shingled roof had been replaced with steel panels. But it was the older, lower part of the barn that was burning now, flaming upward from the inside. If the temperature got hot enough, and the supports weak enough, the whole building would collapse.
Breathing through their neckerchiefs, men were dragging hoses, soaking feed sacks, filling buckets, rushing in and out of the barn. The scene brought back the memory of the wildfire that had nearly destroyed the ranch a season ago. That fire had been far bigger, sweeping through the tinder-dry scrub, consuming everything in its path. But then, at least, they’d had time to prepare and evacuate the stock. This blaze had started with no warning at all.
The garden-sized hoses were far too small, the water stream barely enough to wet down the stalls, let alone fight the fire. If the fire engine, with its big tank, didn’t get here soon, the barn would be lost, along with many of the precious animals.
The first few horses had emerged. Faces covered with wet feed sacks, they were coughing and struggling against the men who gripped their halters. Tori recognized Belle, the aging bay mare, among them, and Lauren’s powerful black gelding, Storm Cloud. But there was no flash of Tesoro’s golden coat. She clasped her daughter tighter. “Remember, Beau promised to save him,” she whispered, adding her own silent prayer.
Beau was still outside. He soaked his clothes at the pump, masked his face with a neckerchief, and charged into the billowing smoke, carrying a bucket.
Natalie, who had been on a call that morning, had driven here in the big white SUV she used for her veterinary work. Burdened only a little by her bulging belly, she rushed to her vehicle. Lauren stood at the top of the porch steps, wide-eyed with fear but clearly anxious to help. “Come on!” Natalie shouted to her. “I’ll need extra hands!”
Lauren sprinted down the steps and piled into the passenger seat. In the next instant they were roaring toward the barn, flying over the bumpy ground. It would be Natalie’s job to treat any horses injured in the fire—or to put them down if they couldn’t be saved.
Smoke was pouring out of the barn in thick, murky clouds. Even at a safe distance, Tori could smell it, even taste it when she licked her parched lips. She could feel the searing heat and see tongues of fire licking under the metal roof. The blaze appeared to be burning upward from the rear of the barn. That might give the horses near the front a better chance to get out, but how could anybody, man or beast, survive in that inferno? It would be tragic enough losing horses to the fire. But human lives . . . no, that was unthinkable.
More horses, driven from behind, exploded out of the barn to scatter and mill in the yard. One of the men had opened the paddock gate and was trying to drive them inside, but the horses were too fear-crazed to be herded. They would have to be rounded up later.
“There’s Beau!” Erin shouted, waving as a figure emerged from the smoke with a grip on two struggling animals. “He’s got Tesoro—and Lupita!”
Tears of relief welled in Tori’s eyes, but she could see that something was wrong. The mare looked all right, but Tesoro was favoring one side, his head hanging low. Even from here, she could tell the colt was in pain.
And something else was wrong, Tori realized. Her last sight of Will had been when the men were hooking up the hoses. She could see Beau, leading Tesoro over to Natalie’s SUV, but she couldn’t see Will’s red-plaid shirt anywhere. Fear crawled up her throat. Was he inside the blazing barn?
“Tesoro’s hurt!” Erin fought to pull away, but Tori kept a firm grip on her daughter.
“It’s all right. See, Natalie and Lauren have got him now. They’ll take care of him. Having you there would just be one more worry.” She glanced back toward the house. “Jasper and Bernice are on the porch with the dog. Stay there and watch with them. I’ll go find out what’s happening.” She released her daughter with a gentle shove toward the porch. “Go!”
Tori forced herself to wait until Erin had reached the steps. Then, giving in to her fear, she spun away and raced headlong for the barn. Smoke swirled around her, the acrid scent filling her nostrils and lungs, burning her eyes. Men were manning the hoses