Chapter 22
As she approached, she pulled on the reins, trying to slow it down.
But the horse didn’t stop. It only ran faster-hooves pounding louder, eyes wide with panic.
Joyce’s expression shifted. She pulled harder, gave firm commands, but nothing worked.
Then her foot slipped from the stirrup, throwing off her balance. Her polished composure vanished, replaced by fran- tic struggling.
“Ahh!” she screamed, her voice shrill and panicked. She had completely lost control.
The same people who had been admiring her riding seconds ago now screamed and scattered in every direction.
Aline quickly grabbed Clarice and pulled her out of the way as the black stallion barreled forward like a runaway train.
Out of the corner of her eye, Aline caught sight of Mitch.
He hadn’t moved.
He was still standing right where he’d been-directly in the horse’s path.
The stallion was closing in fast. If he didn’t move, he’d be crushed.
At that speed, getting hit wouldn’t just mean injury-it could be fatal.
Without thinking, Aline bolted forward. In one smooth, explosive motion, she lunged at Mitch, wrapped her arms around him, and threw them both to the side-rolling hard across the ground just seconds before the horse thundered
past.
Amid the crowd’s panicked screams, Aline and Mitch narrowly avoided the thundering hooves of the runaway horse.
Randal let out a long breath of relief. If Mitch had been injured, the entire Dunn family would’ve been in serious trou- ble.
Aline was still catching her breath, the weight pressing down on her serving as a stark reminder of what had just hap- pened.
“Mitch, are you alright? Did you get hurt?” she asked, concerned.
He was still lying on top of her, silent.
‘Did he get kicked during the fall?’ Aline wondered, starting to rise so she could check him for injuries.
But before she could sit up, a strong hand pressed against her shoulder, holding her in place.
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Chapter 22
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Then came his voice-low and cool, right next to her ear. “Why did you save me?”
“No reason. Just instinct,” she replied flatly.
Years of military training had hardwired her to react in emergencies. She hadn’t even thought-she just moved.
“Instinct?” he repeated, slowly pushing himself up as he looked down at her.
He was on top, she was beneath him.
And in that moment, for the first time, a ripple passed through those usually unreadable eyes.
Reflected in the dark depths of his gaze was her face-delicate, yet full of strength and composure.
“I’d have done the same for anyone,” Aline said calmly, without hesitation.
Mitch paused for a second, clearly caught off guard.
Aline, however, was done with the moment. “If you’re not injured, then get off me already.”
A glint of amusement flickered in his eyes. Not many people dared speak to him like that.
When he still didn’t move, she shoved him off and stood up without ceremony.
Meanwhile, not far away, the black stallion was still rampaging in wild circles. Joyce was being tossed around in the saddle, screaming in panic.
“Help! Ahhh! Somebody-stop this horse!”
But no one dared step forward.
Before long, she lost her grip on the reins completely. The horse reared violently, and she slipped, falling hard to the ground.
Fortunately, she landed on a patch of soft grass.
Even so, she wailed in pain, clearly rattled and injured.
Clayton rushed over, crouching beside her. “Hang in there. The staff went to get help. They’ll take you to the hospital soon.”
Just then, Clarice’s voice rang out sharply, “Aline-watch out!”
Startled, Clayton whipped his head around. The black horse had turned and was now charging straight toward Aline.
Instinctively, he started to run toward her.
But before he could take more than a step, Joyce clutched his hand tightly. “Clayton, it hurts… it really hurts.”
Her cry made him hesitate.
And in that split second of hesitation, the horse was already bearing down on Aline.
