Play It Safe(106)

It took three slaps then she heeyahed.

I got one more horse out before the horrifying sound of creaking wood and the terrified shrieks of penned horses penetrated my brain then, before I could locate Gray, he located me. His hand closed tight around mine and he dragged me toward the opened front doors.

We weren’t out of the barn when the back collapsed and I couldn’t swallow my terrified scream at hearing the booming crash and feeling the force of the wave of air and blast of heat that blew my hair forward.

But we weren’t back there. We were fifteen feet from the doors then ten then five then we were out. The much cooler summer air hit me like a slap and I sucked in its clean as Gray kept racing us away from the barn.

Then he stopped me, yanked on my hand and I looked up at his soot-streaked face.

“We need to get the horses in the paddock. They’re spooked. Be cautious. Don’t approach unless you get a good feeling. Guide them in, herd them in, chase them in, clapping and shouting, whatever you gotta do but stay away if they’re spooked. Yeah?”

I nodded.

He let my hand go and took off. I looked right and left seeing horses all around. I approached one then saw Gray with another one. It was the one he rode often, his horse, a stallion, white with big brown splotches called Answer. Then I watched in asstonishment as, bareback, he swung up then somehow wheeled Answer around and then started to race through the area, herding horses.

I did my bit, dashing around and herding them toward him.

My work was done, all of the horses near the house were in the paddock and Gray was galloping off toward a couple that were further away when I heard the sirens.

But I didn’t look to the sirens. I looked to the still burning barn, the flames dancing high, licking the air. Another section had collapsed.

Then I looked to the paddock and counted.

Ten horses.

Numbly, my head turned and I watched Gray driving the two other horses toward the paddock.

With his horse and those two, that made thirteen.

Thirteen.

Thirteen.

Listlessly, I turned back to the barn.

Seven horses were dying in there or already dead.

Seven.

The sirens got closer, I heard shouts, men working and the red, blue and white of emergency vehicle lights flashed through the dancing light of the flames.

“Ivey!” I heard my name shouted but I stared at Gray’s barn burning knowing which horses were in those back stalls, stalls Gray and I didn’t have time to get to. I’d fed them. I’d moved them to the paddocks. I’d even ridden two of them.

Two hands clasped my arms and pulled me away ten feet but I didn’t tear my eyes from the barn.

Then I was shaken and heard, “Talk to me, Ivey. Gray’s seein’ to business and I gotta know what went down.”

I turned and looked up at Captain Lenny.

Then I told him everything he needed to know.

“Gray’s shotgun blasted.”

Lenny’s entire face went hard in a way that if I wasn’t numb with shock and sadness would have scared me.

Then his eyes shifted to the dancing flames.

* * * * *

One hour, forty-five minutes later…

“I know what I saw, Len,” Gray rumbled and Lenny stared at him as uniformed officers shuffled around and, far away, in the smoldering remains of the decimated barn, firefighters cautiously circled, beat out, stomped out and sprayed their hoses to dampen the embers and keep any sparks from catching something else.

I knew this was happening but I only had eyes for Lenny and Gray.

And this was because Gray had seen something this time.

And what he’d seen was Lenny’s nephew Pete running to his pickup and racing away.

“You saw him get in it?” Lenny asked quietly.

“Saw him runnin’ to the lane and jumpin’ in the truck,” Gray confirmed.

“You sure it was Pete?”

“Went to grade school with him, Len. Shared first grade, fourth grade and I reckon two dozen classes all through high school with him. Seen him in that truck at least a hundred times in the three years he’s had it.” Gray’s voice was low, rough and really, really pissed. “I know Pete when I see him, Lenny.”

“Fuck,” Lenny whispered.

“He burned down my barn and killed seven of my horses,” Gray stated, his voice starting with the same qualities but degenerating with every word. “Ivey didn’t help, twelve horses would have gone down. And, I’ll add, my woman was in there helpin’.”

Gray paused and a muscle jumped in Lenny’s cheek.

“You bring his ass in,” Gray whispered. “You get him in the tank, Len. You know what I’m sayin’ to you.”

Lenny stared at Gray and he knew what Gray was saying. The safest place for Pete to be was in jail.

Lenny turned his head to an officer and jerked up his chin.

That officer jogged to a cruiser.

Then Lenny avoided Gray’s eyes and mine as his went to the smoldering destruction.

Then he whispered, “Christ, boy’s got shit for brains. Always has.”

“This isn’t shit for brains,” Gray ground out and Lenny flinched. “Ivey was in that barn with me and I got seven horses down. Me and my woman are breathin’ but half the f**kin’ thing collapsed while we were in it.” Lenny looked back at Gray. “This shit’s gotta stop, Len. You got this one last chance to make it stop. You don’t, I’m takin’ measures.”