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the s, even biting Others refused to budge

Alert for any sign of trouble, Skywhere he was needed to soothe a terrified animal, prevent an injury, or coax a stubborn horse up the ra to do with the one-horse trailer that would haul hi and dancing, becoitated by the second The twostallion on double lead ropes were in danger of losing control

“Easy, boy” Sky stepped to his head, one hand clasping his halter, the other stroking his powerful neck “I know you’re scared We all are” Leaning toward Vaquero’s ear, Sky ht hi the stallion had heard nal Be calm like the water Be steady like the earth All will be well All will be well

Vaquero lowered his head His ears pricked forward With a last defiant snort and a swish of his tail, he trotted up the ramp into the trailer

So to Erin

With the stallions loaded and the trailers waiting for the trucks, Sky took a lance around the yard Tori’s station wagon was parked at the back corner of the house with Bernice, Jasper, and the dog inside Dressed in baggy jeans, an old shirt, and work boots—ered into sight lugging a wire cage full of Bernice’s precious red laying hens She was sed head to toe with dirt and chickendown each one of those hens and herding thees Bernice would have wanted her to save them all

After hefting the cage into the back of her vehicle next to another one like it, Tori closed the tailgate, piled into the driver’s seat, and headed off toward the road that climbed the escarpment

From across the yard Will had paused to watch her load the car and drive away The boss of the Ris in the yard, directing thea walkie-talkie to communicate with Beau on the fire line and the men up on the caprock The preparations he’d made ahead, which both Sky and Beau had viewed as his usual over off

Now he stood with fiery s behind him into a sky still empty of any help from the air

Sky walked over to his side Will was gazing after Tori’s wagon as it vanished up the road “She’s quite a woman, isn’t she?” he said “Chicken poop up to her eyebrows, and she wears it like a million dollars Take my advice, Sky If you ever find a wo on to her Don’t ever let her go”

Sky kept silent, thinking of Lauren, wanting to call her but forcing himself to wait “What do you hear from Beau?” he asked

“The fire hasn’t reached the break yet, but it’sto beat back the new flare-ups with shovels, but they can only do so ets here” He glanced upward through the sets here”

“How ot?”

“Tanker truck’s full But that’s all, and it’s notit in case the fire jumps the break”

Will sounded as if he could be talking about the weather or a story he’d heard in town But Sky wasn’t fooled Behind his easy manner the man had to be heartsick Even before the fire, the ranch had been in trouble Now, even with insurance, he’d be forced to sell off the cattle and iven his life to the Ri he and his fao up in flames