Marysvale by Jared Southwick Read Free Book Online Page B

spooked and bolt.
    There I waited, through an insufferable
amount of time, hoping the sun would end my misery. Eventually, the
rain did stop and the clouds broke up, revealing the stars, and
sending the temperatures even lower. The shivering stopped—a
dangerous sign. Briefly, I fought the overwhelming desire to sleep.
But in the end, I found myself not caring.
What’s there to live
for anyway?
I let sleep win, bringing with it a black
unconsciousness that washed over me and enveloped me in a welcomed
oblivion.
     
***
     
    Something warmed my face.
Am I
dead?
I pondered the question for a while. Eventually, I
forced my eyes open a crack, just for a peek.
    A blinding light greeted me.
Is
this it? Am I dead?
I debated those questions for some time,
trying to decide what my fate was. However, in the end, aching
bones and hunger pains helped me realize that I was indeed still
among the living. The sun had found a crack in the trees above and
was slowly dragging my frozen, stiff body back to life. With great
effort, I rolled my whole self into the sun and lay there, grateful
for the warmth. I listened to the comforting sound of chattering
birds floating down from the treetops. It lulled me back to
sleep.
    A long time later, I awoke for good.
Lying there, it slowly dawned on me that I hadn’t started this trip
alone. With reluctance, I pulled myself up, looked around, and
whistled…nothing. I tried again, with the same result.
    “ Stubborn mule,” I
muttered.
    Sometimes Smoke came when I called; and
sometimes he didn’t. Thank goodness he usually didn’t wander too
far. Hoping today wouldn’t be any different, I grudgingly drug
myself to my feet, retrieved the crossbow and Smoke’s bridle, and
began searching. I not only located his tracks, but also noticed a
lightly worn path leading roughly in the same direction I wanted to
go. I made a mental note to follow it after finding Smoke. With
luck, it may lead to some type of settlement.
    A half mile later, I found him standing
in a thicket of trees.
    “ It’s just me,” I assured
him, while stroking his nose and slipping on the bit-less
bridle.
    Although spirited at times, Smoke, for
the most part, was an exceptionally obedient horse, and we had both
learned to trust each other without question. As a result, I never
saw a need to make him wear a bit in his mouth, which I’m sure made
it easier for him to eat while we were on these long
trips.
    I worked the reins back over his neck
and hoisted myself up onto his back. I retrieved the rest of our
belongings and, in no time, we were off, following the newly
discovered trail.
    Sharp pains in my stomach reminded me
that I had been two days without food. I readied my crossbow,
searching the woods for something to eat.
    The warm autumn day lifted my spirits.
The trees were beautiful with their changing leaves—some had
already made their way to the forest floor. Birds still chattered
away in the treetops. The whole scene comforted my soul.
    However, it was a peace that wouldn’t
last long.
    Smoke started to tense, ears swiveling
like a deer.
    “ Easy Boy,” I said in a
soothing voice; but I also trusted him enough to pay attention when
he sensed something unusual. Smoke refused to be comforted. His
gait became irregular and he hesitated going forward. I coaxed him
on; but to be safe, I secured the crossbow to my saddle and began
reloading the musket with fresh powder.
    The forest grew thick, and the trail
wound its way through tall ferns and bushes growing along the path.
The thought crossed my mind that this would be a good place for an
ambush. While in the midst of pondering that unnerving idea, I
realized, with alarm, that there were no sounds. Birds had stopped
their chirping; and the whole forest, again, held its breath. The
putrid smell of rotting flesh reached my nostrils and churned my
empty stomach. At that instant, the trap was sprung.
     
***
     
    Smoke saved me. He saw the beast first
and lunged forward. At the