Page 61 of Ashes of the Past
“That’s a worry for another day,” the paramedic interjects firmly. “Right now, we’re making sure you’re okay.”
“No, Nick said he watched someone throw something into the barn before the fire started. This was arson.”
I feel Brynn tighten beside me.
“That doesn’t make sense. Who would do that?” Brynn asks, her face turning whiter than before.
The paramedic’s eyes meet mine, and he nods.
“Hey, Captain!” he yells out as he waves Rick over. “The arson inspector and the sheriff need to be called.”
Rick’s eyes meet mine, and he nods. “They’re already on their way. Nick just told me as much. We’ll get this figured out. You worry about you.”
I nod, though the guilt gnaws at me. My lungs burn, my body aches, and a pounding headache is starting to take hold, but I’m alive.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Brynn
My heart is in my throat. I want to vomit and cry and…I don’t know what else. It’s like I’m walking around in a bad dream.
Arson? Jack almost died because someone wanted to start a fire in the barn.
I focus on holding Jack’s hand until they get him loaded into the ambulance. I can barely breathe. The paramedics move quickly, their faces tight with focus, but it feels like everything is happening in slow motion. My heart pounds in my chest, and my hands shake as I stand frozen, watching them close the doors. I tell myself it’s because he works for us, because we’re liable for anything that happens on the ranch, but deep down, I know that’s a lie.
How in the hell did I develop feelings for this man?
I mean, maybe I really don’t have feelings for him, but I don’t want him to die less than an hour after we had mind-blowing sex.
I watch as the ambulance drives away. I stand there, wrapping my arms around myself and staring off into space.
Who could have done this?
Clay. It has to be Clay.
Did he know that Jack and I slept together? He’s so crazy that…
I clear my throat and shake my head.
I’m thinking crazy thoughts. Whereas Clay is my normal go-to when shit hits the fan, I don’t think he’s capable of this.
My mind races, rapid-firing through possibilities. It’s not Clay, the circuit is in Oklahoma, and it’s not possible that he made it to Hicks Creek since the last time I talked to him. He wouldn’t ditch a ride for anything.
He might send his asshole brother or one of his friends, though.
Shit. Maybe it’s Lane.
Lane is just as unhinged as his brother. He’s got a temper, and I’m certain he’s not thrilled about being fired. Whereas I don’t think he’d commit arson, there’s something to be said that he was the second face that popped into my head.
No, if it were Lane doing this as payback for getting fired, he would have gone for one of the other barns. The one he hit wasn’t as big of a loss as the other ones would have been.
Unless he was caught before he could set the other ones on fire.
I can’t stop the thoughts, can’t shut down the fear clawing at my chest. My stomach churns as I try to piece together who might have done this and why. But I have no proof, just a gut feeling that’s screaming at me.
“Brynn, we need to go,” Dad’s voice cuts through my haze, pulling me back to the present. I nod numbly and head to my truck.
“I’ll stay behind,” Nick calls out as he jogs over to my truck. “I’ll take care of everything here with the investigator and the sheriff. You guys get to the hospital. Keep me posted. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
