“Shall we take them out on the trail?” Simon said.

“I don’t know. Will Brian be able to follow us?”

“We’ll just stay on our property,” Simon pressed. “Just for a little while. It’s such a great day. Not many like this in December.”

She sighed. “Okay.”

They headed for the trail that led around the thirty-five-acre property. Watery winter sunlight bled through the leafless branches as they rode.

They had ridden in tense silence for about twenty minutes when they came to a clearing. The wind whipped across the open land, blowing a white plastic bag like a ghostly kite. Where had it come from? Kate wondered. The bag must have caught Napoleon’s eye. Spooked, he snorted, then reared and bolted, sending Kate backward and out of the saddle. Her left foot got stuck in the stirrup as Napoleon galloped on. Her head hit the ground as she was dragged, the dirt and rocks tearing into her back and scalp. Her leg was wrenched, bent awkwardly. She was crying now, the pain excruciating, spitting out the dirt that filled her mouth. “Whoa! Whoa!” she screamed, terrified that she would break her neck. Her vision was blurred with caking soil and tears. Exhausted and finally calming down, Napoleon slowed to a halt, giving Simon time to catch up to them, free Kate’s foot from the stirrup, and secure the puffing horse. He knelt beside her.

“Kate! Kate! Are you all right?”

Pain shot through her back and side. “Everything hurts. My ankle is throbbing,” she said through tears, as she tried to sit up. “Maybe it’s just bruised.” She was angry with herself for not changing her boots.

“Don’t sit up. I’ll go back to the stables and bring the ATV up to get you.”

“No.” She sat all the way up now. “It’s just sore. I can ride back.”

“What if something is broken? You don’t want to make it worse. It’s going to be too hard for you to get back up on the horse.”

She sighed. Maybe he was right. But she didn’t want him to leave her alone in the middle of the woods. “Call Mack and ask him to bring it up.”

He put his hand in his pocket and came up empty, patting his vest pockets too. “I don’t have my phone with me.”

“What? You always have your phone.”

“I must have left it in the barn.” He leaned over, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t you move. I’ll be right back with Mack and the ATV.” He jumped on his horse and rode away.