Page 37 of Until Easton

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.

"Becca?" 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 I walk 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, Becca," 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."

Easton buries his face in my neck and releases a heavy breath. "Fucking BOOM."

Pulling my truck into a parking spot in front of the bank the following day, I cut the engine and stare out the windshield while 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. Jax 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.

"Quit procrastinating, Becca, and get this over with," I mutter to myself. Then, grabbing my purse from the passenger seat, I sling it over my shoulder and hop down from the truck.

As I make my way inside the bank, I'm immediately greeted by Mr. Dixon. "Hi, Miss Connelly. How are you?" Mr. Dixon is a sixty-something-year-old man and has been doing business with my grandfather for years and is one of the kindest people I know.

"Hi, Mr. Dixon. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me."

"Of course, of course. How is your grandfather doing? I heard about the fire. Such a shame, but I am happy nobody was hurt." Mr. Dixon leads me into his office, and I take a seat in a chair across from his desk.

"Thanks. And that's actually what I came to talk to you about. I know we still owe quite a bit on the loan we already have, but I was hoping you'd be able to help me out with another."

"I see." Mr. Dixon leans forward, bracing his elbows on the desk.

"I understand it's a lot to ask considering, but without a loan, we won't be able to have another barn built," I plead. "And I know we are a couple weeks behind on our current loan, but I promise to have that payment to you by the end of the week."

"Miss Connelly, I'm a little confused. You're not late on any payment. In fact, that loan has been paid off in full."

Not understanding what I'm hearing, I ask, "What?"

"The loan has been paid." Now Mr. Dixon looks confused. "I'm sorry, I thought you were aware."

"No, my grandfather didn't tell me. I wasn't even aware he had the money to pay it off."