Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69610 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69610 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Nothing is fenced in.
I climb back on and we take the closest trail to the paddock. It starts just waving through some thick trees, but slowly the terrain gets a little thicker. The wind is soft, and the view is incredible. In the distance, above the trees, I can see mountains. Lush mountains. I close my eyes a few times, gently breathing in deep. Slowly, my body unwinds and I’m able to think again for the first time.
Silver rears.
It comes out of nowhere, like a flash of lightning. I lurch forward when his feet hit the ground again, but instantly he launches back up. Then he starts going backward, snorting, prancing from side to side. I hang on and my eyes dart around. He is frightened of something.
“Whoa, boy,” I tell him, trying to soothe him.
He flicks his head from side to side and from the corner of my eye, I see a furry animal burst out of the bushes and dart across the track. I can’t see what it is, it moves so fast, but it’s enough to send Silver into a craze. He backs up faster, and I pull his reins, turning him around and deciding to get him the hell out of there. He’s obviously not used to trails. I start trying to lead him out when he rears again, this time so hard I go backward.
I land on the ground, flat on my back, crying out in agony as my already sensitive body hits the deck. Silver bolts, disappearing out of the trees before I can do anything to stop him. I cry out, but it’s no use, he’s a horse. He’s hardly going to stop. I try to push up, but my body is in agony. I’m winded and can’t breathe. I don’t know if anything is broken, or if I can even walk.
I start to cry, fear and panic mixing in my body and exploding forth. I lie there like that for a while, crying, desperate to make it all go away. And then I pull myself together. I have to try and get up, and I need to get out into the open, because if I stay here, the sun will set and I’ll be stuck. The terror I’d feel, being out here alone at night, not being able to hear, would be the end of me.
I’m sure of it.
I roll to my side, trying to push up, but the pain in my ribs is excruciating. I done a fair bit of damage to them when I was taken by Trey, so they’re already sensitive. And my ankle is throbbing, which makes me think I’ve twisted it. Still, I grit my teeth and push up into a standing position, crying out as I put pressure on my foot. Yes, definitely twisted. I glance down, and it’s already swelling.
Not good.
I wonder how far down this path I actually travelled. I’m starting to think it was a whole lot longer than I realized. I can’t see the exit from the trees, I can’t see Scarlett’s paddocks. My heart races, and I take one agonizing step after the other, hopping as much as I can, although every time I do, my ribs cry out in protest.
It’ll take me well into the night to get back up to the house at this rate. I can only hope someone will notice me missing. Mason knows I’m out here, surely he’ll alert someone when I haven’t returned in a few hours. I hope Silver is okay. Will he run home? Will he be waiting down the track further? I really, truly hope he doesn’t go in the opposite direction and get lost, or worse, injured.
I’d never forgive myself.
And I really don’t need any more of that right now.
Guilt.
Shame.
I keep walking, and with every step, the sun slowly starts lowering on the mountains, making it just a little darker with each passing second. If I can, at the very least, get to the outside of this trail and back into the paddock, at least I know I’ll be safe. In here, outside of the fences that protect the paddock, anything could happen.
And when the sun falls, I won’t hear anyone calling out to me.
I won’t hear them.
And I won’t be able to see them.
Two of the most important things will be stripped away from me.
I have to get out of here.
Fast.
-7-
MAVERICK
“What do you mean she isn’t fuckin’ back?” I bark at Mason, who is staring between Scarlett and me.
“She said she was just ridin’ down into the paddock, wouldn’t be more than an hour. It’s been three. Haven’t seen or heard from her. Thought you would want to know.”
My heart lurches.
The sun has just disappeared, bringing on night, and Amalie is out there, alone, with a horse, and hearing that is going to make it fucking hard for her to know if danger is lurking.