Page 86 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
“Ciara, Rowan, I need you!”
Alarm flared at her uncail’s voice, raised and urgent with undisguised apprehension. She jumped out of bed, not even bothering to don a robe over her nightgown as she sprinted to the door. Rowan was still wearing jeans and quickly put on a shirt as she opened it to Frank, his clothing rumpled and dusty, his hair the same. His typically calm serenity was nowhere to be seen, replaced by clear distress. Something was very, very wrong.
She didn’t bother with a greeting. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Jasmine.”
No.Ciara swallowed, took a second, then forced the question out, “Is she…” She couldn’t say it.
Thankfully, he shook his head. “No, she’s alive, but sick. Very, very sick.”
“I need to get to her.” Ciara lunged through the doorway, her heart slamming against her ribs as she jogged and then ran thorough shadow-drenched hallways. The earlier conversation faded, to be dealt with later, as she burst into the cool night, made a sharp turn towards the stables. The men ran next to her. “What happened?”
“I keep my windows open at night. Suddenly I heard a lot of commotion, snorting and squealing like an animal in pain, loud enough to wake me up.” Frank grimaced. “It wasn’t good. Jasmine was on her side, in obvious pain.”
Ciara ran faster, sprinting across the dewy grass. She reached the stables and quickly threaded her way to Jasmine’s stall. She cried out at her beautiful horse, on her side and reeling. She started forward, about to jump into the stall, when a firm hand grabbed her.
“It’s too dangerous to go in there.” Rowan held her tightly. “She could accidentally kick you.”
Despite his logic, she struggled in his grip. “She needs me!”
“She needs you to get her help.” His voice was authoritative and cool. He leaned down but did not release her. “I know you’re upset, but you need to stay calm.”
Ciara stiffened. He was right. Jasmine was thrashing wildly, kicking indiscriminately at imaginary threats. If she entered the stall with the panicked horse, she could be seriously injured or worse. Jasmine didn’t need comfort – she needed calm, cool and collected action.
She relaxed, and the iron band holding her loosened. “Frank, did you call Dr. Saunders?”
“Right away,” her uncail confirmed. “He said to head directly to the animal hospital, and he’ll meet us there. He didn’t want to lose time by coming here.”
Her breath caught. “Jasmine needs surgery?”
“He doesn’t know, but there’s a good chance. At the very least, he needs the equipment at the hospital to run tests.”
The horse squealed wildly. “It’s going to be okay. I promise,” Ciara cooed, her voice breaking with the doubt of keeping that promise. Rowan still held her, but his grip was light, as if he knew she would no longer run. “We have to get her loaded into the trailer. We need some men to help.”
“Already on it.” Frank held up his cell, showing a chain of text messages. “I contacted the workers right after I talked to the vet. They should be here soon.”
Ciara fisted her hands in utter helplessness. She couldn’t comfort the horse, couldn’t get her checked out yet, couldn’t even get her to the hospital until the men arrived. As always, Rowan sensed her emotions, as he gathered her in his arms. “They should be here in a few minutes. Why don’t you getdressed so you’re ready to go?” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “As soon as they get here, we’ll get her loaded.”
She frowned deeply, turning back to the horse. Jasmine was thrashing, but her movements had slowed somewhat. There was nothing she could do, and she couldn’t venture into town in her nightgown. “Will you stay?”
“Of course.”
“Okay.” Ciara breathed tepid air into her lungs. “I’ll be right back,” she promised the horse, glad for one oath she could keep. She raced back to the house.
She moved in focused fervor, donning a black t-shirt and stonewashed jeans in sixty seconds flat. She grabbed her purse, cell phone and keys, threw some granola bars and water bottles in a bag and left the room two minutes later. As she ran to the stables, something wasn’t right.
It was far too quiet.
“What happened?” She burst into the building, amidst deafening silence. She traversed the labyrinth of stalls, stopped short as she reached Jasmine’s. The door to the stall was wide open.
The horse was sprawled on the ground.
“No!” Ciara ran to the horse, and no one stopped her this time. The others were gathered around the ailing equine, their gazes solemn. She touched the horse’s flank, feeling for any sign of life. Jasmine was warm, but she showed no reaction. “No,” she whispered.
“She’s alive,” Rowan touched her arm. “Likely, she just fainted from the pain. At least it’ll be easier to get her to the hospital.”
Moisture filled her eyes, yet she blinked back the tears. She couldn’t let emotion overcome her if she wanted to help Jasmine. Voices came from outside, and she exhaled. The men had arrived.
