#a fire

Highlands and Horses Chapter 6 A Fire!

A/N Trigger Warning for animals deaths

Amazing Grace recovers from her colic. Her rehabilitationists have a harder time recovering from that almost kiss.  A constant low heat flows between them. A week passes and they find no time to finish what was started that day. They will soon find themselves working close again in the midst of a different type of fire.

A frantic call from a lass named Geillis Duncan starts their journey towards that fire.

“Mr. Fraser, I work for the ASPCA and we are tracking a horse thief. “

“An actual horse thief.”

“Aye. We believe it is a lad named Steven Bonnet. I am calling all the farms and ranches, as well as centers like your own, to warn them and to ask if you have any information to give me a ring.”

“Absolutely. You do good work. My center is happy to assist you in anyway possible.”

“As do you Mr. Fraser. Thank you, I will.”

Neither realize they will be meeting in person soon, in the midst of a inferno.

He is walking out to check on Amazing Grace and Claire, when his phone rings.

“Mr. Fraser, this is Geillis Duncan.”

“Aye, Mistress Duncan, what can I do for you?”

“We have found Steven Bonnet. He has the stolen horses in a barn in the outskirts of Aberdeen. We aren’t sure what condition they will be in. Could really use your teams experience with traumatized horses.”

“Absolutely. Give me the address and I will gather my crew.”

“Thank you.”  She does and he goes to gather his people.

They take three horse trailers. He and Claire in one, John and Isobel in another, and Jenny and her husband Ian in the last. It is a long drive to Aberdeen. Time to finally talk.

“I really wanted to kiss you.” She softly admits, “still do.”

“Aye, I did and do also. Not sure how to deal with it as I am your employer.” His hands grip the steering wheel.  The longing for her touch, to touch her, only grows stronger.

“Yeah, that is my struggle too.” She longs to rest her head on his shoulder. Longs to sooth the worry lines of his face with her lips and hands. “I don’t want the others thinking that I am getting special attention.”

“Right, or that you are here for any reason besides your incredible talent as a horse whisperer.” They stop at a light and he turns to her. He finds her eyes waiting for his.  “For you are not.”

“I know.” The heat, that constant spark, starts to raise back up. Then the light changes, leaving them both shaky with un meet desire.

“This can’t continue. I fear we will burst into flames.”

“Maybe touch will help.” She suggests as she does what she has wanted to do since they set out. She rests her head against his shoulder and neck. A deep intake of breath greets this move. He moves his head so it leans against hers.

“It does. Quite a lot.” Nothing fully solved but a start towards working it out. They stay that way until they are almost at their destination. A half a kilometer out, a plumb of raising smoke draws them apart as they stare at it in horror.

“It isn’t the barn,  is it?” her hand gripping tight to seat show her distress.

“Pray not.” They are the lead trailer. As they speed up, he knows the others will also.

Unfortunately, it is the barn. A distressed Geillis stands, helpless with her team as they pull up. All jump out, in a hurry to do something, only to find there is nothing they can do. The firefighters do their best, their faces reflecting the horror of the situation. The screams of the trapped horses compete with the sound of the water rushing through the hoses in a desperate attempt to get to any of the trapped animals.

Claire stands, freely weeping, as Geillis explains through her rage, to Jamie and his team, what they have pieced together happened.

“Seems the bastard got word we will on the way. Rather then be caught, the decides to burn the evidence.”

“That bloody unholy f*cking bastard!” Jamie tells out. The barn is completely engulfed.  He knows that they won’t recover any of the animals. All they can do is stand in witness to their murder. He feels Claire’s hand take his.  He tightens his around it. Isobel weeps against John. Jenny paces and curses in Gaelic as Ian softly prays.

From the corner of Claire’s eye, she sees movement. Turning, she is in time to see a flash of golden hair fly past. A pony! A pony had escaped the hell of the barn!

“Jamie!” He turns and sees it too. The animal runs wild, it’s eyes rolling with intense fear.

“Holy hell, one made it out!” Geillis sees it at the same time. All, bar the firefighters, turn towards this miracle. “Can you get him?”

“I can.” Claire says with confidence.  She lets go of Jamie’s hand and slowly approaches the freaked pony. “Hey love. I know. I know. It is evil what that man did. Pure evil. But you are a brave lad. Fearless, eh. As you made it out.” As she speaks, she eases closer.  “A brave lad but we need to see if you are hurt. Will you let me check?” She is a hands span away. The pony just stares at her, his eyes still rolling.  *I promise love, not to hurt you.” Another step and she is there. Her hands come out to cup gently around his neck. “Oh there is a brave lad. Grand job.”

He calms under her gentle hands. A shudder as some of the fear and tension leave. Jamie, who had been following close behind her, nods towards the back of their trailer, that  Jenny has opened. Yes, to get him away from the fire would be best.  

Keeping his eyes, she lets Jamie lead them that way.  Deep sighs from the humans and the horse when they enter the safety of it.

“Hey laddie.” Jamie softly says as Claire starts a quick exam. She exams his body, finding a few burned places. Jamie asks Jenny for the first aid kit.   Claire listens to his lungs, worried about the smoke. There is a bit of wheezing but it isn’t at emergency level.

“Sweet boy, we are going to help with the burns. Help with the pain.”  Claire softly says. The cooling salve relaxes him farther. A bit of oxygen improves his breathing. The firefighters are happy to provide it, as they couldn’t save the others, as the captain says with sadness as he hands the canister to Jamie.

“You did your best. The bastard just started an uncontrollable fire.” Jamie’s rage is rebuilding with the pony safe.

“Aye, I shouldn’t say this, but I hope we find his body in there. I pray he was caught in his own fire.”

“Me too.”

“How is our miracle?” Geillis pokes her head into ask.

“A few burns, a bit of smoke inhalation, resolved with oxygen. He is a blessed boy.”

“We will take him back to the center and make sure this trauma doesn’t cripple him. You can have his real owner contact us.” Jamie adds.

“I will. Thank you for coming and taken care of him. We will find Bonnet. I swear it. When we do, you will need to testify.”

“We will be there. I pray there is strong security.”

“I pray there isn’t.” Geillis returns. “I have to deliver a lot of bad news. Please keep me informed of his progress “

“We will. Thank you.”