Pitch Black by Elise Noble

Author:Elise Noble
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Undercover Publishing Limited
Published: 2015-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

I’D BEEN WALKING through the woods on Majesty for ten minutes, peering into the undergrowth on either side of the path, when I heard crying and knew I was in the right place. Tia hobbled along the path, her face screwed up and tears streaming down her cheeks. She was dragging her left foot and holding her right arm crossed over her chest. Thank goodness I’d brought the first aid kit.

When she saw me, her face was a mixture of relief and peevishness. She clearly didn’t know whether to be grateful someone was there to help, or pissed off because it was me.

Eventually she settled for whining, “Why did you take so long? I’ve been out here for ages, and I can hardly move. And I’m freezing.”

I hopped off Majesty, who after his initial high jinks had behaved impeccably, and tied him by his reins to a nearby tree. He looked on curiously.

Taking Tia’s good arm, I steered her over to a nearby log and sat her down.

“What hurts? Your arm and leg, obviously, but anywhere else?”

“N-no, just my arm and my ankle.”

“What happened?”

“Gameela spooked, and I came off and landed on my side. I wrenched my ankle in the stirrup as I fell.”

I studied her. She looked a little pale. “Did you hit your head?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Okay, I’m going to have a look. Tell me if the pain gets worse.”

“Can’t you just call an ambulance?” she demanded, some of her attitude coming back. “One of those helicopter ones.”

“We’re half a mile into dense woodland. Where exactly do you think it would land?”

“Fine. A normal one then.”

“Which would have to drive a couple of miles up a rutted track. I doubt it would make it even if it hadn’t been snowing. And I lost cell phone signal at the start of that track, so I can’t call anyone from here anyway.”

“You’re not being very sympathetic,” Tia sniffed.

“Nope. Sympathy isn’t one of my strong points. Getting things done is.”

“So what are you going to do? It’ll be dark soon and there are wild animals out here.”

“The worst thing in these woods is a fox, and I can guarantee it’ll be more scared of you than you are of it. Now let me look at your arm and ankle.”

Tia finally shut up and let me examine her. She shrieked a couple of times, making Majesty look up in alarm, but didn’t get too hysterical.

“Your arm’s broken. It’ll need to be pinned. I think your ankle’s just badly sprained.”

“So now what?”

“I’m going to strap up your arm then you can sit on Majesty while I lead you back to somewhere we can get phone reception.”

“I’m not riding him! He’s evil! He bucks and rears.”

“Yes, I found that out, but he’s tired now. He’ll behave just fine with me leading him.” I gave her a saccharine smile. “Or you can wait here while I go for help.”

I hunted until I found a straight branch to act as a splint, then bandaged Tia’s arm and ankle so they were supported.

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