Nobody's Dream (41 page)

What else did she need to take with her? She ran into the house. Lucas had instructed her to be prepared, and she picked up her backpack filled with toiletries, underwear, and extra clothing.

Lucas!

Should she let him know what was going on? He would never reach them in time to help. She needed to rely on herself. But what about when they did make it to safety? She would need help with the animals. Her babies were familiar with Lucas and his barn already, so she could give them a sense of normalcy there. The poor things already were shaken to the core by the fire.

Pulling out her phone on her way to the kitchen, she pressed his number on her recent calls list, but it went to his voicemail. While gathering a loaf of amaranth bread and two gallon-sized jugs of drinking water, she left her message.

Please, Goddess, let the signal be strong enough for him to hear my words.

Just in case, she repeated the message twice. “Lucas, there is fire closing in on us from two directions. My access road is blocked. I plan to hike down the southern side of the mountain with the alpacas. If you get this message, please head toward the pass pull-off and bring your trailer. I will call again when I reach the highway.” The second time, she added, “I need you, Lucas. I am sorry to have to bother you.”

Cassie disconnected the call. She had done nothing but push the man away for weeks, so to find herself begging him to rescue her seemed the most selfish act of all, but she could not risk her babies being harmed.

Unsure why, she suddenly hurried back to the bedroom and over to the center drawer of her vanity. The folded slip of paper fit easily into her jeans pocket. Perhaps the vows written in Lucas’s hand would be the good-luck talisman that would help them all escape this burning mountain unharmed.

She would try better to live up to the promises she had made to him this time, even if he deserved someone whole who could love him the way he should be loved.

On her way out the cabin door, instead of going straight to the shed, foolish though it was, she ran back to her studio. The piece she had been working on called to her. She had poured out her emotions over the birth of Kitty’s babies and everyone coming together to make sure they were cared for. She could not let this piece burn if the fire destroyed the studio.

At least it was not attached to the mirror yet. She grabbed the lightweight frame and ran back to the shed. She must hurry.

Inside, she tied the feedbags and water containers onto the backs of the animals. She filled four more jugs with their drinking water, balancing all six on the backs of Tika and Killa. Graciela would have her hands full keeping Milagrosa fed and calm, so the new mama would only carry Cassie’s backpack.

Once she had everyone ready, she tied the animals together on the same tether so no one would stray. Standing outside the shed, she assessed the fires, but neither seemed to have come much closer.

She pocketed the phone and grabbed the rope harness with Tika in the lead and started down the mountain, following the stream flowing from where remnants of the snowpack above her cabin were melting.

Do not look back.

She did not wish to think about losing the place that had been her sanctuary for four years, but all that really mattered was right here with her. She hoped Lucas received her message. She would need him to be there when they reached the road. By then, they all would be exhausted, no doubt.

Goodness. She had never admitted needing Lucas—or any man—for anything since she had become an adult. If she were alone, she could have escaped unaided, but she could not risk harm coming to her babies.

Still, she could not imagine asking any other man to help. With Lucas, as least she could feel safe, albeit uncomfortable.

She clicked her tongue. “Come on, girls. No time to waste!”

She had to be a disappointment to Lucas. Perhaps while staying with him, they should discuss calling off this sham of a marriage. She had never been able to follow through on her promises to spend time with him. A handsome, compassionate man like Lucas would have any number of women flocking to marry him. A kind-hearted man like Lucas did not deserve to be saddled with a cold and distant woman who wanted nothing to do with him.

She and Lucas had negotiated something they had agreed would benefit them both. She was the only one who had reneged on her promises and vows.

She would try to be a better friend to Lucas, a helpmate with his animals, and a confidante. He had never demanded that she be a wife in the true sense of the word.

Lucas, please forgive me.

She did not bother to check her cell phone. Coverage was spotty away from the signal booster at the cabin.

Thoughts of living with him again until she could return to her cabin—
if
she could go back—left her with a knot in the pit of her stomach. Heat warmed her cheeks. The exertion from guiding the alpacas down the hillside must be leaving her overheated, but she needed to make haste. She smelled smoke and, at this point, had no clue where the fire was located. She could stop for a drink later.

If only she had been able to speak directly with Lucas. Was he on his way? He would have contacts with the fire department who could give him the safest path to follow, knowing where the fires were burning.

At least one of the fires had been reported. Perhaps other rescue workers were on their way, too.

Cassie continued to follow the stream. Despite the dry conditions, it still had water flowing, and if she needed to wet her alpacas down or give them fresh water, that would be an easy source rather than pouring water down their throats from the jugs they hauled.

She suddenly realized she hadn’t remembered to take
Abuela’s
blanket from her altar area. Nor her
lliclla
, or shoulder cloth, that had been worn on both
Abuela’s
wedding day as well as her own. Tears stung her eyes. She had been focused on saving other possessions—her wedding vows and latest artwork—not to mention caring for her babies. How could she have forgotten the treasures of her happy childhood? Her cheeks grew wet.

Graciela nudged her shoulder and she stopped a moment to bury her face in the alpaca’s soft hair. But she soon squared her shoulders. “Thank you.” Now she must trudge on and think about the living, not the dead. Her foot slipped on the muddy bank of the stream, but she grabbed for Tika, who kept her from falling.

Lucas, please be waiting for us at the highway.

Smoke became thicker. It was blowing from the direction she was headed. Now what? She would have to change her plans.

She clicked her tongue. “Come on, girls. We need to move faster!”

Would Lucas worry when she was not waiting at the road as she had said she would be? Would he come in search of them? She hoped so. She would greet him with a hug and a kiss if only he could help them reach safety.

*     *     *

“Rafe, Luke Denton here. I’m seeing smoke up near Iron Horse Pass. Any reports?”

“Yeah. Looks like two separate fires.”

“Cassie López called. She evacuated about an hour ago. I missed the call, and the message was a little garbled, but sounded like she’s headed south from her place.” The fear in her voice burned his gut. If only he hadn’t left his phone on the kitchen counter. He tried to call her back, but could only leave a message on voicemail. “I’m going to load up Pic and try and see if I can meet up with her, but watch for them to come out along the state highway south of the pass. That’s most likely where she’ll come out.”

“Got it. Listen, we have teams headed there now. If you don’t see anything on your way up the hill, meet us at the staging area at the pass’s parking lot, and we can assess the situation better to make sure we cover as much ground as possible.”

“On my way.”

He disconnected the call and headed for the door, grabbing his Stetson and gear by the doorway.

“I’m coming, Sweet Pea. Just hang on.”

Inside the barn, he headed straight for Pic’s stall. “Sorry, boy. No rest for the weary. Cassie needs us.”

The horse pricked his ears and pranced. His saddle and bridle were already inside the trailer. Luke kept them there to be prepared in case of another SAR call. He hadn’t expected the next one to be for Cassie.

Ten minutes after talking to Rafe Giardano, he was tearing up the state highway to the pass. The smoke grew heavier the closer he drew to the source of the fire. He wasn’t sure exactly where her cabin was in relation to the highway, but thought she was on the opposite side of the mountain. That meant one of the fires was between her and escape.

Damn.

He floored the new Chevy Silverado 2500 until he remembered he was hauling Pic and forced himself to take it easy. Wouldn’t do to injure his horse. That horse might be the only thing enabling him to find Cassie.

Hang on, darlin’.

Luke reached a roadblock turning drivers back at the last county road turnoff. He showed his SAR credentials to the police officer, who waved him ahead. Good thing. No one was going to keep him from reaching his wife this time.

No one.

Maybe she assumed she was his wife in name alone, but he meant every word he’d spoken in front of that justice of the peace. He had no intention of breaking those vows as long as he lived.

No sign of her on the way to the top of the mountain. At the fire department’s staging area, he turned into the parking area for tourists and pulled out again on the side of the road with the front of the truck facing toward home. Somehow, he didn’t think Cassie would still be at this elevation if she’d started out nearly an hour ago. Most likely, she’d already started her descent. But it would be easier to follow her trail than to try and guess where she might come out of the woods. He’d try to ride Pic to her point of origin—the cabin—unless fire blocked his way.

After parking and easing Pic out of the trailer, he saddled and bridled him quickly. Mounting, Luke rode back up to the staging area. A scan of the lot, and he zeroed in on Angel’s oldest brother, Rafe. The fire squad leader out of Aspen Corners studied his aerial maps and discussed strategies with two other firefighters. One looked like Angel’s youngest brother, Tony.

Drawing near, Luke dismounted and led Pic by the reins as he approached the men. “Any word from Cassie?”

Rafe, a rugged Italian with weariness in his eyes that belied his years, shook his head. “We’ve attempted phone contact, but there’s no connection. Any idea which way she might’ve gone down the mountain?”

Luke shook his head. “Is the road to her place blocked?”

Rafe nodded.

“I know another way around to her cabin. My SAR horse and I will make it through okay. Once I make sure she’s escaped, I’ll let you know which way she’s headed.

Rafe glanced at the horse standing almost at attention and awaiting orders. “Have your sat phone?”

“Yeah.” He had the ringer on now, too. He could kick himself for missing her call. She’d had a signal then. He could have at least discussed her evacuation plan.

“Rafe, Cassie’s very special to me.”

He scrutinized him. “You know we aren’t going to leave anyone in danger. I don’t care if they’re the governor’s wife or a homeless person.”

“You might as well know that Cassie’s my wife. I’m not coming off this mountain until I find her.”

Rafe narrowed his eyelids. “Don’t do anything stupid, Denton. If you can’t keep your head on straight and follow protocols, you aren’t leaving this staging area.”

“My head’s never been straighter.”
Nothing is going to stand between me and my wife.

After scrutinizing him a few seconds more, Rafe searching Luke’s eyes for something, the man seemed satisfied and nodded. “Show me on this map which quadrants you’ll be covering and then move out. Wish I had another man on horseback to go with you. Report when you know something.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chapter Thirteen

“C
assie!” he called out again, but heard no response.
Damn!
Which way did she go? Her place clearly had been deserted except for her Tahoe and trailer. She couldn’t drive them off the mountain with fire blocking the only access road.