...Something was wrong...dreadfully wrong. A flicker of apprehension coursed through her. But everything looked the same, the milk cow was munching contentedly on a mouthful of hay, a couple of scrawny chickens, that had followed her in, were pecking and scratching at the hard packed dirt floor. It's just your imagination working overtime just like last night, when you thought the whole town was going to shun you, she chided herself, letting out a nervous laugh.

She decided it was time to leave, maybe then she could rid herself of her foolish notions. However, she froze in mid-stride when she spotted the faint wisps of smoke drifting from the stall to her right. It wasn't possible, her mind screamed; dreams don't come true. Nevertheless, she knew what she was seeing was real. If she didn't get moving and go for help, they would lose the barn and possibly the house too. But first, she had to get the animals out, she thought frantically. She ran back to Rosy, and untied her with trembling fingers. "Come on girl, we have to get out of here."

Finally, she got the frightened dog to follow her. By this time the cow was bellowing in a low urgent tone.

Kat glanced at the rising flames eating their way through the back stall where the fire had begun, and crawling its way into the next. It seemed to divide, and the next thing Kat knew, the entire backside of the barn was in flames.

She coughed violently, the rising smoke making it difficult to take a deep breath. Her eyes stung, tears welled up and trickled down her grimy cheeks, as she struggled to get the cow out of its stall. Fear slipped through her bones like a knife as she edged her way to the double doors, pulling the protesting animals along in her wake.

God in his heaven, she hadn't realized it would get out of control so quickly. She almost cried in relief when she finally reached the doors, but to her horror, when she tried to push them open, they wouldn't budge.

"Oh God, no..." she screamed, pushing with all her strength against the heavy wooden doors. "Somebody help me." She banged her hands against the door until they were scrapped and bleeding.