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“Okay.” Jodie coughed into her bandana and looked at Goblin. “Come on, buddy.”

Goblin didn’t move. He backed several feet away, staring at the opening like it was the giant maw of a stray-eating beast.

“Goblin.” Jodie patted her thigh. “Come here.”

His ears flattened. He backed up.

“No, no. We don’t have time for this.” She reached toward him. “Come on, baby. It’s okay, see?” She stuck her hand into the cool, dark space.

Goblin barked frantically.

Jodie looked over her shoulder. Smoke rolled through the ruins, and something burning landed in the dead grass beside the remains of the wall. A tiny flame caught, flattened beneath the wind, and started running.

“Goblin, please.” She hated the way the word trembled the second it left her mouth.

The dog barked again.

Jodie stepped toward him, but the ground tilted and she grabbed the stone wall before she went down.

By the time she looked up, Goblin had turned and run.

“No! Goblin!”

Jodie pushed away from the wall and stumbled after him.

“Goblin, come back!”

He didn’t. His furry body disappeared into the smoke along the two-track, continuing east down the path. At least he was running away from the fire, toward the staging area miles away. Jodie started after him anyway.

I’ve gotta get him. “Goblin!” Coughing wracked her body. The fire crackled behind her.

Go. Get him back.

She took another step and nearly fell.

I can’t.

“No!” Her voice broke. “Goblin! Goblin, please!”

Nothing came back except ashes in the wind.

Jodie stood in the ruins staring at the track where he’d disappeared. He’d been with her since she woke up. Pressing against her. Coming back to check on her. Coughing beside her.

And now he was gone.

Her throat closed. Tears streamed down her cheeks that had nothing to do with the acrid smoke.

Please, little guy. Please be smart enough to keep running away.

Maybe he could get around the fire and find the road. Maybe somebody would see him.

Maybe Mac will.

The thought hurt so badly she had to look away.

If I had a dime for every maybe.

“You go, buddy,” she whispered. “You get out.”