To Wed in Texas by Jodi Thomas

someone to hear.
    He broke into a dead run toward the flames that seemed to grow as he identified them. Orange and gold flickers danced along a two-story structure and jumped to other buildings as though escaping the blaze. By the time he reached the outskirts of Dallas Street, the flicker had grown to a monster.
    The dragon had awakened.
    Several buildings were ablaze. People ran everywhere, some saving their property, some in fear, some looting warehouses in the dawn-like light of chaos. In this town of wealth and trade, no one had thought to organize any kind of fire department. Panic spread faster than flames.
    Daniel watched a whirl of ashes climb toward Heaven like a mini-tornado. The twister caught in the wind and funneled high in the sky. Ashes, still red with life, scattered across rooftops like crimson rain. The fire was spreading. In a few blocks it would reach his church. Another block his house. Daniel turned and ran.
    He plowed through his kitchen door without slowing down. “Karlee! Get the twins. You’ve got to get out of here.”
    He was halfway up the stairs before she opened her door. “Will it spread?” She was buttoning her blouse, telling Daniel the fire had already awakened her. “How long do we have?”
    “I’m not sure. It looks like at least a block of downtown is already burning. I’ll hitch the wagon. Can youdrive to the Buchanans’ place? Most of the men are gone, but Deut and his younger sons are still home. You’ll be safe there.”
    “I can,” Karlee answered as she ran for the twins’ room.
    He hoped she wasn’t lying. There was no time for discussion. He hitched the team and pulled it to the back of the house. She hurried out with a twin in each arm. A large bundle hung over one shoulder like a cotton picking sack.
    “I threw what I could of clothes in a sheet.” She surprised him with her calm. “We’re ready.”
    Daniel helped them into the wagon. The fires pushed midnight away. The air was summer hot even though it was only early March. As he kissed each child, he thanked Heaven for the cradle he’d attached to the back of the wagon’s bench. The twins would be safe as Karlee gave her full attention to driving.
    “Aren’t you coming?” She lifted the reins with skill.
    “I have to do what I can here,” he answered. “I’ll be all right.” He closed his hand around hers in reassurance. “Take care of the girls, Karlee. Don’t worry about me.”
    Before she could answer, a rider pounded into the small yard on a horse that looked half-mad from the flames. The horseman reined with expert skill, fighting the animal’s desire to remain at full gallop.
    Wolf yelled for Karlee to wait as he climbed off his mount and slung a body he carried over his shoulder.
    “Hold up,” he stormed toward them. “I got something you need to get out of town.”
    He slammed the figure wrapped in a saddle blanket into the back of the wagon. “You’re going to Deut’s, right?”
    Karlee nodded, speechlessly watching the blanket wiggle.
    “Tell Deut to watch him close, and whatever he does,don’t untie him.” Wolf stepped back and wiped his brow. “And if he can, be gentle with the man. Don’t hurt him.”
    Daniel raised an eyebrow as a bare leg kicked free of the blanket, but asked no questions of his friend.
    “Tell Deut I’ll explain more later. He already knows some.” Wolf slapped the wagon team into action and yelled, “Remind him if the fellow gets free, it’ll take ten men to hold him back down.”
    Karlee had her hands full fighting the reins. The horses smelled the fire now and were edgy. She glanced back at the twins riding in their box. They were both watching the blanket tossing in the back of the wagon with a mixture of curiosity and fear.
    Another bare leg kicked free. She drove the team faster than she’d ever driven horses. Luckily, the road was clear and smooth. The girls were safe. She didn’t want to even think about what might happen if whoever was