As the horse raced by them, it startled Tenterhook just enough for Tabby to notice. “It’s okay, boy,” she said, leaning forward and stroking his neck. To herself she mumbled, “That’s the third fall today.”
The announcer recorded the failed run as the rider left the arena on her own and went to catch her horse.
“We’re next,” she said, stroking Tenterhook’s neck again.
She glanced up in the stands and saw Trip sitting with Kas. He’d been impressed with her run at the ranch arena. His interest in Tenterhook was obvious. If they did well today, she’d have her sponsor and be able to afford to travel to more rodeos on the Western Rodeo Circuit next season. If they continued to do well, she may even be able to go to the national professional circuit.
Emotion filled her chest and bubbled up her throat. Her parents would be proud. Levon would be happy for her, and yeah, he would have been proud, too. He didn’t normally come with her to a rodeo. He always stayed back at the ranch and tended to ranch duties with Dusty and Hal. But when she got home, he always asked her about her ride and gave her a little pep talk if she didn’t do well. She wondered what he’d say to her now if he were here.
She felt Tenterhook’s muscles jump beneath her thighs, a clear sign he was itching to start his run. She was ready.
Tabby started her run, kicking Tenterhook’s sides with her heels and held on to the reins getting ready to take her first barrel turn. They took the first turn good and tight and she focused on the second barrel in the cloverleaf. Just as she was about to make the next barrel turn, Tenterhook faltered, losing his footing.
She lurched forward with his movement, but was able to regain her seat in the saddle. Tenterhook tried to compensate, but stumbled again, knocking over the barrel and jumping over it to stop from falling. Tabby jerked forward again, this time unable to keep her place in the saddle. She held on tight and was only vaguely aware of something flying out onto the arena floor. As she lost her grip and went flying off Tenterhook’s back, she braced herself to hit the soft ground. Instead, she smacked into something hard and bounced off it before her world went black.
* * *
The moment Tabby went airborne, Kas jumped to his feet and started running through the bleachers to the arena floor. He didn’t bother to run around to the opening of the arena. Instead, he jumped the wall and ran straight to the spot on the other side of the arena where Tabby crashed into the wall.
From where he was sitting, he couldn’t tell if Tenterhook had rolled on her after she’d fallen or if she’d hit her head. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tenterhook showing signs of discomfort. He was walking slowly with his head bobbing, and his hip was slightly dropped as he took each step. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Trip running up behind him.
“Stop Tenterhook before he runs off and breaks that leg,” he called out. “I’ll see to Tabby.”
People were already surrounding Tabby when he got to her. Heart pounding, he pushed his way through the crowd and found her on the ground surrounded by the emergency team who’d gotten there before him. One medic was putting a neck collar on and talking to her. But her eyes were closed.
“Tabby? Can you hear me?” the medic asked. “You’re going to be fine.”
Kas wasn’t sure he’d be fine after what he’d just witnessed. He’d seen plenty of rodeo spills over the years, but this one had his heart pumping out of his chest.
He dropped to his knees and knelt over Tabby.
“Tabby? Can you hear me? It’s Kas.”
At the sound of his voice, her eyes fluttered open. “Tenterhook,” she whispered. “Get…I think he’s hurt.”
“You’re hurt,” Kas said, pushing her hair away from her face.
“Please, Kas. Please get him before he hurts himself more.”
He could tell she was in pain by the expression on her face and the way her whole body tightened every time the medic moved her. He wanted to stay with her. But he couldn’t refuse her plea.
“I’ll get him. Don’t you worry,” he said, hoping he could give her the assurance he didn’t feel. “He’ll be fine.”
By the time they’d loaded Tabby into the ambulance and it sped off to the local hospital, Trip had managed to get Tenterhook back to the holding area where a rodeo veterinarian was inspecting Tenterhook’s hind leg.
“He needs an ultrasound. There’s clearly some damage here, but it’s hard to say what until you get some films of that leg. I can mobilize his leg and give him a tranquilizer so he’s not in so much pain so you can transport him back to your ranch. He’ll need to be looked at right away by your regular veterinarian.”
“What happened?” Kas asked.
Trip picked up the horseshoe that had been thrown in the arena, but didn’t say a word.
“He’s got some bleeding on his belly,” the vet said. “Not too bad. But looks like he threw the shoe with a nail still stuck out far enough to give him a gash. I’ll clean that out, but it looks like it’s just on the surface. It’ll heal fine.”
Kas took the horseshoe from Trip and looked at it. One of the seven nails was still in the shoe. He grabbed the nail between his fingers but it was stuck. “Tenterhook just had new shoes put on a week ago. Why would he throw a shoe so quickly?”
The veterinarian got up from the crouched position he was in. “Perhaps it’s best to talk to your farrier about that.”
* * *
Tabby was
