Page 135 of First Chance

“What do you need from us?”

“I’m going to send her your way to get witness statements, start a paper trail.”

The door to the bunkhouse slams open as Dec comes running inside. “There’s a fire! Help!”

We’re all out of our seats at warp speed, pool sticks crash as they’re thrown down, and every person in the room sprints outside.

“We didn’t do it, I swear!” Dec yells, running as fast as he can towards the little barn with the strays. “The hay just started burning!”

“Where’s Emory?” Lochlan asks, while Becky and Tessa are running around, screaming her name. I don’t see her anywhere.

“She was right here, she was letting all the animals out so they didn’t get hurt.” Natalie grabs him around theshoulders, holding onto him tightly as chaos erupts around us.

Everyone is splitting in different directions. Ryker and Arizona are the first to grab hoses, while Curtis and Jordy start tossing hay bales away from the flames before they catch.

Jackson’s calling for Fire & Rescue, and when I turn to look at Lochlan, he’s gone. I spin, barely catching a glimpse of his back as he runs into the burning barn.

“Lochlan!”

“He’s making sure she’s not in there,” Hayes says from beside me, suddenly, grabbing my arm so I don’t run after him. “She’s not in any of the other outbuildings. Seiver went to check the main house,” he tells everyone else.

“Rain, round up the strays before they get hurt. Spock, make sure the fire engines can get through the gate when they get here!” Hayes commands, one eye glued to the burning building.

“Hayes, it’s getting worse.”

“I know.”

The fire catches the roof, and the flames grow brighter, sending more black smoke billowing out than before.

“Where is she?” Becky cries while Tessa holds her.

“She’s not in there!” Lochlan yells from the opposite side of where he went in, coming back around to where we’re standing. He has smears of soot across his skin, but other than that, he’s unmarked.

I don’t have time to be relieved that he isn’t hurt when Seiver comes hobbling down the path between the barns. “The guesthouse is on fire, too!” He yells, coughing. “I tried to snuff it out, but it was burning too quickly.”

“DAMMIT!” Lochlan yells. “I don’t give a shit about the buildings. Let them burn. Find my niece!”

“Split up!” Hayes yells, taking control and divvying out roles to the parolees while Lochlan comforts his sister.

Everything is moving around me hypnotically as I try to rub two brain cells together to solve our problem… To fix anything that’s happening.

“Are they all accounted for?” I ask out loud. Lochlan glances at me like he doesn’t know what I’m saying.

“What?” Hayes asks.

My mind’s reeling. “Rain, did you find all the strays?” I ask him as he walks by, pulling a goat.

“The chickens and barn cats have scattered everywhere. Goats are accounted for. No mule, yet. He must’ve taken off.”

“That’s where she is. She went after the mule. She had to have,” I guess. “How well does she know the property past all the outbuildings?”

“She’s been on all of these trails with me a hundred times.” Lochlan’s eyes are wild with worry, but I see the speck of hope my idea gives him. “Everybody take off down a different path!”

The parolees scatter in different directions on foot as Becky and Tessa run to the garage.

“Stay here, help Jackson with anything he needs when the other first responders get here.” He kisses my head and turns toward the garage, but I grab his arm.

“I want to help look for her.”

---