Men pulled open gates.
Ethan was already inside.
Of course.
Magdalena grabbed a coat.
“Where?”
she shouted at Jacob.
“Horse stalls!”
“Cattle?”
“Back pen!”
She ran.
A terrified calf had wedged itself against fencing.
Magdalena opened the latch.
The animal backed farther.
“Come on.”
Smoke rolled across the yard.
She caught the rope.
Pulled.
The calf fought.
Magdalena planted both large boots into dirt and used her full weight.
The animal stumbled forward.
Then followed.
Someone shouted her name.
She kept going.
By the time she reached open ground, her arms were burning.
“Jacinto!”
He ran toward her.
“No one is alive in there!”
She pointed toward the barn.
He pulled the calf behind cover.
Then looked back.
“There are two cows in the rear stall!”
“Leave them!”
He ran anyway.
“Jacinto!”
Ethan emerged through smoke carrying a saddle.
Dropped it.
Turned.
Magdalena grabbed his arm.
“Don’t.”
“Jacinto’s inside.”
“I know.”
The roof cracked.
They both looked up.
Then Jacinto appeared.
Coughing.
One cow behind him.
The other broke through a side opening.
Men dragged Jacinto clear.
He pointed toward the flames.
“The fire wasn’t an accident!”
Everyone froze.
“What?”
Ethan asked.
Jacinto coughed violently.
“Oil.”
“Where?”
“Back wall.”
“Before the roof caught.”
His face was black with soot.
“Somebody poured lamp oil behind the hay.”
Ethan looked toward Magdalena.
The fire roared.
Magdalena remembered the poisoned lamb.
The blocked channel.
The cut fence.
This was no longer pressure.
Somebody was trying to destroy Castle Ridge.
The barn roof collapsed.
Ethan stood motionless.
Flames reflected in his eyes.
Magdalena grabbed his face with both hands.
“Look at me.”
He did.
“People first.”
His breathing was ragged.
“Count them.”
They counted.
Ranch hands.
Jacob.
Jacinto.
Cook’s helper.
Stable boy.
Everyone.
Livestock losses were smaller than feared.
One horse injured.
Two sheep missing.
No human deaths.
Magdalena repeated that until Ethan heard it.
The barn could be rebuilt.
Men could not.
At dawn, the ruins smoked.
Magdalena walked the perimeter.
She found an oil can.
Half melted.
Vale Supply stamp.
Too obvious.
She stared.
Ethan came beside her.
“Arthur.”
Magdalena shook her head.
“No.”
He looked furious.
“Again?”
“This is too easy.”