“Can’t somebody go back and make sure he’s all right?”
“Not anymore,” Tori said. “The fire’s burned past the bottom of the road. We can only hope he’s headed up here or that he got out some other way. Don’t worry, Lauren. Sky’s too smart to get caught in the fire. As soon as he shows up, I’ll have him call you.”
Minutes after the call ended, Lauren’s phone rang. She shook with relief when she saw Sky’s name and heard his tired voice. “I saw the smoke when your house went up,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”
“I’m fine. I’m at the syndicate office. I’ve tried and tried to call you.”
“Sorry, I’ve been busy. And I left my phone in the truck.” Something in his voice set off a warning. A cold premonition crawled up her spine.
“Where are you?” she asked. “Tori said you weren’t with the others.”
“I’m still at the ranch. But I don’t plan to be here long.”
The fear sharpened, cutting deep. “Sky, what is it? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” In the background, behind his voice, she could hear a sound like wind, but more than wind. “I just wanted to tell you something, that’s all. I’d planned to wait till everything was perfect and I could get down on one knee with a diamond ring in my hand. But I think I need to say this now. I love you, Lauren. I’ll always love you. Whatever happens, never forget that.”
“Sky, what’s going on? Tell me—”
But there was no reply. She’d lost the connection. When she tried again there was no answer.
Lauren’s heart slammed. She should have sensed the truth the instant she heard his voice. Sky had known he was in life-threatening danger. The call had been his way of saying good-bye. By now he could be dying, or even dead.
The urgency was a scream inside her. Whatever it took, she had to go to him.
Her Corvette was in the parking lot, but the low-slung car wasn’t made to go off-road, and if it got too near the fire, it would burn. She’d have to take a horse.
She ran to the metal-roofed stable, where she grabbed a saddle and a bridle with side-blinders from the tack room. One horse was hers to take—a horse strong enough to carry her where she needed to go. But that horse had a strong will of his own. She could only hope Storm Cloud was in a mood to behave.
She’d used a silk scarf to tie back her hair when she’d left the house. Pausing, she pulled it free and stuffed it in her pocket. There was a chance she’d need it to blindfold the horse. She couldn’t risk letting the wind blow it away.
The big, black gelding was in his stall. He was nervous, most likely spooked by the smell of the fire, but he allowed her to saddle and bridle him and to climb on his back. She walked him out of the stable and looked around to make sure the way was clear before digging her heels into his flanks.
Storm Cloud responded as if a gunshot had gone off behind him. They rocketed out of the yard. Lauren crouched over his back like a jockey, planning her route as she rode. Trying to pass through the smoke and flames would be too dangerous, and the ground already burned would be too hot to cross. She would have to circle wide and come into the Rimrock from the north, ahead of the fire. That would mean trusting that the wind would hold—a risky bet, but one she would have to take.
“Hey! What’re you doing!” a male voice shouted somewhere behind her. “Come back here, you crazy woman!”
Without a backward glance, Lauren kept on riding.
After calling Lauren, Sky had taken the loaded revolver out of the glove compartment and stuck it in his belt. He’d rationalized that he might find some poor burned animal and need to put it out of its misery. The real reason for having the weapon was one he didn’t like to think about. If the flames cut him off from all hope of escape, a quick bullet to the head would be better than burning to death.
But things hadn’t come to that yet. He still had a fair chance of surviving this fire. All he had to do was find it.
The well and reserve tanks had been drained in an effort to water down the house and barn. Turning on the outside tap, Sky wet himself down from the trickle that remained. Blown by the wind, the fire was burning from east to west. The escarpment on the west would be the safest place, but he’d never make it on foot. No man could hope to outrun a roaring, windblown fire for any distance. There was an unburned break to the north, but even if he could make it that far, the fire would get there first.
The bunkhouse was already burning, and the water-soaked roof of the long barn had begun to steam. Soon it would be smoldering. Staying in the open, away from the buildings, wasn’t an option. When the full force of the fire swept through, i
t would suck all the oxygen from the air.
Sky scanned the yard for shelter. The house was stone, but once the roof caught it would be an inferno. The same for the sheds and the duplex he and Jasper called home. Was there a root cellar? Lord, he couldn’t remember. Even if he could find it, would it give him enough protection? Would anything?
Sky’s frustration exploded in a string of curses. He didn’t want to end his life like this. He wanted to live out his years with his brothers in this place that gave him all he could ever need. He wanted to build a home on his land, to marry Lauren and fill her sweet belly with their children. It wasn’t right that it should all end here—he couldn’t let it happen. Dammit, he wouldn’t.
An unexpected sound made him turn. There, galloping hell for leather down the open strip to the north, was a big black horse. At first he couldn’t make out the rider, but when he caught a glimpse of flying red hair, he knew.
Lauren was risking her life to come for him.
The unburned gap was narrowing. Anytime now, with a fresh breath of wind, it would close. Lauren could be trapped by the flames.