Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason

crested a hill. In the distance, Gil made out the black speck of Major with—thank God—Bree still on his back.
    He pushed Starlight hard, promising him every manner of reward if he managed to catch the other horse. Gradually they gained ground until Gil came within shouting distance.
    â€œBrianna, slow down! That horse is injured.” He hoped her concern for the animal would make her ease up.
    Her head whipped around. She peered over her shoulder, her hair streaming out behind her, but instead of stopping, she forged onward.
    Gil’s stomach clenched in dread. Please, Lord, make her stop before someone gets hurt.

    Why did Gil have to follow her?
    Brianna wanted to swipe the angry tears from her eyes but didn’t dare take her hands off the reins. She gripped them so tightly she felt grooves forming on her palms. Why hadn’t she taken the time to put on her gloves? She’d wanted so badly to be alone, to live life on the edge for a few moments, with no one telling her what she could and couldn’t do, that she hadn’t taken the proper precautions.
    Her vision blurred until she had no real sense of where Major was headed. She held on for dear life, clinging like a bur to his mane as he took the lead.
    Shouts from Gil barely registered in her consciousness as the ground flew by. A branch whipped her cheek, the sting making her aware of how close to the wooded property line they’d come. Summoning her strength, she yanked the reins as hard as she could to slow Major down. If he veered into the trees, he could trip on a tree root and break a leg. Daddy would never forgive her if she ruined one of his client’s thoroughbreds.
    She gave thanks to God as Major slowed to a more normal pace, while inwardly steeling herself for Gil’s fury when he caught up with her.
    A flash of movement from the trees claimed her attention. Seconds later, a hare darted into their path. Major gave a startled trumpet as he skidded to a halt. Fear slicked Brianna’s palms with sweat. She clamped her knees hard into the horse’s side andclutched the reins in a desperate attempt to stay in the saddle. But the momentum proved too much.
    A scream ripped from her throat as the thrust hurtled her over Major’s head and into the air.
    Brianna had only a moment to brace herself for the impact as she plummeted headfirst toward the ground below.

9

    B RIANNA !”
    Gil’s heart stopped pumping at the sight of Brianna’s slim figure flying through the air. With a sickening thud, she landed in a crumpled heap on the hard ground. He jerked his mount to a treacherous sudden stop and threw himself out of the saddle. In seconds, he raced across the grass, reaching her just as the spooked stallion reared up in alarming menace over her inert body.
    â€œEasy, boy. Easy.” Gil attempted to keep his voice calm, despite the anxiety clutching his chest. He had to keep the animal from bludgeoning Brianna to death with its hooves.
    Gil gave a desperate leap and managed to grab the reins. He yanked the skittish horse away from Brianna to a nearby tree, where he quickly tied the reins around the trunk. His pulse pounding in his ears, he dashed back to Brianna’s still form, lying facedown on the grass, hair splayed out around her.
    Please , God, let her be all right. The frantic prayer repeated over and over in his mind as he dropped to the ground besideher and placed a finger on her neck. The faint pulse he found there eased his tension a fraction, but thoughts of broken limbs, punctured lungs, and paralysis haunted his imagination.
    What had possessed her to take such a foolish risk?
    Inch by tortuous inch, he rolled her onto her side, alarm spiking at her lack of response. Even a moan would have been better than such stillness. Dampness from the grass seeped through his pants as he searched for damage. The beginning of a bruise bloomed on her cheek along with several deep scratches. Blood trickled