He guided the three volunteer firetrucks to theback pasture where his ranch hands were doing their best to build a firebreak. It was just a grass fire and didn’t even involve trees. The acreage would grow back greener and healthier for it, but the wind had picked up and shifted directions and was swiftly moving toward the house.
While that was concerning, he was confident the firefighters could handle it. The smoke blew into their faces. Roan pulled out the red bandana he kept tucked in his back pocket and fashioned a mask from it.
He hoped Jazzy wasn’t unduly worried. She seemed an easygoing sort, not given to alarm. Claire, on the other hand, would have been beside herself with anxiety. His wife had needed a lot of emotional reassurance.
Scorched earth lay in front of him with widening rings of fire spreading outward in all directions. His nostrils burned with the acrid scent and it stung his eyes. Blinking repeatedly, he motioned for his ranch hands to get out of the way and let the firefighters do their jobs. He and his men gathered off to one side, watching as the firefighters rolled out their hoses and went to work.
“Do you know what started it?” he asked Rowdy, his foreman.
Rowdy shook his head. “Leon smelled smoke and came out to investigate.”
“You’ve got the nose of a bloodhound,” Roan told Leon. “Good work.”
Leon, a rangy cowboy in his midfifties, simply nodded. He wasn’t a big talker.
“All the horses accounted for?” The question was rhetorical. He knew if a horse was missing, they’d be out searching for it.
“Yep,” Polk said. He and Leon were cousins, but where Leon was thin, Polk was plump and several years younger. “Cattle too.”
“Thank you,” Roan said. “I appreciate you.”
“Just doing our jobs,” Polk said.
Trinity was with Jazzy. The livestock were safe. The firefighters were dousing the fire. This emergency was minor. Roan felt tension ease from his shoulders.
Tempted to return to the house and let Jazzy be on her way, he stayed, not feeling right leaving while the fire was still burning. It felt odd to have a stranger in his home and he wondered if Jazzy was the type to snoop.
She’s not a stranger. She was Trinity’s nurse.
And his daughter adored her.
Heck, his mother adored Jazzy. Mom had gone on and on about what a great nurse Jazzy was and how she’d overcome so many obstacles in her life. In fact, Mom talked about her so much, Roan was beginning to wonder if his mother was trying to play matchmaker.
It was a ridiculous thought. Jazzy was too young for him.
Besides, Roan had zero interest in dating. Not because he was still grieving for Claire, but with all the responsibilities in his life, the idea of making the effort that dating took simply felt too overwhelming.
The fire chief, Captain Sherley, came over to talk to him.
“Any idea what started it?” Roan asked.
“Spark from somewhere.” Captain Sherley eyed his ranch hands. “Any of you men smoke or vape?”
All three shook their heads.
“No untended campfires?”
“Nope,” Rowdy said. “We did run the ATV to round up the cattle but that was after the fire started.”
“There’s a new firing range they built on the ranch next door,” Polk offered. “I heard target shooting this morning. Could a spark have come from that?”
“It’s possible.” Captain Sherley planted both hands on his hips and widened his stance. “The county’s been pretty dry. They’ve discussed a burn ban. I’ll have a talk with your neighbor and make sure they steer clear of metal targets.”
“Thanks,” Roan said. “I appreciate it.”
It took over an hour for the firefighters to completely drench the pasture and declare the fire extinguished. The grass still smoldered, but the smoke dissipated. The stench clung to his hair and clothes, clogged up his nose. He was ready for fresh air.
The ranch hands drifted back to the barns to tend the livestock and after Roan thanked the firefighters, shook their hands, and pledged a big donation to the volunteer fire department, he stood alone looking at the surface scarring. The pasture would look beautiful come spring, but so much for winter grazing. He’d have to put in an order forextra hay. That would take a hit from his Christmas budget.