Ch 1

The first bullet startles his mare. Makes the beast rise on its hind legs and throw him off guard. He lands on the ground with a painful thud. The second strikes his friend. The yowling of pain makes his heart clench and look around with wild eyes.
"No," he breathes, panic growing, "no, no, no!"
He rises and a third bullet is lodged in his shoulder in hopes of stopping him, in slowing him down.
It hurts, it stings, and it makes him cry out in pain.