He jumped back as Lily bucked violently and stood on her hind legs, half crazed. Jackson fought fiercely with her, but knew he was no match for a full-sized horse. She was out of control and Jackson did everything in his power to calm her and regain control. He wrapped the reins tightly around his hands.
“It’s okay, Lily. Calm down. Calm down,” he shouted through the battering storm. He held onto her reins as securely as he could. He tried to pull her head down and hold her steady, but she wouldn’t stop bucking. Another bolt of lightning shot out from the now almost black sky and Jackson realized he couldn’t hold on any longer.
He desperately tried to unwrap the reins he had just wrapped so tightly from around his hands. He knew that if he didn’t get them undone quickly, Lily could take off and he would be powerless to do anything except drag along behind her.
Lily continued to buck and kick in fear as Jackson frantically tried to get loose. “Come on! Come on!” he screamed into the pounding rain and wind. “Almost got it,” he thought as Lily kicked one final time with ferocity. He watched helplessly as her back leg came into view. “Lily, N-!” he screamed as his body suddenly slammed violently into the ground below. Blood spilled from the side of his head, mixing with the rain and dirt. Jackson lay there motionless as Lily ran off, dragging the loose reins behind her.
Jackson drifted in and out of consciousness. He tried to move, but didn’t have the strength. The rain fell mercilessly against his face and stung whenever it struck the open wound in his head. He closed his eyes and wondered if anyone would come for him, or if he would die in that field, all alone.
Caroline’s face flashed in his mind and this time he welcomed the image. She smiled as strands of sun-streaked blonde hair fell in front of her eyes. I love you, he heard her voice say. Instinctively, he reached out to touch her, but the image faded. As he drifted between states of awareness, all he could think about was her. His eyes slammed shut and blackness enveloped him.
****
Bailey bounced happily into Caroline’s bedroom wearing a dark blue, knee-length dress. Caroline stopped fussing with her hair and turned. “Wow, Bails, you look stunning!”
Bailey twirled around. “Thanks! Now what’s going on with you?”
“I don’t know what the hell to do with my hair.” Caroline turned back to the mirror.
“I’ll do it for you,” Bailey said as she reached for the hot curling iron.
“Thank God.” Caroline watched as pieces of her long blond hair were twirled delicately around the heated iron.
“It’s the last time I’ll ask, I promise. But have you heard from him?”
“Not since that day.”
“How long has it been?” Bailey tested.
“Almost twelve weeks.”
“Still counting, eh? Well, that’s healthy.”
“Shut up.” Caroline laughed.
“How are you holding up?” Bailey asked with an edge of seriousness.
“It’s hard,” Caroline admitted honestly, “Shouldn’t I be freaking over him by now?”
“Maybe you’ll never truly be over him…”
“Well, that sucks. Aren’t you supposed to make me feel better? This IS my engagement party you know.”
“Well, maybe you’re engaged to the wrong guy.”
Caroline whipped her head to glare at Bailey. “Ow!”
“Don’t move! You can’t whip your head around like that when I have your hair all tangled up.”
“Bailey!” Caroline chastised.
“I’m kidding. Gosh, calm down,” Bailey seemed nonchalant while she continued to fuss with Caroline’s hair. “There. Perfect.” She admired the reflection in the mirror.
“Oh, that does look nice.” Caroline’s usually slick straight hair had been transformed into varying lengths of thick, wavy curls. The sides were pulled back loosely with jeweled clips that sparkled. “Thank you.”
Bailey helped her slip into her black party dress, making sure not to mess up her hair. Caroline dug around in her overly stuffed bag and pulled out a pair of silver heels still wrapped in plastic.
“Nice shoes,” Bailey commented.
“I knew you’d like them.”
They heard the doorbell ring and the sound of Clay’s familiar voice, followed closely by the sound of his parents, echoed down the hall. “Show time,” Caroline said and took Bailey by the arm.
Clay’s jaw dropped when he saw Caroline walking toward him. “Wow, baby, you look gorgeous!”
She feigned a smile and leaned in to give him a quick peck on the cheek. “Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself,” she said, admiring the charcoal gray dress pants that accompanied a surf brand button-down black shirt.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. It’s great to see you.” She hugged both of his parents who beamed with approval.
“It’s great to see you, Caroline. You look beautiful.” The overly animated tone made the butterflies in Caroline’s stomach come alive. Her knees started to weaken as nerves took over her previously calm body.
“Jan, is that you I hear?” Caroline’s mom yelled from the kitchen.
“Yes it is, mother of the bride!” And with that, Clay’s mom rushed through the kitchen door.
****
Lily galloped toward the farm and Jackson’s father noticed immediately that his son was absent from the horse’s back. He bolted out the front door and toward the horse that had finally slowed down to a nervous trot. “Lily…come here, Lil.” He noticed the mud-covered reins dragging on the ground and his heart sank. He looked into the distance for his son, but there was no sign of him.