Page 81 of Cherry Tree Ranch

“The firefighters think the bonfire might have spit out a large spark and ignited the dry weeds in the field before spreading to the trees,” Hank explains. “They didn’t have enough water from the pond, and without water rights, they couldn’t tap into what they really needed to contain it all.”

I cry, even as the police and firefighters question us. What were we doing when the fire started? What time was it? Cash tells them we were watching the stars. We weren’t close to the bonfire and didn’t have a clue what happened.

Around 2 a.m. Cash finds me between the paddock and the house, disorientated.

“I need to check on Blue,” I tell him.

Cash gives me a knowing look. “We’ll check on him in the morning,” he says. “The fire didn’t come over here and you need to rest.” He scoops me up gently and carries me to the house in his arms.

Mom and Emery fall asleep in Mom’s bed, and Cash and I lie on the couch. I’m so numb from shock I can’t feel the comforting warmth of Cash’s skin or the hum of his heart. Shadow curls up at our feet and purrs. I want to be her right now, completely unaware of the tragedy.

“You OK?” he asks.

“Not really. Everything hurts,” I say. I pet Shadow with my toes, and she gives me her contented squinty eyes. “Are you OK?”

“I just don’t believe it.” He stares blankly. He pulls a blanket over us and kisses my cheek.

“I don’t believe it either,” I say, my anger growing. I sit up and kick the blanket off. “This was my chance to save the ranch, and I blew it with a party.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“Well, it sure as heck wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t suggested this.”

“Dahlia, we don’t know what happened yet,” he tries. “Let’s try to sleep.”

“I can’t sleep. Cash, without my cherries, I can’t make money. And without money I can’t pay off the debt. I have no idea what things will go for at the antiques auction. The desk could go for thousands, but it could also go for only hundreds. Either way, I can’t make thirty thousand. I’m losing the ranch.” I stand up. “No, no. I’ve already lost the ranch. The life I’ve always wanted, that I’ve come to love so much, is over.”

“There’s still the honey,” Cash reasons.

“There isn’t enough honey to make the money I need.”

Cash sighs. “I’ll make a pot of coffee. We can stay up and problem solve.”

I sit heavily down next to him and bury my face in my hands. “I can’t think clearly enough to do that, but thank you.”

He rubs his eyes. “You should rest.”

“We both should,” I say, but know I won’t sleep.

Cash lies back on the couch. I rest my cheek on his chest and he puts his heavy arm over me. He breathes in and out in slow intervals and eventually falls asleep. I listen to the crickets outside the window and take deep breaths in an attempt to align my heartbeat with their rhythm.

My phone buzzes on the coffee table. It’s Dad.

Emery told me about the fire. She said everyone’s OK. I’ll be there in the morning to check on you girls.

OK. Thanks, Dad. We’re all OK.

Every time I close my eyes I see the trees on fire, the branches crackling – popping and hissing with unbearable heat.

I turn on my side and stare at the microwave clock. My vision blurs as the glowing green minutes change.

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Blue’s gone!” I yell, grabbing Emery by the shoulders and shaking her awake.

“What are you doing?” she mumbles in a daze. “I’m trying to sleep.”

“Do you hear me?”