The Rancher Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides Book 1)

than her pride. She had to get away before they damaged her soul. She had to get away before he broke down her barriers and eased his way into her heart.
    Opening the door, she half expected to see Travis; instead the sight that met her eyes sent her heart plunging to her feet.
    Smoke billowed like storm clouds from the barn's hayloft, signaling its death and destruction.
    "Oh, God! The horses," she cried, dropping her suitcase on the front porch and running for the barn.
    "Fire!" she screamed, her voice shrill with panic. "Help, fire!"
    The door to the barn was closed, and she could hear the animals screaming in terror. Tears clogged her throat, her heart pounding in tune with her panic. She yanked open the heavy wooden door and a blast of smoke and soot hit her full in the face. She choked and coughed on the vile smell. Gazing into the blaze, her eyes teared from the fumes and heat. The frightened thumping of a horse kicking at his stall spurred her into action.
    "Travis?" she called into the hazy barn, praying he wasn't in there. Fear pulsed with each beat of her heart. God, she didn't want to enter this inferno, but the horses were in danger.
    Before her panic overwhelmed her, she stepped into the barn. As she lifted the rope latch on the first stall, she tried not to think about the large horses. She tried not to remember their massive hooves, slicing through the air in fear. Through the hazy smoke, she could see the horse's pupils wide with terror and fought to remain calm.
    Swinging open the wooden door, Rose stepped back as the horse raced out of the stall, its hooves thundering through the barn and out the main door.
    Coughing, she tried to hold the air in her lungs for as long as possible between each searing breath, knowing that with each gulp of air, she breathed more smoke.
    Quickly she ran from one stall to the next, releasing the animals. Wood crackled and popped with the flames, the sound eerie and wicked along with the high-pitched wails of the animals. With each breath she drew, her chest felt scorched from the hot air and smoke.
    "Travis!" she called over and over again. Rose had never been so scared in all her life. She kept looking for the man who was both her adversary and her protector, to no avail.
    She ran to the next horse stall and swung open the door, but the horse shied away from her. Frightened of the animal, she pushed the door in further and called to the horse.
    "Come on, gittee up, get going," she sputtered between coughing spasms.
    The air was getting worse, and she knew she was quickly running out of time. But the horse just cried in fright and stomped nervously at the ground with his hoof. Taking a deep breath, she reached in and grabbed him by the halter, trying to keep as far away from the animal as possible. The horse shook his head, but she held on tight.
    "Come on, please come out," she pleaded. "You don't want to stay in here. I promise."
    The horse made a snorting sound and finally took a step toward freedom. As soon as the animal was out of the stall, she let go of the bridle and he took off through the barn and out the door.
    She tried to heave a sigh of relief and only choked on wisps of cinders flying through the air. The smoke-filled air shimmered with heat, the temperature climbing as sweat poured down her face. Her skin felt as if it were melting and she wondered when she would begin to burn.
    Where was Travis? Why hadn't someone come in to help her? Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest as she stumbled through the haze. For a brief moment she wondered if he were dead, and the thought brought a swift rush of pain. She hated him, yet she cared about him.
    "Travis!" she screamed against the roar of the flames. Coughing continuously, she wondered if she would die from lack of air.
    He laid his hand on her shoulder and she jumped in fear.
    "Travis!" Impulsively she threw her arms around him, her relief at seeing him so great. "Oh, God, Travis!"
    "What in the hell are you doing in here?" With both hands he grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a sharp shake.
    "The horses and cows. I had to help the animals." With each breath, her lungs felt seared with heat and smoke. Bright orange flames licked the walls seductively, dancing to a destructive beat.
    "Get out," Travis shouted, spinning her around and trying to shove her toward the door.
    "Not without you!" she commanded.
    "Go! I'll get the rest of the animals, and then I'll be right behind you."
    They had precious