Page 60 of Ashes of the Past
My legs feel like jelly, and I can’t suck in a full breath. My entire body feels as though it’s been run over multiple times. I close my eyes.
“Yeah,” I groan.
“We’ve got to move!” someone shouts.
The barn creaks again, a sickening sound that spurs us into motion. Barney darts ahead, his small body weaving through the debris and out the door.
The firefighters half-carry and half-drag me toward the exit. We’ve got to get out of here before the entire thing collapses, and my legs aren’t working correctly or moving fast enough. Every step is agony, my lungs screaming for clean air. The roar of theflames fades as we emerge into the open, replaced by the shouts of people and the distant wail of more sirens.
Barney is already outside, leaping into Brynn’s arms. She clutches him tightly, her face streaked with soot and tears. Olivia and John are standing there, too, all three clutching each other.
The moment Brynn sees me, she hands Barney to John and sprints toward me.
“Jack!” Her voice is raw, and before I can react, she throws her arms around my neck, holding on like she’s afraid I’ll vanish. Relief crashes over me, so intense it’s almost overwhelming. Despite the pain, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close.
“You’re okay,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “You’re okay.”
I want to tell her I’m fine, that it’s over now, but the words catch in my throat. Her embrace feels warm, and like I’ve needed this my entire life. I don’t want to let go, even as pain radiates through my chest and leg.
“Brynn,” I manage, my voice hoarse. “I’m okay.”
She pulls back just enough to look at me, her eyes searching mine. The relief there is almost enough to make me forget the pain. Almost. It’s a crazy thing to look into someone’s eyes, someone you really don’t know all that well, and see how relieved and happy they are that you’re okay. I’ve never felt so much love and gratitude radiating out of someone before.
The barn groans behind us, a final, deafening creak before part of the roof collapses. The sound is like a gunshot, and everyone flinches. The fire has been mostly subdued, but the damage is done.
“Is everyone out?” I ask John.
He nods, his eyes not leaving the barn behind me. “All people are accounted for. Looks like all the animals are, too.”
“I’ll call Doc Sutton, have her come over and do a thorough check,” Nick interjects.
“Some of the irrigation stuff was in there. A lot of the feed and the stores of hay we’d need if the drought holds out,” Paulo says. “Our water stores are gone.”
“It’s all just stuff,” John says. “It can all be replaced.”
He turns to walk back toward the house. My heart breaks for him. That barn, if I remember right, was one of the first on the property. It was something his grandfather had built, even though it had been reinforced over the years. A legacy, gone in flames in a matter of minutes because of some asshole.
“Brynn, this wasn’t an accident,” I say to her.
Her eyes narrow as she looks back at me questioningly. “What do you mean?”
“Someone did it. Nick said…” My words are drowned out by the wail of the ambulance’s siren.
Its lights cut through the smoke. Brynn slips an arm around me.
“We’ll figure it out. Right now, you need to get checked out.”
“I’m fine,” I lie.
“I hear what you’re saying, but I’m calling bullshit,” she says as she starts helping me toward the ambulance.
Every step is a struggle, but her presence makes it bearable. Olivia is on the porch, hugging her grandpa’s arm as they stare out at the damage.
“You shouldn’t be focused on me.”
“I absolutely should.”
“The sheriff needs to be called,” I say to Brynn and whoever else will listen.
