Page 58 of Saving Shepperd

But the sound startled everyone, and the leash was dropped, allowing the dog to take off through the crowd. The animal’s panic-driven path crossed right in front of the cake-carrying hostess, tripping her in the process. Several people dove to help break her fall but were seconds too late.

The cake hit the ground, and the blazing candles came too close to the dyed fabric and circus-themed streamers of the party decorations. Before anyone could stop it, half the backyard was engulfed in flames. People panicked and ran for safety, dragging their little ones by the hand or under arm. Half the people ran for the house while the others beelined for the gate that led to the front yard and driveway. People were knocked down and stepped on, and where the air was filled with laughter and cheers just minutes ago, it was now a haunting symphony of screams and wailing.

The birthday girl watched in horror as her magical day went up in flames. Vela was rooted to the spot at the head of the table, and even though the fire came dangerously close to her, she was frozen in place.

My brother finally realized what was happening and physically removed her from the dangerous path. My other niece was in a similar state, though not in the path of oncoming flames. My sister shouted her name several times, and it was like she was in a trance. She didn’t flinch or twitch or seem to hear the shouts to get to safety. She stood like one of the majestic King Palms dotting the landscape.

Like my brother, I ended up scooping her up in my arms and hustling her inside where my sister received her catatonic child.

Where was Shepperd?

In the melee, we were separated, and now that I’d seen both Vela and Stella freeze in panic, I feared the worst. Was she somewhere dangerous in a similar state? I raced back out to the pool area and looked frantically to the left and to the right.

“Shepperd!” I shouted, but between the sounds of fire blazing and children crying, I doubted she heard me.

Just out front of the house, car door after car door slammed in succession as parents stuffed kids into car seats and got the hell out of harm’s way. Who could blame them? Farther in the distance, the wail of sirens could be heard. Thank God someone had the sense to call the fire department.

Where was Shepperd?

I had to find her. The flames were tearing through the backyard, not sparing landscape or furniture in their wake. Fuel was abundant from the party decorations. The flames leaped from one section of the property to another. The gentle afternoon breeze became a vortex of fear as the fire became its own storm.

Finally, I spotted her. She and another woman were huddled close to the ground trying to shield themselves from the heat and debris whipping around the yard.

Elijah Banks burst through the sliding door that led from the house to the backyard with the same panicked look on his face that I suspected I wore.

“Hannah!” he bellowed and looked from side to side.

“I think they’re over there, by the playset,” I shouted, and we both took off in the same direction.

“Hannah!”

“Shepperd!” We took turns shouting the women’s names.

“Help!” one of them finally yelled back. “We’re over here!”

There was a barricade of fire between us and them. Something was fully engulfed in flames about twenty feet from where the sisters crouched and held each other. From what was left and recognizable, it looked like a picnic table.

“Get a hose!” Banks shouted, and I took off toward the house. I searched along the stucco, trying to find a hose reel or faucet. Luckily at the far side of the wall, a green garden hose sat coiled in a big clay pot. By some miracle, it was already hooked to a faucet coming out of the house. I grabbed the business end and sprinted back toward the girls, handed Elijah the nozzle, and had to double back to turn the fucking thing on. In my panic, I didn’t think of that, and now I was wasting precious time having to go back.

“Stay there until this is out,” he was shouting when I returned.

The women were watching with wide, horrified eyes as Elijah doused the flames between us and them. As soon as they were low enough to leap over, I took the chance. I landed on the other side of the fire and hit the ground with a thud. The tuck and roll I attempted did little to absorb the shock to my body, but I wasn’t feeling pain at the moment.

“It’s okay!” I shouted to the women. “He’ll have it out in a second, and we’ll run out of here. Okay?” I looked from one to the other, but they were both unmoving with fear.

“Shep! Answer me! We’re heading to the front of the house. Are you ready?” I shouted but still, nothing. I’d throw her over my shoulder if I had to, but our opportunity was coming up, and we had to be ready.

Elijah positioned the hose on the ground at the base of the fire and joined me and the girls.

“Beauty!” he called as he grabbed his wife. He wasn’t wasting time with negotiations, and it seemed like the smartest route for me to take as well. He hefted his wife into his arms and frantically looked from side to side.

“Just pick her up, man. We have to get out of here before that tree falls,” he said and motioned to a huge pepper tree behind me with his chin.

I hadn’t noticed the state of the old tree until he pointed it out, but he wasn’t exaggerating. The trunk of the thing had been badly compromised, and it looked like it was moments from toppling over.

I leaned into Shepperd and told her, “I’m picking you up, baby. We have to get out of here.”

She gave a slight nod, or at least I thought she had, but I couldn’t wait for her agreement. I just prayed my seizing her body didn’t freak her out more.

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