Page 110 of Home Is Where You Are

AINSLEIGH

Today had dragged by. I’d spent the day with Loretta shadowing me, and I swear everything that could go wrong did. The computer system had glitches and double booked ten guests’ reservations, so we had to spend the morning profusely apologizing and making the appropriate phone calls to everyone and the booking company to ensure this didn’t happen again.

Taking pity on me, Loretta let me leave an hour and a half early once it had all gotten sorted. I needed a ride to clear my head.

Since my return, I hadn’t taken Sparkle on a ride, and I needed the silence her company offered.

I radioed everyone on the walkie-talkie to let them know which part of the property I’d be on; a safety measure my dad ensured all of us followed. Anything could happen while we were out on a run, especially solo, and them knowing my whereabouts ensured that if something did happen to me, they’d know where to find me.

Once I’d saddled her up and made sure everything was secure, I mounted her, and we walked toward the path that would lead me to the confession tree. The ride wasn’t far, but I needed it to ease my anxiety from the day.

When we got to the tree, I wasn’t ready to stop so I guided Sparkle to the left and kept a leisurely pace.

I was so lost in thought trying to figure out the perfect way to tell Gentry how much I loved him that I didn’t see the danger lurking ahead.

Sparkle saw the snake before I could, instantly trying to back away, stomping her feet. I grabbed the reins tight and tried to maneuver her back and turn her around, but the rattlesnake moved to strike at Sparkle, causing her to turn quicker than I anticipated.

I fell to the ground, and my head cracked against the hard surface, causing me to see stars. I tried to stand and shake off the dizziness that soon followed, but my legs were weak and my head throbbed in pain as I fell back to the ground.

With every ounce of strength I could muster, I pulled the walkie-talkie from my hip and pressed the button, hoping that someone had heard me call out for help.

As I laid on the ground praying help would arrive, I heard the ATV in the background before everything went black.

thirty-five

GENTRY

The second I heard her call for help over the radio, I bolted into action. Sheer terror coursed through me as I rode in the direction of the field where she said she’d be riding. I heard more ATVs following behind me as we raced to find Ainsleigh.

Holden kept calling out for her over the walkie, but she’d yet to respond. The worst thoughts went through my mind as I pushed the ATV to its limits.

Off in the distance, I saw Sparkle, but Ainsleigh wasn’t sitting in the saddle. I felt it in my bones that something was horribly wrong.

A few feet away, I saw her laying on the ground unmoving, and my hand let off the throttle. At that moment, I froze. The woman I loved within the depths of my soul laid on the ground hurt, and I was scared I’d find her and it’d be too late.

Holden flew past me and reached her seconds later. I could hear him yelling at her to wake up, but his voice sounded like it was in a tunnel. My ears rang as panic fully set in.

Holden screamed my name, breaking me out of my thoughts, and my hand squeezed the throttle to pick up speed. I slammed on the brakes and rushed to his side as he assessed her injuries.

“She’s not waking up. Call 911,” Holden shouted, panic laced in his voice.

I placed the call and explained to the dispatcher the situation. I wasn’t sure what had happened. Ainsleigh was a seasoned rider, but she had to have fallen off Sparkle. There was no other explanation.

“They're fifteen minutes out,” I told him as I remained on the line with the dispatcher who checked in every couple of minutes for an update on Ainsleigh’s condition.

Her chest rose and fell, and she looked like she was sleeping, but I knew that wasn’t the case. The longer she remained unconscious, the more worried I became.

That fifteen minutes felt like hours, but I heard the sirens indicating they’d arrived. Moments later, the medics arrived on an ATV with Sawyer and another ranch hand.

“Has she regained consciousness at all?” the medic asked as he approached.

“No,” I choked out, worried I’d lose her before I’d get the chance to tell her I love her.

“Why hadn’t I told her that I love her?”

They tried to reassure me by telling me her pulse and blood pressure were strong, but until I saw her beautiful eyes and heard her beautiful voice, I wouldn’t be able to stop worrying.

They placed a collar around her neck and put her on a backboard. Seeing her so frail almost caused me to break down, but I had to remain strong for Ainsleigh. Breaking down would do nothing to help her.