One More Wish - Bonnie R. Paulson Page 0,1

the call. In seconds, she rushed back into the room, tucking her cell in her back pocket, her eyes wide. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to disrupt things, but the forest around Whistle Stop and the Wilson land is on fire. I need to go.” She glanced at Flynne and wrinkled her nose, worry in the lines of her face. “Some wedding night.” Then she stole a peek at the rest of the Wilson clan who stared at her in shock. “Your place is in danger.”

“Come on. Let’s go.” Flynne grabbed Kali’s hand and together they ran from the room.

“Okay, sounds like our place is in danger as well. Levi, Brock, can you guys get to the ranch and assess things from there? Flynne and Kali will be heading to the stables.” Mrs. Wilson turned and eyed Cari, her lips pressed in a line. “Hold that thought, Cari. I know what you have to say is important and we need to hear all of it, but we need to do this first. David.” She nodded at the head of the Dean family, her eyes grave.

Cari’s dad stepped forward. “I’ll follow the boys to the ranch. Can someone find out who let Kali know about the fire?” He pushed a chair into place at the table and glanced at the rest of the people in the room. “We need to know exactly what they know and how. I don’t want anyone in undue danger because of this thing.”

Shoving away from the table, Samantha held up her cell. “Kali just texted me that Dr. Lanford was the one to make the call. He’s apparently already at the stables for a follow-up check on one of the client’s horses. He’s going to see how he can help.”

The veterinarian had made the call? Why would he do that? Why would he put himself in harms’ way when forest fires had a mind of their own?

The horses. Of course, he’d be worried about the animals. He seemed to have an affinity for anything with four legs. Hopefully, he didn’t put himself in danger. He usually worked alone and that meant he’d be out at the stables alone, as well. A twinge in Cari’s chest alarmed her. She liked Dr. Lanford. The last thing she wanted was for anything to happen to him.

Cari rushed out of the building beside her sisters and the Wilsons who hadn’t left yet. Everyone piled into their own cars.

Most of them would head toward the Wilson ranch. There were a lot of memories at the family home. Many people would be affected by any damage, not to mention the animals who took refuge on their land or called their barn home.

But Kali, Flynne, and Dr. Lanford would need help as well. Fewer people were headed that way.

Cari followed the caravan headed toward the north side of Mistletoe. She hadn’t been given directions. Probably because she wasn’t the type to wield a bucket in a fire line. But she could help in other ways. She just needed to know how.

When the road split to either go to the Wilson ranch or go to the stables, Cari turned right. She could do some good for the horses on some level. She had to try.

If Dr. Lanford was trying to help the horses escape the stables or just calm them down, then he could probably use some help. Cari was an accomplished horsewoman; all of the Dean girls were. She could help in that capacity.

Those poor horses had to be so scared. Nothing was worse than the fear of a fire. And Cari didn’t wish that on anyone.

Especially someone like Dr. Lanford.

Chapter 2

Nick

The smoke was already thick and unwieldy as it billowed from the hills north of Mistletoe. Somewhere far off in the distance, fire truck sirens blared through the peaceful late afternoon quiet.

But they weren’t coming toward the stables.

Nick Lanford parked his truck at the end of the drive to Kali’s place and jumped from his seat. She’d become one of his most reliable customers, making sure to call him when a new horse was stalled with her and having a checkup done with each one. The only reason he’d been out that way in the first place was because one of the new clients at the stables had wanted a checkup on the horse before the season came to an end.

That same client was stuck in North Dakota and couldn’t run toward the stables at that time. Saving the horses was up