Summer of Wild Hearts by Angela Dorsey

Author:Angela Dorsey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horses, horse, wind, summer, rodeo, wild, hearts, twilight, moose, of, rusty, whinnies, evy, on the
Publisher: Enchanted Pony Books

Chapter 8

“And we have a winner!” said the announcer, interrupting the argument between Jon, Caroline, and all the opinionated onlookers.

I scanned the people in the stands as Kestrel and I escorted the mare toward the arena gate. Her owner wasn’t there yet. Hopefully he wouldn’t hear of the mishap for a while. I needed time to come up with a plan.

The announcer announced the winners of the Egg and Spoon Race, followed by, “All contestants for the Barrel Race, get ready!”

My heart lurched, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

“Evy! What on earth are you doing?” Jon’s voice came from behind me.

I stopped Rusty. Jon was striding after us, looking flabbergasted.

“Is that… did you just… is that the crazy mare?”

I nodded.

“What did you do to her?” he asked, approaching Rusty on his far side.

“Nothing. Just waited for her to calm down.”

Jon shook his head and looked sadly over Rusty’s withers at the mare. “I can’t buy her now. My mom freaked.”

“I know. Sorry.”

“Me too.”

“You don’t want her anyway,” Kestrel said, in her chipper voice. She hates it when anyone feels bad, so always looks on the bright side of things. “I mean, she goes from half dead to a crazed beast in an hour? Not a good sign.”

“You’re probably right.” Jon sighed. “Well, I’ll catch you later.” He hurried through the gates ahead of us, and Kestrel and I asked our horses to walk on.

“Please empty the arena,” the announcer begged, sounding more than a little miffed.

“You know what? I think she might have been drugged,” I said to Kestrel as I guided Rusty behind the bleachers. “That guy knew she was afraid and mad and I think that’s why he wants to sell her. And so he doped her into calmness.”

“That’s sick.” Kestrel sounded instantly outraged.

We led the mare to a quiet corner and I dismounted Rusty to tie her up.

Wait here. Return soon, I told her.

She didn’t disagree or agree, so I assumed she was agreeing and wrapped her reins around the fence post. I took off the saddle and blanket and flopped them over the top rail and was about to give her a pat on the shoulder when I remembered her no touching rule. It seemed weird to walk away without patting her first, but I made myself do it. I mounted Rusty and Kestrel and I started back to the arena.

Wildfire.

I turned back. What? Then I remembered that I’d asked her name earlier. Beautiful.

“She looks so scared,” Kestrel said, following my gaze, and it was true that the mare did look frightened. Only I knew she was way beyond frightened. The poor thing actually expected horrible monsters to attack at any second, because to her, monsters meant humans, and the worse monster of all was her owner. “And she’s got a bad reputation now,” Kestrel continued. “No one will buy her.”

“I know,” I said, and almost added, except me. I couldn’t tell Kestrel yet, not until I knew if my fledgling plan would work or not.

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