Page 73 of The Breakdown

“Shit, I’m sorry,” Vaughn said, hurrying by her.

“No, I’m sorry. And I’m sorry I was such a jerk back in the stables. I just—”

“We can discuss it later. Right now, I have to go.” She headed for her truck, nearly breathless.

Natalie followed. “What’s going on?”

Vaughn opened the door and climbed inside. “There’s been an accident on the private road. The stallion’s involved.”

“Oh, no.” Natalie rounded the truck and yanked open the passenger door. Vaughn didn’t protest when she crawled in and slammed the door. Instead, she cranked the engine and peeled out in the dirt, leaving the house behind, pulling a horse trailer behind them.

“What happened?” Natalie asked.

Vaughn rang her hands on the steering wheel. “I’m not sure. I just got a call from the guy delivering him saying he was in trouble, saying he’d been in some sort of accident.”

“God, I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“Me, too.”

They sped down the drive and turned quickly onto the private road. “Vaughn, I know you’re worried, but don’t kill us before we get there.”

“Sorry.” She slowed a little and they continued down the dirt road. It didn’t take long before Natalie could see a vehicle and what looked like a horse trailer. The vehicle, a white dually truck and the matching trailer were jackknifed just off the side of the road. Natalie leaned forward and gripped the dash.

“Oh my God.”

“Yeah, it doesn’t look good.”

Vaughn pulled in close to the trailer and braked. She and Vaughn climbed from the truck. An older man came around the side of the dually, dabbing his forehead with a blood-stained handkerchief.

“You alright?” Vaughn asked, immediately going to the trailer to peer inside.

“I’ve been better,” the man said. He joined Natalie and they too peered inside the trailer.

The black stallion was standing, but he was all the way to one side. He was snorting and anxious to move.

“He seems to be okay, but we won’t know for sure until we get him out of there,” the man said.

Natalie turned to him and examined his head. He had what looked to be a small cut up near his hairline. It was still bleeding.

“We should call an ambulance,” Natalie thought out loud.

But Vaughn looked at her quickly and Natalie realized that she probably shouldn’t be there if they did.

“I’m fine,” the man said.

“Are you sure?” Even if she had to leave, it didn’t matter. She wanted the man to be okay.

“I’m sure.” He extended his hand. “I’m Marv.” He motioned toward the stallion in the trailer. “And that’s Midnight.”

“Natalie,” she said taking his hand. “And that’s Vaughn.”

“Nice to meet you,” Marv said. “Just wish it was under better circumstances.”

Vaughn glanced back at Marv. “I’m going to open the trailer and get him out.”

“Go right ahead,” Marv said. “You’ll have to take him the rest of the way in anyway. My tires are flat.”

“How did that happen?” Natalie asked as Vaughn carefully opened the trailer.

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