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knees straightened. She stood and her arms reached out to steady Brynna.
    â€œGet off me,” Brynna said, half laughing as she shrugged out of Sam’s grip. “It’s too hot for hugs.”
    â€œI’m not hugging you,” Sam snapped, embarrassed as she realized that Brynna had been exaggerating, like everyone did.
    She’d imagined Brynna pitching off the porch, face first to the ground, hurting herself and the baby she carried.
    â€œWhy did you say that? My heart is pounding like…”
    Sam guessed Brynna must have seen past her rudeness to her concern, because she gave a sympathetic smile. “Sorry. It’s just a figure of speech. I’m fine, just extra hungry since I’m eating for two.”
    Sam smiled as Brynna meant her to, but she didn’t stop thinking of Pirate all the way home.
    Â 
    Lunch was finished. Sam, Dad, and Gram were still sitting at the kitchen table in the breeze from theceiling fan, putting off the time when they’d have to continue their outside work.
    Just as Sam began thinking of her walk with Tempest, the telephone rang. Brynna jumped up to answer it.
    Refreshed and refueled, Brynna shifted from foot to foot, her eyes on Sam as she listened.
    It must be Jen, Sam thought. Her best friend was almost psychic about trouble, especially horse trouble. Maybe she’d have a strategy for helping Pirate.
    For the hundredth time, Sam wished their house had a telephone extension in another room. What she wanted to discuss with Jen was no secret; still, she’d enjoy a little privacy.
    Lots of her school friends carried cell phones, but they weren’t much of a solution. Cell coverage in this part of the high desert was spotty. Brynna joked that her government-issued cell phone was mostly good as a paperweight, and really a little light for that.
    â€œWhoever’s called isn’t giving Brynna a chance to get a word in edgewise,” Gram said, sipping the last of her iced tea.
    That would be totally unlike Jen, Sam thought.
    â€œOf course Wyatt wouldn’t mind if you put your heads together,” Brynna said.
    Sam glanced toward Dad. He gave a grunt as if he weren’t so sure he liked anyone, even his wife, speaking for him. Then Brynna said, “Sam, it’s Mrs. Allen.”
    Brynna extended the phone and Sam scrambled up from her chair. It tipped and Sam barely caught it before it fell over.
    â€œCareful,” Gram cautioned.
    â€œSorry,” she apologized, but her mind was already on the phone.
    Please let Mrs. Allen have changed her mind , she begged silently.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œOh, Samantha, I can hear the hope in your voice, and I’m not at all sure I can help, but I’ll try. I’ve been feeling awful since Brynna called.” Mrs. Allen paused and tsked her tongue. “That poor burned little colt.”
    â€œIf you could have seen him before…” Sam said, but her voice caught.
    So few people had seen him whole and healthy. Born in the secret valley, he’d learned to run on broad white alkali flats that humans avoided. He’d hardened his hooves by climbing red rock plateaus that were a test even to mustangs.
    Sam felt lucky to have seen the colt before the fire had scarred him forever. No one who saw him now would know how he’d been before.
    â€œI’ve been thinking, Sam, if I took that colt in—”
    â€œOh, Mrs. Allen!” Sam rejoiced.
    â€œâ€”someone would need to take care of him, and by that I do not mean you, because I know how busy you are with the HARP girls and that darling black filly, but what about your friend Jen?”
    When Sam didn’t answer right away, Mrs. Allen said, “But Jen helps with the HARP girls, too, doesn’t she?”
    â€œShe does,” Sam said, but her mind sorted through every young rider she knew. Who could help? Someone had to.
    â€œWhat about Callie, the girl who stayed with you here before?”