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“Thank you.” I rushed out, breathing a sigh of relief. If they knew what had happened, they would be on the first flight out here, and I knew that it would be a struggle for them to come.
“We’re going to go and grab a coffee now that you’re awake, we’ll leave you two alone for a bit, we’ll be back soon.” Aunt Claire said motioning between Mason and me before kissing me on the cheek. Uncle Ryan also came and gave me a hug along with Brody before the three of them left the room. Savannah plonked herself down on the bed next to me and took my hand in hers.
“Bloody hell Libby you scared the crap out of me!” She said dramatically.
“I’m fine. Honestly, just a bit bruised. Tell me what happened.” I asked, looking over to Mason. I saw him ever so slightly shake his head at Savannah before coming to sit down on the other side of me. He had obviously decided that he wasn’t going to tell me that they thought Amber had tampered with the saddle.
Savannah spoke first. “Well I waved you off from the porch swing, do you remember that?” I nodded at her, and she continued. “About forty-five minutes later Cookie came wondering down to the stables with her saddle hanging off and you nowhere to be found. I called Mason who was out at the river, and he came straight back. I wasn’t sure where you’d gone, but Mason said how much you love the lake, so he headed there while I called Mom and Dad.” Savannah looked over to Mason.
“I found you not far from the lake, lying on the ground unconscious, I didn’t know if you were dead or alive when I first saw you. I’ve never been so afraid Libby.” He pulled me to him gently so as not to hurt my arm. “When Savannah called me and said that Cookie had come back without you…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I called the EMT’s when I found you, and they brought you here, I came in the ambulance with you, and everyone else followed. Ryan came straight from the airport.”
“Does Jack know?” I asked.
“No, Dad had already dropped him off and was on his way back when we called to tell him what had happened.” Savannah stood up. “I’m going to leave you two alone for a bit, I’ll go and find Mom and Dad. I’m so glad you’re okay Lib.” She smiled squeezing my hand.
After she’d left the room, I asked Mason if he would lie on the bed with me. I snuggled into him, resting my broken arm on his chest. “Mason, before I opened my eyesI heard you all talking… was it Amber who messed with the saddle?” I felt him take in a deep breath before blowing it out slowly.
“I think so, I haven’t seen the saddle yet, but Savannah got a look at it while she was putting Cookie back in her stall. She thinks the cinch was cut with a knife, it was cut just enough so that no one would notice, but any rigorous movements while riding would have caused it to snap completely which is what we think happened.”
“What’s a cinch?” I asked, not familiar with the terminology.
“It basically the strap section of the saddle, it goes underneath the horse and keeps the saddle in place.”
“Could it just have been wear and tear and it worked loose? Maybe I didn’t secure it properly?”
“No sweetheart.” I heard him sigh. “It wasn’t a tear in the leather, it was a clean cut according to Savannah. It wouldn’t have been because you didn’t fasten it properly.”
“I had just started to ride faster, and as we increased the pace I felt the saddle slip, and I was thrown. I tried to pull back on the reins, but it was too late.” I closed my eyes at the memory. “If it was Amber, why does she want to hurt me?” I asked him in a whisper.
“I don’t know baby. I’m so sorry, this is all my fault.”
“It’s not your fault Mason, don’t blame yourself. If it really was her, then she has some serious problems.”
“Did you see anyone hanging around the stables before you went out?” He asked me. I thought back to hearing the noise while I was in the tack room and feeling uneasy.
“Actually, I felt like someone was watching me while I was outside the house, then, when I was in the tack room, I heard a noise out by the stalls but when I checked there was no one there.” I paused, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of my stomach. “It was Amber, wasn’t it?” I asked him.
“I think so, sweetheart. But unless someone saw her hanging around, we’re going to have trouble proving it.” I tilted my head back and looked up at him, my eyes dropping to his lips. “Kiss me, Mason. Please.” I begged him, desperate to take my mind off what had happened.
He smiled, his mouth inches from mine. “That I can do.” He murmured, his lips capturing mine in a soft and gentle kiss. I could feel how much he loved me as he kissed me and after what had happened to me today, I realised that life is unpredictable and that I should grasp tightly onto him and never let go.
As he broke the kiss, I looked up into his eyes and whispered. “I love you, Mason.”
His eyes widened in surprise before his face erupted into a heart-stopping smile. “I love you too Libby. So much.” He brushed his lips against mine again before pulling me into his chest.
I must have fallen asleep in his arms, and when I woke up, Aunt Claire and the others were back, chatting quietly amongst themselves.
“How are you feeling Libby?” Uncle Ryan asked me.
“I’m okay, my head’s still hurting but not as much as before.”
“The nurse came in and topped up your pain relief while you were asleep sweetheart,” Mason told me, kissing me gently on the head. “I bet that’s started to kick in.”
“I really want to go home.” I felt Mason tense at my words, and I realised what I’d said, looking up at him I waited until his eyes met mine before speaking. “By home I mean back to the ranch.” I felt his body relax and he kissed my forehead.
“Libby honey, if you’re okay we’re going to head back?” Aunt Claire asked me. “I’m assuming that Mason is staying here with you?” She looked over to him.
Before he could respond, I said. “No one needs to stay with me, I’ll be fine.”
