“Get back!” someone called. “Watch it!”
With a final snap and roar, one of the Spanish oaks split and fell—landing on a row of hives and knocking more to the ground. The hive boxes were older, dry and quick kindling. One lit and it was like dominoes. There was no saving them.
Tansy didn’t know she was crying, she was in shock. Her sobs were covered by the hiss and roar of the fire.
“Tansy.” Dane wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back. “Come on.” The defeat in his voice almost broke her. “I need more help back here or I’ll lose them all.”
She gripped his hand in hers and hurried along at his side. “What about Mr. Taggert? Doesn’t he have a water trailer?”
Dane pulled his phone from his pocket, keeping hold of her with one hand. “Everett.” There was a long pause. “Yeah. Tansy said you... Thank you.” He slid his phone back in his pocket. “His brother Hoyt is already on the way.” He pulled them along until they’d reached the fire trucks and the blackened remains of the hall. “Sonofabitch.” He crouched, his voice wavered. “It’s gone.” He shook his head and stood, walking blindly forward—until he saw Leif. “Leif.” He let go of her then, dragging his little brother into a tight embrace. “What are you doing here? This is no place for you.”
“I saw the fire...” Leif’s words were muffled against Dane’s chest. “You’re okay?”
“I’m okay.” He patted Leif’s back. “Do me a favor and keep an eye on Tansy for me? Don’t let her out of your sight.” He looked at Tansy then. “I can’t worry about either of you and fight this.” He wasn’t teasing, he meant it. “Both of you, stay put.”
Leif nodded.
Why did he have to help? He was exhausted. He needed to rest. Sheneededhim to be safe. “Dane—”
“Tansy...please.” He pressed a hand to her cheek. “I can’t stand here and do nothing—” He broke off, shaking his head.
“No, of course. Go.” If their roles were reversed, she couldn’t stand by and watch Honey Hill Farms go up in flames. She understood, even if the idea of him putting himself in danger made her sick. She stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Be safe. Please. You have to or I’ll be really, really mad at you.”
He nodded and headed back to the apiary, disappearing in darkness and smoke. Several flood lamps had been set up, making it easier for the firefighters and volunteers to do their job. Once the hall was a sizzling heap of charred wood, the fire truck repositioned closer to the still-blazing apiary. Eventually, Hoyt Taggert arrived with the water trailer and not too soon after that, there were no more flames to be seen.
Tansy and Astrid stood, Leif between them, with their arms linked. Her throat hurt, her eyes burned, and she was shaking with exhaustion. It was over. The fire was out. It was horrible, there was no denying that. But no one had been hurt. Leif was here with them and Dane would be careful—that was what mattered most.
Through the smoke, she saw Dane. He was coughing and moving slowly, everything about him beaten down. She wanted to run to him but tightened her hold on Leif instead. He’d asked her to stay with his little brother, so she would. If something had happened to Dane...No. Don’t go there. He was fine. They had plenty of time for her to get up the nerve to tell him how she felt. Because she knew. His blue eyes swiveled her way and Tansy smiled at him.I’m so in love with you, Dane Knudson.
DANE’STHROATHURT, his head was killing him, and he had a nasty burn across his palm. The fire was out, but it was hard to feel victorious when he looked around him. The devastation was substantial. He’d lost two apiaries—the flames caught up to the few hives they’d managed to move. But, according to Van Kettner, while they’d been fighting the fire here, a yard on the opposite side of the hall had also been wiped out. Likely an additional three hundred hives or more.
Acres of pollen-heavy blooms and plants were gone. Meaning the surviving bees would have to work twice as hard for pollen. Chances were, he’d have a lot of bees swarming away—to find a healthier place to call home.
And the Viking Hall—and almost half of his 401(k) money—had literally gone up in flames. That was money he’d never get back. It’d been his dream and his investment, not his father’s. Now that the hall was a smoking heap of lumber, he was thankful the investment had been his alone. Losing the hall gutted him, but he could try again—later. What mattered most now was rebuilding their home.
He’d figure this out later. He was too dazed to see tomorrow, let alone a long-term plan. For now, he wanted to hug his little brother, hug Tansy, for as long as he wanted. He sloshed through the mud and ash and circled the skeletal remains of the hall to where he’d left them.
People were gathering in the clearing, taking inventory of the mess, and talking together. Someone had brought food and water, which were being passed out—with towels and wet wipes, too. This was Honey at its best, rallying to support and help in the darkest of times.
“Dane? Leif?” His father was yelling, his shirt rumpled and his hair standing on end. “Boys?”
“Here, Dad. We’re here.” Dane waved at Leif to follow him.
“What the hell happened?” His father pointed. “I want to know what happened and I want to know, now.”
“Calm down,” Dane croaked, coughing against the painful grate of his throat.
His father turned and his anger cleared. “What the hell happened to you?” He was staring at them both, seeing them—and panicking.
“I was putting out a fire.” Dane cleared his throat, which made him wince.That hurt like hell. “It’ll take some time for them to sort out the whys and hows, Dad.” But knowing those things wouldn’t undo these results.
“Well, give me something. I wake up to the smell of smoke and sirens and come over to find my boys looking like hell, half of my property burned and the whole town here.” He stared around him with wide, disbelieving eyes.
His father had played the victim so often, Dane rarely felt much sympathy for him. But this time was different. His father wasn’t acting. This was real. His father was in shock—exactly the way Dane was feeling. “I know. It’s a nightmare.”
His father nodded. “But you boys are okay?” He looked between Dane and Leif again.
Leif nodded but he kept himself at arm’s length when their father tried to pull him close.
