Sophie Oak - Three to Ride

Rye leaned forward and peered in the distance. “What is that?”

Max rolled down the back window. He breathed deeply. “It’s smoke.”

She smelled the woody smell of smoke billowing in through the window. A cold shiver went through Rachel’s body as she remembered that night when Tommy tried to kill her. She had woken to the overwhelming smell of smoke. It had choked her and caused her to gag. She’d been forced to crawl on her belly to find even the smallest patch of breathable air.

“If those idiot boys set off one of their rockets again, I’m going to have a long talk with their mama,” Max swore. “I told them to keep those fire hazards on their own property.”

Rye reached for her and squeezed her hand. “It’s fine, Rachel. Max is probably right. Those Farley boys more than likely have another wild science project going. They’re ambitious, but not the brightest bulbs in the socket, if you know what I mean. They live on the other side of the valley. More often than not, though, they end up in our pasture. If it’s not them, then someone is ignoring the burn ban, and I’m going to get to write a ticket or two.”

Rachel nodded, but she gripped Rye’s hand. She hated the smell of smoke. It put her right back in that night when she’d fought for her life. She remembered the moment when she realized she couldn’t leave the bedroom. The doorknob had been hot to the touch. The fire had spread, and there was only one way out of her small townhouse. She’d been forced to break the window and jump. She could still feel the glass cutting her flesh and the terror of hitting the ground. She’d been sure Tommy would be waiting to do what his fire hadn’t been able to. Only the sounds of her neighbors coming out of their homes to check out what was happening had driven him off, she was sure of it. Even then, she had been able to feel his eyes on her, watching her. She shook off the feeling now. She wouldn’t let him ruin every good moment she had.

“Hey.” Max reached for her from his seat in the back. He seemed to sense her fear. His hands were a comfort around her shoulders. “Are you all right, baby?”

She took a deep breath and tried to banish the panic. “I’m fine.” She was all right. She was with them. There was no way Tommy had caught up to her. She’d been very careful since he’d almost caught her in San Diego. It was just the fire that was making her edgy. She just had to stay calm. It wouldn’t do to have her future husbands see her flip out at the very smell of smoke.

Rye pulled up to the house. The smoke seemed thicker than before. It bloomed from behind the house, a gray-and-white cloud growing by the minute.

Max was out of the car in a shot. His face was ashen as he realized what was on fire. “It’s the stables,” he said with an air of disbelief.

Rachel knew those horses meant the world to Max. He’d worked so hard to build his business, and now it was on fire.

“Damn it. I have to go and get the horses out.” He looked at Rye, and his blue eyes stark. “Why don’t you get her out of here? Take her back to Stefan’s. He’s got a security system. Call the fire department on the way.”

Rachel scrambled out of the Bronco. “No, I’m going with you. I can help.” There was no way she was leaving him here to fight a fire and rescue the horses alone. Bliss only had a volunteer fire company. She had no idea how that worked, but she knew Max wouldn’t wait for them. He’d do everything he could to save the stables.

She watched as Max and Rye passed a wary glance between them. Rye reached into the back of the Bronco. He pulled out a shotgun and extra ammunition. After making sure it was loaded, he passed it off to Max. Max slipped the extra ammo in his pocket.

Rye nodded to his brother. “Go check it out. I’ll call in the fire over the radio. If I need to, I’ll get her out of here, but I’d rather stay and help you.”

“All right,” Max replied tightly. His face was a mask of tension as he looked her over and then spoke to his brother. “If I can get the horses out safely, I’m going to. You take care of our girl.”

He gave her a long look before turning and heading out. Max held the shotgun with the ease of a man who knew how to use it. He jogged off toward the stables, where the smoke was billowing into the air.

“Why can’t we go with him?” Rachel held on to Rye’s sleeve like it was a lifeline.

Rye hugged her for a moment and then gently disentangled himself. He moved back to the driver’s side of the car. Rye leaned into the Bronco and pulled out the radio. “I have to keep you safe, Rachel. This doesn’t feel right. Stay close to me.” He pushed the button to talk. “Callie, this is Rye. Are you there?”

Callie’s voice was tinny over the radio. “That’s an affirmative, boss.” Rachel turned away from Rye. She tried to catch a glimpse of Max in the distance. He’d disappeared from sight.

“I need you to call the fire truck out to our place.”

Rye’s voice was calm as she struggled to see how bad the fire was. Her feet itched to run down there so Max wouldn’t be alone.

“And send Logan down here, too. Pull him off of whatever he’s doing. Tell him to bring a couple of extra shotguns with him. Callie, I need you to put out the word—” Rye’s voice died as Rachel heard a hard thwack .

“Rye, are you there?” Callie’s voice spiked with obvious worry.

Rachel turned in time to watch Rye slide, unconscious, to the ground. The handset of the radio swung uselessly against the side of the SUV. She could see he was bleeding. Her heart started to pound. There was so much blood.

“Hello, Liz.”

Rachel’s stomach churned as she saw her nightmare standing over Rye. He had a baseball bat in his hand.

Tommy Lane stood roughly six feet tall. He was all rangy muscle. His face was a testament to hard living, and there was always cruelty in his eyes. He had always reminded Rachel a little of a rodent, since his eyes were too small for his face. They were black and often seemed to have no emotion behind them. That was not the case now. He stood looking her over with a stark possessiveness that made her skin crawl.

It didn’t matter, Rachel thought, her mind racing. All that mattered was saving Rye. God, he couldn’t already be dead. He was still bleeding on the ground. The grass around him was becoming saturated. She started to move toward him, but Tommy dropped the bat and pulled a handgun out of the holster he wore.

“Don’t you touch him.” Tommy’s voice was low and ragged. “You lay a hand on him, and I’ll put a bullet through his brain.”

Rachel stopped. She knew he would do just what he’d threatened. She was surprised to see Quigley wander up. The big dog whined a little as he sniffed at Rye’s body. He licked Rye’s face and tried to get him to wake up. Rye was completely still.

Tommy laughed as the dog tried to wake his master. “Dumb dog. I thought I’d have to shoot that monster when I got out here to set up that little distraction in the stables. The stupid dog just wanted to play. I threw a stick for him a couple of times, and now he’s my best friend. Those boys of yours need better security.”

“Please don’t hurt him again.” Rachel concentrated only on the fact that Rye might be dying. She tried to keep her voice calm. She didn’t want to make Tommy any angrier than he already was. She wanted to run, to get away from here. He was going to kill her, and she doubted it would be a quick death. He would want some revenge on her for running. Her feet remained firmly planted. She couldn’t abandon Rye. If she had a chance to save her men, then she had to take it. They hadn’t done anything wrong except to have the misfortune to fall for her. “I’ll go with you if you leave them alone.”