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The tension around the group eased almost immediately. The fire wasn’t bearing down on them in the dark.

Good. Fires, tornadoes, any natural disaster always felt worse at night, and right now Mac’s senses were on high alert, despite Harold’s reassurances.

But ninety-three wild horses were sitting in temporary holding at Virgil’s place. Virgil had somewhere around three hundred sheep. Hank had his sanctuary horses here, along with tents, vehicles, people, and enough equipment scattered around the ranch to make a fast exit interesting in the bad way.

Mac looked toward the line of vehicles parked beside the camp. A few pickups. Horse trailers. One stock trailer I can see from here.

Not enough.

“Harold,” Willow asked, “are we still gathering in the morning?”

“Dana and I need to talk about that.”

Hank rubbed a hand over his face. “For fuck’s sake.”

Mac looked west again. The moon was gone, and those were definitely storm clouds, but heaven only knew if there was rain in them and if they were building.

That’s exactly why we should use it.

“We should get more trucks here before we need them.”

Several faces turned toward him.

Harold frowned. “There’s no evacuation order.”

“I know.” His gut still felt uneasy. From the look on Hank’s face, the rancher shared his misgivings. “We may not get one in time. I hope we don’t need one.” Mac kept his voice even. “But if that fire turns tomorrow morning, getting trucks in tomorrow afternoon doesn’t help us much.”

Harold looked at him sharply.

Mac continued. “I’ve got a team of folks back in Lyons. It takes five hours to get here. Longer pulling trailers over the passes. We’ve got animals at two locations, and half of them won’t load just because somebody waves a bucket of feed at them. Those horses are already scared, and probably even more riled up if the smoke’s as bad at Virgil’s as it is here.”

“And if the fire doesn’t come our way?” Harold asked. “That’s a lot of extra people running around here for nothing.”

“If my crew comes now for no reason, the worst that happens is they can sit around all day and complain I wasted their time.”

Harold shook his head. “Keep them out of our way.” He turned and headed for his vehicle.

Hank nodded. “As for me, I like wasting their time. If it’s for nothing, I’ll make it worth their time and fire up the grill. I might even have a bottle or two of good bourbon stashed somewhere I’d be willing to share.”

Mac chuckled. Willow smiled, her shoulders coming down from around her ears. “Thanks, Mac. I’ll let the others know the plan.” She headed for the nearest tent.

Mac turned to Jodie. Her phone was in her hand, and he was surprised she wasn’t already calling Kyle.

We need to talk when you get back.

Kyle’s message had been sitting unanswered all day.

Bet that’s why she’s hesitating. She’s still worried over it.

Mac stepped closer. “Do you want me to make the call?”

Her eyes met his. “Yes,” she said quietly. “If you wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all, baby.”

Mac’s phone signal at Hank’s was weak, but it existed. Kyle answered on the third ring, sounding awake enough to make Mac wonder if he ever slept.

“Mac?”