Page 17

“Hey, there’s a fire. If anyone is home, you need to leave. Now!”
No answer. He checked the windows. Dusty curtains blocked his view. The doors didn’t budge. Didn’t seem like anyone was around at the moment. Maybe they’d obeyed the evacuation order.
A quick orbit around the cabin didn’t reveal any vehicles.
A low rumble sounded from up on the ridge above. Fire chewed up the trees covering the incline and crawled toward him. There was still time, though not much. Dakota sprinted away toward the side of the cabin. He found the dirt road, not much more than a narrow track, leading away from the clearing.
He ran, Allie and the boys not far ahead of him. With the burden of Nolan slowing Allie down, Dakota easily caught up to them. Scout led the pack, galloping full speed ahead.
A glance back showed the fire gaining on them.
“We gotta go faster.” Dakota scooped up Ethan and jogged along Allie’s side. They huffed as they ran down the rutted tracks of an old trail. It was barely a road but easier than slapping tree branches and jumping over roots and boulders. The stinging eyes and throat didn’t help, but Dakota sprinted on.
“The trail forks. Which way do we go?” Allie asked.
“This way.” It was away from the campground, but also going farther from the fire.
“How long has it been?” Allie huffed.
“Only ten or fifteen minutes since I caught up to you.”
She stumbled to a stop and set Nolan on his feet. She bent over her knees, sucking in deep breaths.
“I just”—breath—“need”—breath—“a minute,” her voice rasped.
Dakota set Ethan down too and grabbed water from his pack. “Quick, drink this, then we have to go.”
He kept the boys from looking behind them, but Allie’s eyes widened as she glanced back. She gulped her water and leaned closer to him.
“The fire is gaining. It’s going to reach us before we—” She looked down at the boys and clamped her mouth shut.
“I know.” He dropped his voice low. “We need a miracle.”
Not that he had any right to ask for one. But he was different now. He’d done everything he could to keep Allie and the boys safe. He’d seen God come through in the most unlikely of circumstances. A fight with his own brother to bring him to the place of accepting the help he’d desperately needed. A ride from a complete stranger to get him where he’d needed to go. So why not now?
Faith wasn’t a guarantee that God would do what Dakota thought best, but they’d need Him if they were going to save these boys.
So, we could really use some help right about now, Lord.
Allie finished her water but started coughing. She couldn’t catch her breath. No way could she keep carrying Nolan and move as fast as they needed to.
Looking down at Ethan, Dakota laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Can you run?”
The boy nodded.
“Good.” He held his hands out, and Nolan quickly jumped into his arms. “Come on, Allie. We have to go.”
She coughed but nodded. Scout took off in a flash, running full speed ahead of them. They lost sight of him in the black smoke.
“Scout!” Allie yelled.
They sprinted after him. Behind them, the fire was a locomotive barreling toward them, torching the trees, flames exploding off the tops. Fire dripped down around them, igniting the pine needles lining their path.
Allie started to scream, even as she ran.
And inside, he was screaming too.
FOUR