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Wringing her hands, Lou paced over to stand near the big rock and stopped Then he heard it, the rattling sound that could only come from one source Lou looked down at her boots and saw a rattle snake, coiled and ready to strike, about two inches from the toe of her boot Brody saw it at the same time
Brody bent to retrieve a large rock “Be very still Don’t move an inch”
“Don’t worry,” she breathed out slowly
Froainst the back of her neck Then the strong body of the pregnant mare pushed her to the side and out of the way Lou landed on her backside in the dirt as thewildly as she reared On the second strike, her hoof severed the snake’s head froround for a moment as the horse stilled Brody quickly rabbed it and scuttled away fro mare The horse approached Lou slowly, and Brody moved to shoo her away
“Don’t,” she said quickly as she reached into her back pocket and pulled out the two carrots She held them out to the hed lightly as she touched the side of the mare’s face The mare snorted and moved away fro off into the distance, still chewing on the carrots
“I can’t believe she did that I think she was just co place,” Lou stated quietly “I could have been killed” She reached out and touched Brody’s forear as she did so “Oh, God, I could have been killed” Lou’s voice caught as she looked at the snake
Brody said quietly, “You did just great You’re fine now” He gently brushed the hair away froe of dirt from her cheek
Lou’s entire body began to shake Her knees gave way under her and she nearly fell to the ground She collapsed against Brody He caught her before she hit the ground with a hand beneath her knees and one under her shoulders
“You’re going to faint on ain, aren’t you?” he asked quietly as he lowered her to sit on a nearby boulder He stood in front of her and held on to her shoulders He placed a hand beneath her chin and forced her to make eye contact
“I don’t faint,” she stated
“Oh, yeah? Prove it”
“I don’t knohy I’ether
“It’s from the adrenaline The body is flooded by it when there’s a traumatic situation Then it takes a er has passed”
“Really?”
“ I’m a doctor, remember?”