Page 70 of A Simple Love

Later that afternoon, I pulled on my gloves as I walked into the stable. Davis and the crew waited as I swung myself up on Rusty, the horse I had been riding the entire time. His rich red coat and white mane were stunning. He was high-spirited but we rode well together, and Davis liked how he looked on the screen. Rusty seemed jittery and tense, which was unusual for him, prancing and pawing the ground. I patted his neck. “You need to run, boy?”

Davis stepped close. “I need you to lead him out of the stable and pause, then walk out to the tree line, as if you were going slow, checking things out. On my mark, you see something, and you dig your heels in and let him fly. Stay as close to the planned route as you can. We’ve got everything set to catch the different angles we discussed.”

“Great.” Rusty jerked his head, and I patted him again. “Whoa, boy, it’s good. You can run soon. Stick with me.”

The camera rolled, and I urged Rusty forward, tugging on the reins to guide him. We walked to the paddock, and I paused as Davis directed, then we trotted over toward the trees. I kept my head moving, as if searching for something—or someone, in this case. “Now,” Davis instructed, and I tapped Rusty’s sides, letting him know to go faster.

Rusty took off, his gait fast and agitated. I could feel his muscles bunching and pulling, and I frowned. Something was off. I decided to let him go completely, and I snapped my heels into his flank.

It happened suddenly. One moment, I was in the saddle. The next, Rusty was up on two legs, and I was flying through the air, the sky and grass mixing and turning. I landed on the ground, the air escaping from my lungs with a loud whooshing sound. For a moment, I lay there, blinking, unsure what happened. I heard the sound of running feet and people yelling. A golf cart zipped up beside me, and Davis’s face appeared above me.

“Oliver. Can you hear me?”

I met his gaze. “My ears are perfectly intact, thanks. Not so sure about the rest of me.”

“I have medical on the way.”

“I don’t think I need them,” I said. “Give me your arm.”

“You need to stay still,” he argued.

“I hit soft ground,” I replied. “My ass took the brunt of it. Help me up.”

He crooked his arm, and I sat up, groaning as a dull ache made itself known in my lower back.

Loudly.

“What the fuck just happened?” I asked. “Is Rusty okay?”

“The handler is with him. Stay still.”

Medical was there fast, insisting on checking me over. I answered all their questions.

“No, I didn’t hit my head.” I flashed a grin at them. “My mom always said my brains were in my ass, though.”

Not a smile.

“Yes, I can feel my legs. You want me to wiggle my toes?” I did so, then wiggled my fingers for emphasis. “Folks, I fell off a horse. Not a ten-story building.”

I was able to tell them how many fingers they were holding up. They didn’t respond to my one-fingered inquiry, although Davis turned his head to hide his smirk.

I let them shine a bright light in my eyes and, finally, refused to be taken to the hospital. “I’m gonna be black and blue, and my butt is gonna hurt,” I informed them. “Not the first and definitely not the last time in this business. I don’t need to be taken to the hospital.”

I knew the closest one was a good half-hour drive away, and they would probably opt for Toronto, which was even worse.

With their help, I stood, rolling my shoulders and shaking my legs. Davis eyed me with concern. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” I glanced behind me where Rusty stood, calm and quiet now. “Not sure I want to climb up on Rusty again right away.”

“I got enough. We can film your return scene tomorrow.”

Shawna appeared. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Carl followed, frowning. “That was quite the spill.”

I tilted my chin in agreement. “Ten more feet, I would have been on gravel and rocks. I wouldn’t be so chatty.”