Timber Creek Academy

~12~

I opened my eyes, and tried to take a deep breath, but realized that the wind was knocked out of me.  I laid on the ground gasping like a fish while the concerned faces of my trainer and teammates looked over at me. As I blinked, my head ached.

"Don't move, just breathe," Mrs. Banks said, and I finally managed to get some air into my lungs.

After a few deep breaths, I managed, "Where's Leo?", and began to sit up.  I looked at the jump he had refused, and it was destroyed.  Poles on the ground, and one of the standards laying on its side. "Is he okay?" I asked nervously, and began to roll over on my side to go look for him.  The sight of the wrecked jump made my head spin, but I had to find Leo.

"Just sit, Brooke's got him," Mrs. Banks said, and I asked again, "Is he okay?"

Mrs. Banks just mumbled "Don't worry," and began to have me sit up. My head still hurt a little, but I didn't mention it.  I was a little foggy from my fall, but things were rushing back to me.

"Where's the loose horse?" I said, my eyes searching my surroundings.  I looked at everyone else.  Did they catch it already? Surely I hadn't been out that long....

I touched my head. Ouch, yeah I should probably go to the nurse, but I had to make sure Leo was okay first.

"Oh, there was a misunderstanding," Mrs. Banks said, and flicked her eyes over to Rachel.  I moved my eyes to her, too.

"Um, well, I saw Romeo, you know, the little gray pony? Yeah, well, I guess he was just running in the field, but I know he's gotten out before, so I thought he was loose, and I was just warning everyone...." she mumbled and stuttered.  I shot daggers at her.  Her face was porcelain white, she looked innocent, but I knew.  There was no loose horse, and she knew it.  We both knew it.

I just shook my head.  "I can't believe you," I whispered, and Mrs. Banks clicked her tongue.

"Oh come now, she would never purposely do something like that, especially when we're jumping, right Rachel? It was an accident," she scolded me.  Rachel just nodded.

I rolled my eyes, and then began to stand up.  Ignoring Mrs. Banks's warnings to take it slow, and the slight ache in my head, I walked to my horse, thanked Brooke for holding him, then felt his legs and looked him over.

He had a big scratch on his chest, probably from the metal cup that holds the pole on the standard, and I almost threw up when his lower leg felt warm.  "No," I moaned, and tears pricked at my eyes.  "Mrs. Banks!"

She jogged over, everyone dead silent, and ran her hand over his left front leg, and nodded.  "Definitely some heat in his leg.  Someone call the vet," she said, and Carly grabbed her phone from her pocket and dialed the vet.  "Let's see him move," she told me, and I gulped as I carefully led Leo forward a few steps.  He was limping.  Tears spilled out of my eyes.

I whipped my head around toward Rachel.  "How could you?  Do you think this is funny?  I hope you're happy," I spat at her, and she shook her head, her eyes glassy with tears.

"Sabrina, I never meant to-"

"Just shut up.  I hate you!" I yelled, and Mrs. Banks came over.

"Ladies! It was no one's fault.  Apologize, now," she said in a scary calm voice.  I just shook my head, and went back to Leo.

"I'm so sorry boy," I said, and he hung his head low.  I stroked his face, and he sighed, and it made my heart break to see him this way.

***

We had taken him back to his stall, and the vet was feeling his leg.

"I don't think it's anything too serious, but we'll take an ultrasound just to be sure.  His hoof is definitely bruised, and his leg is probably just strained.  You're very lucky, it could've been much worse," the vet said, and I nodded.  I said a silent prayer that that's all that it was.  If it was a bruise and a strain, he would recover in a few weeks, but if it was a torn ligament, that would take months, and he'd have an even greater risk to tearing it again.  I can't believe this is happening right now.