Jerimiah's Gold

Chapter 24

My repose was short lived, however. Eagle Eye awoke me with news of Wiona's capture. I hastily got to my feet and stormed passed Eagle Eye out of the tent. The moment I saw the suns reflection on that bleach white fur, my heart instantaneously burst with joy. It took three men to hold her reigns, yet when I latched my arms around her neck, all of her stoic hardness shed from her. In its place, a warm and soft soul that missed its companion.

"I'm never going to leave you again, girl. I'm so sorry." I whispered into her ear.

She responded by stomping the ground. They say your dog takes your personality, but I'd wager a bet that said horses can do the same, as I was almost certain that Wiona could understand whatever I said to her. I threw her reigns back, and promptly mounted my saddle without so much as thanking the men for her rescue.

"I suppose you're leaving now." Eagle Eye ejected from the tent.

I looked up from Wiona for the first time to respond, "No reason in keeping me around, besides, I have to see my family."

With that, I tipped my hat to again forget its absence, and rode off with only slight embarrassment at the fact. Wiona was tired, she must've just been constantly moving until she finally realized I wasn't on her anymore. Poor girl, I had to though. They surely would have shot her had I stayed riding, that'd be the smart thing. I wouldn't be able to run away without a horse, so I decided to fight, and in doing so I had inadvertently sent Wiona to fend for herself for a day and a half. Her skin seemed fine, and her fur wasn't punctured, only slightly dirty. All evidence that she was in fact perfectly okay without me present, and I was entirely vulnerable if not for the natives. I had to be thankful, thankful for a tribe whose name I did not even know. I had my speculations about Eagle Eye, more so his purpose and his charity to me, and maybe I still hold that suspicion. But, it was a fact that he, and his tribesmen, had saved my life.

I was now in Colorado, far south of the state line - going into New Mexico, there was where I saw it. The oil town that stood nestled atop a massive canyon, Gallants Swallow. It was a fitting name for it; from the far distance in which I stood from it, the canyon still looked massive and endless. I traversed down a steep hill. Rocks and dirt fell and shifted their weight onto the rear of Wiona's hooves. Obviously uncomfortable, Wiona swiftly switched directions to try and traverse a less steep side of the slope. This sudden change caused my weight to shift unnaturally, and gravity threatened to pull me down and over Wiona's head. I positioned myself upright in my saddle, but was then unable to latch my left foot in my stirrup. The force of me moving my foot while simultaneously trying to keep my balance, caused me to comically fall over on my side, and proceed to roll down the hill. Wiona, unscathed, made it down the slope in rapid succession, completely unbothered.

Disgruntled, and a little frustrated, I picked myself up to my feet and dusted myself off. "You know," I started, "maybe you should remember that you have someone on top of you." I patted Wiona and mounted her again to proceed the journey.

We rode west for thirty minutes before a town almost literally sprouted directly in front of me. It was due to exhaustion that I wasn't as aware of my surroundings as I should have been, so it could have very well been likely that I just hadn't noticed it until it was forced into my line of sight. I clicked my tongue to speed Wiona's trot to a light gallop. I knew not to push her any further, as we were both pretty fatigued from the long ventured we've endured. Even with the rest I got at Eagle Eye's camp, I was perpetually in a cycle of lassitude. This town, unlike most of the ones I've come across, looked to be in its prime. Traffic lined the wide dirt streets, two stagecoach office, a train station, a sheriff's office and a jailhouse that was constructed right next door to it, an inn, and a saloon. I, naturally, made my way to the saloon to get something to eat.