Riding into Fire: A Second Chance Romance (Wild Hearts of Yellowstone Creek Ranch: A Contemporary Cowboy Romance Series Book 1) by J.P. Comeau

Author:J.P. Comeau [Comeau, J.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The Inferno: A Race Against Time

Jack

The inferno was a raging beast, all-consuming and relentless. Sparks shot into the night sky like demented fireworks, and the constant crackle of timber being devoured filled the air. TJ, Big Red, and I stood there, clad in our heavy fire-resistant jackets and pants, helmets secured, and visors down. Our Nomex hoods shielded our necks and faces as much as they could. We had fire blankets, shovels, and a palpable sense of urgency that throbbed with our pounding hearts.

Big Red was elbows-deep in creating a firebreak. With his thick gloves gripping the shovel, he dug a trench through the earth, his face a mask of concentration and sweat despite the protective gear. A few feet away, TJ was in a battle of his own, smothering minor flare-ups with his fire blanket. His firefighting boots protected him as he danced around the hot spots.

"Jack, you need to shift east. The wind's changing," Chloe's voice crackled through the radio, tension unmistakable even through the static.

I gritted my teeth and plunged my shovel into the earth, tossing soil onto a patch of hungry flames. "On it, Chloe," I responded, my voice tinged with a desperation I couldn't hide.

Captain Diaz's voice broke into our radio frequency. "Team, hold your positions. I want to get a drone up for a better view."

I shot a skeptical glance toward where I knew Diaz was stationed. "Captain, it's night, and the smoke is thick. A drone's not going to show much."

"I'm aware, Jack, but we need every tool at our disposal."

I glanced at the Rocking J Ranch in the distance. Its familiar shapes, usually visible in the moon and starlight, were distorted by the thick haze of smoke. My family's land and the Yellowstone Creek Ranch were both at stake. The weight of that reality was as suffocating as the smoke-filled air.

Suddenly, my pocket vibrated—my phone. I'd have ignored it in any other circumstance, but some instinct made me glance at the screen. Emily.

"Push, guys! We've got to save the buildings!” I bellowed, hoping my voice carried over the howling wind and crackling fire. And as we battled the raging force of nature, a part of me wondered what Emily wanted, what her call meant. But right now, the legacy of our ranches, and potentially our lives, hung in the balance. I couldn't stop to check in with Em right now.

"I told you guys, we've got this. Rocking J Ranch has seen worse," I said, my voice brimming with faux confidence.

"We're not out of the woods yet, cowboy," Big Red retorted, but I could see a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Yeah, yeah, but come on. With Chloe's eagle eyes and our rugged good looks, what could go wrong?" I quipped.

"Cut the chatter," Captain Diaz interrupted.

Chloe's voice buzzed through the radio again. "You might want to listen to the Captain, Jack. Wind's picking up towards the east. Get moving."

My smile faded. "Copy that."

We hustled, the adrenaline pushing us forward almost as much as the encroaching flames at our backs.

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