Page 74 of Enticed
I was the last to arrive for warmups so by the time I joined the other competitors in the warmup pen, I didn’t have much time to go through my normal routine with Juniper. She did not like being rushed or having her routine interrupted. She was antsy as a result, so I spent a few minutes trying to soothe her. Some of the tension eased from her body, but she still didn’t fully relax and kept nudging me with her nose.
“I know, girl. I’m sorry I threw you off your game,” I said with a chuckle. I went to lead her to the chutes, and a wave of dizziness hit me. I wobbled on my feet just as Gabe approached.
“You alright?”
“Ugh, I think my sugar is low.” I reached for my phone, but it wasn’t in the pocket where I usually kept it. I patted every pocket and even the cups of my bra where I sometimes stashed it on the rare occasion I wore something without pockets. “Shit. I can’t find my phone. I don’t know what I did with it.” I needed it to see what my sugar was.
“Where do you remember seeing it last?” Gabe asked, getting straight to business.
I thought about it for a moment, searching my memory, but things were starting to get fuzzy. “Uh… I think it was on the counter next to the sink in the bathroom.” I remembered checking the time while I brushed my teeth and panicking when I saw how late it was. “I can’t go back and get it. It’s almost my turn to race. I can’t risk not being back in time.”
“I’ll go get it. You stay here. I’ll try to make it back before you go out there. Chew a couple glucose tabs,” he instructed before taking off in the direction of the trailer. I wanted to kick myself. In my rush to get here, I’d forgotten not only my phone, but also my glucose tablets.
Remembering I sometimes stored them in my mini saddle bag, I went to Juniper’s side and flipped open the leather pouch. A lone peppermint greeted me from the bottom. I dug it out and popped it in my mouth.
“Sorry, June Bug,” I said as she eyed me while I chewed on her treat. I prayed it would be enough. Lifting my shirt, I paused my insulin pump. The last thing I needed was for more of it to flood my system when my sugar was already low.
When it was time for me to line up for my race, I tried to mount Juniper, but she sidestepped me. I lost my balance and nearly fell on my face. “Come on, girl. We just gotta get through this last race.” She let out a displeased snort and shook her head as though nervous. She could sense something was off and didn’t want me to ride. My vision was blurry and my head swam, but the few grams of sugar from the peppermint I ate would hit my bloodstream soon. It should be enough to get me through the race, but after that, I’d need to get something in my system fast.
I rubbed my hand soothingly down her nose and whispered reassuring words to her. She finally settled and allowed me to climb into the saddle. We trotted up to the gate, and I blinked several times to bring the course into focus. Glancing over my shoulder, I searched the crowd for Gabe, but he hadn’t made it back yet.
Perspiration dampened my brow, and I swiped the back of my hand across it to keep the sweat from my eyes. I hadn’t realized just how hot it was this morning. The humidity was stifling and wasn’t helping my situation at all.
My hands shook as I gripped the reins in preparation for my run. I swayed a little in my saddle, and black spots dotted my vision. That peppermint would kick in any minute. I would be fine. Gabe would probably have a snack waiting for me when I got done.
The announcer called my name, and I approached the entrance to the arena, awaiting the signal to start. When I got it, I took off. Even though I felt sluggish, Juniper was at the top of her game. She’d done this so many times, she didn’t even need my guidance. It was a good thing because I was fighting to stay conscious. The din of the arena became muffled, and the lights seemed to grow dim all at once. I barely managed to keep myself upright as we rounded the first barrel. The second wasn’t much better. I was fading fast, but I just needed to make it around one more barrel.
That was when Juniper started to slow. She felt the change. My body listed to the side, and my eyelids drooped. I fought to keep them open, but they were too heavy. They closed against my will.
The last thing I saw was Gabe charging toward me on the back of a white horse that I could almost swear had wings. Then everything went black.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
GABE
Ifrantically searched the trailer for Jasmine’s phone. It wasn’t in the bathroom like she thought, but rather next to the coffee pot where she’d hurriedly filled her cup. I grabbed her bag of diabetic supplies just in case and stashed her phone in my pocket before hurrying out the door.
I heard her name being called as I approached the arena. When I drew closer, her phone buzzed, finally picking up the signal, and I pulled it from my pocket. My stomach sank, and panic surged through my veins at the low blood sugar alert. The number that flashed on the screen put her in the danger zone.
Before I could call out to her to stop her, she took off. I cursed and ran forward, watching as her body swayed as she rounded the first barrel. My heart dropped when she nearly slipped from the saddle. On instinct, my feet carried me to the closest horse. Something in my gut told me I needed to get to her.
“I need to borrow your horse. It’s an emergency,” I said to its owner, one of Jasmine’s competitors. Whatever she saw in my expression made her hand over the reins without hesitation. I hopped in the saddle, mounting the horse quicker than I everhad before, and raced into the arena. There were shouts of outrage and confusion, but I ignored them.
She was almost to the third barrel when her eyes fluttered closed and her body slumped. Juniper felt the change. Her gait slowed, and when she saw me racing toward her, she changed course. Instead of looping around the final barrel, she galloped toward me, clearly sensing how dire the situation was.
Jasmine’s body tipped over, and my entire world tilted on its axis. “Come on,” I grunted, urging the horse forward. I got to Jasmine just as she began to fall. Reaching for her, I managed to catch her around the waist and grabbed ahold of her belt, tugging her toward me. Someone else rode up beside me and dismounted their horse. A second rider did the same, and several people ran out to help.
“We’ve got her,” one of the barrel racers said, her husband flanking her. I lowered Jasmine into their arms and quickly dismounted. They laid Jasmine onto the ground, and I dropped to my knees next to her, cradling her head in my lap.
“We need an ambulance! She’s a diabetic,” I called out frantically. A flurry of activity swelled around me. “Come on, baby, wake up,” I pleaded, brushing the hair from her face. Pressing my fingers to the side of her neck, I felt for a pulse. Her heart was still beating, but it was too fast. Her chest rose and fell, but her breaths were too shallow.
“Please,” I begged, my voice cracking. “You have to wake up. I didn’t get a chance to tell you I love you. Ineedto tell you.” I rocked back and forth with her in my arms, silently praying for her to be okay. I held tight to her, pressing my lips to her forehead. It was cool and clammy.
“The paramedics are here,” someone said, and a man and woman in navy uniforms kneeled in the dirt on her other side.
“We’ll take it from here,” the woman said, placing an AED beside her.
I shook my head. “It’s not her heart. Her sugar is low.” I pulled her phone from my pocket and showed them the alert. Worry creased her brow, but she nodded in understanding.
