She must have fallen asleep, because when she next opened her eyes the moon was on the wane, and the windmill’s long shadow had crept right across the clearing. Molly had returned and the two mares were dozing beneath the trees while Brandy was whining and licking Max’s face.
She came fully awake and sat up. Max wasn’t breathing.
As the dog continued to whine and snuffle at Max, she searched frantically for a pulse. But there was nothing. Max’s skin was cold and as pale as marble in the moonlight, his eyes staring blankly up into the night sky. He’d left her.
The tears were coursing down her face as she took him in her arms and held him close to her heart. ‘Oh, Max, my love,’ she whispered against his lifeless cheek as she began to rock back and forth. ‘If only … If only …’
The sorrow was too deep for words and she held him, hoping with all her heart that somehow he would now know how deeply she loved him.
*
Danny had opened his eyes to discover it was night – but it was a strange kind of darkness, for it was tinged with red and filled with thick, choking smoke. In that first moment he’d wondered where he was and how he’d got here – and then he remembered.
He sat up quickly, feeling a bit shaken, but still in one piece. But the smoke was really thick, blinding him, making him cough. It was then that he realised he was in deep trouble.
‘Help!’ he cried. ‘Help me. I’m over here!’ His voice sounded very small and thin, and the smoke was smothering him, but he kept calling in the hope that John Miller might hear him.
But there was no reply.
Danny trembled with fear as he crouched low in the fallen boulders beneath the cliff. He had no idea how long he’d been lying here, or how close the fire might be. And the soldier could be miles away by now. He had to get away from the fire – had to find his way home – but the smoke was so thick he couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of him.
‘Help! Help!’ he screamed. ‘I’m over here by the rocks.’
The smoke coiled and rolled like a great grey sea and, as Danny fearfully peered into its heart, he saw something slowly take shape.
It was the silhouette of a man – a tall man in a broad-brimmed slouch hat and long army coat. His features were masked by the smoke – but his voice was deep and reassuring as he walked towards him. ‘It’s all right, son. I’m here. You’re safe now.’
Danny’s heart was pounding. ‘Daddy? Daddy, is that really you?’