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“It’ll be too late! Mason, let me go please,” I begged. He continued to hold me tightly and I eventually stopped struggling, too exhausted to continue fighting against him. “Please let me go,” I mumbled, tears streaming down myface.
I could hear sirens in the distance and I prayed they arrived in time. Suddenly a figure emerged from the front of the stables, and it looked like they were carrying someone. Mason passed me to Libby. “Don’t let her go,” he ordered as he ran towardthem.
“Josh!” I cried, breaking free from Libby’s hold and rushing forward. As I got closer, I realized it was Brody, and he was carrying what looked like a girl in hisarms.
“Brody where’s Josh?” I heard Mason ask him. Dazed, Brody gestured with his head to thestables.
“He’s inside…on the floor. I couldn’t move him, part of the roof collapsed,” Brody choked out, coughing and wheezing from thesmoke.
“No!” I cried, dropping to the ground. My head felt like it was going to explode and I thought I was going to throw up. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I couldn’t lose Josh—we’d only just found each other, hadn’t had enough time together. I felt Libby reach for me, pulling me backward, away from the stables. I stumbled into her and her arms went aroundme.
“I’ve got you,” I heard her say. “It’s going to be okay.” Her voice sounded far away, the noise from the fire fading as my ears began to ring. Black dots began to swim in front of my eyes and the last thing I heard before I passed out was Libby screaming Mason’sname.
Icould hearsomeone calling my name, the voice distant. My head was foggy and my eyes felt heavy. “Savannah, sweetheart, can you hear me?” it said again. “Savannah?” I forced my eyes open, finally realizing that the voice belonged to my mom. She was kneeling beside me, her face a picture ofworry.
“Mom,” I croaked, my mouth dry. “What’s goingon?”
“Savannah, sweetheart, you passedout.”
Reality came rushing back and I suddenly remembered the fire. “Josh!” I cried out. “Where’s Josh?” I struggled to sit up, my eyes frantically scanning around me in an attempt to catch a glimpse of him. The stable was still burning and the paramedics had arrived. They were huddled around someone lying on theground.
“Josh is out honey, your dad and Mason got him, and the paramedics are working on him now,” she said, putting her hand on my arm. “You need to wait here Savannah, I’ll get someone to check youover.”
“No!” I shouted. “I need to be with Josh.” Finding a strength I didn’t know I had, I pushed my mom away and stood up, swaying on my unsteadylegs.
“Okay, okay,” she conceded. “Let me help you.” Taking my arm, she walked with me over to where three paramedics surrounded Josh. I couldn’t see his face, but I knew it was him, recognizing the jeans and cowboy boots he’d worn to my parents’house.
“He’s stable enough to move, and we need to get him to the hospital, now,” one of the paramedics shouted above the noise that was echoing around the ranch. I couldn’t get anywhere near him, feeling completely helpless as I watched them transfer him to a spinal board. Finally able to see his face, I gasped—his eyes were closed and he was black from the fire. His head was bandaged, the blood from the wound smeared down his face and matted in the hair that was visible. My hand went to my mouth and I let out a sob. Desperate to touch him, I moved closer, managing to brush my hand against his as they carried him pastme.
“I love you,” I told him, my voice shaking. Looking up, I saw a devastated Grace watching me. Tears were running down her cheeks and she was visibly shaking. The paramedics carried Josh to a waiting ambulance and I followed, watching as they loaded him into the back. Turning back to Grace, I reached for herhand.
“Go with him,” I pleaded. There was only room for one passenger, and as much as I wanted to be with him, I knew as his mom, she needed thattoo.
She nodded and climbed into the ambulance. Sitting next to him, she held his hand, her eyes fixed on me. “Thank you,” she mouthed as the ambulance doors closed and they sped away from what was left of the stables, red lightsflashing.
“I need to get to the hospital,” I cried, turning and breaking down as my mom pulled me into herarms.
“Come on, I’ll drive. Your dad, Brody, and Mason have all been taken there too,” she told me as she led me to the car then sped down the driveway. I dropped my head into my hands and sobbed. Nearly everyone who meant anything to me was in the hospital, and right then I didn’t know if any of them wouldsurvive.
15 minutes later, we rushed into the emergency department, finding Grace and Libby in the waiting area. “Libby,” I cried throwing my arms around her. “What’s happening? Where is everyone?” I asked, pulling away and looking at her tear-stainedface.
“Mason, Brody, and Uncle Ryan are okay, they’re just getting checked over…” She trailedoff.
“And Josh?” I asked urgently, watching as her eyes flicked to my mom, who stood behind me. “What is it?” I shouted, tears rolling down my face. “Is he…?” I shook my head, not able to say theword.
“No Savannah, he’s not,” Grace said, stepping forward and taking my hands in hers. She guided me to some chairs and gently pushed on my shoulder, forcing me to sit down. “They’ve taken him straight into the triage area. He’s not conscious.” Her voice hitched and she took a moment to compose herself. “They think part of the roof collapsed on him. The nurse said once they’ve assessed him, the doctor will come see us. We just have to wait.” I nodded as my vision began to blur again and the ringing in my ears returned. I dropped my head between my knees, desperate not to pass outagain.
“I’m getting a doctor, you need to be looked at,” I heard my mom say, her voicemuffled.
“No!” I exclaimed, my head still between my knees. “I need to behere.”
“You need to get checked out Savannah,” my mominsisted.
My vision was returning to normal and I raised my head. “Please don’t make me leave, I need to be with Josh,” I begged, my voice breaking withemotion.
“How about if we find someone to see you here, in the waiting room?” Grace asked, kneeling in front of me, her eyes red fromcrying.
“Okay,” I said, surprised by her concern. It was hard to believe that an hour before, she had been yelling at me. That didn’t matter now—nothing mattered if Josh didn’t make it. Grace stood up and I saw my mom give her a gratefulsmile.
