Page 57 of The Maverick’s Legacy

The crowd went crazy as Carly and Nieve came flying out of the tunnel heading toward one of the barrels at breakneck speed. She’d changed into a white shirt with fringe on it and red riding pants that matched her hat. Her face was determined as she and Nieve sped through their routine. Jesse’s heart was in his throat as she rode. She was absolutely breathtaking. She was also going so fast Nieve’s feet were a blur.

“She hasn’t lost her touch,” Amy said beside him.

“Go, Carly!” her dad shouted.

“I wonder if she’s about to break another world record,” JenniLynn murmured beside him.

Before he could respond, Carly headed toward the final barrel. But as she went sharply around the corner, a gunshot rang out through the air. Nieve jerked at the unexpected noise and stumbled to the ground, taking Carly with him.

“No!” Jesse yelled as the large beast landed on top of her.

He jumped to his feet and ran down the steps as fast as his legs would go. He was somewhat aware that Grayson and Carly’s family followed him.

“Dad,” Oscar called out as he hurried over to him. “Is she okay?”

Jesse couldn’t answer. He hopped over the barrier separating the bleachers from the dirt floor of the arena. By the time he reached Carly, the event medic was there along with a wrangler who pulled Nieve off to the side, where a vet was inspecting him closely.

“Carly,” Jesse whispered as he finally reached her. He came to an abrupt halt as he stared at her. She lay there, not moving. He watched as blood dripped from her mouth.

The air thickened in Jesse’s lungs until he could barely breathe. For just a second, Carly’s body blurred and he was staring at the lifeless body of MaryBeth. She was dead. Carly was dead, and he hadn’t even told her how much he loved her.

Arthur and Suzie hurried by him, the older man limping as he went. Suzie dropped to her knees.

“Sweetheart,” she murmured, carefully holding her daughter’s hand.

The medic waved smelling salts under Carly’s nose, and she came to with a groan.

“Darlin’, you scared the life out of us,” Arthur said.

“Wha-what happened?” she whispered. She sounded feeble, not anything like the strong woman he knew.

JenniLynn came up to them, looking angrier than Jesse had ever seen her.

“One of the men from the hay-bale races dropped the starting pistol they’d been using, and it went off,” JenniLynn explained quietly. “I’m so sorry. This will not happen again.”

Jesse barely heard her over the buzzing in his ears, causing everything to sound muffled.

“We need to get her to the hospital to be looked over,” the medic said.

“Will she be all right?” Suzie asked.

“I’d wager she has a concussion and possible fractured ribs, but they’ll be able to examine her further there.”

“Nieve…” Carly murmured, her eyes unfocused.

“We’ll make sure he’s looked after,” Amy said.

Carly’s gaze finally landed on Jesse. She gave him a weak smile he couldn’t return. He felt like he’d turned to stone.

“We’re going with you,” Suzie said.

Carly looked at Jesse one more time before she closed her eyes. Had she passed out again?

“We need to get her there now,” the medic urged.

Shane Corey was waving an ambulance in through the large entryway at the side of the arena. Two EMTs loaded Carly onto a stretcher and pushed her quickly toward the waiting vehicle.

“Dad?”