When Life Races You By

Chapter 7

Nothing could prepare me for the scene that was in front of me. Manny was lying down on his side, breathing heavily, as though a rock had been placed on his chest. His tacks was all over the shop, with his saddle twisted around and his reins all knotted. The fact that he was till lying down worried me.

Ben was lying a few meters away. His leg was at a weird angle, that I pretty sure was not natural. Paramedics had arrived already and had started to work on him. The grass, which was normally a pure green, had red patches all over it. I wasn’t sure whether these were from Ben or Manny.

I just stopped, dead in my tracks, unsure what to do. A women approached in a uniform approached me.

“I’m sorry Ms, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” she explained in a calm, monotone voice.

“No, you don’t understand,” I screeched. “I’m Manny’s trainer.”

“Oh,” she said, a little taken back. “This way then.”

She led me over to where Manny was lying. I just collapsed at his neck.

“Oh Manny, I’m so sorry,” I sobbed. “Come on boy, you’ve got to get through this.”

He lifted his head up slightly, at the sound of my voice, but put it down quickly. Another women bent down beside me.

“Are you his trainer?” she asked.

“Yes,” I whimpered, “I’m Claire, Manny’s trainer.”

“I’m Rose, the vet. Look, we’re going to try and get Manny up now and then he’s going straight to the vets. If he can stand up now, that’s a good sign, but I can’t promise anything. Is there anything I need to know?”

“Um, no there isn’t.”

“Alright, help me get him up then.”

I stood up and grabbed Manny’s reins. I pulled myself together, so I could focus on the job at hand.

“Ok Manny, up you get,” I said trying to be cheerful, even though on the inside I was falling apart all over again.

After a long sigh, Manny began to try to get up. It looked like the hardest thing he had ever done in his life. After a few tries he heaved himself up.

“Good boy, you did it,” I exclaimed.

I ran my eyes over his body which was cover with sweat. While I was trying to get him up, Rose had removed his tack.

“Ok, walk him over to the float,” Rose instructed.

She watched as I loaded Manny into the float. I talked to him the whole time, trying to calm him, as well as myself, down.

“There’s no injury that is obvious at the moment, but I won’t know until I’ve done some x-rays,” she explained as she headed around to her car.

“Yeah, I understand. Can I get a ride with you?” I asked.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think you should come. There’s no point in you being there, especially if we have to give him an anaesthesia to keep him still. I promise I’ll ring you when I know what’s happening.”

“Oh, ok.” I didn’t have the energy to protest and deep down I knew he was in the best hands.

I waved them off before turning back to the scene. Ben was now laying on a stretcher. Around five people were surrounded around him. I ran over to see what was happening.

“Who are you?” One of the paramedics asked, passing a tube to another paramedic.

“Ah, good friend,” I replied, I couldn't really say girlfriend. “Trainer of the horse.”

I watched in horror as the paramedic slid the tube down Ben’s throat. Of course I had seen being down to animals at university, where I was studying to be a vet, but seeing it been done to someone you know and love, is a bit different.

“We’ve had to placing a breathing tube to help him breath, as there could quite possible be a bled on the brain. We won’t know until a cat scan has been done. All we know so far, is that there is a break to the left arm and leg,” the paramedic explained.  

I just nodded in response. The paramedics started talking amongst themselves.

“Alright, on one, two, three,” one yelled as they lifted Ben onto the bed.

One paramedic was pumping that bag that was helping Ben breathe, while the rest of them pushed the bed towards the ambulance that was waiting. I had to run to keep up with them.

“Quick get in!” another one yelled.

I wasn’t expecting to ride with them to the hospital, but I jumped in anyway. I guess it would be good for Ben, if there was someone he knew when he woke up.

Let’s just say it was the quickest, bumpiest and roughest ride I’ve ever had to the hospital.

Author's Note: Hi all, Merry Christmas! Here is another chapter. Yes you guess, it hasn't been edited. I will try and find out when my editor can do it. Please comment what you like or don't like, as it really helps me make the book better. What do you think will happen next? Thanks for reading!