GLITTER GULCH

Chapter 20: Burning Bright

Cye snuggled in between the two bodies. He didn't want to get up, but he knew he had to. Today was the first day of school, and his very first day as a teacher. He should be up and ready to go. But lying here nestled between two insanely attractive men was awfully tempting. He could barely move, but that was part of the appeal. Rowan's ass was pressed against his groin, and his ass was pressed against Kento's groin. The big guy had his arm draped over all three. Cye could stay here forever. Then he felt the small nibbles on the back of his ear. "Good morning," a husky voice whispered. He shivered and let his eyes drift shut as a wet tongue began exploring the finer points of his earlobe.

Rowan wasn't going to be able to sleep much longer with Cye's erection poking him in the back.

"Kento," Cye whispered.

"Huh?"

"We can't do this now…"

Kento lazily let his hand slip between Rowan and Cye, brushing lightly across the Brit's groin.

"Why not?"

"Because!" Cye shot back.

"Rowan's dead asleep. He wouldn't wake up if we dowsed him with water."

The Yankee's light snoring had gone uninterrupted.

"Still…" Cye ventured.

"Come on," the mountain man urged as his hand began toying with the drawstring on the schoolteacher's pink-striped pajama bottoms. "I'll make it quick."

Cye played with the idea of letting Kento have his way as the big guy's hand crept past his waistband. His back arched slightly as he tried to suck in his stomach muscles so Kento's hand could have more maneuvering room. Then Rowan's body shifted and bumped into Kento's hand.

"Bugger all!" Cye exploded as he untangled himself from the wandering hands and constricting covers.

"Cye…"

"No! No, Kento. I have to get ready for school. That's enough." He proceeded to rifle through the dresser for his clothing.

"Cye, did I do something…?"

Cye bowed his head and sighed. "No, Kento. It's just that… I'm… I just don't feel comfortable with Rowan in the room. That's all." Maybe someday, but not today…

He heard Kento shifting on the bed then felt warm arms embrace him. "Tonight then?" Kento breathed against the back of his neck.

Cye had to keep from molesting the big guy right there. "Tonight. As long as Rowan is sleeping in his own room."

"I promise." Muffled against his neck.

"Now if you will excuse me, I have to get ready."

Kento planted one more small kiss on Cye's neck before letting him go. "Need help?"

Cye swallowed a sassy retort. "Thank you, but I can manage."

The riding crop bit into bruised flesh. The resulting welt taking only mere seconds before forming. A muffled moan escaped cracked and bleeding lips. The pale blue eyes were closed, and the lean body bucked against the leather straps holding it in place.

Talpa was not pleased.

He paced back and forth like an agitated lion. Nothing was working. Matter of fact, his obsession was getting worse with every failure. Every failure to find and capture Ryo Wildfire. His body instinctively responded to the name. His limp organ twitched as he remembered the bronze skin and inky black hair. That smooth, firm ass and the chiseled muscles lining his torso. The graceful, fluid movements of an entertainer.

He snorted in disgust at the man bound in leather straps. This wasn't going to work. The only way he'd get satisfaction was if he managed to somehow find and capture Ryo Wildfire. There simply was no other way.

He rapped the crop on the roof of the wagon. A small door slid open. "Take me home," Talpa hissed. The door slid shut, and the cart changed course. "I should like to find out what Damon has discovered." He turned back to his bound captive. "Open your eyes," he barked.

The man's head jostled with the motion of the wagon, but his eyes remained shut. The riding crop once more tore his flesh. "Open your eyes!" Slowly, the man opened his blood-crusted eyes. "That's more like it." With the man's eyes open, Talpa could fantasize that this was Ryo of the Wildfire with his piercing blue eyes. But this man could never match Wildfire's spirit. Never. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.

Talpa took what was his.

Sage's chest felt like it was going to collapse. Something was pounding on it furiously. He struggled against flailing limbs and sat up. Ryo was in a panic.

He was caught in the world where reality and nightmares merge forming a terrifying dreamscape. His entire body was thrashing about. The cowboy tried to grab Ryo and pin his arms at his sides to pull him close and offer words of comfort, but the Indian cried out and fought even harder.

"Ryo! Ryo! Wake up!" He tried once more, but the Indian wouldn't be subdued. Then Ryo screamed and flames burst from his body. Sage was aghast and stood there gaping until he felt something solid crash into him and knock him backward. White Blaze crouched over him, shielding him from the flames shooting from Ryo. The hay they had been sleeping in wasn't so lucky.

Cye hurried from the house when he saw the smoke. Kento, Rosemary and Rowan followed not long after. He stood watching the flames begin to lick at the front of the barn.

Weren't Sage and Ryo in there?

Tears began forming in his eyes. No. No, this can't be happening! NO!

"Shit," Rosemary spat. "The horses! We've got to get the horses out of there!" She ran to the barn only to be thwarted by the enormous flames like the tendrils of a giant monster trying to make a tasty snack out of her flesh. She recoiled and fell back in the dirt.

Kento pulled her to her feet. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she said as she pulled back her hair. "I think so, but we've got to get to the horses!"

"You stay here." Kento squared his shoulders as he pulled his shirt over his head. "I'll get them out."

Water splashed across Kento's back and over his head.

"WHAT THE…?!"

Rowan grinned at him. "Ya needed a little more protection, big guy. Now hurry. That water won't help for long. Oh and you'll need that," Rowan pointed to Kento's sopping wet shirt, "ta cover your nose and mouth."

The barn door crashed open. White Blaze was dragging a limp Sage out by his arm. Cye could have hugged the beast. The tiger's powerful jaws didn't even leave a mark on the cowboy. The Brit patted the blonde's face trying to rouse him. "Sage. Sage! Where's Ryo? Is he still in there? Sage! Where's Ryo?!" He slapped the cowboy who finally managed to flinch and cough.

"RYO! I've got to get Ryo!" Sage tried to break free from Cye's grip.

"You can't go back in there!"

Rosemary dashed by with a bucket of water and threw it on the blaze. Rowan did the same.

"I've got to get Ryo… He's still inside…"

The blonde began to claw his way through the mud and dirt toward the barn door. The white tiger grabbed the blonde's ankle with his powerful jaws and held him in place.

Ryo? He's still in there? Ryo? Cye dashed forward oblivious to the flames dancing around him. He had to save Ryo. Ryo had been there for him. Ryo had actually tried to make him feel welcome. Ryo had saved him from the snake. And Cye Torrent was one who paid his debts.

Immediately, he began to regret it. The flames licked at his flesh and nipped at his hair. He covered his mouth and nose with his shirt and tried to peer through the blazing fire. He couldn't see a thing. NO! This can't happen! Ryo's in here! I have to find him!

"Cye! What the hell are you doing?! Get back here!" Cye felt large arms surround his upper body and jerk him off the ground.

"NO! Ryo's still in there! I've got to go get RYO!"

"You idiot! You can't go in there! I won't let you!" Then Cye was thrown to the ground, and he saw Kento dash into the barn.

"NO! Kento!" Tears filled his eyes, and he wished that somehow he could put out the raging fire.

Kento coughed and covered his mouth with his wet shirt. What the hell am I doing in here? There's no way that Ryo could still be alive in here! The flames were hungrily devouring every inch of the barn. Kento saw movement and panicked. The horses! They're still in here! He dashed over to the pens and frantically began unlocking and throwing open burning gates, the metal branding his flesh. He barely recognized Ember and Lady Luck as they rushed past him, wide-eyed and frightened. Shit! I hope they make it out! If they're still alive, maybe Ryo is too. Kento's lungs burned and his eyes were crying a steady stream that began to evaporate in the intense heat. He coughed and struggled to keep moving.

Then Kento saw the Indian standing in a ring of fire, flames engulfing his body. "Ryo! Get your ass out of here!" Kento stumbled toward his friend. "We've got to…"

Ryo was floating. Only the tips of his toes touched the floor and not a hair on his head seemed burned or even singed. A ghostly image of bright red armor flickered over Ryo's nude form. The metal seemed to hum as it faded in and out like a steady heartbeat. The Indian held two long, thin swords in his outstretched hands and on his head sat a helmet with vicious horns protruding from it. A diamond shaped symbol burned with an ephemeral glow on either shoulder of the warrior armor.

"Beautiful," Kento breathed before he practically coughed up a lung from some of the noxious smoke that found an open passageway.

Then he saw Ryo's eyes, sadness reflected in their azure depths.

"But what can I do? We've got to get out of here, Ryo! You've got to leave!"

"What do you mean? How can he help?" The Indian didn't answer. "RYO! Come on! Let's get out of here before we're burnt to a crisp!"

Ryo closed his eyes and let his head droop.

Then the roof collapsed.