The fall happens so fast I don’t even scream until I’m already airborne. I’d just gotten on the horse, finally able to sit without lying on my stomach, clinging to the mane of the beautiful brown beast. I thought, At last, I’m riding it.
I tap its flank. It jerks into a punishing gallop. A scream tears from my throat as the horse bolts wildly across the field, hooves thundering like drums in my chest.
I don’t know what Arthur is doing, why he doesn’t stop it, why he doesn’t help,
I hold on for dear life, until suddenly the horse bucks.
I fly.
And land hard. Right on my ass.
Pain blooms instantly, sharp and hot, tears spring to my eyes. I roll to the side before the hooves can crush me.
My mouth fills with grass and dirt. I gag and push up on trembling elbows, glancing around for Ar
