Bound for Eden
Page 37
“I hate to upset your dignity,” Matt told his friend as they stumbled back toward the horses, the dog trotting ahead, stopping to check on them every few paces, “but I reckon you’re gonna need a boost into the saddle.”
It was a marker of how far gone Deathrider was that he didn’t protest when Matt boosted him up. It was more of a lift than a boost. Deathrider seemed to have gone boneless. Matt put him on his own horse, as Deathrider’s was a skittish animal at the best of times and probably would have bolted at Deathrider’s clumsy slumping in the saddle. Pablo, on the other hand, was a stolid workhorse, who needed a heavy boot to the ribs to even get moving. Deathrider could barely even hold Pablo’s reins; Matt had to give the horse a slap on the flanks and pull on the reins to get him walking. He decided to walk beside them, with one hand on Deathrider’s leg. Just in case. Dog clearly had the same idea, keeping pace on the other side, giving the occasional reassuring bark.
The other animals, well trained after months on the trail, fell in behind.
“Don’t you die on me,” Matt told his friend as they wound through the busy streets.
Deathrider made a noise that might have been a laugh. Or a death rattle. It was hard to tell.
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