Page 126 of Wildest Dreams

“That's the first mistake, you could never protect us kid. If someone wanted bullets between our eyes, they would do it,” and Aspen shivers beside me. Harsh but true.

“I need to go to him,” she turns to walk away, and I grab the top of her arm pulling her back.

“We'll take you,” I give a soft nod, “I need to round these guys up anyway. Work doesn't stop for cowboys.” I wink and Aspen's hand rests on my steady heart.

“Okay,” she nods, looking at the floor.

I turn my face, pressing a kiss into Aspen's hair.

“Go sort Austin out, I'll get the cowboys sorted.”

“I'll meet you outside,” Dixie says softly, before disappearing into the restroom.

Within ten minutes, I have them outside and one by one, load them into the back of our trucks like I am herding cattle.

Aspen helps Austin in and gives him a soft smile.

“You doing okay?” she asks as I place my hand on the top of the passenger door, eyes bouncing between her and The Boot.

“Yeah… I think,” he looks up at us through his long lashes and dirty blonde mop of hair. He needs a haircut. “Thanks for dragging my sorry ass out,” and I know he is aiming that at me.

“Not a problem,” I wink when the smell of smoke has me turning towards The Boot.

Black smoke comes thick and fast bellowing out the back of the bar, fire spreading through the timber framed building andmy heart drops. People come scuttering out, mouths covered with hats. Tabitha collapses as she reaches the parking lot. Pacey is already on the phone to 911.

Running towards the building, Aspen is screaming out my name.

I stop, turning and looking as I try and count up the heads I can see.

“Dixie!” I scream, Aspen begins rushing to open the truck doors shouting, 'No' as she does. “Fuck!” I can’t get in. The fire is too wild.

Slipping my phone from my pocket as I stand back from the ablaze building, I dial Tripp's number.

“Yeah,” his voice is low, quiet but I can hear the low hum of the truck. Is he driving?

“It's Dixie,” and just as my words slip from my mouth, I hear the sound of his tyres crunching down the driveway and across the parking lot.

Cutting it off, he falls out of the truck and I am running to him, trying to lift him to his feet.

“I need to get in there,” he shouts, fear etched into his face.

“No,” I shake my head.

Before I can even volunteer, I hear Aspen scream out to my dad.

“The fuck,” I drag Tripp over to Austin, perching him against the seat. “Don’t move.”

Running after my dad, I try to stop him, but it's no use, I can’t. He disappears into the building that is slowly crumbling in front of me, The Boot sign falling from the front of the bar and screams echo around the empty parking lot. I feel the grip of a hand on my shoulder and when I look, it's Tripp. He has hobbled himself over towards me and I feel helpless.

There is nothing I can do.

TRIPP

Dark black smoke bellowing, fire ablaze and getting wilder as the seconds pass. The sound of sirens in the distance wailing feel like a million miles away. Each heavy beat of my heart, is one beat closer to me losing the only one I have ever loved.

Another hand clasps my shoulder and I know it's Pacey.

“I need to get in there,” I whimper but we all know if I go in, I'm not coming back out. Dropping my head against Riggs' shoulder blade, I sob into his white shirt, already grieving for my dad and Dixie.

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