soon as he looked at the screen, I knew something was wrong. And when my own phone buzzed, a sense of pure dread filled me.
I pulled my cell out of my pocket and stared down at the text message from Tristan.
9-1-1 Fire. Come home ASAP.
“Motherfucker,” I muttered. “Sam?” I looked up at him and met eyes filled with worry.
“It’s close. Just outside of our property. We’ve gotta go help. Trent and the others are trying to get a firebreak in place. Goddammit, we were supposed to start prepping for wildfire season in a few days.”
“We need to move the cattle, get them to safety.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Guess our day off doesn’t get to happen when there’s a fucking fire.”
“We’ll get another.” I stood, taking my plate to the sink. “Let's go.” Snagging my keys and hat as he did the same, I gave one last glance at the house I’d planned to spend the rest of the day in with him, and for the first time, I wished I didn’t have to go do my job.
Sam
I saw the smoke before we even made it through the gates to the ranch. Big black plumes rising into the air, the sign of destruction, possibly more than we could afford to lose.
“Fuck,” I muttered, gunning the engine and hauling ass down the long road that led to the house.
Tucker was right behind me in his old blue Ford, and knowing he was there, that he’d be helping us, took some of the weight off my shoulders. The last thing I’d wanted was for the two of us to be pulled apart when we’d finally made some strides toward having something real. But this was an all hands on deck situation. We were taking off our cowboy hats and putting on our firefighter ones now. I’d get him back in my arms soon enough.
Flashing lights in the distance ahead had my gut churning. The fire department had brought out the big guns, and I knew exactly why. A fire this time of year could decimate the entire area. Not just us. All of Sunrise. Wildfires had nearly done exactly that three years ago. When I’d been gone. But wasn’t I always gone?
Pulling up to the bunkhouse, I parked and got out of the truck as quick as I could, eyes raking the area for my brothers or Sera.
“Sam!” Sera called, rushing toward me from the stable. “What took you so long?”
Tucker’s truck came tearing down the road, and he parked right next to me. His gaze was fierce as he got out and slammed the door shut.
“Where’s everyone? What do we know?” he demanded, taking charge without a second thought.
“They think it started with a cigarette butt. One of the guys on the crew went for a smoke break and admitted to dropping his cigarettes in the brush. He swears he stamped it out, but when those winds get going…”
“The grass is bone dry. Wouldn’t need more than a tiny spark and some air,” I said.
“Exactly.” Sera’s brow was furrowed with anxiety. “Trent saw it first. He called it in.”
“We’ll get it contained. Where’s Mama?”
“Hazel made her leave. She and the baby took her into town for a visit with Doc as a way to try and distract Mama from the fire.”
I let out a low whistle. “If Tristan thinks that’s gonna work on her, he’s stupider than I thought.”
“He knows it’s not gonna work, but at least it gets three of the people I love most in the world out of harm’s way,” Tristan said, coming up behind me on his horse Wildfire. His cheeks were streaked with soot, hair a wild mess.
“What’s going on?” Sera asked. “Do we need to evacuate? Let the horses out?”
He shook his head. “They got it contained. We’re just waiting on word that there aren’t any more hotspots. Trent really saved our bacon today.”
A relieved sigh was all I could muster as I pulled Sera in for a hug. My baby sister was trembling, whether from adrenaline or fear, I wasn’t sure. “Hey, it’s okay,” I murmured, hugging her tight. “Everyone’s okay.”
Tucker met my gaze over her shoulder, his eyes full of the same relief I was feeling. “I’ll go check in with Justin and Clay. I’m sure there’s a lot needs doin’.”
Tristan nodded. “Thanks, Tuck. I know it’s your day off and all, but we really appreciate you comin’ in to help.”
“Of course. This is my home. I’d never leave this place to burn.” He turned