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streaking down the trail and out of sight. With a sickening feeling, Sarah heard the sound of his galloping hoofbeats grow fainter in the distance, and then only a deathly quiet.
    Sarah couldn’t move right away, as she struggled to catch her breath and find her strength. Before she could move, she heard more hoofbeats. It had to be Chancellor, and from the sound, he was trotting fast. On a curve in the trail, Rita and her horse probably wouldn’t see her lying there until it was too late! It took a gigantic effort, but Sarah willed herself to move and began to inch toward the underbrush on the side of the trail. Just as Chancellor and Rita came upon her, she rolled over, narrowly avoiding the horse’s hooves. Her movement caught Rita’s eye, and when she saw Sarah lying on the ground, Rita pulled Chancellor up as quickly as she could and looked back. “Sarah, are you all right?” she called out.
    Sarah managed to get to a sitting position, and then tried to stand up. “I got the wind knocked out of me, I guess,” she said with a gasp. “But I’ve got to get Prince! He’s loose, running back on the trail. I’ve got to catch him before he gets hurt!”
    â€œIf you think you’re okay, I’ll go ahead,” Rita said firmly. Sarah nodded and Rita asked Chancellor for his big ground-eating trot. Soon they were out of sight.
    Sarah staggered to her feet, and with adrenalin pumping, she began running as fast as she could in pursuit of Crown Prince. She felt shaky, but concern for her horse propelled her forward. She ran her fastest until she was out of breath and was forced to slow down. After walking a short distance, her chest heaving, she was off again, running faster than before, not easy in her paddock boots that slipped on the pine needles.
    Soon Sarah came to the downed log. Prince must have jumped it—what about the reins, which would have been hanging loose? Perhaps he’d gotten his front legs tangled up in them! She scrambled over the log and ran on, the blood hammering in her chest.
    Sarah ran until it seemed her lungs would burst, all the while imagining coming upon Prince brought down by with any number of tragic injuries. Maybe she would find him sprawled across the trail! At one point she tripped over a large root and hit the ground hard. With tears streaming down her face, she picked herself up and ran again. It seemed like she had run forever when finally she saw a glimpse of the parking lot ahead.

CHAPTER 3
Injury
    BURSTING OUT OF THE WOODS, Sarah scanned the area, desperately searching for her horse. She caught sight of him near a side door to the barn. Judson was trying to lead him in a circle while Mrs. DeWitt and Rita, still astride Chancellor, watched. Prince was animated, prancing in place. Sarah ran toward them. “Is he okay?” she called out, gasping for breath. As she got closer, she could see her horse was completely sweated up, with white lather on his neck and flanks. The whites of his eyes showed prominently, and his nostrils were dilated as he took quick breaths.
    â€œAre you all right, Miss?” Judson called to her as she got closer. “We were worried you’d come to grief out there.”
    Mrs. DeWitt hurried to Sarah and gave her a hug. “Look at you,” she said. “From the dirt on your jeans and T-shirt, I can tell you hit the ground. Are you sure you’re all right?” When Sarah nodded, still breathing fast, Mrs. DeWitt said, “When Crown Prince came galloping across the parking area, my first thought was that something terrible might have happened to you. I was about to summon Jack and Gus when Rita arrived on the scene. She told us that you had a fall but were okay.”
    Sarah frantically scanned her horse for any sign of injury. “Do you know if Prince hurt himself?” she asked.
    â€œHe appears to be walking sound,” Mrs. DeWitt said, “but one of your reins is