Vinia laughed at her. "After not even being able to look at bread for weeks, you're going to make up for it in a day."
"I can't help it," Sarah protested. "Like, all of a sudden, I just can't get enough."
Drake, never able to not poke the bear, leaned over in a conspiratorial whisper. "Did you tell Ma yet that you're having a girl?"
Vinia spun around. "Really? You are?"
Sarah punched Drake in the arm. "You ass." She smiled at Vinia. "Yes. I just detected her yesterday."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I was going to, Ma. We've been a little busy around here."
Drake snorted. "I'm about to be a lot less busy with the circus moving out and not having to help you bake anymore."
Sarah wrinkled her nose at him. "Who said you didn't have to help anymore? I'm still pregnant."
"Yeah, pregnant. Not crippled."
"Stop it, you two," Vinia admonished. She walked over to Sarah and pulled her into a big hug. "My first granddaughter. What are we going to name her?"
"I have no idea yet. But you'll be the first to know if I figure it out."
"Maybe you should include the father on the decision," Drake teased. He just couldn't help it.
Sarah was just about to punch him again when he smelled the smoke. Sarah suddenly stopped and sniffed, too. All joking around ended as he moved away from her and stepped out from under the tent and saw the thick, black smoke billowing from the blue barn.
"Get Colton. The barn's on fire." He hollered at Vinia and Sarah before he took off running. As he cleared the back side of the building, Colton caught up to him after having already seen the smoke.
"What the fuck happened?"
"No idea."
Joey and other competitors were frantically opening stalls to let the horses out. The far end of the barn was completely involved. Drake ran over to Joey as she led Journey out.
"Put the horses in the nearest field. It doesn't matter if we have horses in it already. We'll sort it out later."
"Drake, I need to tell you..."
She was interrupted when another cry went up as the flames suddenly engulfed another set of stalls on the far end.
Drake urged Joey to hurry. "We'll try to stop the flames. Save as much as you can."
Colton had run over and directed the others to do the same. Joey had a hold of Journey's harness, and she leaned over and kissed Drake really fast. "Be careful."
Drake gave her a curt nod before he and Colton headed toward the fire. They both grabbed water hoses and turned on the water to begin their attack on the flames. Even with two hoses, they weren't making any real progress.
"Get everyone grouped together if you can," Drake shouted to Colton to get his attention. "I'll shift and get this fire out in about two seconds."
Colton handed over his hose. "Be careful. There's something strange about this fire. Have you noticed how the water isn't affecting it?"
"I did, but what the hell does that mean?"
"Some kind of black magic is my guess."
Drake frowned as he stared at Colton. "Seriously? What the fuck?"
"No idea, but let's figure it out once the fire is out. I'll go provide distractions."
