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SADIE

The deed weighedagainst Sadie’s heart like a boulder. The damn fool had it in her name all this time. She was sure Amos was secretly laughing at him since he knew as well as she that it wouldn’t hold up in court. Still, this development meant two things: One, he really did care about her. And two, he always meant to leave. She’d held on to a smidge of doubt—or was it hope?—in her heart until that very moment, in spite of everything.

“So you’re leavin’?” Otto asked as she hurried Teddy on.

“Seems so,” she said, not wanting to look at him.

“Then you don’t care what happens to the ranch?” he pressed.

Through a sigh, Sadie said, “I suppose not.” Though inside, she screamed at him to keep his filthy hands off her house and animals. “And if you touch Wally you don’t get the money Caroline offered you,” she reminded him.

“I’m clear on the rules,” Otto said.

She slipped her Derringer in her boot and glared at him as Teddy came outside, out of breath, yet full of color. Her chest squeezed. Wally had done that for him.

“Come on,” she said, holding out her hand for his, voice thick with emotion.

Taking it, Teddy glanced back over his shoulder. “What about Wally? Isn’t he coming?”

Otto fixed his glare on her, and Sadie shook her head. “He’ll catch up. He has some business to tend to.”

Caroline whistled, indicating to Sadie to hurry up. She tugged on Teddy’s hand, and they marched away from the ranch for what could be the last time. It was harder to do than tie Wally to the bed. At least when she’d done that, she was able to imagine a fun outcome. There was no such fantasizing now. She’d made her choice, and she had to follow through. For Teddy. She had to be all-in for her plan to work.

They got all the way to the top of the hill where Eli had found her that first day when Sadie realized something felt wrong. She turned back to look, unable to see the house, but searching the path they’d taken, nonetheless.

It was Teddy that tugged on her arm and pointed upward. “Is that smoke?”

Shit if it wasn’t. The white cloud wafted up and into the clear blue sky like a cloud. Sadie sniffed and, sure enough, the scent of burning wood met her nose.

“The ranch!” She yelled and ran at the same time, leaving both Teddy and Caroline in the dust.

“Wait!” Caroline called, and she paused for just a moment, cocking her head. “If you don’t come now, I’m not helping get you on board.”

Sadie pressed her eyes closed.

“It won’t matter about the ranch when you’re in the future.”

But all Sadie could see was Wally tied helplessly to the bed. “Come here, Teddy,” she called and rushed to meet him, pulling him into an embrace. She nuzzled the soft hair above his ear and whispered, “I got to go. You got to be strong. You get that woman onboard that place with you and get someone’s attention so she gets caught. You understand?” She pulled back to look him in the eyes as he nodded. “She’s dangerous, son. Don’t let on that’s why you’re going.”

“I get it, Ma. Go save the ranch. But be careful.”

Sadie nodded, tears blurring her vision as the smell of burning wood grew stronger. “Take Teddy. Sneak him onboard. Then I’ll help you all you want when you get back.”

Caroline motioned for Teddy to join her. Sadie took one last look at her brave son before running as fast as she could toward the fire.

Visions of her husband’s blank face when he took his last breath mixed with ones of Wally choking and struggling to escape from the very same bed. By the time the house came into view, a skeletal outline engulfed in flames, Sadie had given in to hysterics. Sobs burst from her burning lungs as she pressed forward, directly toward the leaping flames and acrid black smoke.

The heat of the Arizona sun was unforgiving enough, but the blast of hellfire that pushed against her was demonic. She struggled to catch a breath as she searched for an opening to dash inside. She’d get to Wally. She wouldn’t leave him there to turn to ash.

Sadie dashed around back, tears springing to her eyes as she watched the flames leap to the barn, shed, and outhouse. Her heart squeezed as she pictured her animals inside and unable to escape, but Wally had to be first. Turning toward the house again, she spied the backdoor open beneath a burning wood beam that would likely fall at any moment. She sucked in what air she could, threw an arm over her mouth and nose, and dashed forward.

A distant yet clear call for help brought her to halt just as the beam gave way, crashing to the porch and igniting the doorframe.

Straining to hear above the rush of flames and the beating of her own heart, Sadie froze.

“Help!”

She knew that voice. It was Wally’s, and it came from the barn. How had he gotten out?