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bigearringsgir

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            William Sutra walked into the kitchen to grab an apple and was just in time to see Nick trying to sneak in the back door. Grinning, Will said in a loud voice, “Nicholas Parker!”

            Nick jumped, and then cringed, saying, “You know I hate it when anyone calls me that.”

            Arching an eyebrow, Will said, “Oh, really? But I could’ve sworn I heard Lilly calling you that, and you didn’t get mad at her for it. Although, you were never dream of getting mad her, now would you?”

            “I didn’t have time to get mad – I was running for my life!” Nick shot back. It was quiet a few minutes and then they both started laughing. “I guess my bluffing needs work, huh?”

            Before Will could reply they heard a loud rumble and the front screen door slamming shut.

            “A nasty storm’s coming,” said an excited Michelle. “It hasn’t rained for almost a week; I’m very surprised the fields and meadows are still this green.” She set a basket down on the counter, full to the brim with shiny green apples. “Hope no one minds apple salad and apple pie for lunch three days straight,” she muttered to herself. “Nick, will you stay for dinner?”

            Nick started to shake his head and say no, but Will jumped in and said, “Oh, sure you will, Nick. If you don’t think those,” – pointing to the apples – “are perfect and beautiful enough, then just think about it: you’ll get to stare your fill at something much more attractive…”

            Michelle laughed with her oldest son and then said, “Will, stop teasing him! Besides, when was the last time you invited Mary over for dinner?”

            As Will’s ears turned red Nick was going to laugh but they were all silenced by a crash of thunder and then, surprisingly, a barn door slamming. Exchanging looks, Will and Nick said in unison, “I’ll go check it out.”

            The two young men ran through the down pour and to the barn, dripping wet. They found one of the front doors wide open, and all of the horses nervous and jumpy in their stalls. Will walked along the right side, going to each horse and trying to calm it; Nick did the same to the left side.

            But when he neared the second to last stall Nick ran to Buttercup and jumped on her back, yelling to Will over the thunder that had started up again, “Lilly’s out on River. I’ll be back with her as soon as I can!” Buttercup; one of the fastest mares in the barn; burst out of the barn doors and into the pouring rain.

                                     *          *          *

            Meanwhile, Lilly was just getting used to galloping when she saw flashes of lightning over dark clouds. “Oh, no,” she grumbled. She was right in between the distance from her home to Tina’s, and hadn’t decided where to go when the rain feel down. “Oh, not good.” Quickly she decided to keep riding to Tina’s, hoping to beat the worst part of the storm.

            But her hopes were dashed, just like some of the ground in front of her that got struck by lighting. River shied, her mane; heavy with rain; whipping Lilly across the face. Screaming, Lilly tried hard to hold onto the reigns which kept slipping away as the horse bolted off. She had no idea which direction they were headed.

            Not five minutes later the strap of the saddle came loose, and leaned dangerously to the right. Lilly screamed again, terrified. She tried to keep a hold of the horn, but her hands kept slipping, so she grasped River’s neck; praying the horse’s head wouldn’t snap back and hit her face.

            It seemed like hours later until she heard someone yelling, “Lilly!”

            Lilly jerked her head up and tried to turn and look behind her, but just as she did so her right foot got caught in the stirrup. She’d tried to look to her left; hoping to even the saddle’s balance; but cried out as her foot twisted.

            “Lilly!” Nick tried to ride up beside them but River was running too fast.

            “Nick, help me – stop River!”

Trying to wipe the rain and hair out of his eyes, keep Buttercup running, and grab hold of River’s reigns, Nick prayed that he wouldn’t slip off his own horse; he was riding bareback. As he got closer Nick’s eyes widened when he saw she was half off the saddle and River and yelled, “Get on the saddle!”

“I can’t – the strap came undone! Nick, help – I’m slipping!”

“I’m trying!” Nick yelled back.

A thought suddenly struck Lilly. If I let go, maybe my foot will come loose! It was a risky chance; her foot might not come loose, and if it didn’t River would end up dragging her, which might kill her. And if she did let go, and her foot did come loose, she might get trampled; either by River or Buttercup. Too many “mights’!

But she didn’t’ have much time to choose, so she yelled, “Nick, move away; I’m going to let go!”

Staring at her incredulously, he shouted back, “But y-you can’t!” Why would she let go, she could get trampled! But she had to know the risks. Slowly, he inched away.

Praying silently that he’d moved far enough away, Lilly screamed as she let go but feel silent as she hit the ground. Looking behind him and watching her fall, Nick tried to slow Buttercup and then jumped off. He almost tripped in the rainwater that was almost a foot deep as he made his way over to her motionless form; drenched with cold rain.

“Lilly? Lilly!” he whispered hoarsely, taking her hand with his and praying she was alright.

Slowly, Lilly opened her eyes and whispered, “Nick, please, get me home?"