Free Buried Flames by Kennedy Layne

watched him carefully as he walked back to where the horses were still quite skittish, Sam doing his best to keep them calm. “Why don’t you get the animals some water while I—”
    The screeching sound of the entry to the barn ricocheted jarringly throughout the empty space, causing Sam to immediately guard those he loved by giving a growl in warning. He even placed himself in between the door and them.
    Mason had Brenna behind the trailer before she even realized what was happening, but the weapon in his hand told her it wasn’t good. She looked up at him to find that he’d placed his finger to his lips, indicating she shouldn’t say a word. Frantic people were making their way inside and only time would tell if their intentions were to seek shelter or if they wanted to take what Mason and Brenna had by force. The noise of the large door closing told her they were about to find out one way or the other.

Chapter Seven

    “H ello?” called out a masculine voice, followed by low murmurs from several people with him. “Is anyone here?”
    “Yes,” Mason answered, stepping out from behind the horse trailer while holding up a hand for Brenna to stay right where she was. Sam had immediately taken up position by his leg and the horses somehow intuitively sensed the cautionary air around them. They no longer shifted their large frames on the dirt beneath them. He gritted his teeth when she couldn’t help but peer around the trailer. “We’re just using this barn for temporary shelter. It’s all yours after we leave.”
    “We won’t need it for long either.” The man took a few steps closer, but Mason didn’t seem to deem him a threat. At least not yet. “My name is Tim. This here is Mary, Jay, Barb, and Lindsey.”
    “It’s nice to meet you.” Mason ever so slowly holstered his weapon, not bothering to give out his name or that of Brenna’s. She no doubt thought he was being rude, but he wasn’t about to divulge any personal information about their plight to a total stranger. “I’m sorry it has to be under these circumstances.”
    “This is unbelievable. When we heard…”
    Mason indicated that Brenna should give water to the animals while he opened the trailer and took out the necessary items he’d need in order to makeshift some masks for the horses and Sam. Tim continued describing what he and his friends or family had done upon hearing about the natural disaster. He paused in his storytelling when he finally spotted Brenna. The other people with him sat behind him on the old haystacks. They all had backpacks and Mason’s curiosity about why they were on foot was satisfied when Tim finally got to the end of his tale.
    “So my wife and I had parked my truck in front of the gas station to pick up my brother, his wife, and her sister when some bastard ended up stealing it. Everything we had was in that truck, but at least Jay and Barb have their supplies.” Tim was pacing back and forth, looking up at the darkness above them. Mason had already noticed the ash was getting heavier. More residue was sneaking through the holes and cracks in the walls and ceiling. It wouldn’t be long before he and Brenna had to put on their gasmasks. “We started out on foot, hoping someone would pick us up along the way.”
    “You can have this truck once we get it unloaded.” Mason had been using his knife on the cheesecloth and other items he’d brought with him to rig the horses’ harnesses. He held the articles in one hand as he fished out the keys from his front pocket and tossed them in the air. Tim caught them, a surprised look on his face. “We won’t be needing it.”
    “I don’t understand…”
    “We need to reach the rest of our party, so we’re going in a different direction.” Mason hadn’t lied, but he could tell from Brenna’s expression she wasn’t happy with his explanation. “I assume you’re heading east?”
    “Absolutely,” Tim answered, sharing a look of disbelief with his