Axe
Thud.
As soon as I landed on the ground, the earth rumbled, not only from the horrific fire consuming the amazing building, but also from the applause.
Within seconds, people swarmed us, a blanket thrown over me. With Kenzie still in my arms, we were both whisked away from the aftermath.
There were loud voices coming from everywhere, unnerving screams and shouts.
Firefighters were everywhere, rushing with hoses toward the fire.
They were too late.
Too fucking late.
“Over here!”
I recognized my brother’s voice, finally able to take a deep breath.
“We’ve got her, Axe,” a female voice said.
With the smoke still stinging my eyes, I barely noticed the girl was an EMT and one I’d worked with several times. Gina smiled, trying to encourage me.
“No!” I shook my head, still clinging to Kenzie. When I was close to the awaiting ambulance, I pulled back the blanket covering her.
“Is she…” Wade appeared, shaken and toasty around the edges, but okay. He continued to shake his head. In the light of the emergency vehicles, I was able to see tears in his eyes. “Is she alive?”
“She’s alive.”
“Axe,” Gina said with a soothing voice. “It’s okay. I promise we’ll take good care of her.”
I glanced down at the sleeping beauty, brushing hair from her face. The thought of letting her go killed me.
“Let us check her out, Axe. Trust me.”
“Yeah, okay.” The last thing I wanted to do was to ever let her go again. But I followed Gina toward the stretcher that was already waiting on the ground. When I eased Kenzie down, she stirred, opening her eyes briefly.
“Axe…”
“Don’t try and talk. You’re okay, baby. You’re just fine. They’re going to take a look at you.”
She gripped my arm. “Sa…sha.”
She’d named the horse after her old one. “She’s fine. Wade saved her.”
“Wade?”
“Axe. Please. She needs her rest and oxygen.” Gina was insistent.
“Yeah. Okay. Fine. I’ll be right here, baby. Right here, Palomino Girl.” As I backed away, I fought my own emotions and they were all over the place.
Turning, I tried to figure out what to say to Wade. When I finally lifted my head, the two of us seemed to be having trouble with what to say.
As some of the jumpers moved closer, I thought about what to say to him.
“I’m sorry, man. I shouldn’t have blamed you.”
His words were heartfelt, the tears still in his eyes. I could approach this one of two ways. It came to me what I wanted and what we both needed.
