My Rival, My Only Hope

e. They thought it was another t

ned them saying to each oth

ace we used to go as kids. Horseback riding, fresh ai

hem flatly whe

smiles bright and insistent. They wouldn't take no for an answer. They

warmed me. Then I remembered why we were there. It wasn't for me. It was for them. To manage me. In my past life, this w

esence. I walked towards a far paddock, hoping to be alone wit

n the chao

t wild, their eyes rolling in terror. Someone had left the gate unlatched. They stampeded out, a

't fast enough. A massive chestnut stallion crashed

ing. I landed hard on

a sicken

It was

ugh me. I tried to crawl, to drag myself

y head, missing me by inches. Then, a hoof came down ha

g trampled

m. Alaric, Darrius, and Jefferey. They were standing on the porch, watc

e blank, devoid

letting

cked out was their three still fi

h its claws sunk deep into every part of my body. My leg was in a cast, my ri

was slightly ajar.

der, talking

ith anger. "A stampede? Are you insane? I want

ive. "We just fired a starter pistol to spook the horse

rejecting us," Darrius added. "To s

r snapped. "How does that help me? The Kidd family will b

accident. It was planned. They

to death because I had bruised their egos. The casual cruelty of it, the ab

to the agony in my soul. I was drowning

my eyes shut, feigning sleep as the door opened. The pain was so intense, so ov

ce was a welcome relief. My phone was on the bed

was a freak accident. We're

should have been watc

d, just ask. We'

n was still there, a constant, throbbing reminder of their betrayal. B

to heal, not just my broken bones, but th

they wouldn't

was starting to feel a littl

as I