I was stunned when l discovered my grandmother unconscious on the kitchen floor. The bucket she had obviously been carrying was beside her. There was also a puddle of water. I patted her cheeks but her eyes remained closed and her face was pale. I was alone at home and knew I had to get help immediately. I threw a thick blanket over her and raced out in the drizzle to the stall.
The horse whinnied as I walked up to her with the bridle. My legs were wobbly and my hands were shaking uncontrollably as I slipped the bit into her mouth and pulled the bridle over her ears. Fortunately she remained very still even after l had climbed down from the side of the stall. I opened the barn door and walked the horse outside. She turned and looked at me with gentle eyes and I tried to speak to her calmly. It was pouring now and l shivered as |had forgotten to wear something
warm in my haste to leave.
I walked the horse to the fence and placing my hands on her shoulder, I climbed onto the top rail of the fence. I knew I must have looked extremely comical trying to balance myself on the fence. I was about to slip one leg over her back when she moved away abruptly. I tried to coax her back to the fence patiently and this time I succeeded. I climbed on top of the horse, took the reins and dug my heels into her side. The horse galloped away in the direction of the doctor's house.
My legs were numb when we finally arrived at the doctor's house. Dr McCoy took a look at me and asked his wife to get me a change of clothes. I sipped hot cocoa in front of the fireplace while Mrs McCoy dried my long hair with a towel. The rain had stopped, as sudden as it came, by the time we left the doctor's house in a covered buggy. I felt relieved that help was on the way for my grandmother.