Page 68 of The Texas Sterling Collection
I poured coffee into Rod’s tin cup before filling my own. We sat on the log, sipping coffee and admiring the sunrise.
Rod gazed at me. “Thanks for bringing me here. This is the most peaceful place I’ve ever been. No wonder you love being on the ranch so much.”
“The ranch got ten times better when a certain professor came.” I put my arm around Rod and scooted closer to him. “You add so much to my life.”
Rapid hoofbeats grabbed our attention. “What the…” I stood and focused on the sound. A riderless white horse raced in our direction, stirrups flapping at its side. Behind galloped another horse and rider in pursuit.
Walt’s new horse, Princess, sped by with our ranch foreman, Felipe, in hot pursuit. I waved my arms, and Felipe slowed enough for a breathless shout.
“Mr. Wyl…Mr. Wyl…Princess…she got spooked by a snake, and Mr. Walt fell off when she reared. He hurt bad. Over that way,” he pointed in the direction he came. “About half a mile.”
Panic tore through me. “Oh my God, Felipe. Forget Princess. Go to the house and call the hospital. Tell them we need the Medivac helicopter at Sterling Ranch right away.”
“Si, Mr. Wyl.” Felipe gigged his horse and sped off toward the ranch house.
I grabbed Rod’s arm. “Let’s go, Roddy. We need to find Walt.” We ran to the horses.
Rod helped me saddle and bridle the steeds as best he could. In five minutes, we mounted and galloped in the direction Felipe showed.
One of the four ranch hands, Luke, knelt beside Walt, cradling his head. I jumped off my horse, ran to Walt, and knelt beside my brother.
Rod jumped off Blanket and grabbed Sarge’s reins. Pedro hurried over and took the horses. Rod rushed and knelt at my side.
Walt’s chest rose and fell with each breath.
I looked up. “What happened, Luke?”
“He fell against the rocks when Princess reared. A rattlesnake startled her.”
I glanced at Rod. “Stay here. Luke, you stay too.”
I raced to my saddlebag and pulled out the first-aid kit. I spotted a bright orange package inside the lid and tossed it to the remaining two ranch hands. “Charles, you and Doug find an open spot and spread this out. The bright color will help the helicopter find our location.”
The two ranch hands raced to a spot twenty yards to the right. They anchored the bright orange triangle with stones, aiming the pointy end toward where Walt lay.
I returned to Walt and took his hand. “Help is on the way, Walt. Hang on.” I gasped, trying to control the emotions welling up. I couldn’t lose him. “I need you, brother. You are my only family.” My stomach knotted. He lay unresponsive, but breathing.
Rod placed an arm around my shoulders. I leaned into Rod’s embrace, still clutching Walt’s hand. Rod was my rock, and I needed his support.
Fifteen minutes later, the rhythmic beating of the helicopter blades grew louder. It landed on open ground forty yards from Walt. The paramedics rushed over and assessed Walt’s situation. After stabilizing him, they strapped him to a body board. They loaded him into the helicopter for the flight to the hospital.
“I need to go with him,” I pleaded with the medical rescue team.
“You’ll have to come in a vehicle, sir,” one of the EMTs said. “The helicopter isn’t designed to handle the extra weight.”
Dazed and in shock, I grabbed Rod’s hand. “Can you take me to the hospital?” My voice trembled.
“Let’s go.” Rod put his arm around my shoulders and guided me to our horses.
“Thanks,” I whispered. I watched the helicopter rise and head toward Blackfield, taking my only family to the medical help he needed.
We mounted and took off at a fast gallop toward home. I hoped Walt was still alive when we got to the hospital.
Chapter Thirty-Four
ROD
At the house, I tied Blanket to the hitching post. Wyl sat on Sarge, unmoving and in shock, staring at nothing. I guided Sarge and secured his reins, too.
