Page 49 of The Convict Gets His Girl

Ava wrung her hands and nearly growled, "That boy doesn't know what he's doing."

Jewel glanced at her, then at Chase. "I don't know, seems like he's moving the same as any of us would."

Despite her quiet defense, Jewel's heart caught in her throat as Chase approached the mare. Clio was wild-eyed, muscles trembling with adrenaline. One powerful kick could easily shatter bone.

She pulled a small syringe from her bag. An anxiety reducer, designed to calm without fully sedating. Her fingers trembled slightly as she uncapped it.

"Trent," she called to one of the ranch hands, "what exactly happened before she started bucking?"

Trent talked as Jewel set her bag aside, careful of the needle. She mimicked Chase, slowly walking toward him where he stroked Clio's shoulder and murmured softly.

The horse's ears flicked as Jewel drew closer. Her breathing came in rapid, desperate bursts, her eyes wild as their gazes locked and she pawed the ground. Clio let out a plaintive whine, the sound piercing her soul. Jewel knew that sound. Pain, fear… death.

She stepped forward, speaking softly. "Easy, girl, easy." She stroked Clio's other side, staying near her neck and focusing on her head.

The syringe slid smoothly into Clio's neck. But instead of flinching and flicking her tail like normal, the mare seemed to grow more agitated. She jerked away from Jewel so fast, Clio hit Chase on the other side, sending him stumbling to his knees in the dirt.

A spike of anxiety made Jewel's hands shake and a deep dread filled her. Jewel rushed to Chase's side as Clio reared back, bucking with hooves raised.

Ava yelled behind them, and Jewel tried to help as Chase scrambled to his feet and out of the way, his arm around her waist as they dragged each other away.

Ava met them by the gate, hands on hips. "Chase, why did you do that?" His mom frowned at them before turning to watch Clio still bucking.

One of the ranch hands offered Chase a bottle of water while Jewel capped the needle and put it in her bag.

Chase drank before answering her. "Hunter's not here, Ma. I may not be your favorite, but I know what I'm doing, believe it or not, and it's better I go out there than one of the ranch hands. I'm dispensable."

Jewel's hand eased up Chase's back in a reassuring motion as she glared up at him. "Don't talk like that. You are not."

Ava snorted and walked slowly toward Clio, ignoring them. Now that the medicine was working its magic in her blood stream, Clio seemed to be calming down. Chase looked down at her, but she couldn't read his expression behind the sunglasses.

She took in a deep, dusty breath as Ava slowly led Clio through the gate, across the yard, and into the cool barn. Jewel and Chase walked side by side, but the emotional distance between them loomed greater than the few feet that separated them.

Jewel tried to focus on the task at hand. The mare's muscles were still coiled like steel springs. Her hooves scraped against the barn floor, creating a thunderous rhythm as Ava crooned softly, patting her neck as they both walked into a stall.

Ava's hand ran down Clio's side, and Clio reared, her massive body blocking out the dim light filtering through the barn's dusty windows.

"Mom, get back!" Chase shouted, jumping forward, Jewel reaching for Ava as if in slow motion.Don't touch her side!Her mind screamed, but no sound emerged.

Ava was too close, too slow.

Clio's hoof struck with terrifying precision. It caught Ava square in the side, the impact so sharp Jewel could hear the whoosh of air leaving Ava's lungs and the crack of bone. His mother collapsed to the ground.

"No!" Chase gasped and lunged, positioning himself between the rearing horse and the crumpled form of his mother. His arms spread wide, trying to appear larger and distract Clio from her potential next strike even as he started to soothe her with soft, singing, his voice warbling with emotion.

Jewel's medical training kicked in. She grabbed Ava's shoulders, her grip firm but careful, and dragged her backward, away from the horse's lethal hooves.

"Get my dad!" Chase yelled to a ranch hand, his voice sharp with command as he continued to work with the horse.

Clio continued her frenzied dance, slamming against the stall walls. The wood creaked ominously with each impact as Chase backed out of the stall to avoid her.

Jewel's hands were shaking as she pulled out her phone. The 911 dispatcher's voice seemed miles away, distant and tinny.

"Medical emergency," she stammered, checking Ava's pulse. Thready. Weak. "Horse kick to the pelvis. Middle-aged female. Possible internal injuries. Definite broken bones."

Chase kneeled beside his mother, brushing the hair out of her eyes and quietly asking, "Mom, Mom, come on, wake up."

Ava moaned but didn't open her eyes, and Jewel's heart ached as Chase nearly bowed over his mother's body in relief at the soft sound.

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