Holding his halter with one hand, Luke used his other hand to carefully and methodically loosen the stiff barbed wire. But just as he’d start to free one of Manny’s legs, a barb would dig into the other and he would struggle again, causing even more damage.
Damn it! This wasn’t working. If only he had wire cutters. But if he let go of Manny so he could run back to his truck, would he only cut himself worse? The fire was so close now that the wind felt like a blowtorch. Even beneath the canopy of trees, ash swirled in the air, and breathing was a chore. No. He couldn’t go back now. No time.
He kept working with the wire. When he finally freed Manny from one strand, he held it down with his foot while he worked with the other one. The heat was unbearable. Luke swiped sweat out of his eyes with his shoulder and kept working. Every time he felt like giving up, he thought about the tears in Shannon’s eyes as she told him about the animals in her nightmares that she couldn’t save.
Finally Luke managed to tuck the remaining wire beneath his boot along with the other one. Then he lifted Manny away from both of them. He felt a rush of elation, only to realize that Manny was hanging his head, making no move to run away. There was no doubt now the blood loss had taken its toll. He would never be able to walk back up the rocky trail.
Luke scooped the little horse up in his arms. He could lift well over Manny’s weight, but the heat and the effort of getting him loose had drained Luke’s strength. He moved as fast as he could over the rocky path, feeling the strain in his back and legs. Once he tripped and almost fell, then righted himself again and kept pushing forward.
He didn’t care what it took. He was bringing Manny back to Shannon. No matter what he had to do, he was going to make sure all the animals she loved so much were finally safe.
Shannon checked her watch. Only fifteen minutes had passed, but it felt like hours. The fire had raised the air temperature, and sweat poured down her temples and soaked her shirt.
“The fire’s getting too close,” the trooper told Shannon. “I’m going to have to back this roadblock up soon.”
“What do you think it’s like another mile up the road?”
“Hell on earth.”
Just those words made shivers run up her spine. She paced away from the car and back again. “Something’s gone wrong. We need to go up there.”
“Can’t,” the trooper said. “I’ve got my orders. If I don’t hold this position, people could drive right into this.”
“But it’s been too long!”
“That guy clearly knew what he was getting into. Anybody who ignores the evacuation order and the roadblock is on his own.”
Shannon was furious at Luke for leaving her there and crazy in love with him all at the same time. She only hoped he wouldn’t stay up there too long, so long that he succumbed to the smoke-filled air and couldn’t get out.
Then she saw it. Luke’s truck, coming up over the rise.
Thank God! He made it. He’s coming back!
The trooper got into his car and moved it out of the way so Luke could get by. Luke drew closer, then came to a halt. Leaving the engine running, he jumped out. Shannon ran toward him.
“Luke! Did you get Manny?”
“Yes.”
Then he came around the truck, and she saw something dark staining the front of his shirt. For a moment she didn’t realize what it was, and when she did, her stomach turned over with apprehension.
Blood.
She raced up to meet him. “Luke! Are you all right?”
“It’s not me.” He looked toward the back of his truck. “It’s Manny.”
“Manny? What happened?”
“He tried crawling through the barbed wire fence that runs through the trees on the east side of the pasture and got caught. I got him loose and carried him out, but he’s cut pretty badly.”
She put her hand to her throat. “How badly?”
“He’s lost a lot of blood.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
Luke’s expression turned dark, and dread washed over her. “I don’t know.”
“Oh, God…” Her knees went weak, and tears came to her eyes.
“Shannon? You need to hold it together, okay?” He handed her the keys. “I’ll ride in the back with him so I can keep him as calm as possible and try to stop the