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My heart leaps into my throat

Raul is on the ground

Just that fast, he was talking to ht, and in the next second, he was down

“Raul,” I screa toward him

Starlight stands placidly beside him, just a little too close, so I put a hand to her chest and the other to her lead, encouraging her to back up She’s such an obedient horse that she does so easily, then she’s forgotten as I scramble to Raul

I drop to my knees in the dirt beside hi been knocked off in the fall, but his face is turned doard and hidden by his arm

“Raul,” I call, giving hiht shake of the shoulder

I don’t get a single sound back from him

Panic seizes hts are that I can’t handle hi I’m not ready for this

And, just as quickly, a measure of calm sneaks in as I realize… I don’t even know if he’s dead

“Fuck,” Ihim to his back

He’s co kicks in Since I deal with so many children on the ranch, I’m certified in CPR I even have a portable defibrillator in my office

When I place shaky fingers on his neck, I can’t detect a pulse “Oh, God… Raul,” Imy phone from my back pocket

I quickly dial 9-1-1 and put the phone toit in place with a hunched shoulder As it’s ringing, I place one hand over the other, lace in compressions on Raul’s chest

“Nine-one-one, what’s your eency?” a man’s voice comes across the phone

My voice is shaking “Yes… um… I’m at 4811 Goose Camp Road… it’s Shërim Ranch My foreman has collapsed, and I can’t find a pulse I need an ambulance”

The“Okay… I’ht now Do you kno to perform CPR?”

“Yes, and I’et really panicky “And fuck… I don’t even kno ht? I do thirty and then two breaths?”