Cowboys & Ghosts

16. Riding In The Rain

Daisy had caught up with Rafael, once the ghosts returned to their place in the sky. It was now raining, followed by rumbles of distant thunder and crackle of close lightning. "Still not out of the woods?" Rafael asked. Daisy shook her head. "There are plenty of more onto us. We still have 100 miles left." Despite her optimism, she knew that riding all the way to Ouachita Mountains would take too long. "We can hide from them," Rafael added. "Wherever it is, it's worth a shot."
"These men are everywhere," Daisy replied. "There is no time. Dead Skull has asked me to bring you to him tomorrow at sunset."
"Even if we stop," Rafael suggested. "We can still make it. I don't want to see you get hurt." With a sigh, Daisy lifted half of her shirt up, showing off the scar from where she had been shot by that outlaw. Rafael examined the scar, his fingers lingering against the stitches. Against her skin. "And you're not going to," she mused. "If that happens, I'll never feel pain again." She found herself tilting her head forward, and she closed her eyes. She felt it. Her lips kissing passionately against Rafael's. Finally, she tilted away. "We'll conceal ourselves in the forest," she said quietly. "Race you." She signaled, and her horse galloped. Laughing, Rafael pursued her. From the out field to the forest, where they had stopped to hide from the rain. Both teenagers were soaking wet, despite a few raindrops hitting the ground through the trees. Rafael's horse had slid to a halt so rapidly, that it threw its rider out of the saddle. Rafael landed into what seemed like a small stream. Daisy set foot into the water, soaking her boots, which she used to splash the water on Rafael's face. He returned that gesture, followed by playing and laughing. It went on until it stopped.

It was approximately twelve hours, when the ride continued. The rain was still there, but both teenagers rode, smiling and laughing despite the wind. The more the ride went on, the more trees of a different forest they were going through. It was the Ouachita Mountains. They were close. The last 100 miles were worth it. Now, they slowly walked through horseback. "The ghosts cause the weather sometimes," Rafael said. "It's as if 'control it.' The clouds can always be this dark."
"Is that what Dead Skull told you?" Daisy asked. Her lover shook his head. "It was Korte, his son. I've been told all tales. Be sure to put it in your journal." It felt like an eternity, until they were finally close to a hill top. Relief surged in Daisy, as she realized that this was the spot where Rafael would return to the sky. Dead Skull was there, on his red-eyed dark horse, with his son, Korte beside him. It was still raining, but the sunset gleamed through so brightly, that it nearly hypnotized Daisy. She and Rafael dismounted, meeting Dead Skull halfway. He dismounted himself, his dark armor as scrap as metal. He approached the two teenagers, fixing the collar of Daisy's shirt. "Well done, she-outlaw," he said. "You returned one of our riders to us, and I cannot thank you enough. Korte." Korte responded to his father, handing out what seemed like a black pistol. "As a token, ma'am. You will forever be in our favor." Daisy took the pistol, and shot a round into the air. "Don't waste your bullets," said Dead Skull. "You've done well, girl. Rafael, you have two minutes, then we're off." He nodded at Daisy, and his son followed him to the edge of the hill top. At first, it was silent, but Daisy spoke first. "Is there a chance I'll see you again?"
"In the sky, yes," Rafael said, taking her hands in his. "Just remember; mortal and immortal don't go together. But I say this now; I love you." Tears stung Daisy's eyes, but she fought them the best she could. She cupped Rafael's face in her hands, as he had his on both sides of her waist. The kiss lasted forever, and he finally pulled away. "I love you," she said, returning the words. "Please remember me," Rafael replied, turning. Daisy watched, as the boy she loved mounted on a ghost horse, and along with Dead Skull and his son, they departed on clouds and returned to the sky. At that moment, the sun had set and the rain stopped. Daisy just stood there and watched the beautiful view, for a very long time.