Love Inspired Suspense: July 2022 Box Set 2 of 2 by Jessica R. Patch

Author:Jessica R. Patch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

NINE

Terror filled Madison as realization sank in.

The entire herd, probably more than fifty buffalo, was headed straight for her. She kicked Kat into motion, leaning over the mare’s neck to urge her to use every ounce of speed she possessed. The mare responded with grit, seemingly aware of the urgency of the situation.

The darkness camouflaged the ground, making it impossible to tell if dark splotches were gopher holes or clumps of grass between lightning flashes. Heedless of the danger, the mare ate up the ground while Madison prayed she didn’t step into a hole. Visions of the mare snapping a leg as she tumbled breakneck into the path of a herd of stampeding bison fought for headspace as she tried to concentrate on finding a route away from the runaway beasts.

She could hear Briggs shouting above the thunder, directing the hands in a desperate attempt to contain the massive herd. Rain started then, too, blowing with the wind and pelting her in stinging lashes across her face. Ducking her head as much as she dared, she turned the mare in a far-reaching arc away from the path of the stampede. She prayed the buffalo wouldn’t follow. If she could get out of their path, maybe the animals would just run themselves into a lather and slow down on their own.

She dared a glance over her shoulder. Her mare was fast, and the herd was cumbersome, giving her an advantage, but there was a rocky slope just ahead. She was going to have to slow her mare or risk serious injury to them both. She would have to take the chance.

She pulled up her mare, slowing as much as she dared, hoping she could get past the rough patch without the herd catching up. It began to hail as the storm intensified.

Lighting flared, too close and accompanied by an earth-rattling boom, and Kat squealed in panic. Before Madison could react, the mare reared onto her hind legs, sending Madison sliding from the saddle.

She fought to hang on, but her balance had shifted. Clinging desperately to the saddle horn, Madison used every bit of strength she had to maintain her grip. As the mare settled, she pulled with all her might, trying to reseat herself in the saddle. Pellets of hail pounded at her as she tried to get leverage. The rain had made her grip slippery, and it wasn’t enough. She tried for calm as her hands slid, and before she could recover, another flashing boom had her mare dancing and rearing again. Madison couldn’t maintain her grip.

She slid from the horse’s back, landing in a crumpled heap on the ground. With little time to register the rumbling of the ground below her, she shot up and took off on foot. She knew she couldn’t outrun the herd, so she prayed with every ounce of energy she had left for any kind of intervention.

Madison didn’t bother to look back to see how close the herd was. She stumbled a few times

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