They ate ribs and potato salad and drank cold beer, but they didn’t talk a lot. Chase was preoccupied, thinking about the rides and Ella wasn’t chatty either.
“Are you all right?” Chase asked Ella on their way back to the hotel after dinner.
“Yes, why?”
“You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“I’m a little tired, that’s all.”
But when they made love back at the hotel that night she was as sweet and responsive as always. He told himself he was imagining things. He believed it. Almost.
*
“Have you seenDamaris?” Marshall asked Ella, popping his head into her office.
She looked up from her desk where she’d been arranging and rearranging a pasture rotation chart. “Not lately. Last I saw she was taking one of the horses down to the east pasture.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “But that was at least half an hour ago.”
He entered all the way. “Wonder what’s taking her so long? We’ve got a meeting in town and we’re already late.”
“Want me to go see?”
“No, I’ll do it,” he said, walking out.
Ella wasn’t particularly worried. Any number of things could be keeping Damaris. Although it wasn’t like her to be late for an appointment. A few minutes later her cell phone rang with Marshall’s number showing. That’s not good, she thought, grabbing it hastily.
“Marshall? What’s wrong?”
“Damaris is hurt. I called 911. Cinnamon is loose and I can’t leave Damaris. Can you find her?”
“I’ll take care of Cinnamon. How bad is Damaris?”
“Not sure. She was crushed between the gate and the fence. She was unconscious when I found her but she’s conscious now.”
“On my way.” Crushed? Marshall wasn’t given to exaggeration. For him to have said Damaris had been ‘crushed’ meant he must be very worried.
Luckily, she found the horse headed for the barn, so putting her up didn’t take long. She called Marshall to tell him she’d taken care of the horse and to ask how Damaris was and what he wanted her to do.
“She’s in a lot of pain. Most likely has a concussion and God knows what else. I don’t want to move her unless I have to. But if EMS don’t get here soon I might have to. She could be bleeding internally.”
“Should I drive the truck down there?”
“Let’s give the EMTs a few more minutes. Can you wait there and show them where Damaris and I are?”
“Of course. Should I call Chase?”
“Not yet.”
“What about Gabe?”
“I called him but he didn’t answer, as usual. I’ll call Chantel and she’ll get hold of him.”
“I’ll go down to his workshop and let him know once the paramedics get here.” Or if they decided it would be better to move her. Damn, this could be really bad.
“Okay, yes, go down to his workshop. I’m sure he’s there.”
“What about your folks?”
“No need to call them until we know more. Damaris would shoot me if I did.”
