Conner would’ve had plenty of experience with injuries in bull-riding competition, Megan reminded herself. He was taking his time, making sure Daniel didn’t have a spinal injury before getting him up. Still, Megan was getting impatient. Daniel was cold and he needed a doctor.

“Try his left shoulder,” she said. “I think it could be broken.”

Conner worked his hand into the snow and under Daniel’s shoulder. When he pressed, Daniel yelped with pain.

“Okay, partner,” Conner said. “We’re going to sit you up and get you out of here. It might hurt. Are you brave?”

“Mm-hmm.” Daniel nodded, his jaw clenched.

“Well, then, here goes. One, two, three.” On the count of three, he eased Daniel to a sitting position. Daniel’s face was pale. His arm hung at a slightly odd angle from his shoulder. Bucket stayed close to him, whining anxiously.

“You were right about being brave, Daniel,” Conner said. “Let’s hope it’s just a dislocation. We won’t know for sure until we get you to the clinic in town.”

“Here.” Megan unwound the knitted scarf from her neck. “We can use this to make a sling. But how are we going to get out of here? It could take time to get that sleigh back on the trail and turn it around. Daniel needs a doctor now.”

“I thought of that while I was with the horses.” Conner took the scarf and tied it loosely around Daniel’s neck, making a supportive sling. Then he wrapped Daniel in the quilt again. “Luckily, we were close enough to the house to get a phone signal. Travis got my call. He’s on his way in the ATV. Listen. You can hear him coming.”

Megan strained her ears. At first, there was only the rush of the wind. Then she heard it, the rumble of an engine, still faint but coming rapidly closer. Relief washed over her as the ATV came into sight, its thick winter tires rolling over the packed snow.

Travis parked behind the sleigh and unloaded the shovel and other tools that lay across the backseat of the open vehicle. “I’ve got this,” he said to Conner. “You take the ATV and get your patient back to the house. I should be able to move the sleigh with the jack I brought. If I can’t, I can at least get the horses home.”

“Thanks. I owe you.” Conner helped Megan ease Daniel onto the backseat. Bucket, choosing to stay with Travis, had jumped back into the sleigh.

The ATV was still running. Conner climbed into the driver’s seat. “Hang on to your brother,” he said, glancing back at Megan. “I’ll do my best to avoid the bumps, but it’s bound to be a rough ride.”