Wild Hearts by Jessica Burkhart Page A

horses from your dad’s job site.”
    â€œThat’s perfect!” I said. “How soon can you get an appointment? Dad barks at everyone any time the horses show up. He has a call into the BLM, too, but he’s not good at the waiting part. He got really pissed when his foreman told him that they had to talk to the BLM before moving the horses. The permits that he has don’t cover moving the horses.”
    â€œI hope I get in before your dad does,” Logan said. “I want those mustangs to stay around here and be as free as possible.”
    I started to respond, but Holden reached the rock and set down two brown bags.
    Logan ripped open a bag and tossed me a wrapped sandwich. “We’ve got the McCoy special. Luckily for you, we always pack extra grub.”
    â€œAnd that would be?” I asked, peering at the package.
    â€œPeanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” Holden informed me, his eyes watching me as he unwrapped his sandwich.
    â€œEver had one?” Logan asked, winking.
    â€œOh, I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe once or twice.”
    Logan and Holden had already dug into their sandwiches. Holden watched Logan eat and then mimicked his big brother’s large bites.
    I took a bite of mine.
    â€œDo you like it?” Holden asked.
    â€œI
love
it,” I said. “Next time, I’ll make you guys my signature sandwich.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Logan said as he wiped peanut butter from the corner of his mouth.
    â€œYou’ll have to wait and see,” I said, taking a big bite. Logan opened the other bag and handed me a Sprite.
    â€œThanks,” I said. I opened my soda and was about to take a sip when my phone rang. I plucked it out of the mini satchel that I’d been carrying.
    â€œBrie? You okay?” Dad asked. Through the phone, I could hear the clicking of keys as he typed.
    I checked the time on the phone. I’d been gone almost two hours.
    â€œSorry, Dad, I’m fine,” I said. “I ran into one of my friends and I lost track of time.”
    â€œOkay, hon,” Dad said. “Take the rest of the day off—I’ve got everything covered. Just be home for dinner.”
    â€œI will,” I said.
    I hung up and put the phone back.
    â€œMy dad,” I explained. “Just checking on me.”
    â€œCan I go over there?” Holden asked Logan.
    â€œWhere?” Logan asked.
    Holden pointed to a spot across the creek.
    â€œOkay, just remember our brother pact,” Logan said.
    â€œWe always have to be able to see each other,” Holden said.
    â€œYou got it,” Logan said, high-fiving his brother.
    Holden smiled shyly at me as he got up.
    Logan and I watched Holden navigate his way across the creek and crouch near a boulder.
    â€œI did some reading online,” I said. “About the horses.”
    I’d done more than just a casual search online. I’d spent hours and hours online when I was alone in my room late at night. I read articles about the fate of American mustang herds, and watched videos of the horses being corralled and shoved into trailers. There were even scarier videos of mustang cruelty that I didn’t have the stomach to watch. Each night after work, I’d eat dinner before rushing upstairs to my laptop. I’d bookmarked site after site about the horses.
    Logan nodded slowly. “What did you read?”
    â€œA lot. But all the articles basically had the same conclusion— the wild horse population is in danger. They’re running out ofroom because of . . .” I paused. “Um, because of businesses like my dad’s.”
    â€œThat’s all true,” Logan said. He stood and sat on a rock closer to me. “The issue isn’t stopping your dad, like I told you. I promise that I don’t want to do anything to cause problems in your family.”
    â€œI wish everyone could see this the way that you do,” I