Page 2 of Tough Love

The triple.

I give her more rein, and we pick up pace. Every stride now, she grunts a breath. Sand flies out from under her back feet. I shorten her stride and push out of the saddle. She launches at the poles, but her body flails sideways. Blood and spit fling from her muzzle.

What the hell?!

“Jewls!”

I tighten my legs around her. She smashes into the poles. They clatter to the ground as we tumble through them and toward the ground. Her head plows into the sand. I lurch forward. My foot is stuck in the right stirrup as she rolls. Myback slams into the sand. Air rushes from my lungs. My head bounces, rattling in the helmet.

The lights of the stadium ceiling flood my vision. Silence presses down.

Then screams and shouting grow, echoing around me. Jewls jerks and rolls, still pinning me to the ground. My hip bone cracks. Pain floods my body, consuming it whole. Ringing in my ears drowns the crowd’s frantic roar. A shallow breath burns its way into my lungs. Pain lances through my ribs. My body is fuzzy, my right leg numb.

Then Jewls stills.

I snap my head to the side, searching for movement.

Something thuds. The pole from the double has fallen to the ground.

Limp, Jewls lays on top of me, unmoving.

No!!

“Jewls!”

Tears burn my eyes and roll down my cheeks. A shadow appears overhead.

Men file in around Jewls and me. Hands steady my neck.

“Addy! Oh no!” Mom’s voice slips through the ruckus. Her hand touches my cheek. Five men lift and roll Jewls from my crushed leg and hip. Fire courses through every inch of flesh and vein. My foot drops from the hung-up stirrup.

Darkness.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Whoosh. Whir.

Soft voices.

Tight blankets and warmth.

I force my eyes open... and the world spins.

“Mom?” I choke.

She stands by the hospital room door with a man in a white coat.

“Adeline was lucky to get out of that accident, Mrs. Howard. Her injuries could have been far worse. If the horse had rolled over her completely, she wouldn’t be here.”

I swallow.

Jewls.

Emotion closes over my throat. I grip the blanket at my sides, and something stings in my right wrist. I lift it. An IV.

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