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“We got in a fight. She wanted to come home early. I thought she’d just follow the trail. Are you sure she hasn’t come back yet?”
He groaned and shook his head. “Didn’t I tell you that this was a bad idea? I knew I should have come with you. I just knew something like this would happen.” He charged toward his horse’s stall.
“What are you doing?” She stopped and came out into the aisle.
“I’m going after her!”
“But you don’t know where to look.”
“It’s getting late. You know as well as I do that those woods just beyond the trails arefilledwith predators. Geez, Brielle, you should have known better than to let an untrained visitor wander the trails without supervision.” He flung the saddle over his horse’s back and cinched it tight.
Brielle’s features faltered. Whatever had happened between her and Sarah was bad enough that Sarah hadn’t wanted to come home. He shook his head. They’d have to work it out between themselves. For now, he had one purpose.
He needed to find Sarah and bring her back.
Brielle darted back into the stall. “Wait, I’m coming with you.”
“No,” he barked. He led his horse out of the stall and toward the door. “You stay here in case she comes back. If she does, you call me immediately.”
He swung into the saddle and dug his heels into his horse’s flanks. He was familiar enough with Brielle’s favorite trails he had a good enough idea of where to start looking. The problem would be if it got too late, he wouldn’t have enough daylight to find her, especially when it came to the trails that followed the perimeter of the woods.
Dax stood, hovering over the saddle. He leaned forward, letting his horse charge forward. They darted along the curved path and farther from the property. His sharp eyesight took in everything it possibly could. There was no sign of her anywhere. Overhead there were clouds moving in, making it feel later than it really was.
The horse she’d ridden knew how to get home, but it was also a horse that sometimes took people out hunting. There was a chance it might have gone in that direction, which meant there was a very real possibility that Sarah was wandering lost in the woods at this very moment.
He pushed harder, forcing his horse to run faster. The foliage on either side of him blurred into a deep green. “Sarah!” he bellowed. “Sarah, it’s Dax! Can you hear me?”
The pounding of the hoofbeats probably drowned out his voice. He’d have to slow down, but he couldn’t risk any lost time.
He closed his eyes briefly, praying for some kind of guidance on where to go. Deep inside, he knew something was wrong. He couldn’t explain it, but instinctively he knew she needed his help. He didn’t know what he would do if he came across her and she was seriously injured or worse.
His whole body was tense with worry. On top of not wanting her to be hurt while in his care, he knew without a doubt that Sheriff Donahue would have his hide if she returned to him next Friday with even one scratch on her.
“Sarah!” He pulled on the reins, causing his horse to rear onto her hind legs and whinny. “Sarah, so help me if you don’t answer me—” What would he do? There was no threat that was likely worse than whatever position she was probably already in. He glanced at the sky as the clouds continued to gather and the temperature lowered.
His phone rang and he ripped it from his pocket. Brielle’s picture filled his screen. He touched the answer icon and brought it to his ear. “Is she there?”
“No,” Brielle’s breathless voice sounded more scared than he felt, if that was even possible. “But her horse is back,” she croaked. “Dax, the storm, what are we going to do if she—”
“I’ll find her. If I don’t call you back in the next twenty minutes, call the sheriff.”
“But—”
“Just do it.” He hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. “Sarah!”
It was quiet, and he wasn’t sure if he’d imagined it, but a soft moan floated toward him. He spun his horse around, facing the direction that the sound had come. There were several other trails in that direction. He leaned forward, pushing his horse to jump over some shrubbery. “Sarah!” His voice was growing hoarse, and his throat was sore, but if he found her it would be worth it.
He arrived closer to the edge of the woods. That was when he saw a flash of color that didn’t belong. He pressed onward, closer and closer, only slowing when he was within about ten feet.
Sarah’s body was curled into the fetal position, unmoving. He all but leaped from his saddle, landing in a cloud of dust beside her. Thunder rolled somewhere in the distance but louder than he was comfortable with.
Dax dropped beside her, scooping her up so she sat upright. He patted her cheek. “Sarah. Hey, little lady, you need to wake up.” He pressed two fingers to that tender spot on her neck, finding a strong pulse. That was a good sign. He patted her cheek again. “Sarah. I can’t take you home if you’re unconscious.”
A breeze ruffled her hair and she shivered. Something splatted beside him. His gaze dipped to the small, dark spot in the dirt. Another thudded against the earth, followed by another and another. Rain. A large cold drop landed on his arm and then one hit Sarah’s face, causing her to moan.
“Sarah,” he muttered, “wake up.” He moved to his knees and gave her a gentle shake. Her lashes fluttered open, and she stared at him in a daze. He sent a prayer of thanks heavenward.
“Dax?” she murmured. “Where’s Bri?” Her eyes widened and she tore away from him, losing the contents of her stomach. She groaned, wincing as she pressed the heel of her hand to her temple. “My head.”
