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Not anymore.
Ruby and Arrow come to a complete and abrupt stop in the middle of the pasture.
My body goes cold.
Muscles tensing, I jog over to her. “Ruby?”
For a few seconds, she sits still, swaying slightly. And then her glassy gaze flickers from Arrow to me.
She breathes heavily. “Something’s going to happen,” she tells me.
My question’s a panicked growl. “What?” I reach out and grip the back of the saddle. “What’s going to happen, Sunflower?”
“Cowboy,” she whispers, her long lashes fluttering. “Catch me.”
Before I can process her words, I watch in horror as her eyes roll back and she goes limp, her tiny body slumping to the side. But she doesn’t fall.
Unconscious, she hangs in suspended motion.
“Ruby!” My stomach is a black hole of panic, my heart lurching into my throat. I reach up to catch her, to pull her safely into my arms, but I can’t.
She’s held tight, unable to be moved.
And then Wyatt screams out, “Charlie, her wrist! Her goddamn wrist!”
No. God, no.
Her slender wrist is tangled in the reins.
Spooked by the yelling, Arrow bucks, ragged hooves flying. The rough motion jerks Ruby’s small frame like a rag doll. Her head falls back for a moment, and then comes forward again.
“No! Wyatt!” I bellow, trying to still Arrow, but the frightened horse jolts, trying to shake us loose, to bolt for the stables.
Somehow, I manage to move Ruby so she’s slumped forward over Arrow’s neck.
The ground thundering beneath him, Wyatt pulls Pepita up alongside Arrow. He reaches for Ruby’s arm, his shaky hand running along the length of rein, attempting to free her.
“I can’t get it,” Wyatt breathes. “Fuck.Fuck.”
Ford’s there too.
On his horse, Eephus, he bookends Ruby’s other side, blocking Arrow in so he can’t get away. “Hold on tight,” Ford bellows at Wyatt. “Don’t you let her go.”
Christ. My legs almost go out from under me.
It’s my worst nightmare happening in slow motion.
If Arrow takes off, Ruby will fall.
He’ll drag her, trample her.
My heart is in my throat. Unable to breathe, to think logically, when she’s in danger.
This isn’t happening.
Not again.
Not to her.
