Blinking, I tried to keep the smoke from my eyes. They stung like a motherfucker.
Ignoring the pain, I crawled toward the door. I was going to make it out of here. I had to make it out of here. My life was waiting for me just beyond the wall of flames, and I refused to miss another second.
The burn in my lungs was excruciating, but I was almost there.
Almost.
Coughing again, I slumped forward, the heat on my bare back felt like it was peeling the skin from my body.
Closing my eyes, I needed a second. As I laid there, face first in the dirt, ash and burned straw falling around me, I prayed for the best as images of Kellie and Cassie filled my brain.
Chapter Twenty-Nine - Kellie
“Let me go!” I squealed as I kicked my legs.
The firefighter holding me back didn’t flinch.
Cassie had come stumbling out of the barn, looking scared but thankfully safe. She stunk like smoke and had bits of ash in her hair, but she’d be okay. The medic on the scene was checking her over while I stood barely three feet away not knowing what to do or where to look.
Cassie had made it out.
That damn bull that I was going to turn into hamburger had come charging out.
There was no sign of Jake.
Nash kept assuring me he was fine, but as the seconds ticked on, my heart hurt more and more.
The only thing keeping me from running in there right now was the fact that Cassie was sitting on a stretcher looking at me to be strong. Me? Strong? Nope. Right now, I wanted to cry, throw up, and scream all in the same breath. I’d just gotten Jake back. I couldn’t lose him now. I refused to. I know I’d been the one holding back, the one too afraid to take a chance and put my heart on the line, but the idea of losing him, the idea of not going to sleep wrapped in his arms or waking to his lazy grin had me tossing all my rules out the window, risking it all.
“She’ll be fine, ma’am,” the medic told me as he helped Cassie down from the stretcher.
Looking up at the firefighter holding me back, I nodded. A silent promise I wouldn’t do something dumb like run into a burning building looking for the man I loved. He loosened his grip and took a step back as I sank to my knees and held my arms out. Cassie jumped into them, knocking me on my ass in the dirt, but I didn’t care. She was okay. She was going to be okay. Jake saved her. Fuck, I hoped he could save himself. Life without him wasn’t an option. I’d done it once, I couldn’t, I wouldn’t do it again.
“Mommy,” Cassie cried as she held my face between her hands.
With tears streaming down my face, I kissed and hugged her, never wanting to let her go again.
“You scared Mommy,” I told her honestly.
“Daddy saved me,” Cassie cried.
“Yes, he did,” I confirmed, almost choking on the tsunami of emotions.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught movement. “Is she… is she…”
I looked up and saw Shelley standing there, white as a ghost. Her hands were shaking, and she looked like she was going to throw up, not that I could blame her. Her son, her only son was still in there.
“She’s okay,” I offered gently.
Losing my shit and telling her what I’d been thinking barely five minutes ago wouldn’t help anyone. Besides, I was pretty sure she’d learned her lesson. Next time she watched Cassie, if I ever let her out of my sight again, I knew she wouldn’t let her run off again.
Over Cassie’s head, there was a commotion.
“Go give Grandma a hug, Cassie,” I encouraged.
For a second, I didn’t think Cassie was going to do it. I didn’t think she would let go, but slowly, she peeled her hands from my face and went over to Shelley, who dropped to her knees and held her arms wide open.
Knowing Cassie was safe and looked after, I took a step forward, my legs barely holding me.
