"Madelaine, you're just like your momma and daddy. Brave and good. You've made this old woman proud."
She'd ducked her head and smiled. Grandmother didn't do a lot of talking, but what few words she said, she really meant. Somehow, later when Mrs. Hanson and Billy took her to Famous Dave's the ribs tasted especially delicious.
She was still thinking about all the things that had happened that day when her eyes drifted shut.
The screeching of door hinges snagged Madelaine and abruptly yanked her from sleep. Eyes wide, she stared at the door into the dimly lit hallway, her heart pounding. Uncle David had snuck in her room at Grandmother's a couple of times just so he could wake her up and yell at her, and one time, he slapped her. She had never figured out why Uncle David got so angry with her. It took her a moment to remember she wasn't at Grandmother's. Uncle David couldn't get in her room here at Mrs. Hanson's, could he?
She lay still, barely daring to breathe. Her eyes hurt from being stretched wide open. A shadow, hunched close to the floor, eased into the room. Her heart raced into a full out gallop. Madelaine wanted to call out to Mrs. Hanson, or Billy who was sleeping on the couch in the living room, but her mouth was so dry it felt like her tongue was glued to her teeth.
"Mmmmmmm," a high pitched whine came from the slinking shadow that had stopped halfway across the room.
Madelaine sucked in a deep breath, held it then let it slowly out. Her heart slowed enough that she heard the dog's toenails clicking on the hardwood floor. "Harry? Come here, boy." She swung her legs out from under the covers and sat up, waiting for the dog.
Harry quickened his pace, whining that high pitched sound of distress. When he reached Madelaine, he thrust his big head in her lap. His whines came quicker and deeper.
"Shhh. You'll wake everybody. Be quiet, Harry."
Still the big dog cried. He backed away, edging towards the hallway, staring at her, pleading with his big brown eyes.
"Okay, I'm coming. Let me put on my shoes." Madelaine slipped her feet into her Nikes and followed the dog down the stairs.
Harry dashed ahead then spun around and ran back as if to say, "Hurry! Hurry!"
As Madelaine stepped from the last stair, she saw an orange light flicker on the kitchen wall. She could hear Harry scratching at the backdoor. She hurried to the kitchen door. Her eyes widened in horror as she gazed across the backyard. "Oh, no!" She whirled and dashed into the living room. "Billy! Billy, wake up!" She shook the man's shoulder hard.
"Whaaa?" He mumbled as he tried to turn away from her hand.
"You gotta get up! The barn's on fire!"
Billy shot up, swinging his feet to the floor. He grabbed the boots he’d left standing at the head of the couch, jamming his feet into them. "Fire?"
Madelaine nodded. "Yes, the barn. We've gotta get the horses out!"
"Go wake up Mom. Then call 9-1-1." He yelled as he raced out the back door, Harry close on his heels.
By the time Madelaine and Mrs. Hanson, in her nightgown and fuzzy slippers, ran out Harry was nipping Wellington's heels, forcing the old gelding into a shambling trot towards the safety of the east pasture. Orange and red, blue and ghostly green flames danced along the roof, shooting into the cobalt blue sky.
Harry dashed back into the open, black maw of the barn. The screams of horses rang out of the darkness from within. Madelaine raced after Harry.
"Madelaine, come back here!" She heard Mrs. Hanson shout as she entered the swirling gray smoke.
Billy stepped out of the fog of smoke, thrusting a lead rope into her hands. "Take Silver Ghost." The high-strung Arab danced at the end of the rope, head high, snorting and jerking as if to break away.
Madelaine grabbed the thick rope and jogged out of the deadly confines of the barn and into the backyard and the wash of white light from a waning moon. Mrs. Hanson shuffled quickly over to her. She thrust the lead into the old woman's hands and before Mrs. Hanson could stop her, Madelaine dashed into the thickening smoke. She had to get to Black Wind!
Overhead an ominous crackling and popping filled the hot interior of the barn. She could hear Billy soothing his two-year-old quarter horse filly. Coughing, she waved her hand through the darkness until her fingertips brushed the smooth wood of the stall gates. Hand touching the wood, she jogged forward, desperately trying to recall if there were any trunks or hay bales on the floor along this wall.
Out of the grayness, the outline of a man emerged. Voice hoarse from the grit of the fire, Billy coughed. “Gotta…get out…now. No time.”
“Go on. I’ve gotta get Black Wind.” She put her sleeve over her mouth and nose but the stinging in her nostrils felt like she’d snorted up hot embers. Her eyes burned as if she’d flipped salt into them.
“Can’t…” Gasping, unable to speak further, he jabbed his finger upwards. He sucked in an overheated breath of air finally, then rasped, “Loft…gonna fall!” His hand shot out, grabbing her forearm. “Gotta…go,” he said before a fit of coughing stole his breath again.
With a sudden twist, Madelaine wretched free and ran into the roiling smoke.
The mustang filly had wedged herself into the farthest corner from the front of the stall by the time Madelaine slid the gate bolt free. “Easy, girl.” Heart pounding, everything in her yelling at her to run, Madelaine forced herself to take slow, deliberate steps towards the wall-eyed filly. Black Wind snorted and stamped her front feet nervously. She shifted her body as if she might bolt from the stall. Holding her hand out, Madelaine crept forward. “It’s okay, girl. We’re gonna get outta here.” She edged closer until finally she laid a hand against the horse’s sweaty neck. She wrapped her hand in the long, black wiry mane and with little tugs she urged Black Wind to walk with her. Though the filly snorted, her body trembling, her head swinging this way and that way, she followed the girl.
It seemed to take forever. Fire crackled overhead, an evil monster laughing at them. Out of the blackness, red mouths full of sharp, hot teeth devoured the hayloft. Bits of burning confetti floated on the hot air, lazily spiraling down into the empty stalls below.
Black Wind whinnied. Madelaine tightened her grip. “It’s okay, girl.” She whispered. Something gave a loud crack and crashed down somewhere behind them. The horse lunged forward, dragging Madelaine. As the open sliding doors loomed ahead, the filly gave another mighty lunge and tore free. Madelaine slammed into the packed dirt aisle, the breath whooshing from her. Hooves flying, Black Wind pounded away, melting into the night.
As Madelaine pushed to her feet and stumbled from the barn, she heard sirens screaming up the driveway. Red and blue lights flashed eerie beams over the full skirts of the cedars that grew tall and strong along the outside of the paddock fences. Flames licked from between the boards of the barn’s wall, like a kid licking an ice cream cone. The boards melted beneath the hot tongue of fire.
She saw these things as she began jogging towards the woods. She saw them but she didn’t care. Nothing was as important, right then, as the black spot of woods that had swallowed Black Wind. Breaking into a ragged sprint, Madelaine entered the woods.
A half hour later, she heard Billy calling her name. Slumped on a damp log, she ran her sleeve under her dripping nose then rubbed her hands down her face, scrubbing away all traces of her tears. She’d lost Black Wind. The white beam of a flashlight jerked and bobbed its way towards her. She didn’t care. Black Wind was lost.
“Madelaine! Oh, thank God, I finally found you! Didn’t you hear me calling?” Billy hurried over to her. “Madelaine? Are you hurt?”
Silently, she shook her head, unable to force herself to look up at Mrs. Hanson’s grandson.
He stepped carefully to one side then sank upon the log next to her. “Is it Black Wind?” he asked softly.
END OF PART 3
END OF PART 3
The words burst from her. “I lost her! I lost Black Wind!”
“We’ll find her,” Billy patted her back.
“This is the mountains. What if she gets eaten?”
“She’s pretty smart, I hear. She can probably take care of herself for a day or two, until we find her.”
“But there’s bears and cougars and…and even a pack of coyotes could attack her and kill her!” Great sobs tore from her.
Billy scooted closer. Gently, he put an arm around her shoulders. “We’ll find her, Madelaine. I promise you, we’ll find her.”
Muffled in his shirt, Madelaine wailed, “Before she gets eaten?”
“Yes, before she gets eaten.” Billy said as he hugged her more tightly with one arm. “Now, let’s head back before Mom thinks we’re lost and comes looking for us.”
They were almost to Mrs. Hanson, who was standing halfway between the house and the barn, before Madelaine noticed Fire Chief Ben Johnston standing next to Mrs. Hanson, twisting his helmet around and around in his big hands. Madelaine heard the big man say, “This fire wasn’t any accident. Not only that, but somebody wanted you to know it was set. They left their gas can where we were certain to find it. Even left a box of matches on top of it.”
“Oh, dear Lord,” Mrs. Hanson murmured.
“I’m sorry, ma’m. We’ll be sending the arson investigators out as soon as it’s daylight.” He was silent for a moment before he quietly asked, “Can you think of anyone who might’ve done something like this?”
Mrs Hanson was already shaking her head in disbelief when Madelaine muttered, “Uncle David.”
Fire Chief Johnston turned his head towards her. “Who might you be, young lady?” He asked in a kindly voice.
“Madelaine Tyler.” She stared at the soot-blackened toes of her Nike cross-country running shoes.
“Who’s Uncle David?” He asked in a conversational voice.
“My Uncle David, my grandmother’s son.”
“And who might your grandmother be?”
“Josie Tyler.”
“I see. So, tell me, why would your Uncle David do something like this?” The fire chief waved his hand at the black timbers of the gutted barn.
“He hates Black Wind. He didn’t care if she burned up.”
“Oh, Madelaine, surely David wouldn’t do something this awful.” Mrs. Hanson exclaimed.
“Yes, he would. He’s really mad at Grandmother and Grandmother loves Black Wind.”
“Mom, didn’t you say he threatened you and Madelaine down at Regency Care Center?”
“He said we’d be sorry.” Madelaine replied.
Fire Chief Johnston clapped his helmet back on his nearly-bald head. “We’ll see who’s sorry. I’ve known Josie Tyler since I was a toddling tyke. I didn’t realize David Tyler was back in town,” he said grimly. “You can bet, Investigator Arness and I will have a talk with your Uncle David.” He gave a quick dip of his chin then turned and lumbered away, towards the trucks where his men were gathering.
A slight breeze glided past them, carrying the stench of wet ashes and charred wood. Briskly, Mrs. Hanson glanced around then faced Madelaine and Billy. “Well, children, there’s nothing more to be done tonight. All the horses, except Black Wind, are in the pasture and the gate’s closed. I think we can all go to the house and maybe even get a little rest before sun-up. Come on, Harry,” she patted her left leg and the dog fell into step beside her as they dragged across the yard and into the house.
Madelaine fell in step next to the older woman. “Mrs. Hanson, why did Harry come get me instead of you or Billy?”
“Well, child, seein’ as how my door was closed and seein’ as how my Billy sleeps so sound even a volcano blowin’ up wouldn’t wake him, I guess old Harry knew he needed you.”
At the bottom of the stairs leading to the guestroom and the second floor, Madelaine stopped with one foot on a step and the other foot still planted on the hall floor then she faced Mrs. Hanson. “You think Black Wind’ll be okay tonight?” She bit her lower lip to stop its trembling.
Mrs. Hanson looked her in the eye. “I won’t lie to you, child. She was a mustang before your grandmother bought her at the wild horse auction so she has more smarts about bein’ out there alone than most horses. There’s danger out there, for sure, but I think Black Wind’s a lot like your grandmother: tougher than we know and not likely to give up easy.”
Madelaine nodded and turned to head upstairs.
“We’ll get a couple hours sleep then as soon as it’s sunrise, we’ll saddle up and go lookin’.” The old woman said. She reached out and laid knarled fingers on Madelaine’s arm.
Madelaine looked over her shoulder at her grandmother’s best friend.
“That adoption man told your grandmother they found Black Wind runnin’ by herself. He figured her and her momma got separated from the herd somehow and then her momma must’ve gotten killed. But Black Wind didn’t rejoin the herd. She just run by herself out there.”
Madelaine nodded. “Yeah, but that was open country. This is the mountains, Mrs. Hanson. And Grandmother said that the mountains aren’t a natural habitat for horses.” Madelaine’s voice quivered.
Mrs. Hanson pursed her lips and sighed. “That’s true, Madelaine. But sometimes a horse’s, or a person’s, spirit is so strong they can overcome tremendous odds. Have faith in her, child. Something in my heart tells me she’s a real survivor.”
As Madelaine climbed up the stairs, she wanted to believe Mrs. Hanson. Really she did. Still, she couldn’t help thinking about all the predators out there in the dark. And what if Black Wind ran over a cliff she didn’t see?
