. Lights shone out of the windows of the small employee cottages they passed, and it felt too peaceful for there to be much going on out here. Until an invisible hand shoved her.
Something lifted her feet off the red dirt and threw her to the ground on her backside.
Almost immediately aboomsounded and flames shot up ahead.
Dazed, she got up and searched for Blake, who had been tossed to the dirt as well. He had red mud on his face as he leaped up and rushed her way. “Are you all right?”
“I—I think so. What was that?” She turned toward the fireball and clutched Blake’s hand. “That’s Clark’s trailer!” She escaped Blake’s grip and ran toward the flames. “His propane tank exploded.” She cupped her hands to her mouth. “Clark!” She yanked out her phone and dialed 911 to report the fire. She declined to stay on the line and ended the call.
Blake ran past her, shouting his friend’s name, but the heat drove him back. Paradise watched for any movement from the trailer, which was nothing but burning rubble and twisted metal. She prayed that Clark wasn’t inside. No one could survive a blast like that.
“Clark!” Blake shouted. His face was blackened with soot and mud, and he again attempted to move toward the destroyed hulk that used to be a home.
“I’m here,” Clark said from behind them.
Paradise whirled and Blake leaped past her to grab Clark in a bear hug. He patted Blake awkwardly on the back with one hand while his other arm, holding a plastic bag, hung at his side.
Tears of relief stung her eyes. Clark didn’t have a scratch on him and there wasn’t so much as a smudge of soot on his face. “Where were you?”
Clark held up the sack. “Groceries.” He stared at his former home. “It’s all gone, and I didn’t have insurance. My tent is still in my truck though.” The words were matter-of-fact with no trace of self-pity.
Blake stepped back and wiped his streaming eyes. “I couldn’t bear to lose you too, buddy. Praise God you’re okay. And don’tworry about the trailer. We have an empty cottage at the other end of the lane.”
A self-conscious smile hovered on Clark’s lips, and he looked down. “I haven’t had a man hug me like that since Kent died.”
Blake passed his hand over his eyes. “That brought back way too many bad memories.” He turned and stared again at the remains of the trailer. “What happened?”
“The fire marshal might be able to figure it out,” Clark said.
Paradise was finally able to get her knees to hold her, and still shaken, she walked to Blake’s side. “Was it an accident or a diversion?”
Blake’s mouth dropped open, and he turned to look at the barn. “Let’s go find out.”
Chapter 34
Murmuring and exclaiming, employees spilled out onto the lane in front of the cottages. Clark walked over to assure them he was all right, but most of the people continued to stare at the ravaged trailer.
Blake couldn’t stop shaking. For a few moments he’d been right back there in the war and was trying—and failing—to save Kent. If Clark had died too... Blake shut down the graphic images in his head. His friend was alive and standing right next to him.
Blake’s arm was around Paradise’s waist, and he kissed the top of her head. “You can head back to the house before Mom packs up the boys and comes to see what’s going on.” He forced a chuckle. “You’re shaking like me.”
“That blast scared me to death. You can text her and tell her everyone is okay.”
Blake soaked in the sight of Clark, who stood calmly watching everyone. He left the rest of the employees and came to join them. “You’re a little pale, Blake.”
Blake made an effort to compose himself. “You want to go tell Mom what happened?”
Clark nodded to a spot behind Blake. “Too late.”
He turned around to see his mother hurrying toward him with both boys in tow. He intercepted them and scooped up Isaac, who was the sleepiest of the two. “Everyone’s fine. The gas tank on Clark’s trailer exploded. It was probably a gas leak.”
Isaac wrapped his arms around Blake’s neck. “I heard a big boom, but I didn’t even cry. I went to make sure Mama was okay.”
