Page 32 of Scorched

“Maggie!” Declan’s voice carried over the roar of the fire.

Relief drew more tears to her eyes. She turned toward the sound, trying to see the door, but failing. “Declan!” She tried to yell, but the smoke made her voice hoarse.

“Hang on, baby, I’m coming! Just stay put, I’ll find you.”

She could do that. The cat meowed again, and she whispered to it, trying to keep it calm. A bobbing flashlight grew closer.

“Over here!” She got on her hands and knees and waved, trying to yell again and failing. It didn’t matter, though. Since she was in the pathway, he walked right up to her.

He grabbed her bicep and pulled her up, then pressed a mask to her face. Maggie took a deep breath of the clean air, then promptly fell into a coughing fit.

“We need to go!” he yelled through his face mask.

She nodded.

“Keep that over your face. And stay close.”

Maggie tucked herself into his good side, then shut her eyes and let him lead. It wouldn’t have mattered if she kept them open, anyway. Between the tears and the smoke, she couldn’t see. They broke free of the barn, and he kept going until she was out of the smoke plume. She sank into the grass, still clutching the little kitten as she coughed.

Declan kneeled beside her, doffing his helmet and raising his mask. “Take deep breaths, honey.”

She nodded, holding the oxygen mask to her face.

The others hurried over. She thrust the cat at Thomas. It was lethargic and wheezing and covered in soot.

“There’s extra oxygen in the firetruck,” Declan said.

Thomas took off at a run with the kitten, Rayna with him.

Maggie hoped the little cat would be all right. It was so tiny, and they were in there for what felt like an eternity. Another coughing fit doubled her up as her lungs expelled the smoke and soot.

“I told you to be careful,” Declan growled.

She looked at him through red, scratchy eyes. “I was.” She coughed. “Then I saw that kitten’s eyes.”

He ran a hand over her back, his jaw working as he looked down at her. Without a word, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, holding her close. She clutched his shirt in her free hand.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” he whispered into her hair.

She was too. More tears spilled from her eyes, this time from relief.

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