For a few moments I just lay there on my belly in the dirt; trying to get my breath, coughing, and inhaling the dust heaved up by Goose’s churning hooves. As if I were a cliché of a cartoon character, I began moving my appendages one by one to see what still worked. I always wore a riding helmet and the fact that I had not buckled the chin strap (due to the heat) had caused it to slide forward, saving my face and eyes from near certain injury. I rolled to one side, sat up, pushed back my helmet and looked for my horse; dreading what I might find. Goose was standing a few feet away, head down and blowing; the knot of the reins lay halfway up his mane and the English saddle was askew, but he was on all fours, a good sign. He fixed one baleful eye on me and then looked away toward home... Uh - oh... He looked back at me, hesitated, and shook himself violently - and then, watching me closely, began to sidle toward the second open gate. As I sat there, mute (except for the gasping) he turned and headed off without me, slowly at first – then at a trot and finally in a lumbering, exhausted canter. I can still see the stirrup irons flapping off to one side and I remember wondering idly if he noticed. He did have the grace to look back once before he disappeared from view.
At Goose’s backward glance, I was reminded suddenly of the terror on the ridge. I looked back up the hill and saw nothing. No monsters were pursuing me; no crazed members of cults, no bears, no packs of wolves, no ghosts. I began to feel somewhat abashed. What had just happened? Was I becoming paranoid? Had I let my imagination run amok? I got to my feet, still rather dazed and began to walk the half mile toward home. The sky was still the same shade of blue, the hot wind had lessened some but still moved in waves over the rough grasses of the pasture – and yet it was all so peaceful and benign as opposed to the atmosphere up in that barren field. I noticed a familiar throbbing in my right hand and I drew it up to look. My just healed finger was crooked again and turning black. Under the circumstances, I felt lucky.
Half a mile isn’t very far to walk unless you are wearing English riding boots. They are called riding boots for a reason. I minced homeward, with plenty of time to think while the leather rubbed my ankes as raw as my nerves. Goose was lucky, as well, that I had time to get over being pissed at him for leaving me there. In his horse’s mind I was, after all, responsible for whatever happened. Hadn’t I made him go out on this too hot day, only to freak out and cause him to lose all his dignity in a spectacular display of what happens when the laws of physics are ignored? I was the human and I should know better… But what had really happened?
When I made it to the pasture gate, Goose was waiting quietly, saddle still off to one side but otherwise fine. I couldn’t find a scratch on him.. He wasn't even blowing. With one hand, I unbuckled the girth and led him to the barn for a drink and a hosing off. Back at the house, I phoned the doctor, used the boot jack to remove my riding boots, showered, dressed and sulked.
......................................................................................
By the time the bones in my finger had healed for the second time, several weeks had passed and I was back in fall semester classes. I did not go up on the ridge again, though I told myself I would, in due time. After all, I told myself, there were plenty of other places to ride and I didn’t have the time to go long distances now. When my landlord-farmer put his cattle back in the pasture and they went about their business-as-usual grazing, I hiked up back to the farmgate, using them as cover. I made sure to secure the wire loops extra-tight before leaving.
I hadn't told anyone what had "chased" me from the ridge that day. The incident faded, but still taunted me...
It wasn't over.
....... one more.. and it's a tough one...
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Blogs by redtigr:
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| A memoir: Evil Dwells... part 4: what.. |
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jentoblues101
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Dec 8 @ 7:47PM
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I'm waiting with bated breath.....
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albertafire
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Dec 10 @ 11:01AM
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great reading,, on to the next instalment , lol.
 can't wait.
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desertwolf
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Dec 11 @ 1:17AM
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sheesh....when does the movie come out???
This is sooo good.... I must say, that I find myself "frightened for you" as I sit here and read this. I can't imagine how this must have just terrorized you. What a brave person you are to have stayed!!! Ok...onto Part IV (god I hope that it has a happy ending!!)
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