River Lane

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

            “Shit, DON’T!” I screamed running after him. Jared reached out and wrapped his arms around me, holding me back from running in after him.

            “He’s going to be fine, leave him be,” he growled in my ears. I slapped his arms and he let go, still wary that I might run after Garrett. Trevin ran in after him. Soon things were being thrown through the doors and the windows as Jack and Matthew turned on the nearby hoses and tried to spray down the fire before it spread too far. I anxiously bounced on the balls of my feet while the boys tried to get all of their belongings out. Trevin came walking out, coughing and hacking from all the smoke inhalation. There was a large crack and one side of the roof dropped down. We heard a yell and it took me less than a second to run past all the outstretched hands and up through the door. Darting down the small hallway and into the last bedroom I seen Garrett pushed against the wall, a large beam pinning him. Without thinking I shoved my shoulder as hard as I could into the beam, pushing it off of him just enough for him to get out from under it. As soon as he was free he picked me up in his arms and took off running outside. As soon as we were a safe distance from the fire, we dropped to the ground.

            “What in the hell were you thinking!” He growled, throwing his arms around me. The second he touched me I involuntarily cried out. He instantly pulled back and gave me a worried look. Turning and looking down he sucked in a shaky breath.

            “Shit you’re hurt!” Unwillingly I glanced at my shoulder. It was an ugly blistering red and the clothing around it had charred a crispy black.

            “I was in such a hurry to get you out that I must not have realized that the fire had spread up the beam,” I whispered. His gaze softened.

            “I can’t believe you did that you crazy girl.” He gently kissed me on the lips before picking me up again. Aunt Claire came running up to me, a panicked expression on her face.

            “What in the world! You are both such crazy stupid kids. Do you have any idea how many lives you just stole from me! I don’t think I’m going to sleep right for a week, I was so scared.” She stopped rambling and looked us both over. “Hurry and take her in the house.” Clothes and other belongings were left in a heap on the ground. Ashy black water was running downhill from the bunkhouse. They managed to put out the fire and only one side was permanently damaged. The rest would have smoke and water damage but it was nothing compared to lives.

            “I can walk you know,” I said, struggling to make Garrett put me down. I knew that he was more tired than me. He did nothing but glare down at me. I continued to struggle to no avail. Finally giving up and relaxing in his arms, I tried to ignore the pain that was starting to take over. He set me down on a chair at the kitchen table and kneeled down in front of me. Pulling a knife out of his pocket he tried to gently cut the arm off of my shirt. I tried not to flinch but I could see in his eyes that I wasn’t hiding it very well.

            Thankfully Garrett hadn’t been hurt except for a few bruises from the beam, but nothing was broken or burned. They were just wrapping the last of my shoulder off when Jared and Trevin came walking in the house, baskets of dirty things from outside in their arms. Everyone else had gone home to clean up.

            “Boys I’m sorry about whatever happened out there. I have no idea what could have caused that darn fire. We’ll get it fixed up but it will take a while. We have enough rooms here that you’ll just stay in the house with us now,” Jared said. He turned to walk away when Garrett jumped up to his side, whispering in his ear.