Blitz gave an ear-piercing scream of challenge and put himself between Clarissa and Blackjack, lashing out with his hooves when the bull was within reach. Blackjack swerved as the stallion’s front hooves struck his shoulder, bellowing in pain. Limping a little now, the bull attempted to charge Clarissa’s unmoving figure again but was kicked soundly in the ribs by Blitz’s back legs. Blackjack admitted defeat with a scream of pain and frustration, limping away very slowly. Just as he began his slow descent down the slope back to his pasture, Jamie’s truck pulled off the road and into the long driveway.

Standing victorious between the retreating bull and the still figure of his rider, Blitz perked his ears up at the sound of the truck. His eyes watched, waiting. At last, Jamie opened the door and stepped out. Immediately, Blitz let out a loud scream. Jamie’s head turned and spotted the stallion with the empty saddle. Blitz shook his head and snorted, turning away from the top of the hill and trotting back to Clarissa. She was still unconscious, and blood was leaving crimson streaks across her tanned skin. Blitz nuzzled her, nickering softly. A few minutes later his ears perked back at the sound of footsteps coming up the hill. Jamie.

Blitz stepped back and Jamie caught sight of Clarissa on the ground. His heart dropped in his chest and he felt like the air had been knocked out of him. He ran to her, calling her name. At the sound of his voice, her eyes weakly fluttered open and she whispered his name before unconsciousness claimed her again. Quickly, Jamie assessed her injuries, and pulled out his phone, dialing 911. After the call, he brushed the hair off of her forehead and placed a gentle kiss there, praying the whole while that the love of his life would be okay.

Even though he longed to move her, Jamie dared not to. He knelt beside her instead, talking to her softly and stroking her hair. Blitz rested his head over his shoulder reassuringly, giving Jamie the strength to not succumb to the panic gripping his insides. He leaned into the stallion’s neck, drawing comfort from the embrace as one only could with a four-legged creature. They remained that way for long minutes, until the scream of the ambulance sirens reached their ears. Blitz shuffled nervously, not liking the loud noise. Although it pained him, Jamie stood and left Clarissa, running down the hill to meet the ambulance.

The paramedics listened to Jamie’s explanation as they unloaded the stretcher and followed him up the hill. They smiled slightly at the fine stallion guarding the woman but all smiles left as they assessed Clarissa’s injuries. They splinted her left arm and ankle before fitting her with a neck brace and moving her onto the stretcher. Jamie and the three paramedics gently carried her down the hill to the ambulance. Jamie placed one last kiss on her forehead before they loaded her into the back and closed the doors. His heart was thudding in his chest when he turned to whistle for Blitz, but found that the stallion had followed them down the hill and now stood behind him. Smiling slightly, Jamie patted his neck and scratched under his mane before leading the horse that saved his wife’s life back to the barn. Blitz willingly went in, seeming to sense Jamie’s hurry to follow the ambulance. Shutting the stall door behind the horse, Jamie jogged to his truck and raced after the ambulance carrying his wife. Not once on the way to the hospital did Jamie stop praying.