A/N This one was inspired by a short writing prompt and it has a bit of a twist! Thank you for reading
I was in a pile of splintered wood. My head throbbed, and I couldn't move my left leg. The sun shone blindingly, and even though I could hear male voices, I could not distinguish any words they spoke. Someone bent down over me and lifted my head. I groaned and squinted in the afternoon sun.
"Try not to talk, ma'am. You'll be okay." A rough but kind voice spoke to me. "Your team of horses was spooked, and the carriage rolled over." He paused and examined my head. "You have a bump on your head, and once we get you out of here, I'll take you to the doc."
Before I could ask who "we" were, another voice counted to three. All at once, my leg was set free, and someone was pulling me up from the ground. The young man who had talked to me was practically holding me. He helped me as I regained my footing but refused to let go of me entirely. Probably for the best; I'm not sure I could have supported myself alone.
"Thank you," I said gratefully. "I think I'd like to sit for a moment." I tried taking a step but nearly toppled over because white hot pain shot up my left leg. Two strong arms were at the ready to catch and steady me.
"What's wrong, miss?"
"My leg." I said with a grimace.
"Samuel!" My rescuer called. Soon another young man was there to help me.
"Let's walk her over to that bench there." They practically carried me- Samuel on my left and my still unnamed savior on my right.
Sweat beaded on my forehead, and my breaths came in shallow spurts. My head pounded and my eyesight was speckled with black spots. When I finally took a seat on that heavenly bench, Samuel went to get the town doctor.
"What's your name?" I asked wearily. He stood, leaning against a wood beam column. His dirty blond hair was long enough to brush his broad shoulders. His face was smudged with sweat and dust. His physique was broad and sturdy; his hands were rough with callouses and rope burns.
"William. And yours, Miss?"
"Mary Anne. Thank you for helping me, William."
"It was my pleasure, Miss Mary Anne." He replied with a bow.
Samuel came back with the doctor, who informed how lucky I was to not have had a concussion- merely a bump and a headache. He examined my ankle and leg briefly before instructing that I stay off it for a few days because my ankle had been severely sprained.
"Do you have a place to stay, Miss?"
I shook my head.
"She's welcome to stay at our place," Samuel offered. "I'm sure Miss Emma would love to have another lady around for a couple days."
William mounted his horse. "Then it's settled." He said as he helped me up, too.
"Where are we going?"
"Sam and I live out at the Pony Express outpost." He spurred his horse forward and Samuel followed suit.
Later that night, after a delicious supper of chicken and dumplings, I fell asleep lying on a goose feather mattress with a handmade quilt to keep me warm.
When I opened my eyes again, a blinding light was shining in my face. As I propped myself up on my elbows, my high school gymnasium came into focus around me with my coach standing over me assessing the damage dodgeball can cause to those less athletically inclined.