Page 74 of Wyoming Bodyguard
The mare pranced and cried, demanding attention as she passed.
“I’m sorry, girl,” Lily said. “I’m doing all I can. I promise.”
Speaking to the horse calmed her nerves. Made her feel as though she wasn’t alone—as though she had more to fight for than just herself. Gritting her teeth, she kept moving. Her throat burned and tears fell from her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to lie down and curl into a ball, but that wasn’t an option. She had her entire life ahead of her with a man she loved.
An ache spread across her chest. She should have told Madden she loved him when she had the chance. She shouldn’t have let fear hold back the words. And now she might never get the chance to tell him exactly how she felt—how much joy he’d brought into her life.
The sickening sound of wood splintering snapped her back to the moment. Flames erupted on the far wall of the barn and snaked up the side. A burst of heat engulfed her, and she stumbled backward.
“No,” she muttered. She couldn’t combat the now-raging inferno with one lousy bucket of water at a time. Especially when she barely had the strength to carry the water at all.
The fire spread quickly to the rafters. The beam overhead morphed into a glowing red promise of death. Sparks rained down, and she covered her head with her arm to combat the onslaught of burning embers.
Hopelessness crushed her like the heavy blanket of smoke crushing her lungs. Dizziness made her head swim and pain thumped against her temples. Hours before she’d lain in Madden’s arms with a whole world of possibilities stretched out before her.
Now she was moments from death. Scared. Alone. And gutted to have come so close to having everything she’d ever wanted for it all to be ripped away.
Dropping the bucket, water splashed on the concrete and up her legs. Sobs wracked her shoulders and she fell to the ground. This was it. This was how she’d die. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed her mind to take her far away.
Queenie’s cry reached her ears, and an overwhelming desire to be with her mother’s horse brought her to her hands and knees. Loose stones scratched her shins as she crawled to the stall. She pulled herself to her feet, opened the door and staggered inside.
Smoke and tears blurred her vision. She looped an arm around Queenie’s neck and buried her face in the horse’s mane.
Queenie stood motionless, her shrieks of terror gone as if she accepted her fate alongside Lily.
Lily sucked in a shuddering breath and hacking coughs tore from her mouth. She ran a palm down Queenie’s broad nose. “Thank you for always being there for me, old girl. You’ve been such a comfort to me. I felt Mama beside me every time we rode through the mountains together or meandered across the meadows. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”
A sense of peace washed over her, as if she could feel the loving arms of her mother wrapped around her. She might not be ready to leave this earth, but at least she’d be reunited with the loved ones who went before her.
She just hoped Madden didn’t blame himself. He’d done so much for her. She’d make sure to find a way for him to feel her love in the days and months to come.
Unable to keep her eyes open a second longer, she let them fall shut and brought forth an image of Madden’s face. His strong jawline and beautiful eyes. The smirk she used to hate but now couldn’t get enough of. The picture of him was the last thing she saw before she slid to the floor and her body finally gave in to the blessed relief of oblivion.
* * *
Pain ricocheted through Madden’s brain, urging him to keep his eyes sealed shut and stay in the warm cocoon creating a fuzzy feeling around his body. But something nagged at him to shake off the pain and confusion and get to his feet.
A scream broke through his muddled thoughts.
Lily!
Fighting through the agony stabbing into the back of his head, he staggered to his feet and grabbed the shovel laying on the ground. Tingling sensations shot up and down his arms and legs as if he’d been locked in the same position for too long. His motions were slow and jerky, but he had to get to the barn. Had to break open the lock and free Lily and the horses.
“You just don’t know when to quit, do you?”
The familiar voice came back to him, hitting him harder than whatever had taken him out moments before. Madden tightened his grip on his shovel and swung it around as he turned toward the voice.
The man chuckled and leapt out of the way. “Nice try. Do us both a favor and walk away. This doesn’t concern you.”
Madden faced his attacker. His vision blurred, and he narrowed his eyes to get a better look at the man before him. The cloud of smoke parted. A skyful of stars twinkled above and poured out enough light to highlight the man mere feet away. The broad shoulders and bushy, gray beard took shape. The sight of the constant cowboy with the burnt red material around the base of his hat was like a pickax straight though his heart.
“Marvin?” Shock made his voice rise an octave.
Marvin Williamson’s ranch took up a large parcel of land on the opposite side of town. The family had been a staple in the community since before he was born. Fellow cattle ranchers had ridden the trails alongside him and his father for years.
Hell, Marvin hadn’t missed a poker night for as long as Madden could remember—had been one of the few people in town who hadn’t turned his back on Walter and the rest of the McKays. He couldn’t be the person responsible for tormenting Lily and her father.
The person who now stood in the way of him saving the woman he loved.
