“I don’t see Nikki.” Hannah scanned faces, not taking time to speak to any of them. Everyone had a mission. Hers was to find her family.

Hannah noticed the firefighters were rushing around to the back of the house. She parked out of the way, near the house. She jumped out and rushed after them. Her mother was by her side.

“Keep looking. They have to be here.” Her mother’s tone, though determined, held a tremor of fear.

As they rounded the house, they were confronted with the sight of the fire. With the aid of the spotlights, they were able to see the smoke coming from the back of the new barn—the barn her brother had been building for their growing family of goats. Tears pricked Hannah’s eyes. Was her family trapped in there? Her heart lodged in her throat. Were the goats in there? Was Dash in there?

“Auntie Hannah!” Nikki ran up to her.

Tears blurred Hannah’s vision as she reached for her niece. She lifted Nikki off the ground into a big hug. She closed her eyes as the tears spilled down her cheeks. She’d never been so happy to see anyone in her life. With reluctance, she lowered her niece to the ground.

“Where’s your dad?” Hannah’s mother asked.

Nikki pulled back and pointed over to a group of firefighters. Sam was standing among them. His feet were planted on the ground with his hands pressed to his waist. His shoulders were rigid, as if they were holding up the weight of the world. As a firefighter said something to him, he nodded. She wanted to rush to him and hug him but she knew now wasn’t the time.

The chief was calling out orders and another couple were putting on oxygen tanks. Hannah knew what that meant—they were going inside. And then the one man turned. It was Ethan. Their gazes caught and held for just a second.

In that precious moment, she begged him with her eyes not to go inside. Apparently he hadn’t gotten the message, as he turned away and settled his helmet on his head.

Her gaze moved back to the burning building. Her stomach churned. Her mouth grew moist. And for a moment, she thought she was going to be sick right there in front of everyone.

Hannah closed her eyes and visualized her family, all safe and sound. Ethan was there smiling at her. Her breathing slowed. She swallowed once. Then twice.

The nauseous feeling receded. She opened her eyes. Still, the nightmare continued to unfold. She caught one last sighting of Ethan as he stepped inside the barn.

She couldn’t stay there and watch him risk his life—just like her father had done time after time until his luck ran out. Grief and fear sent her heart racing. She couldn’t stand there waiting.

Hannah looked around for her niece, who was now clinging to Hannah’s mother. They were both watching in horror as the new barn burned.