Page 18 of Flashback

Her lungs burned.Her eyes burned. Her muscles burned.

Allie was already on fire.

The panic in Dakota’s eyes as he glanced behind them didn’t help. The snapping and crackling of the fire surrounded them. Crashes of bigger trees falling sounded further away, but the flames were close, eating up the orange pine needles covering the forest floor.

Please, God. Save us. I know I have so much to still make up for. But these boys, they deserve to live.

Somehow, Allie found another burst of speed. Ahead of her, Ethan cried out and fell, and she nearly stumbled over him. They all stopped.

Dakota, already holding Nolan, grabbed Ethan by the arm. “C’mon, Ethan!” He rebalanced Nolan behind him.

Ethan crumbled back to the ground. “I can’t!”

“Can you walk?” Allie asked the boy.

He shook his head, biting down on his lip—probably to hold back tears. A technique she knew well.

“I know, bud. But we can’t cry. We have to run!”

“I’ll carry him.” Dakota knelt down.

Allie shook her head. “You already have?—”

“We don’t have time to argue. Just help him up so I can?—”

A sound came through the forest, blaring, as if someone was leaning on their truck horn.

Yes! Behind them on the road, an ancient yellow Ford pickup came out of the smoke and raced toward them. A man with a shock of white-gray hair and a thick beard of the same color waved to them from the open window of the truck. “Get in the back! Hurry!”

Not waiting for introductions with this strange angel of mercy, Allie grabbed Nolan from Dakota and set him into the bed of the truck.

“Scout! Come!” Allie spun in a quick circle. “Scout?”

Dakota lifted Ethan into the back and then hopped up to join them.

“I can’t find Scout.” Allie peered through the smoke and ash.

Dakota held a hand out for her and pulled her into the truck bed. “We’ll keep an eye out for him. He’s probably right up ahead.”

Allie sat against the cab. Her eyes watered as she wrapped her arms around Nolan, trying not to unravel.

Dakota gave a quick pound on the roof to signal they were set, and the truck took off.

Behind them, the fire raged on, barreling toward them. But the old truck rushed ahead and outran the flames. Within a few minutes, they were surrounded by green trees again. The air was clearer, and Allie could breathe again, even though her throat was scraped raw.

She moved to the side of the truck bed and craned her neck to scan the forest. The wind whipped her hair across her face.

“Scout! Scout! Here, boy,” she called out, hoping her voice would carry over the fire and somehow Scout would find her.Dakota and Ethan called too. Mile after mile until they couldn’t yell anymore. She fell back down against the cab once more.

Nolan cuddled up against her. “Where’s Scout?”

Allie’s own eyes filled with tears. She smoothed the sweaty hair off his forehead. His round cheeks were covered in dirt and ash. But she couldn’t open her mouth to say anything.

Dakota leaned over to be heard over the wind. “Scout’s a smart dog. He probably found an even faster way away from the fire. He’ll be okay.”

Nolan nodded, but tears cut down his face. “I liked Scout.” He leaned back against Allie.

For a moment, Allie allowed herself the small luxury of relishing his presence. A little boy snug in her arms. He was younger than?—

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