Digging his heels into Commander’s side gently, they started their long journey. He quickly locked his truck remotely with the keys before tucking them into his horn bag. And they were off. He glanced at his watch: three hours from saddling. Not too bad, considering Kailynn wasn’t very strong and had no idea what she was doing. He took things at a slower pace, and kept looking back to see how all the gear was traveling; but more importantly, how Kailynn was riding. Her jaw was locked, and her eyes were wide. She was scared, but determined. Her eyes followed the trail when it dropped down unexpectedly to a grassy meadow and straight to the creek below. Heights didn’t bother Ian, and he sure as hell hoped they didn’t bother her. The horses clung tightly to the trail as they cautiously made their way.
It was a pleasant day, and the weather was forecast to be nice all week. He didn’t expect much to go wrong. It would be a lot easier trip for him without Shane and his friends. Kailynn worried she would be a problem? As if. She was quiet and obeyed exactly as he said. She didn’t buck or try to argue with him. And obviously, she trusted that he knew what he was doing. She wasn’t too proud to listen to him.
He kept a constant watch on her and the other two horses. They made a lot of stops. Lead ropes fell, the gear had to be tightened, and the horses acted up. Finally, after about two miles, the horses settled down and they managed to cover a couple of miles without stopping. Midday, they reached a small clearing, where they stopped and let the horses graze for awhile. Ian kept hold of the two mounts, and made her hold the lead rope of her horse. The fourth wouldn’t likely wander from the others. They ate the sandwiches Kailynn packed. She didn’t say much as her eyes constantly scanned the surrounding terrain.
“So there are bears around here, right?”
“Yes,” he replied as he smiled at her timid tone and the way her eyes darted around when she said it. “There are bears roaming the hills around your trailer too, however.”
“Yes, but I can run inside if I see them. I’m not exposed to the outside with nowhere to go. And wolves? Aren’t there wolves around here too?”
The recent reintroduction of gray wolves to the area made a few packs of them now prevalent. They were blamed for causing some mayhem down in the lower valley by farmers and ranchers with livestock. But attacking humans? It was so rare, Ian had never even heard of a documented case.
He reached into his saddlebags. “Would it ease your anxiety if I wore this?”
She glanced at the gun he pulled out, which wasn’t loaded. He checked the chamber to be sure and drew his shoulder-holster out, sliding it over his shoulder so as to keep the weight off his back.
Her breath came out in a gush. “Would it kill them?”
“At close range, but I hope to never find out.”
“But it is a possibility, right? They could…”
He loaded the gun and tucked it neatly into the holster, smiling as he shook his head. “You’re not going to get eaten by a wild animal. There’re only black bears, not grizzlies. They rarely attack humans. And look around you; why would they bother with us? They have all the space in the world to avoid us, and horses are very loud when tromping down the trail. We’ve most likely scared away anything and everything.”
“I didn’t know you had a gun.”
“That helps?” He wasn’t really much for guns. Not like some of the guys around there. Even Jack liked to shoot and hunt more than Ian did, although he wasn’t against having one, just in case. But not the kind of cases Kailynn was imagining. His was a more gruesome reason: if something happened to one of the horses and there was nothing more to be done… His brain shut down at the very thought of it. He could never really picture the rest of the scenario.
“Yes. It helps. It seemed easy when I thought about wild animals, but now that we’re out here…”
“Whole new feel of wilderness than at home, huh?” She nodded, her eyes still darting around. He put a hand on her shoulder, “Relax. I swear you’re not going to get eaten by a bear.”
“Or by wolves?”
He choked on a laugh. She was serious. “Or by wolves. Or a cougar.”
“A cougar?” Her eyes bugged out. Shit. He didn’t mean to scare her any more than she already was.
“You’ll never see them, even if they’re there.”
“Oh, that’s good. They can just stalk me.” She shivered before studying the landscape around them even closer.
“Do you want to go back? Scrap this?”
Her startled gaze met his. “You’d do that? Just because I’m scared?”
He shrugged. “I’ve been up there. I don’t need to go again. If you’re not going to have fun, why bother?”
She studied his face, and shook her head finally. “No. I want to have fun. I want to do this. I’ll just stick close to your side.”
“Do you like riding?”
She smiled for the first time in hours. “Yes, I do, although I’m a little stiff.”
He pictured what kind of hell she’d be feeling by tonight after the ten-mile ride. Her saddle sore butt would be far worse than stiff; but he liked her moxie. Grabbing the halter, he held her horse steady, indicating for her to remount. It took her some effort. Tommy, her horse, though gentle, was rather high at eighteen hands. She had to really pull hard to get her body up and swing her legs over, but finally managed to get settled. She smiled when Ian let her go and she gathered the reins.
He rearranged the three horses before mounting one and starting off again. Up ahead lay the first of three creek crossings. Shallow, but rather wide, the flowing creek rushed past them. If she could overcome this obstacle, she’d surely manage the rest of them. He prepped her while they ate their sandwiches on how to cross and what to expect. He halted when they reached the creek, and checked on everyone again before going first and tugging Roxy and Samson through. Happily, they both sprayed and splashed their heavy loads while slogging through the water. Kailynn’s horse started dancing, it was getting antsy to follow them. Her face paled as her horse started down the small embankment and she finally closed her eyes while white-knuckling the saddle horn as the horse rushed across the watery barrier. Ian had to chuckle at her wild ride, and seeing that she did it all with her eyes closed. It worked though. When her horse stopped behind Samson, she quickly popped her eyes open and smiled with a wide grin, declaring, “I didn't die!”
“You didn’t.” He didn’t even try to correct her form or technique. He was more impressed that she just went for it and obeyed his words without any arguments. Despite her reluctance and fear, she was trying to follow his instructions and doing a damn fine job. Far better than either of her brothers. They held up Ian’s progress by hours, not mere minutes, which was all that Kailynn did now and then.
Heading off again, they were seven miles in before the next creek. This one was even wider and deeper with fallen logs jamming it up. Kailynn eyed it warily and yelled behind him, “Just keep going. Don’t stop, or I might not be able to make myself go across it.”
He glanced back and saw her face was strained. He did as she asked and trampled through the water. Water splashed over his boots and he stopped mid-stream to let his horse drink, as well as Roxy and Samson. Kailynn shrieked, “Why are you stopping?” Her horse’s front legs were in the water with the back legs still on land, leaving her awkwardly sprawled too far forward on the horse.
“They need to drink. Let yours have some.”
She nodded, sucking her lips anxiously into her mouth. Her eyes closed as she loosened her grip on the reins to let Tommy’s head drop so he could drink. Eventually, the horses had their fill and quit drinking. Ian started out again, which caused her horse to startle and suddenly bolt around the pack horses and Ian’s mount. Tommy trotted up the embankment, spraying loose dirt into the river as he stomped up the incline. Kailynn screamed and grappled with the reins, only to drop one in order to cling to the saddle horn. Then her horse stopped dead, only ten feet up the trail, and began breathing hard. Kailynn didn’t
wait another second before dismounting.
She leaned over as if ready to puke. Ian spurred his horse forward, stopping behind her and jumping down. He quickly walked toward her, touching her back gently, while asking, “Are you all right?”
She nodded, but kept her head down between her knees. Her hair hung limply to the ground. “They’re not always predictable. He just spooked. But you stayed on, and that’s half the battle. Not everyone can. Good job.”
Her face popped up. “That was good? He spooked? I thought I was going to die.”
“Nope. No death. Just a little hop up the hill.”
“There was nothing ‘little’ about that.”
“You’re going to get back on the horse, aren’t you?” Crap. What if she decides not to? It was going on five o’clock and they’d never make it to camp unless she rode the horse. The only thing to do was get there and set up their tent. Even he wasn’t for sleeping under the stars at this time of year. But she would surely have hated it.
“Yes. I’m just trying to breathe normally. Can I take a few minutes? That really scared me.”
He backed up. She always did better when he wasn’t so near her. She finally lifted her head and put her hand on the saddle before pulling herself up without another word. Nodding, as if to say, let’s do this, Ian couldn’t help the burst of satisfaction he felt at seeing her. This was a tough ride, especially for someone as inexperienced with riding and horses as she was. She did whatever was required of her, however, which was a lot more than many others could claim.
She pulled off to the side so Ian could lead and off they went. The next two miles were almost completely uphill and the trail became very narrow and turned a lot. The woods seemed thicker up there, and the tree trunks changed to the skinny, lodge-pole effect that was typical of Douglas Firs. Evening started to set in and the sky soon faded into sunset.
“Are we almost there?” her timid voice cut through the forest. They hadn’t spoken in awhile and the horses kept up a good pace. Nothing adverse happened in several miles, which allowed them to keep moving forward.
“Yup. Just another twenty minutes maybe.”
He figured the dark was making her worried. Luckily, after crossing an avalanche shoot, they finally arrived at the turnoff for the campsite. It was almost completely obscured in the undergrowth of the woods. If one didn’t know it was there, Ian felt quite sure it would have been very hard to find. The last creek they crossed was the cutoff that divided the South Fork of Hunter’s Creek from the North Fork. Most visitors went up to the north since there was a popular mountain-climbing peak at the end of it, and better still, flatter places for camping. In the South, there were no real flat spots, just their secret one. It would have been truly a shock to find anyone else up in this part of the mountains with them.
Weaving their way through the trees, they went down to Hunter’s Creek before they reached the clearing of the campsite. It was a small, rectangular area, hidden by thousands of trees that carpeted the mountains almost right up to the ridgelines. From camp, looking south, east, or west were towering, craggy peaks of mountaintops. Some still had glacial snow on them even as late as this time of year. Up north were more trees that faded into distant mountains of the valley that they’d just come through.
Ian breathed easier upon their arrival as the sun was fully set and the cool night temperatures were already plummeting. He grabbed his jacket, which he tied over his saddlebags, and put it on. Kailynn had long ago put hers on, but still looked cold. She started to dismount, but her legs buckled under her. They had not rested for several miles and she had to be exhausted. He stepped forward and caught her arm to steady her as she glanced up, somewhat startled. She grabbed onto her saddle for better leverage. “Sorry. I’m just a little stiff.”
“Your ass has to feel like it just came through a meat grinder. You’ve never ridden like that before.”
He mentally bitch-slapped himself. Who spoke like that, but him? He was trying to get closer to her, not send her running away in horror.
To his surprise, she laughed. “It does. Oh my God, it does feel like that. Is it possible I’ve never worked these muscles before? Ever?”
“I’ve never suffered from it, but it’s common complaint. Saddle soreness brings out muscles you never knew you had.”
“You’ve never suffered from it?”
“I grew up on a horse farm. The first time I rode this trip was when I was eight years old. No. I’ve never felt it. If it hadn’t been so close to dark, I would have stopped more times along the way and let you stretch. I’m sorry.”
Her legs seemed to adjust to their new position and she let go of the saddle. “No. Don’t be. Getting here before dark was very much appreciated.”
He let go of her and started quickly tying up the horses, now crowding into the small area. He looped each lead rope loosely to a tree trunk. Tomorrow, he intended to get them all set up better. Tonight, however, they’d have to settle for a tent, some rations, and a high line. He quickly started dismantling his horse, nearly throwing the heavy gear off the animal’s back. Years ago, Jack and he made a rough saddle rack out of logs which sat behind where the tent went. He carried the saddle and blanket there to dry. All the horses were covered in sweat.
Kailynn turned at his movement before approaching her horse. She was nearly walking bowlegged, but started unsaddling Tommy. Ian liked that about her. She always noticed what he was doing and took the initiative to follow suit without him having to nag her. She was proving herself ten times more helpful than her brothers, or even Shane, despite lacking the back strength they possessed. She made up for that in a hundred little ways.
“Can you brush our horses down so I can get the packs off Roxy and Samson?”
She was struggling to lug her saddle towards the saddle rack, so Ian stepped forward to take it from her, but she shook her head. “I got this. Get to the packs.”
He nodded, but it went against his gut. She was right. They needed to keep moving. Twenty minutes later, the packs were all off, the saddles set out to dry, and all four horses were brushed down. Ian returned to the horse area. There was already a makeshift fence around a small portion of camp. Then he reached up and began tying the straps around the tree trunks to hang a highline that he tied each horse to. It allowed them to walk underneath, while not tangling their lead ropes in it, or winding it accidentally around their necks. Kailynn watched him intently, her eyes big as she was fully intrigued. Ian had never so captured her attention before. Not even for a minute. It was odd she was so mesmerized by him after all these years. And yeah, it kind of did it for him. He liked attracting her attention. He liked seeing she finally seemed to get that he wasn’t a dimwitted idiot, or someone she could talk to with disdain and scorn. Today, for the first time he could remember, Kailynn actually showed some degree of respect towards him.
With the horses secured, he dug around the box of horse tack before handing her a collapsible bucket. He told her to get water and offer it to each horse. She nodded and went down to the creek for water. Meanwhile, Ian started going through all the packs and taking out what he needed for that night. The tent was located in a top pack that he quickly withdrew and started laying out. Finding the matches and lantern, he soon had some light going. There was an enclosure in front of the tent, a framework of logs that they covered with a tarp to use for shade, or when it rained. He hung the lights there as the darkness fell. Kailynn came back quickly and stayed off to the side, awaiting further instruction. He nodded at the pile of canvas. “The ridgepole here goes through the center. Once that’s up, it’s easy to pitch the tent.”
She stared at it, utterly confused. It probably looked like an unfolded painter’s tarp to her. He slid the log in for the ridgepole and lifted it up before sliding it on the front frame, and the back, which were sticking out of the ground. It hung like a deflated house frame. Grabbing the poles that were hidden off to the sides, he deftly inserted them, finishing off the entire setup in
less than fifteen minutes.
“There, shelter at last.”
Kailynn stepped inside it and her head swiveled around the white canvas. “Oh, thank goodness. I wasn’t sure…”
He grinned. “You didn’t want to sleep under the stars?”
“No. I really didn’t need to experience that much wilderness for my first time.”
He could see the fatigue in her eyes. But she didn’t have a word of complaint. She followed him to the packs as he started searching for more supplies. He threw the tarp out that was used for the floor. Jogging across the small creek, he went up behind the camp where they stored extra gear. He first hauled down the camp stove, then the plastic horse packs with some of their previously stowed gear, supplementing whatever they couldn’t pack in. She eyed up the stove, now in pieces with its long pipe stowed in a plastic sleeve.
“What is that?”
“Camp stove. Goes inside the tent to keep you nice and warm.”
“Wait? Inside the tent? Won’t it burn up?”
“No. It’s canvas, and made for this. First time inside a tent, huh?”
Her mouth tilted up. “Kind of. Yeah.”
He nodded. “I need to feed the horses; do you think you can start unloading those? They hold the cots and sleeping gear.”
Nodding eagerly, she went to where he pointed. The tarp floor was laid out flat and she swiftly began working. Meanwhile, Ian was heating water on a small propone camp stove to add to the barley pellets he brought in. There was little groundcover there for the horses to eat after the long ride they just endured. Measuring and mixing, he had four large helpings ready in only ten minutes. He adjusted the lead ropes so the horses’ heads could reach the ground to eat out of the food bowls.
“That’s a dog bowl.”
Ian turned from adjusting Roxy’s rope. Kailynn was standing over the bowls, frowning. “No, actually they’re horse bowls.”
“The horses eat out of bowls?”
“Yes.” He grabbed two bowls and started for his and her mounts. She grabbed the last bowl and followed suit. Standing back, she watched Samson bending his head as he started chomping down on the pellets.
River's Escape (River's End Series, #2) Page 9