I start to deny I was scared, then snap my mouth shut. He can read me too well. Even in darkness.
Onward progress again. Soon we’re on a proper path, then approaching that massive annoyed looking animal. My gasp startles it, the horse jumps back, the reins tautening where its bridle is attached to the tree.It’s going to break. It will stampede. Crush me…
“Hey, fella. Calm down.” Letting go of my hand, he expertly untangles the reins. “Shush, boy. Bitch ain’t gonna harm you.”
Bitch?
Lithely he puts his foot in the stirrup, does a little jump, then he’s miles above me sitting comfortably in the saddle.
“Er, I’ll just walk alongside.”
“Nah.” Kicking his foot out of the stirrup, he indicates it. “Place your foot in there, then jump up behind me.”
He’s got to be joking. Mount that wild beast?I take a step back, then another.
“For fuck’s sake. Okay, follow the path and walk yourself out. You’ll come to civilisation, eventually.” He gathers the reins again. “If you don’t get bit by a snake.” He kicks the horse; it starts to move away.
He’s leaving me alone?“No!” I cry out, trying to match my pace to that of the horse. The horse which gives a little jump in front of me. I, instead, fall flat on my face, my human eyes not good enough to see the branch blocking the path. The desert sand, at least, is soft to land on. But I swear I felt something run over my hand. “Please, please…”
I don’t need to run to catch up. He’s already turned back, has stopped and is waiting.
“I’m scared,” I admit.
“More of the horse than the desert at night?” I think he’s chuckling.
I bristle, then give a nervous look around. A slight breeze is making the leaves rustle, or is it the bear coming back? I shudder. “Both. But the sooner I’m out of here the better.” The fastest way is to take the route he’s offering.
“For fuck’s sake.” Now he’s dismounted again. He leads the horse over to me. The animal doesn’t look impressed. Then he’s pointing to the stirrup. “You get up first.”
How?
Trying to copy him, raising my leg as high as I can, I place my foot in the leather holder. Before I can do anything else his hands are under my backside, shooting me up and … almost over, but not quite. The horse prances as I land. Terrified I’m going to fall off, I open my mouth to scream when a body lands behind me, pushing me forwards in the saddle. There’s barely room for us both. My groin is pushed tight up to the horn, his cock, tight to my ass.
Second time tonight. Is this usually how he gets his rocks off?
The horse starts to move as the stranger’s still sorting the reins out in his hands, one going each side of me, a fleeting touch to the side of my breast which I hope is accidental. I squeal at the movement of the horse, or at least, I think that’s what makes me cry out. Then I grip his arms.
Putting the reins into one hand, he fixes the other around me. “You’re safe. I’ve got you. Not going to let you fall off.”
“But who’s got you?”
He chuckles again. “Niyol’s got both of us,” he reassures me. Then he makes a clicking sound, and the horse quickens his pace. “You’ll be back soon. Just relax and enjoy the ride.”
But back where? Where is he taking me? I’m riding with a real live Native American in the dead of the night. Do they still capture women and take them back to have their wicked ways with them? Scalp them?Realising I’m letting my imaginationrun away with me, I try to normalise the situation. “I’m Mariana,” I introduce myself.
“Tse.”
Even his name sounds foreign. “Tse?” I ask.
“It’s Navajo. My mother got her way and named me. I’m half Native American. My father was an Anglo.” He offers this by way of conversation. Probably talking to keep me calm.
I don’t respond. I never give too much away about myself.
Sensing I’m not going to answer, he goes quiet. The horse, Niyol, plods on into the night, the muffled beat of his hooves almost hypnotic. The sooner we’re back out of the canyon, the sooner I can leave this strange enigmatic man, collect my car and get back on with my life.My car.
“Er, are we going near the parking lot at the bottom of the canyon?” I ask, realising I’ve no idea where he’s taking me.
“Guessed that’s where you’d have parked. Nah, it’s well over the other side. I’ll drop Niyol off, get him sorted out. Then, don’t worry, I’ll get you back to your car.”
