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What if that were to happen? Sky had the pistol He could shoot the horse if he had to But could he shoot Lauren?

“No! Lauren, get back!” Sky raced toward her, trying to wave her to safety But she kept co the horse ahead Sky could tell Storround and bolt

With the fire closing in, they round Sky caught her close, but only for an instant He knew they were running out of tielding was tossing and snorting, on the verge of panic

Springing onto the saddle, Sky pulled Lauren up behind him As she settled into place, her arms around his waist, he spoke to calht” Storitation lessened But when Sky turned the horse back the way Lauren had ridden, he saw the danger The unburned gap had closed They would have to leap the fire to get away

“Protect your head,” he told Lauren “Press your face against h”

He took an instant to pat the gelding’s lathered shoulder He kneas asking a lot of the horse He could only hope Storm Cloud would trust hio!”

Coed the horse to a thundering gallop, then to a soaring leap that carried the breath of heat brushed past the behind them

Sky swung the horse toward the safety of the escarp distance on the fire now, but Stor’s pace to an easy canter They had a little time now

He freed a hand to reach back for Lauren Her fingers caught his and held on tight Later they would talk and ht noords were needed

They were nearing the escarp sound of aircraft reached their ears “Sky! Look!” Lauren cried

Sky turned the horse Behind the in to dump their loads of water and fire retardant Sirens wailed as the ground crews moved in fro the battle

As the sun set over the caprock, Sky halted the horse in a shadowed canyon by a spring, disathered Lauren into his arrow again Fences and buildings could be repaired Only lives were irreplaceable Lives and love

EPILOGUE

August Fifteenth

Will and Jasper sat on the front porch, listening to the sound of the cool rain drizzling off the eaves They aiting for Beau and Natalie’s wedding, which would take place in the family parlor as soon as Sky arrived with Lauren and Reverend Sykes, who suffered fro safely