AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jacob glanced at them. “Sit yourselves down.”
J.T. and Sawyer sat at the table as Jake and Ember came in from the living room.
“Thanks for getting the hay put away.”
“With just the two of us, it took us all day.”
“Sorry. I know I told you I’d help.” He pulled out Ember’s chair, then sat down next to her. “Where’s your sister?”
Jacob set the roast on the table. “Yeah. She was supposed to help me tonight.”
J.T. looked at Jacob. “She’s not back?”
Jake raised an eyebrow. “Back from where?”
Sawyer took out his cell phone and dialed Sage’s number. It went to voicemail.
Jake repeated his question. “Back from where?”
Jacob sat in his chair. “I asked her to take some antibiotics to the herd. But not all the way. Ray was going to meet her at Round Hill.” He looked at Sawyer. “You didn’t see her come back? She should’ve been back a couple of hours ago.”
Sawyer got to his feet. “I’ll go check the barn.” He left out the back door.
J.T. took out his phone and tried to call Sage again.
A few minutes later, Sawyer came back out of breath. “Shadow isn’t in the barn.”
Jake stood. “Shit. Where the hell is Sage?”
J.T. looked at the clock. “We have about an hour and a half before the sun goes down.”
Jake nodded. “Let’s go.” He kissed Ember. “I’ll keep in touch as long as we’re in range.”
She nodded. “Be careful.”
Jacob stood. “Hold on.” He took three slices of bread and piled roast beef on them, then covered them with three more. “Eat these while you get the horses saddled.”
The men took the sandwiches, then went out the back door.
Twenty minutes later, they were riding across the field toward Round Hill.
Jake rode up next to Sawyer. “What’s your intuition telling you?”
“That she’s okay.”
“Are you sure?”
Sawyer looked at him. “If something was really wrong, I’d know it.”
“That’s good enough for me.”
Sage looked at the sky. It’d be dark in about an hour. She checked her phone again for service. Still out of range. “I’ve been walking forever. How am I still out of range?”
Three hours ago, she’d met Ray at the base of Round Hill and passed off the antibiotics to him. They’d talked for a few moments. Ray was the youngest of the ranch hands at twenty, and Sage suspected he had a bit of a crush on her. She was always polite to him, but careful not to mislead him. When they parted, Sage headed back, taking her time. It was a beautiful day, and she wanted to enjoy the ride back. And she was until a bull elk came charging out of the trees and spooked Shadow. The horse took off before Sage could get control of the situation. She was a good rider, and she hung on as she tried to rein Shadow in. She would’ve calmed her down and been alright if it wasn’t for the stand of oaks Shadow was barreling toward.
Sage had tried to turn the horse, but couldn’t. She saw the tree branch coming and had two choices. Leave the horse on herown, or get knocked off by the very large branch of an oak tree. Sage bailed off the horse and hit the ground hard. She rolled a few times, then came to rest at the base of the tree. Shadow had kept running.
Sage laid there for a few moments, catching her breath and trying to determine how hurt she was. By some miracle, she wasn’t hurt at all. A few scrapes and bruises, and she’d be sore tomorrow. But nothing was broken. She’d gotten to her feet, looked around to get her bearings, and started walking. Shadow would probably run all the way home.
