"I'll get them," Sarah declared. "I'll go open the walk gate. They can fit through there one at a time."
"Oh, no you don't," Luke corrected. "If one of those horses' kicks, you're a goner. As spooked as they are, they won't know any different."
"And you're a stranger, so they won't listen to you." She started toward the horses. "Come on. You can help."
Between the two of them, they managed to get the bewildered animals into the far pasture away from the fire. Luke pointed across the field. "Look. Another fire over there."
"What the hell is going on?"
It didn't take long for the brothers to have all of the fire extinguished. They all met by the barn. Logan was furious.
"When it takes more than one breath to put the fire out, it had help starting."
Colton agreed. "I didn't smell anything though. It's almost as if, well…nevermind. It's out."
Sarah was surprised when Luke stepped forward. "Almost as if what?"
Drake spoke for his older brother. "As if another dragon started it. There was another fire down by the lake, and it took me a couple passes to put it out. Should have only taken one."
Ezra and the others ran up to where they stood. He stared at Sarah. "They tried to burn your house down."
She gasped. "Who?"
"I don't know. I didn't get a good look. Wren was over there prepping some dough for later, and I heard her scream. I just caught a glimpse of someone running off toward the woods."
Luke stiffened. "Can you give us any idea what they looked like?"
"All dressed in dark, with a hood up over his head. Or her head. I don't know which. There are burned places on the side of your cabin, but it never quite lit."
Sarah turned and started to run, Luke right on her tail. Drake and Colton also followed.
"Sarah, stop."
She heard Luke call for her, but she just wanted to check her home herself. She stopped when she found the burned marks on the cabin. "Looks like dragon fire to me." The burned area stretched down the side of her cabin, and midway up from the ground.
Luke addressed all of them. "We need to go. It's not safe for us here, and we're putting your family in danger."
Sarah frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I have to deduce that whoever killed my father is upping his game. I can't protect you here, but I can hide you at the castle. And I need to check on my sister and grandmother. If whoever this is knows he failed here, he may go after them instead."
Colton nodded. "As much as I want to argue and say we can protect you here, he's right. Go with him. By his side is where you belong anyhow. We'll hold the fort down here until we decide what we're doing next."
Sarah's heart ripped in two. She didn't want to leave her family in their time of need, but if Luke was who the arsonist was after, then the ranch would be safer without him there. She reached out and took Luke's hand.
"Whenever you're ready."
"Go grab what you want to take, and we'll get going."
Vinia held her tight. "I love you. If you decide to have the baby there, send word and I'll come to you."
"You'll come to the Sacred Gardens?"
Vinia nodded. "It's time to put the past to bed. I can't change it, but I can keep it from tainting the future." She pointed at Luke. "Don't leave until I get back."
Sarah went in and grabbed a few things she'd need at the castle. Wren came in while she was packing. "Do you want me to take over the baking while you're gone?"
"I do. And I think you'll do amazing at it. You have a gift, and I'm proud that my little kitchen gives you a chance to show it off."
