Riding Into Darkness

Ruthie stood outside the stables waiting for one of her best friend's Claire, to show up. She looked over at her horse Ed. He seemed sort of agitated. Ruthie tried to pet Ed, but he snapped at her.

"Ed, what's the matter? It's your pal Ruthie."

"Ruthie Camden, are you talking to your horse again?"

Ruthie looked behind her to see Claire standing there with a smirk on her face.

"Hey Claire! Now, don't be dissin' me for talking to Ed. You know it is good to talk to your horse; let them know you care. It brings you closer to the animal."

"Ruthie chill. I was just giving you a hard time. I talk to Dusty all the time too. Let me go get her and then we can start riding, okay?"

"Yeah, sounds good."

The girls went riding up into the valley. This was Ruthie's favorite thing to do. She loved riding horses; it freed her from the stress of life, and helped her feel more spiritual. Also, it was a good exercise!

"This is so fun isn't it Ruthie?" Claire asked.

"It certainly is!" Ruthie replied joyously.

Suddenly Ed started to go out of control.

"Calm down Ed! It's okay. Whoa boy, whoa!" Ruthie was scared. Ed never acted this way.

"Ruthie, are you okay?" Claire stopped Dusty.

"I don't know. I can't get him to calm down."

Claire got off her horse and went to help her friend.

Out of nowhere Ed took a big leap in the air, and sort of twirled around. Ruthie, not being able to hold the reins anymore fell hard onto the rocky ground. Ed ran away into the field ahead.

"Ruthie! Ruthie are you okay? Wake up!" Claire nudged Ruthie, but she wouldn't move. "Wait here, Ruthie I am going to go get help."

Claire and the Camden family all except for Matt and Mary, nervously waited in the local hospital's waiting lounge to here news on Ruthie.

"I am so sorry. I should have gotten of Dusty sooner to help Ruthie. It's all my fault."

"Claire don't say that. It isn't your fault. You didn't know what was going to happen. You could have gotten hurt too. Don't worry everybody it will be okay." Eric said trying to consul everybody.

The doctor came into the room.

"Is there a Camden family in here?" The doctor asked.

"Yes that is us!" Annie said popping up out of her chair. "What's the report? Will she be okay?"

The doctor looked at his clipboard. "Well, we ran a bunch of tests, and we didn't see anything wrong with her."

"Oh thank God." Annie said in relief.

"However," the doctor continued, "we could not tell if there was any brain damage."

Simon cut him off. "Brain damage? What do you mean?"

"Well, we think she got hit in the head. Since we didn't see any broken bones or anything we think she landed on her head. Ruthie had to land somewhere. Did anyone see her fall?"

Everyone looked at Claire.

"Actually doctor," Claire started, " Now that you mention it, I think Ruthie did land on her head."

"Oh no! No that is awful." Lucy said in hysterics.

"I said there might be brain damage I didn't say there was for certain yet, so please don't get too upset." The doctor was trying to be comforting. He had seen this happen way to many times.

"When will we know?" Annie asked wiping a tear off her cheek.

"When she wakes up. We will run tests then. Also, it might be obvious that there is something wrong. She might not be able to speak, ort might have a concussion, or."

"Please stop. You are scaring my wife. When will she wake up?" Eric was trying to stay clam.

"In about an hour. You may go in her room now if you'd like, but only three of you can go."

"Lucy, you can go in with Mom and Dad. I'll wait out here." Simon was being considerate, though he really wanted to see his little sister.

"Thanks Simon, but I think Claire should be able to go. After all she was there since the beginning of this whole ordeal."

"No way! You go Lucy. You are her sister. I will be fine out here." Claire offered the invitation back to Lucy.

"Well thanks to both of you." Lucy was happy; for once she wasn't being left out. "And Simon, if Kevin comes let him know where I am."

The Camden's followed the doctor into Ruthie's tiny hospital room. They waited for Ruthie to wake up. Finally after what seemed like forever, Ruthie started to move.

"Ruthie are you awake?" Annie asked sweetly.

"Mommy, is that you?" Ruthie was weak.

"Now Ruthie, just relax. You don't have to get up. You don't have to do anything you don't feel like. I know you aren't feeling well.

"Okay Mommy. I'm I in the hospital?" Ruthie kept her head on the pillow and her eyes closed, she was to tired to open them.

"Yes you are. You had a bad fall." Eric piped in.

"I know it was scary. I didn't know what to do. Claire was there for me though."

"Oh Eric!" Annie whispered excitedly. "There is nothing wrong with her, at least I don't think there is. She seems okay to me. We know for sure she doesn't have memory loss."

"Annie, calm down and relax. We aren't sure of that yet. I hope she is okay, but we can't be certain. We have to be realistic about this. I've seen people get excited about things before but it doesn't always work out, and then they are even more devastated than before because of denial. Trust me, it happens a lot in my line of work."

They looked back at their daughter. She was almost back asleep.

"Hey Ruthie." Lucy tapped her on the arm. "Do you want to see what I brought you? I brought your favorite Hello Kitty doll. I knew you would miss her."

Ruthie opened her eyes to see her doll and all of a sudden panicked. "Mommy! Daddy! Where are you? Where is everyone? Help me!"

"Ruthie, it is okay. We are right here, calm down. It is okay. You are going to be fine. What's the matter? We are right here, it will be okay." Annie was trying to stay stable, she hated seeing her daughter scared.

Ruthie started to cry. "I can here you, but I can't see you! It is pitch black. Where is everyone? Aren't my eyes open?"

Annie looked at her husband, "Eric, Ruthie is blind!"

MORE TO COME!