Chapter 54

Sara

I couldn’t believe what was happening. It was like a nightmare, and everything was rolling along in slow motion. The barn was burning, and it was not slowing down. What could have possibly happened that started a fire like this? There were no heaters in the barn, no flammables, nothing but the electrical system. This fire, though, it was huge and burning like something was accelerating it even faster. I could barely breathe, the smoke was thick around us. There were horses locked inside, and at first, I thought only one, but after a few minutes of listening, I realized there was more than one. It was an impossible situation, dangerous, and life-threatening. Yet Ryan had gone in there to save the horses and all because of me, all because I wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he cared about me so much that he wouldn’t let me be in harm’s way. Here he was saving me yet again. It seemed like I was a dangerous person to be around these days.

The sounds of the horses screaming continued to echo out of the barn and across the pasture. My knees felt weak beneath me, and I grabbed onto the post trying to settle myself. I was so terrified I almost dropped to my knees. I had never seen anything so violent, so scary in my life, and not only were the horses in danger, but so was Ryan. I knew at that moment, I should have never tried to save them, but it was in me. I couldn’t ignore it. I just couldn’t let those poor creatures die like that, not after taking responsibility for them. There was silence for a few moments, and then suddenly, several horses came bolting out of the door, running as fast as they could out to the pasture. None of them seemed overly injured, and I turned back to the barn, looking for any sign of Ryan.

“The fire engine is on the way,” Alison said, panting as she ran up to me. “Where’s Ryan?”

“He’s inside,” I said, staring at the door.

“What?” she said in a panic.

“He went in to save the horses, to keep me from going in,” I said shaking my head. Then, I turned to her. “Alison, how many horses were in the barn when the fire started?”

“Uh, um,” she was panicking, thinking through it. “There were four in there, three getting ready for cleanings and one up to bat.”

“Three just got out and ran out to the pasture,” I said. “That leaves one horse.”

Come on, Ryan. I said it to myself, and I knew I was thinking more of him than the last horse. The flames were shooting higher and higher with every second, and there was no sign of the fire department yet. I looked up as the sound of crackling wood started to sound off, and then there was a huge crash inside the barn, sending plumes of smoke spiraling up toward the sky.

“The roof,” Alison yelled, pointing up. “Part of the roof caved in. Oh my god, Ryan has got to get out of there. Where’s the damn fire department?”

“I have to go in after him,” I said, shaking my head.

“No,” Alison said, grabbing my arm. “The time for that has passed. You can’t go in there.”

“But I’m the reason he went in there in the first place,” I yelled out.

I was terrified, even more so than before. I was sure Ryan was stuck inside being burned alive. The thought was overwhelming, and I felt like I was going to pass out. I backed up a bit as the smoke got thicker and moved with the wind. I shook my head watching the door, squinting through the smoke, hoping, praying for any sign Ryan was okay. I could barely stand it, my heart racing so fast, it was almost deafening in my ears. He could be in there helpless or even unconscious. I swallowed hard, tears beginning to pour down my cheeks. Alison put her arm around my shoulders and latched onto me. I wasn’t sure if it was for comfort or to make sure I didn’t go into that barn, but she was probably smart to do it.

I shifted in my stance, unable to think straight, fear bearing down on me like a ton of bricks. We had just made up. He had just started to open up to me. He had just started to become the man in the relationship that I’d wanted him to be. I couldn’t lose him. I couldn’t let him be in there all alone, possibly hurt. I turned to Alison and took her hands.

“I have to go in,” I said calmly. “I can’t let him die in there. I love him, and you know I don’t say things like that lightly. I know you don’t want me to, and I know it’s probably a stupid choice, but I have to do it, and I need you to let me go.”

I turned to walk toward the bar, watching Alison wrap her arms around herself when the sound of sirens blared, and the fire engine came rearing up the drive. I stopped and let out a deep breath, running across the lawn to where they were. They started to unload, and I started screaming at them.

“There’s a man in there,” I screamed. “He’s inside. God, help him.”

“There’s someone coming out,” one of the firefighters yelled.

Slowly, I turned around, cupping my hand to my mouth and started sobbing. From the smoke and the flames, Ryan came running out of the barn, pulling a horse behind him. His face was covered in soot, and he was coughing loudly. He let go of the horse, and it ran off into the pasture, just far enough away from the smoke to breathe. My hands dropped to my side, and for a moment, everything stopped. The firemen were running toward us, but I couldn’t hear the sirens any longer. Everything was muffled. All I could do was stand there staring at Ryan, as the men made their way toward him. He had survived. He had come out, and he was still alive. Between the smoke and flames, I’d thought he was gone. I didn’t even know what to do in that moment.

He was shirtless, having wrapped his shirt around the horse’s eyes to lead it out past the flames. He had not only sacrificed his life trying to save the animal from dying, but he had given it protection to get it through unharmed. I couldn’t be prouder of him, more thankful fir what he had done. My heart fluttered in my chest, looking at this strong man, walking bravely from the flames, having sacrificed himself and his safety for me yet again. Alison looked over at me in complete shock, and it brought me from my haze.

“Ryan,” I screamed out, running across the lawn to him.

I went to throw my arms around him, but one of the firefighters caught me around the waist and pulled me back from the smoke. I watched as they led him carefully away from the barn, asking him questions, looking over his body for burns. He needed to be treated and fast, so I calmed myself and ran over next to Alison, taking her by the hand and squeezing it tightly.

“It seems you found yourself one hell of a man,” she whispered, turning back toward the barn.

They had to treat him for smoke inhalation and make sure he wasn’t burned. I stood in the grass, staring at the ambulance, watching them clean off his face and look over his bare skin for any signs of burns. I was impatient. I wanted to be with him, but I knew it was important that he got treatment first. He had risked his life for me and those horses, and there was nothing I could ever do or say to repay that debt. I turned back to the barn and shuddered, watching the fire blaze uncontrollably.

Alison grabbed my hand and pulled me back over to the side of the fence. The firefighters dragged their hoses out to the barn and began spraying it down. I grabbed tighter to Alison at the very loud cracking sound that started as soon as the water hit. Without warning, the entire roof collapsed into the barn, followed by the walls. I covered my mouth and shook my head, not believing what happened. The barn was completely ruined, nothing but a pile of burning ash and rubble. There was not going to be any coming back from that. The thing was way too damaged.

We watched as they continued to pour water over the structure, the steam and smoke crackling as it rose into the sky. I turned to look back at Ryan and saw them shaking his hand and releasing him. I kissed Alison on the cheek and took off across the yard, running straight into his arms.

“You are so crazy,” I said. “You could have been killed. God, thank you so much for rescuing those horses. They would have died in there. They would have been crushed by the roof. Thank you, a million times.”

“I couldn’t let you go in there, and I couldn’t bear to see those horses die,” he whispered. “I will always protect you.”

When the firemen had finally extinguished the last of the glowing ash, Ryan and I walked over to Alison. The fire chief approached, leaning forward and shaking Ryan’s hand. Alison took in a deep breath and glanced over at me, pain in her eyes.

“We have some questions to ask,” he said kindly.

“Right,” Alison said. “Sara, why don’t you take Ryan inside and help him get cleaned up. I can take it from here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” she said. “You two did your duty. And thank you, Ryan.”

“Of course,” he said, taking my arm and hobbling toward the house with me.

I was still in complete shock and awe. I couldn’t believe how he had risked his life rather than let me risk mine. I guess after everything we had been through, after all the times he’d been my protector and gotten me out of bad situations, I shouldn’t be that surprised, but this was different. He literally risked his own life to free those horses, to keep me out of harm’s way. And in the end, it was all for animals he had never even been around before, animals that really meant nothing to him, nor did he have any kind of connection to. He did it for the well-being of the organization, and even more so, for me, for the woman he had been trying so hard to keep in his life. Part of me felt guilty for everything I had put him through, not realizing he had that kind of compassion or love inside of him. It was amazing, so amazing that I couldn’t even wrap my head around it fully.

Ryan was a little banged up with some cuts and a sore leg, but thankfully, he didn’t have any burns. I helped him into the shower and washed off the soot that he couldn’t reach. When he was done, I rebandaged his wounds and helped him into the spare bedroom. There was no way I was sending him back to that hotel. He sat down on the bed and took my hand, looking up at me.

“Will you stay and sleep here with me tonight?” he asked.

“Of course,” I said, sitting next to him. “How could I say no to you, especially after everything you just did. Of course, I’ll stay with you.”