The closer we get, the more anxious I become. My heart pounds when the smell gets stronger. As we break through the clearing and the barn comes into view, I immediately spot it.
“Shit,” I bite out, coming to a quick stop. “The barn’s on fire.”
My brother and I jump off our horses, tying them off before we run toward the barn.
“Call 9-1-1,” I shout over my shoulder to Hollis, remembering Ash’s text telling me they were spending the day here.Fuck!“Ash! Tucker! Are you guys in there?”
My heart is clear in my throat, and I can’t breathe. Panic clutches at my chest as I pull my shirt up over my nose, inspecting the inside of the barn. The fire seems to be contained in the office area only, but I don’t see Tucker and Ash anywhere. Footsteps sound behind me, and when I look back, I spot my dad running in, wide-eyed.
“Fuck, what happened?” he growls.
“I don’t know. Hollis and I got back and found it like this. He’s calling 9-1-1.”
“We gotta get the horses out,” he yells as he opens the stall nearest to him.
“Where’re Ash and Tucker?” I need to find them. I need to make sure they’re okay.
“I don’t know, Finn, but we have to get these horses out now! It’s spreading quickly.”
“Dad, I don’t know where my son is!”
“We will find them,” he calls out as he ushers the first horse from its stall. “But they aren’t in here, and that’s all that matters. Now, move!”
Everything happens in a blur. Hollis runs in once he’s off the phone and helps us get the horses out. We’re somehow able to move them into the horse corral without any trying to run off before the fire department shows up. Once they arrive, the three of us stand off to the side, letting the firefighters do their job. I pull out my phone and call Ash, but it rings and rings before going to voicemail.
“Fuck!” I try over and over, but get the voicemail each time. “Where the fuck are they?”
“Where’s who?” Hollis asks.
“Ash and Tucker.” Thrusting my hands into my hair, I try to calm my breathing, but it’s not working. “The last time I talked to Ash, he said him and Tucker were going to the barn to hang out while Tucker did some drawing, and now he’s not answering his phone.”
“I’m sure they’re fine,” he offers, slapping a hand on my back. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. We were just inside the barn, and they weren’t in there. Wherever they are, I’m sure they’re safe.”
“Did you see them earlier, Dad?” I ask, knowing he’s been around these parts all day. When he doesn’t answer, I glance over at him, finding his eyes narrowed and his body tense. Following his line of sight, I spot Hollis’s buddy, Remi, standing at the engine and manning the hose.Why the hell is my dad looking at him like that?“Dad!” I shout, louder this time, seemingly snapping him out of whatever the hell that was.
“What?” he barks back at me.
“Did you see Ash and Tucker at all today? They were supposed to come to the barn.”
“They took Bessie down to the creek,” he replies matter-of-factly, like it’s common knowledge.
“What? When?”
“A while ago. Maybe two hours or so?”
“Why didn’t you say anythin’ in the barn when I asked?” I grit out, my heart pounding as I narrow my gaze at my father.
“It slipped my mind.” He shrugs. “I was concerned with gettin’ the horses out.”
“You’re sure that’s where they went?”Why didn’t Ash text me? And why the hell isn’t he answering?
“Yes.” My dad nods. “I helped ’em get Bessie ready.”
Hearing that eases some of the anxiety swimming inside of me, but I still wish I knew where they were. It’s not like Ash to not answer my calls or text me when there’s been a change of plans.
The firefighters move quickly, and the fire is able to be extinguished before it spreads to too much of the barn. I still don’t know what could’ve caused it in the first place; we’re all incredibly diligent about making sure everything is turned off when not in use.
“What happened?”
