Prompt: Blood gushed from the wound at an alarming rate.
Blood gushed from the wound at an alarming rate even as Nate clamped his large, calloused hands around her upper arm in effort to stop the flow. Within seconds, Garrett was at his side and frantically crafting a makeshift pressure bandage out of his t-shirt.
"I've got it," Nate said as he worked the bandage into place and continued his strong hold, "she must have hit her head, check to see if she's bleeding from underneath!"
The instant his hands touched her skin the cold shot through him."She's freezing! She's losing too much blood! TARA, CALL AN AMBULANCE!!!" Garrett shouted out to Tara who was almost to them but turned immediately upon hearing his words.
"I already called, they're on the line!" She held up her cell phone as she ran back to her horse pulling at the cinch buckles through her white-hot panic. She threw the saddle to the ground and tore off running with the saddle blanket. Terrified tears streamed as she knelt to cover her best friend in hopes of warming her. She pushed the phone at Garrett as she took Nate's shirt to cushion Abby's head. "I told them we're still on the old road..." she started but was quickly overtaken by worried sobs.
"She's gonna be okay, Tar..." Nate promised her, "but, you need to get the horses over to the tree line in case they have to send the air ambulance!"
"No, I'm staying!"
"I wasn't asking," he lowered his voice. "Take the horses so they'll be safe and stay with them... keep them calm."
"I don't know where Rufus and Moon went, they both bolted when Moon spooked!"
"I know, we'll find them... but you need to see to Charm and Sugar so they don't run off, too."
Tara knew he was right and with a quick glance to Garrett and a slight squeeze to Abby's icy fingers she was hurrying back to where the two horses stood waiting uneasily. She took hold of both halter and started them walking toward the forest cover, talking gently in an attempt to calm them all, herself included.
"Where are they??" Nate pleaded of his brother.
"They should be here any minute..." the heavy sound of blades slicing through air cut Garrett off as both men immediately leaned in to shield Abby from the force of the approaching helicopter. In mere seconds the paramedics, carrying the field gurney, were rushing over to them from where they'd set down.
"Her horse spooked... she broke her arm in the fall... the bone is through the skin..... blood... she's lost so much blood!" Nate was shaking at the thought of letting go but he knew he had to let them take over as he moved back to let them in. The paramedics quickly assessed and then lunged into action. Abby was turned onto the gurney, strapped in and whisked away to the waiting helicopter before Nate could even comprehend what was happening. He followed closely, never letting her from his sight.
"I'm going with her!"
"You can't, we need room to work! We're taking her to Cranton General." The man leaned down to click the gurney into place. "Get her next of kin to the hospital right away!"
"I'm her husband! PLEASE... don't let her go....."
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