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“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I muttered, knowing full well there was no way to stop him.
“What’s the matter? Afraid I’ll whoop your ass?” Frank asked. “Let’s do a jumping contest, then. I know I’ll beat you there.”
Frank hopped into the golf cart and called for Mindy to get in. They raced off toward the barn before I could argue. I led Orion out of the roping arena and across the farm toward the barn and a smaller arena that was set up for jumping. Frank opened the gate to let me in. It looked like we were really doing this.
“Please be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to you before they come out, which could be any minute now,” Mindy said, rubbing her swollen belly. It looked extremely heavy, and I was curious about how she could stay upright.
“I’ll be fine, babe,” Frank said, leaning over and giving her a chaste kiss before he took off for the barn.
A few minutes later, Frank shot out of the barn on Dinah’s back. Mindy held the gate open, and they blew past her, nearly knocking her over. This would not end well. Frank was hotheaded and wouldn’t back down from a challenge, and Dinah was unpredictable. The horse had already thrown him multiple times in the past, not to mention the major accident they’d had at a jumping contest years ago. Frank had almost lost his arm, and Dinah. had broken her leg.
Instead of coming to the center to go over the rules of the little contest we were having, Frank went right into the first jump. I kicked my heels into Orion’s side and took off after him. Frank cleared the second jump, and I was close behind him. I watched as he turned toward the third jump and swung out a little wider since it was a tight turn.
As Frank approached the jump, Dinah stopped abruptly, throwing Frank. He flew over her head and broke through the wood on his way down, landing flat on his back. He wasn’t moving, and the air left my lungs.Shit. Not again.
Mindy let out a bloodcurdling scream and ran for the gate. “Frank!”
“No. Don’t come in here with Dinah loose. Go get Charlie,” I shouted, coming to a stop next to a lifeless Frank. Panic ripped through me as I hopped off Orion and kneeled beside Frank.
“He left to get gas for the tractor for the next demonstration,” she shouted in a panic.
“Then go get Jacob. He’s home.”
She nodded, waddled over to the golf cart, and drove off toward the back of the property, where Jacob’s house was.
“Frank, can you hear me?” I asked, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.
His eyes opened and then slid closed again.
“Don’t move, man. Stay still.” At least he was alive.
Frank reached for me, and I gripped his hand. “Don’t move. Jacob’s coming, and we’re going to get you out of here.”
A few minutes later, Jacob arrived in his truck. He jumped out and hopped the fence, running full speed toward us.
“How is he?” he asked, sliding to a stop next to us. His eyes were wide with worry.
“He’s okay. In and out a few times, but he’s alive. He can answer basic questions.”
Turning my head so only Jacob could hear, I said, “His head is bleeding, and I’m not sure if he broke anything. We need to call an ambulance, and I left my phone in my truck.”
Jacob nodded and pulled out his. He stood and walked away from us with his phone to his ear. After a few seconds, he hung up and kneeled beside me. His phone chimed. He looked at it and swore.
“What?”
Jacob leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Mindy’s water broke.”
“Shit.”
“I’m going to put the horses away and then go check in with Laney,” Jacob said. “I’ll see if Gracie can help her, and I’ll take Mindy to the hospital.” Laney had given birth to a little boy, Isaac, a few weeks ago and was still recovering. Gracie was ten and a big help.
Jacob grabbed the horses’ reins and walked them toward the barn. Another truck pulled between the house and the small path that led to the arena. It stopped, and Peter jumped out. He hopped the fence and ran toward us.
“Frank,” he called out. “Is he okay?”
“I’m okay, man. Sid won’t let me up, though,” Frank mumbled.
“He’s been going in and out, but he seems to be more alert now, and he hasn’t closed his eyes for a few minutes. He’s answered basic questions, and he seems to be aware of what happened.” I could tell he was scared by the death grip he had on my hand.
