Free The Wildest Heart by Terri Farley

Ely thought the horses needed a vet, they weren’t dead. And the firefighters had radios. They could summon Dr. Scott in a fraction of the time it would take her to run back to the house and phone.
    Sam ran through a mist from the fire hose. Charred wet brush released a sour stench. Sizzling and steamy, waves of wet, white smoke rushed at her.
    The fire that had flared along the fence was out. Finally, Luke must have ordered the volunteers to turn their hoses on the tail of the fire rushing toward the mountains.
    Sirens wailed. Huge truck tires hit ruts and chugged on, passing her, but Sam barely noticed the commotion. She only saw Jake, ahead of her. Jake, holding his hands wide apart, palms toward her, warning her back.
    It wasn’t the stern gesture that frightened her. Far worse was his frown of pity.
    â€œGet out of my way!” Sam shouted, but Jake blocked her.
    Beyond Jake, Sam glimpsed Luke, shaking his head “no.”
    â€œSam, stop fighting me.”
    She tried to run through Jake, to bull past him, but he was too strong.
    She had to see. She didn’t want to, but desperation swelled within her chest until she felt it, too, would explode.
    Jake grabbed her forearms and gave them a shake.
    â€œListen to me,” he said. “Sam, are you listening?”
    She couldn’t twist loose. She couldn’t see past him. So she listened.
    â€œIt’s him,” Jake said, and though she’d wanted to know, the two words ripped like knives. “He’s down. He’s breathing, though. He’s alive.”
    Jake waited, staring at her until she nodded, before adding, “There’s a colt, too, with a white patch.”
    Sam realized she was nodding over and over again.
    Pirate and the Phantom. Both were down. Both were hurt or they wouldn’t still be there.
    â€œWhat wrong with them?”
    â€œDon’t know. They’re all splattered with red….”
    A moan arose and Sam only realized it was hers and that her hands had tried to fly up to cover her ears, to block the awful words, when Jake’s grip tightened on her arms.
    â€œDon’t think it’s blood.” Jake was shaking his head. “It doesn’t look like blood.”
    Hope surged through her along with a possibility.
    â€œThe paint? Could it be? Because…” Sam shook her head as her teeth started chattering. “The p-paint’s b-b-brownish red. Redwood. Jake, could it…?”
    â€œYeah.” Jake looked relieved. “That must be why all those little spot fires flared up, too. It splattered, but we got ’em.”
    Beyond Jake, there was thrashing and a groan of effort.
    â€œStay back,” Luke Ely said.
    Sam heard boot soles crunch against the ground. She smelled a charcoal scent stirred by movement.
    â€œPlease let me go to him,” Sam begged.
    â€œLet ’im be, Sam,” Jake told her. “I know you love him, but he’s a wild thing. You’re only gonna add to his—” Jake broke off, knowing she’d fill in the awful blank.
    Pain? Confusion? Terror?
    The memory of the mighty stallion in the rodeo arena flashed through Sam’s mind. He’d sunk to his knees, then fallen on his side. If that’s what lay beyond Jake, she’d hate it, but she could take it.
    â€œWhatever’s goin’ on in his head, you can’t help. If he can get up, he’ll get outta here. If he can’t, Dr. Scott will be here soon,” Jake finished.
    She could take it, but her horse might not be comforted.
    A shuddering sigh shook Sam. She nodded.
    â€œOkay,” she said. “I won’t move a step closer. Ipromise, Jake. Just please, get out of my way so I can see him.”
    Jake’s fingers loosened, one by one, from her left forearm. Sam looked up into his eyes as he released her right arm, too.
    Jake stood with his hands raised for a second. Did he think she’d fall and he’d have to catch her? No,