Texas Dad (Fatherhood) by Roz Denny Fox

Author:Roz Denny Fox [Fox, Roz Denny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“I’m scared,” Zoey said, hauling two suitcases into Erma’s room. “If our house burns down, where will we live?”

J.J. took one suitcase, opened it and set it on Erma’s bed. She opened the lower dresser drawers to make it easier for Erma to get her belongings. “We’ll do everything we can to keep that from happening, Zoey.”

“I want Daddy.”

She wasn’t alone on that score. “I know, honey. We can try to call him after we collect everything and move his pickup to safety. Your dad said some of the summer pasture is out of cellular range. Although, if he and Benny are headed home, he may be closer to a cell tower. You can try calling him from the house phone after we get the pickup packed up. Regardless, Zoey, he can’t help until he gets back, so we need to prepare. Okay?”

Zoey nodded, but still seemed frozen to the spot.

J.J. handed the second suitcase to the girl. “The wildfire is still a ways off. Hurry...go pack some undies, pajamas, jeans, shirts...whatever fits in this bag. Bring it out to your dad’s pickup and I’ll meet you there. Erma, I’ll come back after I see to the animals.” J.J. gave Zoey a big hug before dashing out across the patio. She didn’t want to look at the creeping fire, but couldn’t help herself. If anything, the band stretched wider but still seemed like dust.

She ran to the barn. The two horses obviously sensed that something was amiss. They whickered and shifted restlessly in their stalls. Yesterday she had seen Zoey take lead ropes from a wall hook. Locating them, she grabbed two and looped one around the neck of each horse before leading the horses outside. The pinto snorted and his nostrils flared. J.J. wasn’t sure how far it was down to Turkey Creek. She’d gone there a couple of times in the past to make out with Mack. That was long ago, but thankfully landscapes didn’t change.

Only people did.

The stream was closer than she remembered. She considered wading across it to tie the animals to saplings on the other side. She was worried that if the fire reached this point and sparks jumped the creek, the horses might still be lost. Trusting that Mack could track them if they bolted, she freed the pair slapped their rumps so they’d cross the stream, and raced back to the barn. The cow and her calf were harder to budge. J.J. tugged and pulled and even cursed the heifer. Finally, she scooped up the gangling calf and jogged down to the stream, hoping the mother would follow. She did. Relieved, J.J. left them both at the water’s edge.

Panic rose when she thought about everything that might be lost. Mack’s family history was here. That spurred her to hurry and unlatch the chicken coop. She propped it open with a rock. If the fire didn’t reach the ranch, Mack might hate her for releasing all his livestock. So be it.

Zoey was standing nervously next to the pickup.

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