A Shadow on the Plains

Riding Together

In spite of her initial misgivings, Eliana was pleasantly surprised to find that she enjoyed John's company. He became a regular visitor at the Carter home and she was always glad to see him. He was rather quiet at first, but interesting to talk to. Working in the bank as he did, he was usually full of stories about the customers that came in. There apparently had even been a holdup at the North Platte Bank, several years before, when John was fourteen. He remembered it well and Eliana was thrilled by the story.

She began to bake even more often than usual, trying her hand at all sorts of new recipes, which he always raved about. But every time she made cookies or cakes of any kind, even for John, she always inevitably set aside the special few, marked with their large hole in the center. After that first night when John had asked to call, she remembered and regretted that she had missed the express rider and pledged herself not to forget again. She still sometimes did forget, from time to time, but she tried harder after that.

In her excitement and happiness, just one thing did Eliana find wrong with her beau and that was... well... she first noticed it in his hands. They were pale and smooth... had never known hard work. Nor was his face tanned by the sun. He didn't seem to care much for riding and he almost never would go into the smithy... said he couldn't stand the smoke.

Eliana felt this defect keenly one late-summer afternoon as she saddled up Cheyenne, her little brown mare. There was nothing more to do, now that her work was all done, and she found herself longing for a ride across the prairie... to feel the wind in her hair and the sun on her face. But she didn't necessarily want to be alone. And so she had been thrilled when, as she led Cheyenne out into the street, she had met John on his way to visit.

"Will you come riding with me?" she asked eagerly, before he even had time to speak. "I wanted to go down the prairie, along towards the river. There's a little creek that branches off the river, with some beautiful trees and we could stop there..."

"I'd rather not," John interrupted, shaking his head. "It's pretty rough riding out there. Maybe we could walk through the town instead?"

"Maybe later," Eliana's smile dropped. "I guess I can go riding alone." In spite of her annoyance, she accepted his help as she mounted and turned Cheyenne in the direction of the prairie. "I... I guess I'll see you this evening, John."

"Till tonight, then." He agreed and she rode off toward the North Platte River.

The prairie is a lonely place. Even if you are not more than a mile from town and surrounded by ranches on every side. The wide open sky ran on endlessly to meet the grassy plain that, likewise, ran on endlessly. An eagle flew, screeching, overhead. Such a lonely, mournful sound. Eliana sighed as she urged Cheyenne into a canter. The brook was in sight just ahead.

She sat by the brook a long time, just staring into the pale blue water and the fish floating lazily beneath the surface. She dropped a stone and watched listlessly as the ripples slowly vanished. Cheyenne raised her head and shook it with an impatient whinny and the girl laughed.

"You're right, Cheyenne. We should be getting back. It's... so quiet out here... so peaceful... One loses track of time so quickly."

With some little difficulty, she mounted her horse, frowning at the sidesaddle. She would have so much preferred to cast it aside and ride bareback, astride. But what would Ma think? As she gathered up the reins and prepared to start back, Cheyenne suddenly lifted her head higher and pricked her ears back.

"What is it, girl? Do you hear something?" Eliana turned and looked back toward the river. Moving swiftly in her direction was the distant figure of a horse and rider... the Pony Express. Already she could hear the galloping hoofbeats. He was closer now... almost beside her... and waving his hat wildly. Something inside of her responded to his call and she dug her heels into her horse's sides, leaning forward as she urged her mount into a swift gallop. Faster and faster, till she matched stride with him and they were riding side by side. He turned, grinning widely, and let out a whoop that sounded like an Indian cry. She laughed in response and kicked her horse again. The town was in view just up ahead but she couldn't see it. Never in all her life had she moved so fast... the prairie was flashing dizzily past and the wind was whistling by so hard that she felt certain it would tear her from the back of her horse. It was a feeling unlike anything she had experienced before... an exhilarating ecstasy. She didn't even stop when at last they reached the border of North Platte but continued on with him, down the main street of town and past the bank, where John Halliday was standing in the doorway. She didn't see him but he gaped in surprise at seeing his girl galloping wildly past with a Pony Express rider.

It was with regret that she reined her horse in, just as they passed out of town. The express rider went on alone and Eliana watched him go with a smile and a sigh.