Georgia's Gamble [A Historical Fiction Novel; The Pratt Chronicles Book 1]

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Georgia Pratt

The sky was brushed with hues of amber and rose, casting an ethereal glow across the Lone Star Ranch as I guided Arlo through his paces, the warm Texas wind whipping through my hair. I leaned forward, feeling the strength of his stride underneath me as his hooves pounded rhythmically against the hard-packed dirt. He was getting there—starting to feel the rhythm, starting to understand the cues. There was fire in him, that much I knew. All he needed was a little guidance, a steady hand to draw out his potential.

Ben watched from the side, leaning against the fence, his arms crossed and that quiet intensity etched on his face. I could feel his gaze, steady and unyielding, as I pushed Arlo into a faster pace. I liked showing him a few new tricks; it wasn't often I got to be the one teaching him something. And something about knowing he was watching made me want to ride even harder.

"See how he's responding now?" I called over my shoulder, my voice steady and sure. "He's finally starting to trust me. Just gotta make sure he knows I'm not gonna pull him too hard." There was a spark of satisfaction in me, one that made me sit a little taller, lean a little more into the ride.

Ben nodded slightly, a flicker of a smile ghosting across his face, though something in his eyes seemed miles away. Whatever it was, I didn't have time to dig into it. Right now, Arlo needed every ounce of my focus. With a subtle squeeze, I urged him into a smooth, loping trot, feeling like we were finally in sync, two parts of the same wild spirit.

The world around me blurred as we picked up speed. I could feel the strength coiled in his muscles, the raw energy that just needed the right touch to be unleashed. For a moment, it felt like we were flying, like the boundaries between horse and rider had vanished, and we were both just parts of the Texas earth and sky, untethered and free. I wanted to laugh, to shout, to let Ben see that I had no fear out here, not with Arlo and the open land stretched out before us.

But then, a sharp rustling to the left broke the spell.

A snake darted across the ground, its sudden movement slicing through the moment. I barely had time to register it before Arlo tensed beneath me, his muscles going rigid as fear took over. His body jerked, the shock rippling through me as he reared back, hooves kicking at the sky.

I felt myself lurch, my grip on the reins slipping as my balance wavered. For a heartbeat, I hung there, weightless, a sudden and dizzying tilt that sent the whole world spinning. I clung tighter, refusing to let go even as gravity pulled hard, but my grip faltered, and the saddle seemed to slip away.

My hat flew off as I tumbled backward, air rushing past me as the ground surged up to meet me. In that split second, I had one last thought before everything went black: So much for flying.

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Benjamin Tucker

The second she hit the ground, it was like time stopped and all the noise of the world faded away. One second Georgia was flying, fierce and sure, and the next, she was falling, hitting the dirt with a sickening finality. My heart lurched into my throat, my whole body going cold. She lay there, too still, her hat tumbled off, her hair a mess around her face, looking so different from the strong, confident girl I knew.

"Georgia!" I shouted, barely aware of my own voice as I bolted toward her. My legs felt leaden, like they were moving through molasses, but I forced them forward, pushing harder than I thought I could. When I reached her, I dropped to my knees beside her, the dust swirling around us, sticking to the sweat on my face. My heart hammered painfully against my ribs, but it was nothing compared to the fear twisting inside me.