Page 52 of Three Months Yesterday

I don’t want the ride to end, but we’ve been out here for a few hours and I know she has to be cold, especially as the sun begins its descent.

“Introduce me to another one of your favorite movies?” I ask as Oakley moves closer to Meadow, giving me a chance to see Madison’s face and the smile stretched across her lips.

“What?” Madison pulls Meadow to a stop and looks at me, a twinkle in her eyes I hope she never loses.

“I’ve clearly been missing out by not watching the classics, and you have a plethora of knowledge to share with me.”

I can’t help myself from reaching over to smooth a piece of hair behind her ear. The need to be close to her, to touch her, is stronger than anything I’ve experienced in a long time.

Maybe I should keep the next words to myself, but I’m tired of holding things close to the chest. “Plus, I’m not ready for the day to be over.”

The way she melts into my touch tells me I made the right choice.

Her eyes bounce between mine before a mischievous glint takes over and I’m not ready for what happens next.

“You’ll have to catch me first.”

I don’t register the words until she’s already taken off at a canter, her laugh floating to me on the wind.

There’s a moment I appreciate she doesn't take off at a gallop—knowing I can’t keep up with her—but the thought is gone as soon as it arrives, and all I can focus on is how happy and carefree she looks.

Until she’s not.

One minute Madison is laughing and glancing over her shoulder at me, and the next she’s on the ground as Meadow rears up and takes off toward the barn in the distance.

It’s like the world completely stops moving and speeds up at the same time. I have no idea how I make it to her, but without a single thought to Oakley, I’m off the horse and by Madison’s side.

Panic consumes me.

Her eyes are closed and she isn’t moving. If I hadn’t witnessed her fall, I’d easily be able to convince myself she fell asleep enjoying the sunset. But that’s not the case.

What the fuck am I supposed to do?

I reach for her but freeze with the realization I can’t move her. I have no idea what she hit when she fell and moving her could do her more harm than good.

“Madison,” I choke out, but there’s no response.

My eyes move to her chest, and I release a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding at the sight of the gentle movement.

Everything comes back into focus, the sound of Oakley gently huffing behind me, the chill of the evening air around us, the crunch of the dry grass beneath my knees.

I grab my phone from the jacket pocket and quickly find the number I’m looking for before lifting it to my ear, my eyes never leaving Madison’s rising chest.

Why I place this call instead of dialing 911, I’ll never understand. But if I’ve learned anything, I know the man is cool under pressure and he’ll do anything for his family.

“Stone.” Aiden’s cool voice sounds through the phone.

In any other moment, I might laugh at the greeting, but right now the calm demeanor is exactly what I’m looking for.

“Madison and I went for a ride with Meadow and Oakley and something happened. I don’t know what, but one moment everything was fine and the next Madison was flying through the air.” The words are fast, but clear. I’m not sure how I manage to keep my composure, but I’m grateful all the same.

“Where are you?” The sound of rushed footsteps in the background tells me he’s on the move, but nothing about his demeanor changes. He’s still just as calm and collected as I knew he’d be, and I let that reassurance wash over me.

I glance up, trying to figure out exactly where we are, but I don’t know enough about this land to tell him anything useful.

“I—I don’t know exactly.”

“Did you take the horses somewhere or are you on the property?”