Here we go - the next chapter. Sorry to keep you waiting for it! :-)

Chapter 3 – Waiting

Heath looked up from his drink and across at Nick. "Did you hear that?" he said. "It sounded like Rachel screamed."

The two brothers looked at each other for a moment, and the same thought crossed their minds. They darted up from their seats and rushed outside. Heath saw Rachel's still form first and rushed towards her.

She was lying in a limp form. Her head was bleeding badly and her clothes were torn and stained with dust and blood.

"Oh, God!" he exclaimed in fervent prayer when he saw her. He quickly scooped her up in his arms.

Nick was next to them in a second, his face etched with worry. Heath quickly carried Rachel into the house just as Victoria was descending the staircase.

"I thought I heard a scream," she began. She stopped when she saw Rachel in Heath's arms. "Oh, dear God, what happened?" she asked as she rushed to her daughter.

"It was the new mare," Heath said. "We've got to get the doctor for her quickly."

It was at that moment that Audra entered the house, back from her ride. She started with panic when she saw Rachel in Heath's arms.

"What happened, Heath?" she asked desperately, seeing the blood.

"Ride into town and get the doctor and Jarrod, and hurry," Heath said. "She rode that stupid bronc!"

Audra looked at Heath in disbelief. She rode the bronc? What had she been thinking? She quickly darted outside and mounting her horse again, galloped towards town.

The ride seemed longer than usual, and Audra hated very minute of it. She finally arrived in Stockton, and quickly tying her horse up, headed straight for the doctor.

"Doctor!" she cried, knocking loudly on his door. "Doctor!"

He soon opened to her knocks. "Why, Audra!"

"Doctor, Rachel's had an accident. She's hurt real bad. Please go to our house right away."

The doctor's brow creased into a frown, "Of course. I'll just get my bag."

"I'm going to tell Jarrod. Please just go on to the house," Audra said.

Audra quickly ran off to find Jarrod. She opened the door and burst into his office. He looked up at her from his desk in surprise.

"Hello, Audra, what are you…" he stopped short when he saw the distress on her face and quickly walked over to her. "What is it? Are you hurt?"

"No, not me," Audra said. "It's Rachel."

Jarrod took her by the shoulders and held her firmly whilst a frown of concern formed on his brow. "What happened to Rachel?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"She rode the bronc," Audra said tearfully. "And she's hurt real bad."

Jarrod loosed his grip on Audra as her words sank in. "Go get our horses," he said. "I'll go wire Eugene."

Audra nodded her head and ran to do Jarrod's bidding, and Jarrod, quickly pulling on his jacket, hurried over to the telegraph office.

"I need to send a telegram to my brother," Jarrod said. He quickly scrawled the following: Rachel has had an accident STOP Come home at once STOP Jarrod

"I need you to send that to my brother Eugene at Berkeley College," Jarrod said, handing it over to the man. With that he quickly went outside, where Audra was already waiting for him with their two horses. He mounted up, and they quickly rode out of town, heading for the ranch.

The doctor had already arrived when they finally rode into the yard, leaving their horses in the care of Ciego. They rushed into the house, meeting Silas at the bottom of the stairs. His face was downcast.

"Mista Barkley!" he exclaimed when he saw Jarrod.

"How is she?" Jarrod asked urgently.

"The doctor's seein' her jest now," Silas said. "She didn't look good, Mista Barkley, when I saw her. Mrs. Barkley needs you, Mr. Barkley. She needs you bad."

"I'll go to her right away," Jarrod said. "Is everyone in Rachel's room?"

"Yes, Mista Barkley. I sure hopes that gal gits better."

"Me, too, Silas," Jarrod said quietly. "Me, too!"

Audra and Jarrod hurried up the staircase and into Rachel's bedroom. Victoria had a handkerchief clenched in her hand whilst tears of anxiety trickled down her face. Nick and Heath were watching on in distraught agony of mind as the doctor tended to Rachel's hurts. She was lying on her bed, her eyes were closed and her brows were drawn together in a frown of pain or fright. Her hair was matted with dust and blood, and she was now lying in her chemise, with the blankets drawn up to her waist.

"Jarrod!" Victoria said as soon as she saw her eldest son, and clasping him in her arms. "Oh, Jarrod!"

"Shh, Mother, shh," Jarrod said, holding her in his arms. He looked across at his brothers, whilst he continued to hold Victoria, stroking her back soothingly. "How is she?" he asked.

"Not good," Heath said. "She hasn't woken up yet."

"What happened?"

"We didn't see it happen," Nick said agitatedly, beginning to pace. "We presume she rode the mare, or at least tried to and got thrown and trampled on."

Audra walked over to Heath. "Is she going to be alright?" she asked frantically.

Heath hesitated. What could he say? He looked at Jarrod and Nick as if hoping that they might have the answer. Finally, he said, "I don't know, Audra. I just don't know."

Audra's face crumpled up with tears as realization of the seriousness of the matter hit her. It was as bad as that? Could Rachel die?

"Oh, Heath, we can't lose her!" Audra cried, falling into her brother's arms. "We can't lose her!"

The doctor finally finished tending to Rachel's injuries. He turned to the family.

"Well, Doc," Nick said. "How is she?"

"It's hard to say," the doctor replied. "She's had bad damage to her head, as well as several other injuries. The head wound is what worries me most."

"What can you do for her?" Heath asked.

"I've done everything I can," the doctor said. "Now all we can do is wait, hope, and pray."

The family stared at him as he spoke. He had done all that he could? Was it true that now they could only hope and pray? They knew that prayer was always the best thing, but it seemed such a small answer to such a terrifyingly large calamity, that their hearts sank within them with despair.

I hope you liked! Please let me know your thoughts!