Page 24 of Rumors in Bayberry (The Bayberry, Vermont #3)

Chapter Eighteen

I n a town where nothing bad ever happens…

Something bad, something very bad was happening.

Sadie’s blood ran cold. The newspaper was on fire. Fire. How did this happen?

As the initial shock wore off, her heart pounded. She had to go. In the dark, she searched for her purse. Once she had it, she ran as fast as she could to her car. Her parents called out for her to wait, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop. Binx was in the apartment—the apartment above the fire.

She jumped into her car and started the engine. She yanked it into gear and tramped the gas. She couldn’t believe the newspaper was on fire. Hopefully, it wouldn’t have made it to her apartment.

Please, let Binx be okay. Please. He just has to be.

She swiped at the tears in her eyes. She’d never forgive herself if something happened to him. He was just the sweetest cat. She should have returned him to Kate’s right away instead of spending the last couple of nights with him. This was her fault.

She would get there in time to rescue him. She refused to accept any other alternative. After all, her parents only lived a few blocks away. She could do this. No. She would do this.

She pressed harder on the accelerator. That was not a good decision, because the roads were covered in rain water.

So, when she went to turn a corner, she lost control of the car.

Her fingers had a death grip on the steering wheel.

Her heart launched into the back of her throat as everything felt as though it were moving in fast-forward motion.

The car continued to hydroplane…

She stomped the brake with both feet.

It didn’t help. She was beginning to think the car was never going to stop.

Suddenly, she was jerked to a halt. When she looked out the window, she found her car was within a hair’s breadth of striking a parked car.

She expelled a pent-up breath. Her heart dropped back into her chest and pounded against her ribcage.

She didn’t have time for mistakes. There was a fire. A fire.

Absolutely no one had time to deal with her having a car accident. She pressed on the accelerator but not as hard. The car moved at a reasonable speed for the road conditions.

It seemed to take forever, but at last she arrived at her apartment.

Fire.

The newspaper is burning.

My home is burning.

She looked around. Where were the fire trucks? Why wasn’t anyone putting out the fire?

As she swerved to the side of the road, her mind struggled to make sense of what she was seeing. Neighbors were already out in the rain, waving to her to keep going. And then she realized they were making room for the emergency equipment.

She put the car into drive and continued farther down the road. After a haphazard parking job, she jumped out and ran back to the building. She had to get to Binx.

As she tried to go inside, strong arms stopped her. “You can’t go in there.”

“But I have to.” She turned her head to find it was Jackson Wright holding her back.

She fought him with all her might. She had to get Binx. Tears clouded her vision. My kitty. Her heart ached. With her energy spent, she gave up trying to get past him,

Jackson lowered his arm but kept a wary look on her. “Wait. If you’re out here, why did Reed go inside?”

“Reed? Impossible.” She shook her head. “He left town. He’s back in Chicago.”

“That’s not what Louise said. She saw him after the fire broke out. She said he broke the door down. She thought he went in to rescue you.”

“I wasn’t home. I… I was having dinner with my parents.” Her mind was having problems keeping up with everything. There was so much information. “Where is Reed now?”

With a worried look, Jackson pointed at the building. The flames were licking the windows. At that moment, there was a pop-pop as a window shattered. The chunks of glass rained down on the sidewalk.

No. Reed can’t be in there.

She just couldn’t believe it. She turned and looked for Louise Franco. She’d lived across from the newspaper all of Sadie’s life.

Sadie rushed over to the older woman. “Did you see Reed go in my apartment?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry. I called out to him, but he must not have heard me. I did hear him yelling your name a couple of times. He beat on the door. He was so determined to get in there that he finally had to kick the door open. I thought you must have been in there. Thank goodness you’re safe.”

So, he went inside to rescue her, and now it looked like he was the one who needed rescuing. Just then she heard the wail of sirens. They couldn’t get there fast enough.

Sadie was about to walk away when she had one last question. “Did you see Binx come running out?”

A sad look came over the woman’s face. “No, honey. I’m so sorry.”

Sadie attempted to say something, but the lump in the back of her throat stopped her. As though Louise understood the rush of emotions, she reached out and squeezed Sadie’s arm.

As Sadie stared at the building where she’d spent so much of her life, the fire continued to grow as the flames licked at the walls and roof. She didn’t know how that was possible because it was already massive.

Black smoke poured out of the roof. If the fire department didn’t get here soon, there would be nothing left of the place.

Her heart ached. She knew that loss would be nothing compared to losing Reed and Binx.

The thought was too painful to deal with.

She shoved it away. They would be all right. They had to be.

At last, the fire trucks rolled up on the scene. Someone told her they’d been on a call on the other side of town. This storm had been ferocious. People stepped back out of the way.

Sadie didn’t move. She was standing her ground until she knew Reed and Binx were safe.

The fire fighters jumped out of the truck. One young man rushed up to her. “You have to move.”

“There’s a man and a cat trapped in there.” She pointed up at her apartment, which was now fully engulfed in flames.

The young man didn’t say anything more as he rushed off to report the information to the fire chief. There was an explosion in the building. It was followed by a couple more smaller explosions. With each one, her heart leaped into her throat.

Her eyes and throat burned from the smoke, but she didn’t move. Reed had to be all right. She willed him to step out of the building.

And then the door swung open. All she could do was stare. Reed stumbled outside with something in his arms.

She ran to him. He was coughing as he fell to his knees. All the while he clung to… What was that? A blanket?

It wasn’t until she reached him that she heard frantic meows. Binx? He’d saved Binx. They were both safe.

Reed was continuing to cough as he held the howling ball out to her. She gladly took Binx into her arms, but she was really worried about Reed.

He was covered in soot. He still hadn’t spoken to her. As she turned to call out for the medics, they rushed past her.

She was pushed out of the way as they worked on him. They put an oxygen mask over his face as they checked his vitals. Then they rolled up a gurney. Oh no. How serious was it?

All the while, she clung to the blanket that held Binx. She had to get the cat out of there before he hurt himself. He also needed fresh air. She was afraid if she peeled back the cover, in his panicked state Binx would run away.

Kate rushed up to her. “Are you okay?”

“I wasn’t in there. Reed was.”

Kate’s brows scrunched up. “Why was he in your apartment?”

“Saving Binx.” The cat let out an angry yowl. “I need to get him out of this blanket.” She glanced over to see them load Reed into the back of the ambulance.

“I’ll take Binx home,” Kate said. “I promise he won’t escape this time. You go check on Reed, and we’ll see you whenever. I’ll set up the guest room.”

It was only then that the devastation of the evening began to sink in. She couldn’t go home again. It and everything she owned had just gone up in flames.

Kate gave her a one-arm hug so as not to squash the cat. And then Sadie handed over Binx, knowing Kate would take good care of him.

“Are you okay to drive?” Wesley asked. “I can take you to the hospital.”

It was the first time she noticed Wesley standing next to Kate. She must not have had it all together at that moment. And then recalling how close she’d come to an accident on her way here, she said, “I would appreciate it.”

“I can walk,” Kate said.

“That’s not necessary,” Sadie said. “My car is over there.”

Wesley gave Kate a quick kiss before handing her the car keys. And then they ran to her car. She was really worried about Reed.

The closest hospital was the next town over. As Wesley drove, she wondered why Reed was still in town. Why hadn’t he told her he’d changed his mind about leaving? Maybe that was what he’d been intending to do when the fire happened.

Had he stayed because of work or because of the thing happening between them? She really wanted it to be the latter. She had so many questions. But right now, the most important question on her mind was if he was okay?

Sadie wrung her hands together as the ride seemed to go on and on. Every time Wesley stopped for a red light or a stop sign, she internally groaned. It was a really good thing he was the one driving because she didn’t have the patience for any of these delays.

Wesley tried to talk to her, but he must have realized she wasn’t in any mood to talk. The only thing she wanted was to see Reed and know that he was going to be okay.

She couldn’t believe he’d run into a burning building to save her. He was a hero. He was her hero.

Did his actions mean that he had feelings for her—real feelings? Maybe she wasn’t the only one who had been falling in love.

The thought caught her off guard. It was the first time she’d been willing to so much as think that four-letter word. But now that the thought had come to her, she knew it was true.

Buzz.