On Monday, March tenth, Ty saw Cade and Jessie off on the train to Dallas where they were to attend the Cattlemen’s Convention. Early that evening, Nate threw open the door to the store, rattling the glass. “Ty, your livery is on fire!” He only paused long enough to shout the warning before running next door.
Ty dropped a stack of shirts, bolted out the door and down the street, followed by Ed and everyone else in the store. His heart lurched at the sight before him. Flames shot up the wagon-yard side of the building, engulfing practically the whole wall. The terrified shrieks of the horses pinned in their stalls spurred him to run with all his might.
Two horses raced out the large open doors, followed by the stable manager. Joe stumbled and fell to his knees, coughing and gasping for air. Several bystanders hurried to his aid, dragging him away from the fire.
Ransom and Quint met Ty thirty feet from the blaze. “I have to get the horses out.” Ty ripped off his jacket and dunked it in a nearby water trough. “Has anybody gone for the fire wagon?”
“I see them coming.” The bell on the hand-drawn wagon announced the impending arrival of the fire hose. Ransom shed his jacket and dipped it in the water, too.
Quint grabbed it out of his hands. “I’ll help Ty. You get people organized. They’ve never had to fight a fire.”
Ransom nodded and started giving orders. “Make way for the fire wagon. Move away from the hydrant. Give them room to hook up the hose. You men, get some buckets and blankets.” He pointed at a handful of other men. “Get those wagons and buggies out of the yard.”
Ty threw the wet jacket over his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Quint do the same. Please, God, protect us. Help us get those animals out of there. He took a deep breath and using a wet coat sleeve to shield his face, he rushed through the doorway. Quint was right behind him.
The smoke was thick and dark, but the spreading flames cast an eerie glow throughout the building. When he was forced to take another breath, the intense heat and smoke stung his lungs. He jerked open the door to the first stall, stepping back out of the way as Dusty raced for safety. Another horse followed right behind him.
At the next stall, he had to slap the horse with his jacket to get it moving in the right direction. The third horse had almost broken the stall door down. As Ty’s fingers closed on the latch, she kicked the door and almost knocked him off his feet. “Easy girl.”
Dragging in a smoky breath, Ty wished he’d kept his mouth shut. Coughing, he fumbled with the latch, stumbling back out of the way as it swung open and the horse dove out. For a second, she went the wrong way, then spun around, slamming him against the stall wall, before she raced out the main doors.
Ty groaned and grabbed the doorjamb to keep from falling.
Two other horses raced by.
“You all right?” Quint appeared at his side, then doubled over with a fit of coughing.
Ty straightened. “Yeah. Go.” He pushed Quint toward the door and waited a few seconds to see if he could make it. When he figured he would, Ty felt his way through the thick smoke to the last stall. Buttercup. Joanna Watson’s sweet little mare, the most docile, shyest horse of the lot. Though she stomped and cried out in fear, she’d backed into the corner. She didn’t budge when Ty opened the door.
He took the wet coat from over his head and shoulders, and eased into the stall, holding back a cough with every ounce of willpower he possessed. He threw the coat over her head, covering her eyes, grabbed a fistful of mane and led her toward freedom.
The heat scorched the back of his hands and his neck. Unable to breathe, he pulled an edge of the coat over his mouth and nose, hoping it would filter out some of the smoke. It was enough to keep him on his feet as they made for the door. Water streamed from his raw eyes. Through the haze of smoke and tears he barely could see the outline of the big double doors.
He heard a crackling overhead and looked up. Fire swirled along the roof, chunks of burning wood dropping down into the hayloft above them. A fiery board fell, hitting his arm. He jerked away, clenching his teeth against the pain and dodged the board as it hit the ground.
They cleared the doorway, the horse dragging him from the building when his legs turned to rubber. Fighting for air, Ty was vaguely aware of hands reaching for him, arms going around his waist to hold him up and of being pulled away from the smoke. Someone threw a rope around Buttercup’s neck and led her to safety.
Collapsing on the ground, Ty sat up, struggling for air. Every breath seared his lungs and triggered more coughing. Suddenly, Camille was beside him, kneeling in the street. She handed him a cup of water, then helped him hold it to his mouth and drink. He repaid her kindness by coughing and spewing water all over her. “Sorry,” he rasped.
“Don’t be.” Putting her arms around him, she held him close, letting him lean on her for support. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters.” He felt her shudder. “I was so afraid you wouldn’t come out of there.”
He looked up at her face, his heart aching at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Don’t cry, sweetheart,” he whispered. It was all he could manage. Resting his head on her shoulder, he closed his stinging eyes.
“Don’t tell me not to cry, Ty McKinnon. You scared the life out of me.” She sniffed and angrily wiped her nose on her sleeve. “A woman has a right to cry when the man she loves goes dashing into a burning building.”
It was a second before her words sank in. It took a great deal of effort, but he looked up at her face again. “You love me?”
“Yes, I love you.” Scowling, she sounded downright mad about it. “More’s the pity since you’ll probably always go charging into fires or helping Ransom chase after desperadoes, bent on being a hero.”
“Couldn’t let the horses die.” Ty touched her cheek with his fingertips, leaving a trail of black soot. He couldn’t let the moment pass. She was right. He might have been killed in that livery, and she never would have known what was in his heart. “I love you, too, Camille.”
“Oh, Ty.” She hugged him fiercely. He couldn’t hold back a groan.
She let out a squeak. “Ty, you’re hurt. Your arm is burned. Where’s the doctor?” she cried. “He’s hurt!”
“It’s not that bad.” Ty looked down at the long, wide burn on his arm. Then again, maybe it was. He twisted around to look at the livery stable. Flames shot high into the air. All four walls were ablaze. Somehow, the fire had jumped across the alley, embers carried on the wind or falling debris, he supposed. The saloon and billiard hall on the corner was completely in flames. He watched in horror as the fire crept along the boardwalk, igniting a second store. Trying to stand, he glared at her when she held him down. When did she get to be so strong? “I need to help.”
“You need to stay right here.” Looking around, she yelled, “Somebody get a doctor.” Her voice gentled. “Ransom and the others are doing all that can be done.”
“Quint?”
“He made it out okay. He’s still coughing some, but he’s helping with the fire hose anyway. Thank goodness, here comes Dr. Thomas.” She waved frantically. “Over here.”
The good doctor knelt beside them, nodding when Camille pointed to Ty’s arm. “Sorry. You’d think with three doctors in this town a man could get treatment quicker. But broken bones and new babies don’t adhere to a schedule.” He frowned when Ty coughed and grabbed his side. “You got another burn?”
Ty shook his head. “Horse knocked me into the wall. It’s not cracked. Had cracked ribs before and this isn’t the same.”
The doctor leaned down, pulling up his shirt, gently pressing his side with his fingertips. “No obvious break and no cuts. You’re likely to have a hefty bruise. Come over to the office where I can properly tend to that burn.”
“Not now. I need to stay here until the fire is out.” He dragged in a breath and was thankful when it didn’t trigger another round of coughing.
“Then let me wrap it. That will at least keep it from getting dirtier. Don’t you try to man the hose. Take plenty of deep breaths, even if it hurts. Try to force that smoke from your lungs.” He took a bandage from his bag and carefully wrapped it around Ty’s forearm. “I’ll check Quint out before I head over to the office. Can’t see as anyone else needs me. The minute you can leave, you hightail it over to the office so I can clean that up proper.”
“Thanks, Doc.” Ty watched the fire for a few minutes after the physician walked away. “I need to send Cade a telegram. Fine way to start off his week. Hope I can convince him that he doesn’t have to come home right away.” He stood with Camille’s help, though he didn’t really need it. “After I talk to Ransom, I’ll let Cade know about this. Then I’m coming back here.”
“All right.”
He looked at his love, wondering why she had suddenly become so docile. “No fussin’ at me?”
“It wouldn’t do any good. But I’m staying right with you to make certain you do what the doctor ordered.”
“Good.” Ty caught her hand and together they walked over to where Ransom was supervising the battle. They were concentrating on keeping the fire from spreading. It appeared they had succeeded. The flames dwindled in Mr. Schroeder’s new tailor shop, but, like the saloon, it was a total loss.
“Do you know what caused it?” asked Ty.
Ransom made a quick appraisal of his condition before answering. “A ranch freight wagon cut the corner too sharp going into the wagon yard. It was loaded high with buffalo bones. One of them must have been sticking out and struck the lantern hanging from the eaves, the one lighting the way into the yard, and knocked it down. The driver was pulling two wagons and didn’t notice it. By the time he parked the wagons and climbed down, flames were already racing up the side of the building. He sounded the alarm and tried to douse the fire with his coat, but a spark flew through the window and lit a pile of hay inside the building.”
“And it spread too fast.” Ty surveyed his ruined building. At least he had insurance and other means of livelihood. With all the liquor in the saloon adding fuel to the fire, he hoped the proprietor had insurance. He caught sight of Mr. Schroeder, standing forlornly off to the side. He glanced at Ransom. “Thanks for taking charge.”
“That’s what you pay me for. It’ll probably burn half the night, but I think we can keep it under control.”
Ty nodded and walked over to speak to the tailor. Camille went along, staying right by his side as she’d promised. “Mr. Schroeder?”
The man turned his head, the despair in his eyes highlighted by the flames. “It’s all gone. Everything. How will I support my family?”
“You don’t have insurance?” Ty figured he knew the answer already.
“No. I’ve made suits for fifteen years and never needed insurance.”
“I’ll pay your losses, Mr. Schroeder.”
Schroeder’s mouth fell open. “Why?”
“That was my livery stable.” Ty choked as a cough caught him by surprise. It took a few minutes to catch his breath. “Since the fire started there, I feel responsible. I trust you’ll be fair in the estimate of loss. We’ll start working on it tomorrow.”
The tailor scrutinized him a long time before he replied. “You’re a good man, McKinnon. I accept your offer.”
They shook on it, then Ty and Camille looked around for the saloon keeper. He was holding the nozzle of the fire hose at that moment.
Ty approached the man carefully. He had a reputation for a hot temper, though he and Ty had always gotten along. “Jake?”
Jake Forrester glanced in his direction and turned the fire hose over to someone else. “Nasty business.” He glanced at the bandage on Ty’s arm. “You all right?”
“Yeah. Gotta let Doc fix it up after a while. Do you have fire insurance?”
“Yes. Too many bullets flying around on Saturday nights not to. I’ll be out of business for a while, but it should cover the whole thing.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“We ’bout got the fire out. You’d better go let Doc tend to that arm. Wouldn’t do for it to get infected.”
Ty studied the remnants of the fire. “It will need watching all night in case it flares up again.”
“We’ll handle it. You go take care of your wound and get some rest. I’ve heard that smoke in the lungs can cause pneumonia if you aren’t careful.”
“I’ll stop back by after I see the doctor.” Ty slipped his arm around Camille’s shoulder. She put her arm around his waist, being careful not to press on his hurt side. Oblivious to the interested glances from those still watching the fire, they walked down the middle of the street, holding on to each other.