Chasing Cans by Laura Crum

Author:Laura Crum
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 978-1-880284-94-0
Publisher: Perseverance Press

Chapter 12

SHEILA WAS BREATHING, at least. And she had a pulse. I could hear people approaching behind me as I sat by her side in the sand of the arena.

“Call nine-one-one,” I said over my shoulder to the milling voices.

“I just did. They’re on the way.” It sounded like Roz. I held Sheila’s hand in mine, my fingers tracing the steady beat of the pulse in her wrist.

“What happened?” Roz again.

In the corner of my eye, I could see Sox, flat on the ground, looking as if he were as out-cold as Sheila. Jake Hanson was at the horse’s head, tugging on the bridle reins and clucking to him, but Sox never moved or twitched.

“Gail, what happened?” Roz demanded again. “Did you see it? What’s wrong with Sox?”

“I don’t know,” I said. My voice didn’t sound like my own. “Maybe a seizure. Maybe heart failure. He kicked Sheila in the head when she came off of him.”

Roz sucked in her breath. “He always tries to do that. How’s Sheila doing?”

“She’s alive,” I said.

We both stared at the silent form. Sheila’s eyelashes, carefully darkened, lay still against her cheeks. Her blond head wore no protective helmet. I had never noticed anyone but children wearing helmets at Lindee’s stable.

“I don’t want to move her,” I told Roz. “I think the side of her head that got kicked is facing down. I don’t know how bad it is.” I shuddered at the thought of mashed-in skull, bits of brain and blood.

“No. Better not to move her. All the books say that.” A new voice. Tess, I thought.

Turning my head, I registered that both Nina and Tess stood next to Roz, Robert and Tom were behind them. Jake was still with Sox.

“Is Lucy here?” I asked. “She could have a look at the horse.”

“They left a few minutes ago. Right before it happened.” Roz again.

In the distance came the faint wail of sirens. We all waited as they drew closer; the flashing lights making the turn into the driveway, then pulling up in front of the barn.

“They’re going to know the way here by heart pretty soon.” Somebody said it. Nobody laughed.

I stepped away from Sheila as the paramedics approached. Roz was busy informing one of them about what had happened; the other two bent over the still form on the ground. I walked up to the horse.

He was conscious now and had rolled up onto his chest, though he still blinked and looked dazed. Jake Hanson held the reins and stared down at him with an expression I couldn’t place.

“Let’s see if we can get him up,” I said.

Jake looked at me. His blond hair frothed off his forehead, his eyes were still brilliant blue, but somehow the handsome features looked blurred, as if strained by some strong emotion that he was holding in check.

“Worthless son of a bitch,” he said, looking down at the horse.

“Seems that way,” I agreed, “but something’s wrong with him. I want to check his vital signs. Let’s see if we can get him up.

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