Heart divided

Flame and pain

I stared at my house.

It was ruined, the roof had caved in and fire still blazed through windows and our door.

We were all huddled in our barn that was about a half mile away from the house. My papa was readying a wagon for us to leave hitching up his two favorite horses. Two beautiful black horses that he bought a couple years ago.

My father walked over to me with my white Arabian Bruno.

"You can either ride him out or hold him behind the carriage Caroline or we can leave him. The rest of the animals we will have to let out in case the fire spreads."

I looked at him in dismay my hands were burnt but the only way to keep my horse was to hold him.

I took the reins from my father and threw myself up on Bruno. My burned hands scraped against the leather reins making me let out a scream of pain causing my horse to spook. Before I knew what was happening I felt the hard earth beneath me smacking my head on the ground. All I saw was stars and I heard voices screaming my name. But I couldn't move I didn't WANT to move.

My adrenaline was finally wearing off and my burns were starting to really hurt. It felt like someone was whipping me over and over again. My heart was pounding in my chest making me hack up nothing but blood. I had to stand up we had to get out of here.

I slowly got up my legs wobbling beneath me and I saw my pa coming towards me but I waved him off and walked towards Bruno again. I grabbed onto his knee and squeezed making him lay down. A trick I taught him a couple years ago.

I practically fell on top of him but I held on when he got up. I grabbed the reins but this time held in my cry of pain not wanting to go through that again.

"Caroline we have to leave now! The fire is coming to us!"

I followed my fathers voice and clucked to Bruno making him go faster.

I could feel him tensing when he smelt the fire his nostrils flared as we exited the barn.

I heard the smack of the reins as my father urged his team on and we took off from my home leaving fire and ruins in our darkened dust.

We traveled all the way to town and by the time we got there I felt as if I was going to faint. The pain from my burns were very great and took all my strength to hold on to Bruno.

The familiar entrance of town had now rose directly in front of us giving me a wave of relief.

My father jumped out of the cart and started yelling frantically.

"Help! Help us! Our home has been burned!"

All town lights were turned on it seems all at once doors slammed open and pounding footsteps ran towards us.

"What has happened Mr. Dosept!"

I recognized Mrs. Lilly our bakers demanding voice reach out above everybody else's quieting everyone's yelling questions.

"Our house seemed to have somehow caught flame and my daughter Janet has died by it. Will anyone come and help me save what is left of my family's home!"

Men screeched in fury and started running for horses or started out on foot with buckets and anything that can carry water they brought with them.

"Get my daughter off of that horse! She needs a doctor!" My mother shrieked.

Women surrounded me gently pulling me off Bruno trying not to touch the noticeable burns and hauled me into our little motel.

When I looked back I saw Bruno with red stains on his beautiful white coat.