Page 105 of Smoke and Fire
"Check the pins in the trailer behind your truck. You're just taking one horse, so make sure you're ready to go."
My mind spun while I stumbled toward the truck to check the trailer. How much time had passed while Bastian and I had been talking? Eternities? Two minutes? Mark was better at loading stressed-out horses than I expected.
Or maybe I couldn't fathom time now that Bastian had kissed me. While I double-checked the trailer in the thickening smoke alone, I forced my heart to comprehend what had just laid out.
Ravage you.
Maybe I don't have to do everything alone.
My mind wandered far from the smoky hills now. The outbuildings that had once been visible disappeared. Once finished with that task, I coughed and spun around to find Bastian. Questions to ask him streamed through my mind. Things I wanted to say. Apologies to make.
The sound of horses hooves on the trailer followed. A triumphant sound from Mark came next.
"Good girl," he crooned.
"Bastian?" I murmured tentatively.
He appeared out of the smoke, cheeks and face stained with a few streaks of soot. My breath caught as he closed the space between us. A step before he yanked me into his arms and laid another heart-stopping kiss on me, a voice called out, nearly muted by a blast of wind.
"Bastian! We have a new start that's taking off between here and the highway. The fire has crossed the road. We gotta get them out of here and join up with the other squadnow. She's running."
Bastian stopped, nostrils flared.
The words sent a chill through me. Another gust of wind shuddered by, sending gravel onto my cheeks. Like a ghost, Mark hurried away from the trailer before they could tell him to leave the third horse alone.
Bastian swallowed. His gaze hadn't left mine. "On it," Bastian called to James.
We stood a foot apart now. The back of his hand touched my cheek.
"Get somewhere safe right now, Dahlia," he muttered, his voice hard. "The fire is coming and you willnotbe part of it, you hear me?"
I nodded.
“Get your stuff out of your RV. You can stay at my Dad’s place for as long as you need to.”
"Thank you. I'll be waiting for you," I said. "Text me as soon as you're safe. Don't do anything stupid. I don't need you, you big oaf, but I want you. There's a difference, and I'm not sure you've ever heard it before."
Surprise flickered in his eyes. He hesitated, then nodded once. "Thank you."
"Bastian!"
"I'm coming."
He grabbed my arm and towed me toward the truck. The door groaned when he shoved me inside. "Go now. Don't wait for Mark. Drive slower than usual, but don't take your time. This fire can take off in minutes."
I nodded, cranked the truck on. Mark materialized out of the smoke, coughing. The final horse hurried behind him.
"Go!" Mark waved me on, a bandana around his neck that he'd clearly had over his mouth and nose. “Take it easy. I'll meet you at the highway."
I nodded. Driving with the RV made me a pro at towing precious cargo. The back of my throat burned when I turned back to Bastian. He grabbed my jaw, pressed his lips to mine in a soul-lifting kiss, then pulled away.
"Be safe."
He faded back, disappearing into the smoke.
MY PHONE RESOUNDEDwith an annoyingbleep bleep bleepthe moment I pulled into Pineville. A quick glance confirmed my nightmare.
Mandatory Evacuations for the North Pineville area.
