Fire, fire, everywhere

Every school day after lunch, on my way out to my bus route, I head up to the barn to feed horses and check on chickens. It usually takes me about 5 minutes to do this, and I factor the time into my commute to the bus. Well a couple of weeks ago, as I headed up to the barn, I noticed my sweet husband across the way burning a large pile of leaves and limbs. He is a bit of a pyromaniac, although not the worse I have ever seen ( in fact all three of my brothers have him beat). So I am not too surprised to see him hustling around a fire. However on this particular day, it is a bit windy and there seems to be an awful lot of smoke rising from the ground that is near, but not next to the fire pit. So, in an abundance of caution, I drive over to check on things before going to the barn (mind you, I have 5 minutes for barn activities). My husband is moving rather quickly, filling a bucket with water and dousing a smokey patch of grass along the fence. As I look I can see that there are actually quite a few smokey patches of grass along the fence. Surely he is not trying to burn the pastures (although one truly never knows!) So I ask, ummmmm is everything ok? Normally he is not one to be interested in much help, and will usually say he can handle whatever he is working on, with none of my assistance. However, this particular day he says that actually he could use a little help. Could I get another bucket and a shovel. OK, no problem. But do you think maybe we should call 911. His answer: I hope not. Well, with 911, I don't really see where hope enters into it; seems to me either you need to call or you don't! There are 67 acres of property we are talking about here with a house and a barn sitting in the middle of it all. So I am a bit worried, but proceed to get the bucket and the shovel. Now the fire is running along the fence line where the grass has grown a bit higher because you can't mow under the fence. Once the grass catches fire, it spreads like crazy all along the fence. Ok, I am really starting to get nervous now, but am filling my bucket as fast as I can and running to one end of the fence and my husband is working from the opposite end. Finally after about 10 minutes of sloshing and lugging buckets we manage to be getting things under control. Now I have completely forgotten about my bus! Suddenly it occurs to me. All I can do is make a quick call and let them know I will be there as soon as I finish fighting my fire! They seemed as surprised as I was. I don't think they had gotten that excuse from a driver before. Best to stick with the truth in times like this!