AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ms. Tillman called. She mentioned the fire. I came as fast as I could.”
I heard the fire engines in the distance and took a deep breath. “Is it contained?”
“As far as I can tell.”
“Thank you for getting the horses.”
Jorge shook his head, handing me the phone. “I didn’t, Riggs. Ms. Tillman did. I think she’s still in there. I’m so sorry. I tried to get through, but it’s just too hot.”
Everything faded into ominous shadows as I peered down at the phone in his hand. Time seemed to freeze as a dull ache built in my ears and even in the dim lighting, I would recognize the bright pink phone case anywhere.
As I lifted my head, I could tell he was still talking, but every sound became muffled, including the hard beating of my heart just before I took off running toward the flames.
“Wait! It’s too hot!” Jorge yelled.
But I wasn’t listening. She wouldn’t die, not because of me.
As soon as I lunged over the flames, I dropped and rolled, the smoke so thick I couldn’t see anything in front of me.
“Wren,” I managed, coughing. The darkness was oppressive, the odds of finding her in time slim. Then I heard a slight whinnying sound and snapped my head in that direction.
From behind me I some light popped through the haze. Jorge must have turned on headlights. That allowed me to see shadows. I scrambled forward, sweeping the area. When I was able to make out the horse, I realized it was Sophia. I could tell the muted look of her hide marks.
And she was standing over Wren.
“Wren. Baby.” I crouched down and as soon as I rolled her over, my hand was slickened with blood. Fuck. “Come on, baby.” I gathered her into my arms, narrowly avoiding a falling beam. The entire building was crashing down and from the creaking sound, I could tell the entire roofline was about to go.
I had few choices, the flames too high and took thick to run through, not without risking her life. With zero options, I did the only thing I could think of. I tossed her over Sophia’s back, forced to grab her muzzle. As I leaned in, I tried to keep my voice even. “I need you, girl. Only you can save us. Can you do that for me?” Sophia was still injured, limping from being shot.
But I’d known the mare for years and knew her strengths. While she was shaking, terrified of the elements, I had faith in her. When she snorted, I patted her flank and carefully swung over her back, leaning over to capture Wren under my body weight and tangling my fingers in Sophia’s mane.
Sirens sounded off from everywhere, but they wouldn’t be able to help. “This is it, Sophia. We can do this.” I eased her back, turning and guiding her to as far back in the barn as safely possible. Then I said a silent prayer before pressing my knees into Sophia’s sides. “Go, girl. Go!”
Horses were magnificent, intelligent creatures. They felt every emotion humans did, but their natural instincts to stay alive often won over whatever their rider told them to do, unless there was complete trust.
I had it in her. Would she have enough for the three of us?
As she took off galloping, there was nothing else I could do but continue to pray. If she stopped short, she’d toss us both into the flames. If not…
In those few seconds that seemed like hours, a few memories of my life flashed in front of my eyes, every image spiraling, moving faster and faster as if God wanted me to remember every aspect of my life. The good, the bad, and the tragic. And in those precious seconds, the last frame was of Wren and the first time I saw her beautiful face.
Fly, little bird. Fly…
As Sophia sailed over the flames, I could swear I witnessed a shooting star high on the mountains. And in the last few seconds as she landed, I could feel the noose that had been wrapped around my neck so tightly I hadn’t been able to breathe slip away.
Several pairs of hands grabbed us off the horse, pulling us to the ground, blankets tossed over our bodies. I pulled Wren against my chest.
“Jesus Christ,” Gage said from a distance. “Did you fucking see that?”
“You don’t see that every day,” Snake said from somewhere in the darkness.
I pushed away, taking several gasping breaths. Then I felt for her pulse. She was alive, but her breathing was so shallow. “Come on, baby. Wake up for me.” When she didn’t stir, I bellowed over the fire. “She needs help!”
Then I felt her small hand pressing against my chest. Then… her voice.
“Phoenix.”
As I peered down into her eyes, I made my peace with God for saving the woman who’d brought me back to life.
