Free Third Half by P. R. Garlick

go back inside again."
                  That was all she had time to say as she opened the stable door to a huge black stallion.  The giant, ebony equine reared his great head, as she cautiously approached him. 
                  As she tried to toss the blanket over his eyes he reared.  He came down again hard, then paced nervously.  She came close with the blanket again but he was too swift.
                  "Do you want to burn in the flames of hell," she shouted, making one more attempt with the blanket. 
                  Finally she had the blanket over his head so she could guide him to safety.  As she led the horse outside, and set him free she realized she must have just tangled with Lucifer, her brother's latest edition to the stable. 
                  For someone who wasn't familiar with horses Ronaldo had already led two mares to safety.  There was another stallion and a mare with foal.  This time she took the mare, knowing the mother would most likely be protective of her young. 
                  The roan mare's nostrils twitched as she smelled the smoke, her eyes seemed to roll back in her head, possessing a frightened, wild look. 
                  "Come on girl," Liane said in a soothing tone, trying not to show her fear as she approached the huge horse.
                  The mare paced much like Lucifer had, but fortunately she did not rear as Liane threw the blanket over her head.  "It's going to be all right girl," she said again as she guided the horse toward the door, turning to make certain the foal was following.
                  Liane sighed her relief as both made it safely from the stable.  But she didn't have much time to relax.
                  The sounds of sirens were fast approaching and Liane could see the red flashing lights from the highway as they turned in the lane.                "Please Ronaldo," she said.  "Trust me, I can't let them know I'm with you.  Tell them you were alone."
                  She was grateful as he agreed, not taking time to question her reasons.              
                  The young man did a remarkable job for someone who had been raised in the city, possessing no experience with horses, she thought, as she hid beneath a blanket in the back of his car.  He also had a strong sense of loyalty for he had not revealed that she had been there with him.
                  "I had a fight with my girlfriend's father," he explained to the police officer who was questioning him.  "I decided I needed to get out for awhile, so I went for a ride.  I just drove, and drove.  Anyway, I ended up here," Ronaldo said.
                  Liane knew he was taking the risk that he'd be blamed.
                  "I had to slow up for a car that pulled out of this driveway," Ronaldo continued when the Police Officer asked for more details.
                    "Then I had to wait as another car pulled from the side of the road after the first car.  About that time I looked over and saw flickering light coming from down here.  I realized it wasn't light.  It was flames.  So I turned in the driveway."
                  "A green Ford Taurus was the car coming out of the driveway." Ronaldo gave the police officer more information about the cars.  "The one that followed it was a brown sedan.  I think it was a Crown Vic."
                  Liane suspected Ronaldo was telling it exactly as it really had happened.  She knew the green Ford Taurus was the one driven by the two men who had trashed her brother's house, and she felt certain they had been the ones who started the fire.  She also had a good idea who was driving the brown sedan.
                  The police officer asked for Ronaldo's licence and registration.  Ronaldo came back to the car