Wishing for the Rancher’s Love (High Country Ranch #5)

Chapter 20

20

Clementine raced through the hallway in the direction of the wafting smoke. As she reached the doorway of what appeared to be the kitchen, she stopped short at the sight of the rear wall covered in flames that were now swiftly spreading across the ceiling.

Grady was beating against the flames with a wet dishtowel, and Mr. Curley was throwing liquids upon it. The dishpan and a large kettle were already emptied and discarded on the floor, and now he had the coffee pot and was tossing the leftover contents onto the fire.

The splash of coffee that came out of the pot didn’t do much to hinder the flames, and Mr. Curley scanned the kitchen frantically, his gaze landing on a jar of jelly on the worktable. He swiped it up, unscrewed the lid, then flung the contents onto the nearest portion of fire.

A glob flew out and hit the wall, but it did nothing to stop the momentum of the flames.

What could she do to help? They had to act quickly, or the fire might spread to other parts of the hotel.

With a sense of urgency rising inside her chest, she scanned the kitchen. There was another kitchen towel hanging on a peg near the back door. She started across the kitchen toward it.

“Stay out, Clementine!” Grady shouted with a sharp glare in her direction.

She shook her head. “We all need to help if we have any hope of putting out the fire.”

“No.” He stopped beating the flames, his forehead creased. “It’s too dangerous. Now, get out of the building until the fire is out.”

“Have her ask the other guests to exit with her,” Mr. Curley called as he tossed another dollop of jelly into the flames. “Reverend Ludwig, would you go alert the fire chief?”

The reverend had obviously realized no one was coming back for the ceremony and had joined them in the kitchen. His eyes filled with fright as he watched the flames stretch to the ceiling.

She wanted to stay, but she suspected Grady would toss her over his shoulder and carry her out if she tried. And that would waste precious time needed to fight the fire. The next best thing to do was make sure the rest of the guests were safe.

From what she’d overheard Mr. Curley telling Grady when they’d arrived earlier in the day, the hotel currently wasn’t full. Hopefully that meant she could relay the word and give everyone plenty of time to get out of the building before the flames spread too far.

Thankfully the reverend seemed to see the urgency of the situation as well, and he hurried out of the building at practically a run. She raced up the stairs to the second floor and banged on doors, calling out the warning.

Within minutes, men in different stages of undress poured from the rooms. Only a few women were present and one family with two small children. As she explained what was happening, some of the men rushed down to aid in the kitchen while the rest gathered up what they could of their belongings and tromped down the stairs and outside.

Before going out, she peeked into the kitchen to check on Grady. He was busy shouting orders for the newcomers to form a water brigade out the back door to the well.

She quickly rounded up the others to assist with getting water, then headed to the backyard. As surrounding neighbors began to come out of their homes and businesses, they joined in, and soon they had a long line and were passing water from one person to the next as fast as they could from the well toward the hotel’s kitchen.

It didn’t take long for the fire department to arrive with their engine and hoses in the back of a horse-drawn wagon. The volunteer firefighters were soon pumping water into the hotel kitchen and front hallway. Some of the volunteers had on black glazed-leather hats that set them apart from the rest of the men, but most wore ordinary clothing and hats.

She stood aside with the others on the edge of the yard, an alley and hillside behind them, and watched the men wrangle the long hoses. It didn’t take long for the water to douse the flames, leaving big billowing clouds of smoke behind.

Near the back door of the hotel, Grady and Mr. Curley were calling out to the firefighters and directing them. She hadn’t worried about Grady during the fire, knowing he was entirely capable of handling the disaster without getting hurt.

He’d shed his suit coat, and now his white shirt beneath his vest was covered in soot. His hair was damp and his face smudged, but he carried himself with authority and purpose, just like he always did.

He’d never looked better, and he was hers.

Her heart fluttered with a thrill. Grady Worth belonged to her.

As if he sensed her attention upon him, his gaze shifted her direction, landing upon her and assessing her all in one motion. He’d known right where she was, as if he’d been keeping his eye on her and watching over her.

She loved that no matter what he was doing, he was always there to take care of her. Not that she needed to be watched over. But she liked that he was protective.

She was getting married to him... had almost said her vows and pledged her life to him. Would they still be able to finish the ceremony tonight? She could admit she didn’t want to have to wait until the morning.

No. She shook her head. She was being selfish. Of course they would have to wait. Even if the fire was out, a large portion of the hotel was in shambles, water and soot were everywhere, and they might not even be able to return to the hotel, depending on the extent of the damage.

Without her coat, the night air began to penetrate the sleeves of her bodice, especially now that she’d grown idle. A chill raced up her back, and she wrapped her arms over her chest and hugged herself.

Grady again glanced her way, taking note of her arms and probably realizing she was cold. He said something curt to the firefighter he was talking with and then broke away from the men, swiping up his coat from a barrel where he’d tossed it.

Warmth began to pool inside her. Not only was he watching over her, but he’d also noticed she was cold and was coming her way. If she didn’t already love Grady, she would be falling in love with him soon.

At the calling of his name, he halted and pivoted. Another firefighter was stepping out of the back door—a tall fellow someone had referred to as the fire chief. He beckoned to Grady, probably wanting him to come inside to assess the damage.

Grady hesitated, then handed his coat to Reverend Ludwig with a nod in her direction before he ducked through the blackened beams and into the burnt-out kitchen. The reverend was chatting with a group of men and didn’t make a move toward her with the coat.

The others around her were already beginning to migrate toward the front of the hotel, probably hoping they could return to their rooms. She might as well retrieve the coat from the reverend and join everyone in front.

Or maybe she’d wait by the kitchen door for Grady to come back out.

Before she could make up her mind, a gloved hand captured her arm and began to tug her backward.

For a second, she was too surprised and confused to resist. Was someone pulling her farther from the danger?

As she twisted and caught a glimpse of a great coat with the collar pulled up and a derby hat tipped low, the confusion evaporated, and fear rushed in to take its place.

Her stalker had found her.

She opened her mouth to call out to the clusters of people moving away from her or to scream Grady’s name, but another gloved hand snaked over her mouth, cutting off everything, even her next breath.