Chapter 14

When I first see that wall of flame rip across the room, I wonder if it is some cruel, new trick, my damaged mind has decided to play. It FEELS scorching against my skin, sure, but Rachel's curls feel silken when my fingers stroke them. I cannot trust my sense of touch any more than my eyes or ears.

Jimmy's face convinces me this conflagration is real. Not the look of fear, I might have conjured that. No. It is the…the momentary frustrated chagrin, followed by an expression of guilt darted at me. It convinces me because, it takes me…the rational me… a moment to unravel. Of course! Jimmy arranged this as part of my punishment and has been hoist with his own petard.

If it were just me trapped back here, I would not lift a finger to escape. But I cannot leave a young boy in danger. Even to free Jen, darling, beloved Jennifer, from the burden of my existence. I cannot pull the trigger until I know Jimmy is safe.

"Cover your head and run through the flames, Jimmy," I urge. "Fast as you can! Don't look up! It won't hurt if you're fast enough. Do it NOW, before it spreads! GO!"

He tries. But he is only a boy. He is frightened, he flinches back at the heat, hesitates. Hesitation undoes him, the heat sears at his skin. He yells half in pain, half in fear and steps back. Worse than that, I see as he moves he now favors one foot. The boy hurt his ankle in his fall. His step is clumsy, slowed. In a panic, he limps to the window. It is barred of course. That is why I am in this room.

By this time, I have soaked one of my sheets in the washstand. "Listen, Jimmy," I say, keeping my voice calm, "I'll get you out of here. There's nothing to worry about. But you have to do as I say! Understand?"

He looks wide-eyed at me, then, at the thickening flames now licking the walls and spreading wider and wider along the floor, beginning to consume the door and its frame.

"Do you understand?" I snap, making my tone harsh to snap him out of his frozen fear.

"Uh huh," he nods.

I wrap him in the wet sheet. There is no water left in the basin for a second sheet for me. I tip the jug over my head, just to stop my hair catching. I am going to get burnt! Still, I think wryly, looking at the tossed aside gun, what are a few burns?

"I'm going to go on three," I say, taking Jimmy in my arms. "Keep your face against my chest and keep your eyes closed. Three!"

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Kid's ride had barely begun when he heard the cry of 'Fire' and saw Watkins and Doctor Martin launching their shoulders repeatedly against the front door of the surgery.

Behind one of the dark windows on the first floor, bright flames were already licking the glass, sending jagged shafts of light and shadow into the street.

Kid urged his horse on, then swung down from the saddle and ran at top speed to join the two men.

"Take my place!" shouted George Watkins. "You're a dang sight stronger than me!" He gestured at the few townsfolk beginning to gather. "I'll go start organizing a bucket line!"

Kid saw the sense in this and at once joined the Doctor in trying to break down the solid oak door.

"Someone's locked it from the inside," gasped the Doctor. "I just can't believe it was Bretl! I left him sedated…asleep! Not fifteen minutes ago!"

The Doctor was right. It was Jimmy, hoping to delay any possible interruption, who had earlier locked and barred the front door.

"It's giving!" grunted Kid. Above them, a window shattered in the heat. Razor sharp shards of glass rained over the two men. "Once more!" urged the oblivious Kid. He set his teeth and put his whole weight behind the next assault.

There was a definite sound of wood splintering. "And again!" Every bone in Kid's body shuddered at the impact. Something changed inside to help the force from without! The door gave way. Smoke billowed out into the street. Inside the hallway, the choking fumes blackened the air.

Nathan, though floored by the sudden opening of the door, gasped with relief. On finding the exit sealed, he had striven, blinded by smoke, struggling not to breathe, lest the searing fumes robbed him of consciousness, to locate and unfasten the locks and bars to save Jimmy. His gasp of relief was a mistake. Pain flooded his chest as he inhaled scorching toxicity.

"The boy!" he panted. "Get the boy out!"

Doctor Martin followed the pointing finger. Taking a mouthful of clean air before entering, he ran in and emerged with the now semi-conscious youngster in his arms.

Coughing from the smoke, Kid dragged Nathan's arm around his shoulder and half helped, half carried him to the street.

"How is he?" gasped Nathan, blinking with streaming eyes over at Jimmy. A paroxysm of coughs halted him for a moment. "Will he be alright, Doctor?" he wheezed.

"I'm sure he will," reassured the Doctor, supporting the boy's shoulders and helping him swallow from a mug of clean water. "What the Sam Hill was he DOING in there? What happened?"

"Did YOU set that fire?" Kid asked Nathan, offering the man a drink from his canteen. It came out as an accusation.

"No," said Nathan, simply. "The fire was…" he flicked a look at Jimmy, "it was just an accident."

Kid accepted he had not yet heard Jennifer's husband utter a single lie. He did not think this was a lie either. Whether it was the whole truth…was another matter.

"It…it was my fault!" gasped Jimmy, spluttering over his water. "He, Mr. Bretl, saved my life. But the fire was all my fault."

"No! Don't blame the boy. It was a knocked over lamp. An accident," repeated Nathan. His dark eyes went back to the surgery. A look of horror crossed his face and his brows drew together.

Kid turned and followed Nathan's gaze. The fire was burning, hungrily. The bucket line was having little effect yet and Sheriff Watkins, quite sensibly, had diverted a good portion of the effort to dampen down the buildings either side. Kid thought it would not be many minutes before the first floor, and then the roof of the surgery collapsed. He did not understand what had suddenly caught Nathan's attention.

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I hear a scream for help. It is… It cannot be! I look up at the window from which flames spew into the darkening night. It IS. Desperately tugging at the bars. Crying out for help. Trapped and helpless. Jen!

I leap to my feet to go rescue her!

Was she in the building all this time? Of course! She must have been visiting me, waiting, in another room, for me to wake!

She screams again, as I race towards the building.

He, Curry, tries to hold me back.

"It's Jen!" I shout, "Look! It's Jenny, in there!"

Still he blocks my way, or tries too. He is racing beside me, clutching at my arms. I see him point, see his mouth move, but all I hear is the roar of the flames and my wife's screams.

"Are you blind?" I yell in fury, "Jennifer's in there, help me, or get out of the way!"

My wife's next scream harrows me. She is in pain! Curry places himself, blocking the doorway. I do not have time for this! You could count the number of punches I have ever thrown comfortably on the fingers of a single hand. Still, my fist draws back, instinctively…

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"It's Jen!" Nathan shouted in Kid's face. "Look! Jennifer's in there!"

Kid stared, again, at the spurting flames. Surely, that could not be true! He strained but saw nothing amidst the smoke. Nothing. Still racing by Nathan's side, he tried to get in front, turned to face and stop him.

This brought the far end of the street into his view. Through the dusk, Kid saw first the familiar figure of his partner, rounding the corner at top speed and, behind him, skirts clutched up freeing her legs to sprint, Jennifer. News of the fire had reached the hotel.

"Jennifer's there! Behind you! Look!" Kid yelled, attempting to break through the delusion. He tried to physically stop Nathan, grabbing his shoulders. Kid's boots slid through the dirt, the man never even felt his presence! Kid supposed he would find the same strength, if he were listening to Jennifer scream for help.

He managed to block Nathan's path, still shouting for him to stop and listen. Nathan raised his fist and…

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Kid opened his eyes, blinking away the flashing lights circling a few inches before his gaze.

"You OK, Kid?" asked a panting Heyes, squatting by his side. The dark-haired ex-outlaw was already soaking his jacket and bandana to cover head and mouth and go in after Nathan.

"Wha…what happened?" groaned Kid.

"He decked you! Knocked you cold, clean as a whistle! He's inside!"

"He…he thinks Jennifer's in there!" Kid staggered to his feet, stripping off his own bandana and jacket to dunk in the bucket. His eyes flickered to Jennifer. With relief, he saw the retired Sheriff had halted her frantic run. Though still struggling, desperately, in his arms, she was not being allowed any closer to the flames.

"Don't go in there!" yelled Watkins, at the partners. "He's a dead man for sure! No point in joinin' him! The roof'll cave in any minute!" As if to confirm his words, the sound of falling timbers rent the air.

For one dark moment Kid realized if he DID succeed in saving Nathan, he would lose Jennifer forever. He set his jaw and pushed down the ignoble thought. Better to lose Jen forever, than deserve to. He exchanged a glance with Heyes. "Ready?"

"Ready!"

The partners covered their heads and, dropping low, plunged into the inferno.

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I try not to breathe. When, finally, my lungs cannot hold out another moment, the burning air sears my throat. Smoke blinds me. I can just…just make out Jen at the top of the stairs. I force myself to ignore the heat scorching at my skin, as I climb towards her.

"Go back! Save yourself!" she pleads.

My darling. My beloved, she is SO brave!

"The fire's too fierce! Please, Nathan, please go back!"

I am so close! "I'm coming, Jen! Don't worry. I WILL save you!" I gasp. Or, maybe I just think it. My raw, burnt throat hardly makes a sound.

So close! I can almost touch her. She flinches back from the flames parting us. My arms reach out to lift her. Fire catches my shirtsleeves; they are alight as I stretch towards my wife. The pain as the skin chars and splits on my hands makes me squeal like a wounded animal. But I will not, WILL not pull them back. I will NOT leave Jen. I will save her, to be happy. Even if not with me, she can be happy with…with him. I do not need my hands! Not if she can be saved and…and happy again.

"Go back!" Jen begs. "Please go back!"

The wood of the stair beneath me gives way. A jagged edge rips and splinters through the flesh of my thigh. If that is agony, pulling it free is…slow torture. I have no choice. I cannot let myself give up. Not while Jen is there, needing me. I rip the flesh through the shattered timber. Dragging the burden of my useless limb behind me, I crawl forward into the fire…

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Half scrambling, half slithering on their bellies, the semi-blinded partners found Nathan's unconscious body, fallen through the disintegrating stairway. The heavy oak balustrade had collapsed across his chest, crushing his ribs. Heyes braced himself and raised the burning timber an inch or two. He gestured desperately, through the black swirling smoke, for his partner to pull Nathan free.

Kid rose to his knees, and swung the deadweight of Nathan's body round his shoulders. Taking care not to inhale, he gathered his strength, staggered to his feet and plunged back out into the street.

Doctor Martin, who had hardly dared to hope anyone would emerge from the flames, ran to take Kid's burden. He set the body down, far enough away to be out of further danger from the fire.

Kid turned. To his relief, he saw his partner wriggling out of the door. Heyes was safe.

The two men stumbled out into the clean air of the street, as the bucket line worked around them. Their bodies jerked painfully, retching and racked by coughing.

Sheriff Watkins released Jennifer. She raced to join the Doctor, kneeling in the dirt beside the broken and still form of her husband. Agonized sobs shook her body.

"No! No! Not again!"

Still coughing, gasping for breath, Kid moved a pace or two closer. Jennifer's face was a mixture of soot and tears. Her eyes red and puffy from crying. Her only communication, heart-wrenching sobs. Kid clenched his fists until the knuckles shone white. Seeing Jennifer in this agony…tore at him.

Terrified, her eyes pleaded with the Doctor. "He'll live…please tell me he'll live!" she sobbed.

The medical man raised his ear from Nathan's chest and looked at the seared skin and oozing wounds. His dark eyes filled with sympathy as he met Jennifer's gaze and slowly shook his head.

The eyes of the injured man flickered. Jennifer took a couple of deep gulps of air. She had to pull herself together…she HAD to. She could not put her own feelings first. She dug a handkerchief from her sleeve, blew her nose hard and tried to compose herself.

Nathan's look flickered, unfocussed, past his wife. The lips moved. Kid stepped still closer.

"Safe? Jen?" Nathan gasped. Terror flooded the bruised and blooded face. "Jen?"

"I'm right here Nathan. I'm fine."

Nathan looked at Kid for confirmation his mind was not playing tricks on him.

"Jen's safe!" Kid told him, loud and firm. "She's right here. Not hurt at all!"

Nathan's gaze wavered to Jennifer. His expression relaxed. Relief swept into the dark eyes.

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He is telling the truth. I see her. Whole and well, kneeling over me.

I did it! Saved her! I am so…so grateful. She has a second chance.

"Be happy, Jen," I murmur. "Please…please be happy."

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Jennifer moved her ear close to Nathan's mouth to catch the whispered words. His scorched throat could hardly make a sound.

Blood bubbled from between his lips. His head fell back, into the dirt. The body went… limp. Gently, Doctor Martin released Jennifer's fingers from where they clutched at her husband's shredded and stained shirt. He helped her to her feet. She closed her eyes for a long moment.

Jennifer unwrapped her shawl. Tenderly, she covered her husband's dead body, drawing the silk gently over the still, still face.