Thirty One

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Trying to catch up the Harper I take her arm.  She's running like a mad woman to the barn that I can see is slowly building in flame. 

"Harper!"  Her mother is even yelling as she tries to catch up.  Harper is screaming, pulling on me.

"Harper!  We need to call for help!"

"No!  It'll be to late!"  She's begging me as she yanks out of my grip.  "Please."  She begs, looking at me with horror in her eyes.  I can hear the horses...she's running for the horses...

"Everyone else stay back!"  I yell over my shoulder, and in a sprint, I am following Harper into the smoking barn.  She's already in front of the three massive animals.

They are bucking, screaming, and I can see that there is no way she's going to be able to calm them down.

"Caleb!  I need you to hold the gate!"  Ash already smudged on her face I see what she's intending to do.  She going to open the stalls one by one.  She's still in a panic state, seeing this as the only way.

Running back to the front, I hold the gate wide, and not even a second late I see Rosa running out.  Then Cowboy....

"Ivory!"  I turn to look at what the hold up is, and see that Harper is on her knees in front of her horse.  My heart drops, thinking the worst. 

But Harper pulls a knife I didn't see and is going for Ivory's legs.  Smoke making it hard to breath, to even see, I make my way to them.

Ivory is on her back, her legs bound and her eyes shielded...slashes around the animals torso.  What animal would do this to Harper's horse!?  I can only think of one person, but in this moment, I know there is a very small chance that we can even get her out of the barn...

Loose from the ropes, Harper unyielding Ivory's eyes and looks deep into them.  Calming her breathing in seeing her.

"Harper!  We have to move!"  We are all coughing, the barn around us lighting up.  With my shout I bring her back into the know and I help her as she pushes on Ivory, urging the horse to stand.

It feels like forever, but we finally manage to get her on her feet.  Only, she isn't doing to hot.  Throwing the lead rope around her neck she pulls on her horse, urging her to move forward, and with every step I feel that we might just make it.

Ivory has her head down over Harper's, and I can see she is the only thing keeping Ivory up, the strain all over Harper's face.  But she is determined, the tears gliding down her burnt checks.  And as I push the gate open, we make it outside.

I hear Lilly and Maggie's cries as they see us, joined by one of Lucas.  He's crying, and eyeing the barn.  But when he sees his mom, he jumps out of his grandmothers arms and runs for her just as Ivory gives out.  Harper yelps at the pressure of the horse on top of her.  I rush quickly to help put her on the ground, on the safe dirt, and ease Harper out of the way.

Her tears are unyielding now, staining my shirt as she pulls Lucas in with her.  They sit there and cry as we hear the sound of sirens. My arms protecting them from the world around them.

"Are you two okay?"  Lilly is hovering, Peyton now in her arms.  Maggie must of had her.

"We're okay...but-"  I stop myself as I look down at Ivory, breathing heavy.  "Please tell me that when you called 911, that you called for animal help as well?"  She pauses and looks at the sirens driving down the lane, fire truck in tow.

"That's the thing Caleb...when we called...Jason said that someone had already phoned in."

My blood runs cold with her statement.

"Who?"

"They don't know...they wouldn't say, the line was restricted."

"Why didn't we not-tice it?"  I hear Harper stutter, pulling away from me.  Her face has calmed, her eyes hardening as she looks at Ivory.

"The barn is a ways away...we had music on baby, its not yo-"

"Mom, this is my fault."  Her voice is clipped, etched with pain.  She's holding Lucas for dear life, but then he pulls away.

"No Mommy...don't be mad at Grandma...it's mine."  He starts crying all over again.

"Baby-"  We all say at once, Maggie included now that she had joined us, the officers working to contain the fire.

"Why do you think it was your fault little man?"  I ask him softly.  He sniffles and holds onto the hand I rest on his hand.

"Because I didn't listen.  He said he would hurt Mommy if I didn't stay there and wait for him!  And now Mommy is hurt!"  He's crying uncontrollably, squeezing my hand.  Harper pulls him close, meeting my eyes.  

And I know we are thinking the same thing.

But first things first...

"Can we get some medical attention over here!?"

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