Page 16 of Under an Oklahoma Sky

Chapter Six

Evan’s truck pulled up the drive as the volunteer firefighters were putting away the last of the hoses. The barn was a total loss, but they’d kept the flames from spreading to Adam’s cottage and the surrounding area. Evan, Maddie, and Jenna hurried over to Adam and Sage, fear and worry written on their faces.

“Mommy!”

Sage bent at the waist as her frightened daughter leaped into her arms, and she hugged her tightly. “It’s okay, sweetheart. No one was hurt, and the horses are all safe.”

“Even Ruby Tuethday?” Jenna asked with a sniffle.

“Even Ruby. Adam saved her.”

The little girl looked at him with big, watery eyes. “You did?” When he nodded, she added, “Thank you, Adam.”

He ruffled her blonde hair. “You’re welcome, Little Bird. Why don’t you and Maddie go check on all of them in the front pen?”

When the two of them were out of earshot, Adam moved closer to Evan. “It was no accident.”

“What?” The older man was as stunned as Adam and Sage had been when the fire chief told them an accelerant seemed to have been sprayed on the back wall. The chief had also pointed out there were several points of origin, indicating the fire had started in multiple spots. He was currently filling in the sheriff, who’d pulled up moments before.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t see anybody. It was only by a stroke of luck that we were back in time to save the horses.” Adam stared at Sage. She’d been awfully quiet after the chief had hit them with the news. It was obvious she was trying to fight back tears and stay strong in front of everyone, but this was one more thing she didn’t need in her life.

Grabbing Evan’s elbow, Adam pulled him out of her hearing range as she stood silently, facing the gutted-out structure. “Do they do things like good old-fashioned barn raisings around here anymore, or is that a thing of the past?”

The older man wiped his brow and grinned. “We sure do, son. I’ll get on the horn and have a posse here first thing in the morning. We’ll have the rest of this knocked down and cleared out in no time.” He scratched his chin. “We may have to put the lumber on credit, though. I’ll have to check with Sage about that. I don’t think her insurance covered the barn, only the horses.”

“You let me worry about that.” He had a few things up his sleeve that he didn’t want to advertise. He’d contact Shane later to set things in motion. “You just start on those phone calls and get as many people as you can to help. And why don’t you ask Maddie to order pizza or something simple tonight?”

“Good idea.”

After Evan left to get things underway, Adam strode over to where Sage was talking to the sheriff. The gray-haired man eyed him warily as he approached. Sage halted whatever she’d been saying to introduce the two men. “Adam, this is Sheriff Pete Cosgrove. Sheriff, this is my new ranch hand, Adam Westfield.”

The man hesitated before shaking Adam’s outstretched hand. His tone was dry and unimpressed. “So I’ve heard.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Really? Guess word travels fast in small towns like Rosewood.”

“Uh-huh. I make it a practice to find out what I can about strangers who suddenly take up residence in my town. Imagine my surprise when I learned Ms. Hammond had hired an ex-con. Where were you when the fire started, Mr. Westfield?”

Beside him, Sage gasped. “Who the hell did you hear that from? I swear this town has more gossips than a zebra has stripes—it ticks me off.” She put one hand on her hip and shook a finger at the uniformed man. “You have no right to accuse Adam of anything because of his past, Sheriff. He was with me, riding the horses along the ridge. And⁠—”

Placing a steady hand on her shoulder, Adam interrupted, “It’s okay, Sage. Sheriff, if you have questions about my past, then ask them. But as for the fire, I think you might take your questions about that up the road.”

The man’s bushy eyebrows came together as he frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that Bart Sherman has been trying to buy this land for the past several years. Sage turned him down again the other day, and he didn’t seem happy about it. Makes me wonder what a man would resort to if he didn’t get what he wanted.”

“Now, wait a minute. Bart is a respected member of the community⁠—”

“And I’m just an ex-con who served my time.” He still wasn’t used to some people’s reactions when they learned he’d been in prison, but they were entitled to their opinions. There was no point in trying to change someone’s mind if they’d already decided he was an evil person. “Now, if you don’t have any more questions for Ms. Hammond or me, then excuse us. We have a lot of cleaning up to do.”

Tightening his hand on Sage’s shoulder, he steered her back toward the house.

“Adam, I’m so sorry. He had no right to accuse you.”

He leaned against the railing post next to the porch steps and crossed his arms. “It’s not your fault, and he’s just doing his job.”

“It’s still not right.”

Grinning, he brushed his thumb across her cheek, which was covered in soot. “Anyone ever tell you that you’re adorable when you pout?” Not waiting for an answer, he continued, “Listen. Why don’t you go shower? I’ll check on the horses and make sure they have enough water. They can stay there for the night, right? And get by on the grass until we can replace the feed in the morning?”