Page 37 of Cowboy Jeopardy

Chapter Fifteen

Dylan leaped from the deck. “Call 911! Find Buster.”

A loud pop sounded to his left.

Flames licked at the window of the barn.

Dylan changed direction and rang the bell usually reserved for calling the hands to meals. He kept ringing until his men poured from the bunkhouse. The women spilled onto the deck.

“Get buckets and blankets.” Dylan dashed toward the fire. He had to get the horses out. Bill? He faltered, torn between horses and human. His shoulders sagged.

“What is it?” Buster joined him.

“Bill was attacked at the edge of the trees. I saw it. He may be dead.”

“Go get the horses. I’ll see to Bill.” The man pulled his gun from its holster and sprinted in the direction Dylan pointed.

Shiloh already had the barn door open by the time Dylan reached it. “I’ll get Daisy; you get Lightning.”

“Thanks.” The men knew how much he loved that horse.

Lightning reared and neighed, kicking at his stall. Dylan tossed a horse blanket over the animal’s eyes, then quickly put a lead rope on. “Come on, boy. It’ll be okay.”

“What can I do?” Dani hugged a blanket to her chest.

“Wet that and start beating at the flames. Don’t get hurt.” He tugged his horse until it followed. Outside, he handed the lead to one of his men and went inside to rescue another.

By the time the horses were rescued, the flames had reached the roof, fed by the hay piled along the walls. He grabbed Dani and pulled her back. “It’s no use. The barn is a goner.”

“Did you get all the animals out?”

“Yes. Where are my boys?”

“Watching from the deck. I threatened their lives if they moved.”

He glanced over to see them leaning on the porch railing. His heart rate slowed a tad knowing they were out of harm’s way. “Stay close to the house. I need to check on Bill.”

“I saw Buster carrying him to the bunkhouse.”

He gave her hand a squeeze, then darted in that direction, trusting his men to keep the flames from spreading to any of the other buildings. He felt as stretched as a rubber band over a large watermelon, ready to snap at any minute.

What if he lost everything? The life of his hands? The house? The ranch?

He burst into the bunkhouse as sirens wailed in the distance. Too late to save the barn, but some of the fear choking him dissipated knowing the fire department could save the rest. “How is he?” He knew the answer the moment his gaze landed on the slit in the man’s dark throat. Rage replaced fear as his chilled blood started to boil.

“Sorry, Dylan. He was gone by the time I got to him.” He covered the ranch hand with a sheet. “I couldn’t leave him there, despite it being a crime scene. I’ll deal with the sheriff’s wrath when he arrives.”

Nodding, Dylan turned and hurried from the building. The roof to the barn collapsed in on itself with a groan. The ground shook under his feet. He glanced to the place he’d seen Bill murdered. Everything in him wanted to give chase. To demand answers. Why his ranch hand? The man had done nothing to deserve death.

Spotting the sheriff speaking with the fire chief, he headed that way. “Bill Washington was murdered less than a minute before the explosion that set the barn on fire.”

“Explosion?” The fire chief glanced to where his men doused the barn with water.

“I heard a distinct pop. Nothing big enough to blow the walls down, but the fire was definitely set.” He went on to explain witnessing Bill’s murder. “There was nothing I could do.”

“No word from the man responsible?” The sheriff removed his hat and headed for the bunkhouse.

Without him saying so, Dylan knew he was to follow. “Not yet. Unless Dani has heard something, but she hasn’t said.”

---