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Wyatt: Here’s the number for the neighbour that borders Chance on the east side.
A following text comes through with a number that I don’t hesitate to call.
I pray that the call goes through in all the chaos.
I also pray that he’s not someone that Chance regularly pisses off.
I breathe a sigh of relief when the phone starts to ring, which is quickly replaced with fear when it continues to ring. Just as I’m sure it’s about to be disconnected or go to voicemail, a hurried, gruff voice answers the phone.
“Yeah?”
“Is this Kit Matthews?”
“Look, if you’re trying to sell me something, we’ve got a bit of an emergency going on here.”
“No, it’s nothing like that. My name is Dakota Myers and I need your help. More specifically, Chance Declan needs your help.”
A sigh comes through the speaker. “What did the fucker do now?”
“He couldn’t get all of his cattle out before the fire started closing in. We believe he herded them to the southeast corner of his property, which borders yours. We need your help getting him and the animals out.”
A string of swear words sounds next as the phone ruffles and it sounds like he’s moving. “Stubborn-ass fucking cowboy. Never did have his head screwed on straight.”
I relay that we’re working on getting trailers and should have enough to get the animals out safely. “We just need your okay to enter your land and get them.”
“I’ll do you one better, I’ll meet you there. Just make sure the asshole doesn’t do anything else stupid until we get there.”
The line clicks and I look down at the screen of my phone. Only minutes have passed since finding out Chance is likely cornered on his property, but it feels like it’s been hours.
“Dakota! We’ve got it organized! We need to get moving!” Krissy yells.
“I grabbed what I could,” Addie says as she reaches me, her arms laden with bags filled with items. “They also threw in some first aid supplies, just in case. I don’t know how to use all of them, but hopefully we don’t need it.”
We’d better not need it.
“I’ve got my truck ready to go,” Brett says. “I can take the four of us. Everyone else that can help will meet us at the ranch next to Chance’s.”
“How….?”
“Whiskey Falls is a small town, Dakota. We’re family. No one is going to leave Chance behind.” Krissy places her hand on my arm and for the second time tonight, I fight the tears in my eyes.
I might not have grown up here, but it’s easy to see that the town is a family. When it matters the most, they rally together and take care of their own.
I stand up straighter, knowing that I’m also not doing this alone. I have an army full of people that are ready to ride into the fire and get Chance out. We won’t lose him, or any of the animals tonight.
“Let’s go save our cowboy.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chance
“Come on now, Duke. Don’t be like this,” I run my hand along his flank while holding his reins tight in my other hand.
I resist the urge to cough, as it only seems to agitate him more. The burning in my lungs is getting worse with every breath I take, but I need Duke to calm down or I have no hope of avoiding a stampede of cows along with him.
Duke huffs and blows air at me, trying to take a step back.
“Just let me put this on you. It’s for your own good.” I try to talk in my calmest voice, but the closer this fire gets, the less I’m able to maintain it.
