Urging Danny to drive faster, the two miles home felt like forever. Thoughts were racing through my head, my palms were sweaty, and I couldn’t stop watching the giant plume of charcoal black smoke looming over us, growing more massive as we approached my tiny ranch house. Although Danny shut off the radio several minutes ago, claiming to have a headache from Arnold’s voice, I could still hear the shock. House fires are as common as snow in the town.
Finally the house pulled into view, and I all but launched myself out of Danny’s truck. Kai wasted no time bolting toward the commotion, barking all the way. Following my dog, my eyes searched frantically for my family. Of course I heard the shrill screaming of my step-sister Jessica before I actually saw her. She was holding onto Zach, and I ran over, adrenaline pumping. All ten of the volunteer firefighters were busy doing their best to control the blaze, but the fire had a mind of it’s own. Zach roughly grabbed Jessica, and yelled over the commotion to Danny, “We need to get back!” Nodding, Danny placed a firm hand on my arm, and tugged me into motion. I allowed myself to be relocated until I realized Kai was loose.
“Kai! Kai, come here!Come, Kai!” I screamed, twisting in Danny’s strong grip. His eyes wildly searched through the rapidly growing crowd, until they hardened as he caught sight of something.
Breaking through the mass exodus walked a familiar stranger. My precious dog was in the arms of the gorgeous man I’d just met moments before at the General Store. Although Kai was covered in black soot and was about fifty-five pounds, this man carried him as he would a child. Tenderly, Kai was brought before me, panting with his tongue lolling out of his distinct Boxer mouth,eyes closed.
“He tried running into the house,” coughed the man, “But I was able to catch him as he tried the back door.” Stroking the head of my pet, I looked into the man’s electric eyes and dramatically thanked him. Danny placed a hand on my shoulder when the man spoke again, “The fire is getting bigger. You all need to get out of here in case something explodes.”
Already we were on the side of the barn,twenty feet away, the heat of the fire still licked our backs,making it hard to breath. Without waiting, we all followed this mystery man back toward the edge of the property, near the fence and the road. Jessica’s crying could be heard, indicated Zach was already waiting for us. His bare chest came into view and I rushed into his strong embrace. He held onto me, all the while giving thanks that our mother had gone to work already. Not wanting to be upstaged by the blaze behind us, Jessica wiped her dramatic tears away and started placing blame.
“This is all your mom’s fault! She must have left the old stove on-” She bagan. Without hesitation, Zach turned, fury evident in his normally calm face.
“How dare you, you selfish brat! For all we know you left your stupid straightener on, and it finally caught fire. How many times have we told you not to leave it on?”
They continued bickering, causing me to close my eyes, overwhelmed by the fire and the bickering. Plopping my butt on the ground, inviting Danny down, I turned to the man, who continued to stand beside me, looking a little out of place. Here was this stranger in his Polo shirt, now smeared with ash, his clean Sperry’s, and all the while he remained calm. I watched as he carefully placed Kai beside me, and held my gaze. “Do you need anything?” His pupils dilated slightly, as if he was at my beck and call. For some reason I felt as if he would do anything I asked in this moment. However, I was interrupted by Danny’s quick response.
“Yeah, stay away from her.” Jaw clenched, Danny’s protective presence hovered over me although, like me, he was sitting. Danny’s body was tense and he clearly wasn’t joking. Several seconds passed before the stranger ignored him and returned his scrutiny onto me. Exhausted I shoved Danny back, and turned to the man, extending a friendly hand.
“I’m Evelyn. My friends call me Eve,” I stated. Our hands fit together perfectly, and against my better judgement butterflies fluttered in my stomach.
“ Landon Edward, at your service. And I take it this is your boyfriend?” He nodded at Danny. I laughed , and shook my head as Danny growled a yes. Landon looked confused, and I reaffirmed , “No, we aren’t together. Just good friends.” Turning around , I met Danny’s hard stare and held it, until his eyes softened.
Suddenly, desperate shouting could be heard up by the house. Curious , we all stood up. There in the distance the firemen were shouting and waving their arms about, not even bothering to continue to water the house. Angrily, I started heading towards them, until I felt the strong hands of Landon halt me.
“Something doesn’t feel right,” he commented skeptically, which caused Danny to scoff. Without warning Kai stood up, hair on his hackles raised. I snapped to attention, knowing something was amiss. As soon as I turned around , facing Landon, my feet flew out from under me. Ears ringing, I pushed myself off Landon. One look at the fear on his face allowed me to give in to what I had been resisting since I saw the smoke at the general store. My heart was pounding, pouring adrenaline into my veins.
The next few minutes went by in a blur. Zach was screaming at me to get to the bomb shelter in the cornfield. Danny was holding onto Kai, who was barking fearfully. All the while I watched Landon. I watched him absorb his environment as one might observe a menu. He was calculating his next move carefully, taking in all the variables surrounding him.
“Where is the bomb shelter?” He asked hurriedly.
“About a mile east from the house, near the old church.It should have some emergency supplies.” Zach responded.
“Then go. Danny, can you get us into the General Store?” Landon asked . Firemen were recovering from the small explosion as well as the now out of control fire. The sheriff’s sierens were amongst the cacophony of panic. Several neighbor’s who’d come to help were now scrambling to get as far away as they could.
Danny nodded and Landon sprang into action, telling Jessica, Zach, and I to head toward the bomb shelter, not stopping until we were safely tucked inside. A protest grew on my lips, but Landon quickly shut me down.
“I’m afraid this is all my fault, and I need to try to stop this before it gets worse. Just go, so I know you’re safe.”
