Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

Travis spun around and jogged toward the downed tree.

“What are you doing?” Hannah, halfway to the truck, had stopped and looked back at him.

“The dog,” Travis said, following along the trunk of the tree and peering at the dark ground. “Zeke pointed over here when he called to her.”

Barbed wire snagged Travis’s pants leg and he yanked his leg free, stomping further through the dry undergrowth toward the tree’s thick branches. He bent low and peered through the smoke for any sign of the pup.

“Travis, the fire’s too close. We don’t have ti—”

A whimper, then yip, sounded. Yellow fur flashed between a tangle of limbs and a dog’s paw kicked in the air.

“Over there!” Travis ran toward the squirming pup and dropped to his knees.

Barbed wire was wrapped around one of the dog’s legs and she struggled, trying to kick her way out from under one of the tree’s limbs.

Hannah’s arm brushed against Travis as she knelt by his side. “Is she okay?”

Travis ran his palm over the pup’s belly. It rose on rapid pants. The pup yipped and licked his hand. “She’s all right. Just tangled up.” He bent low, looking into the dog’s soulful eyes, and spoke softly, “Hang on, girl. We’re gonna get you out of this.”

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; A second crash from the direction of the blazing cabin echoed across the landscape. Flames hissed and hot embers spiraled around them on a renewed gust of wind.

Hannah gripped his forearm as she looked up, her mouth parting on a swift breath. “We have to go. Now!”

Fire flickered in the tree directly in front of them, engulfing one thick branch, then another, snaking along dry bark and dead leaves toward the trunk, where high undergrowth waited to ignite.

“Travis, I want to help her as much as you do, but there’s no ti—”

“No!” Sweat rolled onto his lashes, clouding his vision. He dragged his forearm over his face and bent closer to the dog. “Not until I’ve at least tried.”

Eyes burning hotter with each gust of smoke, Travis grabbed the limb covering the dog and wrenched at it. Hannah’s hands joined his, wrapping around the rough bark and yanking. They jerked and pulled and the limb broke free with a sharp snap.

The pup yipped and flailed in an attempt to roll to her paws.

“Hold her still,” Travis said.

Hannah slid her palm over the dog’s chest and spoke in low, soothing tones. The dog settled but she still kicked occasionally, and her small belly jerked with heavy pants.

Travis squinted beneath the flickering orange glow and passed his hands gently along each of the pup’s legs, searching for the barbed wire wrapped around her paw.

Finding it, he tucked his fingertips under it and tugged.

The dog jerked and whimpered.

“I know,” Travis said. “I’m sorry.”

He trailed his fingertips along the spiky wire, finding it tangled in a branch above the dog’s head. Wrapping it around his hand, he closed his fist and yanked.

Sharp metal cut into his palm and warm blood trickled over his wrist. He gritted his teeth and pulled harder.

“Stop.” Hannah leaned closer to him. “Your hand—”

“I don’t have a knife on me. Do you?”

She shook her head.

“Then I have to.”