the wall and sprint out of the barn. Ranger is closing up the trailer with my donkey inside.
“Where are we going? Your place?”
“Can’t. We haven’t been given official orders to evacuate yet, but they said on the radio when I was driving over that it’s likely coming for my county in the next few hours. Let’s head a few hours north and find somewhere to stay for the night. Follow me. You have your cell in case we lose each other?”
I pat my pockets until I find it. “I’ve got it.”
“Good. Let’s get going.”
He turns, but I grab his shirt to stop him, pressing a fast but hard kiss to his lips. “Thank you. You saved the day.”
“I’m not good for much, but staying level-headed in a crisis is one area I excel in.”
If I were in any frame of mind to flirt right now, I’d tell him he seems to be good at plenty of things. As it stands, I let him usher me to the driver’s side of my truck. He opens the door and helps me inside.
“Drive safely,” he says firmly.
“Yes, Ranger,” I emphasize his name, his title he’s very much living up to in this moment.
I follow his truck in a bit of a daze, glancing into my rearview mirror frequently to see the wildfire. It’s both a relief and the strange feeling of missing a step when it’s no longer visible. I know we’re getting farther away, going somewhere safe, but it’s as if the danger exists in a completely different universe. I just drove away from my home, from all the things, all the living creatures that mean the most to me, and I have no idea if I’ll ever see them again. Something tells me I shouldn’t hold my breath for it.
I’m not even sure what city we’re in when Ranger pulls off the highway two hours later, but I follow him blindly. He turns into the parking lot of a motel. It’s empty enough that there’s plenty of room to park my trailer.
Ranger gets out of his truck. PP jumps out as well and barrels past him, while Benny politely waits like a good boy. At least he’s proof I’m a decent trainer.
I sag against the side of my truck, squatting down as PP reaches me and wrapping her in a hug. She presses her head against my chest, her way of hugging me back, and wags her tail.
“I’m going to go check us into a room. I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks,” I say, the word muffled by PP’s fur. Doc brays loudly as Ranger walks away, and I give my dog one more kiss on the head, then stand up and peek through the slats of the trailer. He looks like he’s doing fine, but I need to get him water as soon as possible.
Ranger comes back a few minutes later, a room key clutched in his hand.
“We’ve got the room at the very end.” He points at the last door.
“That’s perfect. I’ll pull the trailer around to the side of the building there. I need to find some water for Doc, and then once it’s dark, we can sneak him into the room.”
“I’m sorry. We can what now?”
25
Ranger
I stare at Julian. No way in hell did he just suggest we put a donkey and four chickens in our motel room.
He crosses his arms. “We’ll sneak them into the room once it’s dark.”
“Julian…”
“Doc can’t stay by himself in the trailer. He’ll go crazy with loneliness. He’s a people person…a people animal. Whatever. Besides, someone could steal him.”
Incredulity fills my voice. “You think someone would steal a deaf donkey?”
“They might, and I won’t let that happen.”
“And you think people will steal chickens as well?”
He stares at me as if I just said the stupidest thing. “Duh. They’ll take them and eat them.”
“I’m not sure there are that many people left who can kill and skin a chicken.”
“And I don’t intend to find out if any of them live in this town. The animals are coming inside.”
I must be more fucked up than I realized before because bossy Julian is incredibly hot. The way he puts his hands on his hips, his eyes spewing fire and his mouth set in an adorably stubborn way makes me want to jump him. The fact that a donkey and four chickens will be watching is enough to douse that particular desire quickly, though.
I drag a hand through my hair, though I know I already lost this fight.