The Firefighter's Fiance. Kate Hardy

reason why the kids were silent. A much, much worse reason. Especially when the smoke was thick and choking.

      Then there was a shout as two firefighters ran towards them, carrying small bodies.

      ‘We’ve put oxygen on them,’ one of the firefighters said.

      It was what he didn’t say that Kelsey heard. The but. A big but. They didn’t hold out much hope. The smoke and the heat might have taken too much of a toll on the small bodies.

      Matt and Dale put the children straight in the ambulance; Matt stayed in the back, already checking them over, while Dale slammed the doors and scrambled into the driver’s seat. Siren going, the ambulance left the site.

      ‘Oh, God. I nearly got them out safely. Nearly,’ Kelsey whispered. ‘They’ve got to be all right.’ Please. They had to be all right.