She turned the bay toward the pasture. Matthew caught her arm. Not hard. Just enough to stop her for one second.
"Route."
Rachel pointed through the smoke. "There's an old cattle cut behind the cottonwoods. It drops into the irrigation ditch."
"Safer?"
"If the wind doesn't change."
Matthew looked at the moving fire. "Then lead."
George stepped forward. "I'm coming."
"No."
"She's my daughter."
Rachel looked at him. "So am I."
His face changed. She did not wait. She rode.
The cattle cut was narrow and half overgrown. Smoke sat low beneath the cottonwoods. Rachel leaned close to the bay's neck. Behind her came Matthew's horse.
No questions. No commands. Only hoofbeats. They reached the ditch.
Lillian was on the opposite side, swinging a blanket and shouting at two mares that refused to move. "Lillian!"
Her sister turned. "Rachel!"
"Leave them."
"They won't go."
"Leave them."
One mare bolted past. The other spun toward the fire. Lillian stood frozen. Rachel jumped down.
Matthew was already moving. He crossed the ditch in three strides and took Lillian by the shoulders. "Come with me."
She resisted. "The horses—"
"Now."
His voice was firm enough to cut through everything. Lillian looked at Rachel. Rachel nodded. "Go."
Matthew guided her toward the ditch. Then a cracking sound came from uphill. Rachel looked up. A section of burning fence had collapsed across the cattle cut.
Matthew's horse reared. He turned instinctively. The animal slipped on the bank.
"Matthew!"
Horse and man went down together. The bay screamed. Rachel ran.
Matthew's leg was trapped beneath the horse's side. The animal thrashed once. Then again.
"Don't come closer!" Matthew shouted.
Rachel ignored him. "Rachel!"
She grabbed the bridle. The horse's eyes rolled white. "Easy. Easy."
Lillian came back. "Tell me what to do."
Rachel pointed. "Take the reins. Keep his head toward you."
Lillian grabbed them. Matthew pushed against the ground. The horse tried to rise. His trapped boot twisted.
Rachel saw his face tighten. "Stop moving."
"I can get free."
"No, you can't."
Fire crackled somewhere beyond the smoke. Rachel crouched beside him. "Can you feel your foot?"
"Yes."