Page 112 of Ignite

“If we go back and close the gate at the road, then close the gate past the stables, they’ll have heaps of room to run without getting to the road.” I should have left them down there instead of selfishly wanting to ride and be near them. But that would be my guilt to carry, unless we could get them to safety.

“Good. So, we get the horses to the dam, closing the gate behind us. The traffic is gnarly and leaving the gate between here and the road open might give people an option if the national park goes up on the other side of the road.”

He squeezed me close to his chest, and I wanted to stay here, not even try to run. If we stayed here, I could die in his arms.

Or if I pulled my shit together, I could sleep in his arms.

Now, my inner voice seemed to be the voice of reason.

“When did you get so wise?”

“When I thought I’d lost you. What do we do after we get to the dam?”

I gulped and tried not to start crying again, there was too much to do and too little time. “The pump. Daddy has a water pump, generator, and hose in the back of the stables. If we can get them down to the dam and set up, we might have a chance.” I’d referred to daddy in the present tense and hoped his spirit or strength would help me through the next few hours.

“I guess that’s the plan. Save the horses, save ourselves?”

“Ethan?” I needed to hear him say it. “Why’d you come?”

“Haven’t you realized it yet?”

He cupped my face as if we had all the time in the world. We didn’t, but maybe this was the last time we’d have.

“I am so balls-deep crazy about you. I even tried to sign up for the RFS over a cold beer today, only to find out I need to go through some application shit.”

“Balls-deep crazy?” I laughed for the first time in days. “Is that even a thing?”

“It never used to be, until you. Now, if this is going to have a fairy-tale ending, don’t I need to do something heroic and save my damsel in distress?”

“Or you could give me a kiss to remember.”

Yes, the world was on fire, but one kiss couldn’t hurt.

Ethan tasted of smoke, ash, and steak as he kissed me with the familiarity of lovers. We didn’t need our tongues to fight for supremacy. He filled me with warmth and security, and love. I tried to fist his jacket only to struggle with the tough high vis stripes. I breathed into the kiss, knowing we were about to face an enemy with no respect for its opponents.

“Babe, oh, babe,” he moaned, pulling apart. “I normally don’t advise my team to go onto the field into battle with a hard-on.”

“Didn’t women use to kiss their soldiers off to war?” I led him to the tack room, finding my father’s old spare firefighting jacket and pull-ons. They were twice my size, but at least they’d offer some protection.

“Well, if this is war, then I promise to have your back—at least until I can flip you onto your back.”

“Asshole.”

“Sexy wench.”

Ethan helped me with the bulky zipper. “We’re gonna make it,” he promised, and I wanted to believe him. “Just tell me what to do.”

“You really gonna do as I say?” Fear made everything seem funny. “That would be a first.”

“As long as it isn’t our last.”

Ethan calmed my nerves, which then calmed Cider. With a damp blanket over her eyes, she allowed me to lead her out to the float while Ethan drove his truck around the back of the stables to get the water pump, generator, and hoses. I helped with the last hose before we went back for Wildfire.

She’d kicked through to what had been Cider’s stall. Palings and splinters became a tripping hazard we didn’t need. Ethan dipped another spare blanket into the trough before putting his life on the line—somehow draping the blanket over her eyes and keeping it there despite her attempts to shake it off. He never got angry or frustrated, even though he had to be as scared as me. Instead, he continued a mantra of sweet nothings that could calm any beast.

Including a frightened mare.

And her owner.

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