Cowboys & Horses

Chapter 30

A scream lodged in my throat. Terror and fear tumbled together inside me. Adrenaline pumped to every part me, making me illogical and unable to think clearly. My only thought came from my primitive instinct to run, but I knew that would be a mistake.

There was no way I could get back in the saddle quick enough to avoid its pace by pace advance on us. Even if I did, could Cody even outrun it? He was tired, and we were lost. Would we just end up in even more of a mess?

Through the leather reins, I could feel Cody's trembles. He snorted again and ran back a few steps, the whites of his eyes showing his wild ancestral roots. Skidding through the dust as Cody dragged me back with him, I decided I had no choice. I would have to let him go without me.

I looked back, seeing the lion had covered quite a few feet whilst I'd been distracted with Cody. With its head lowered to the ground, taking each step with a definitive precision, I knew precious seconds were ticking by. More adrenaline poured through me at a mind spinning rate. Was this really how I was going to die?

I whimpered, tears pricking at my eyes. Cody was the only way out of here for me, but that would be risking the both of us. At least if I was here and he ran, he had a chance. He'd find his way back to the ranch and then he'd be my alarm—providing he went back to the ranch of course. There was every chance he'd end up even more lost, wandering through the desert on his own. But at least he'd be alive. If I caused Cody's death, I don't know what Brady would do. Tears fell as I refused to even contemplate that as an option.

Sheer desperation caused me to almost double over with hopelessness. What was I supposed to do? I had no way of contacting anyone. I was out here all alone.

A loud grunt broke my thoughts as Cody threw his entire weight into wrenching me backwards. I lost my balance and fell, still hanging on to his reins for all I was worth. I scrambled to my feet and took his bridle off without a second's delay. The metal bit clunked against his teeth as he couldn't even wait for me to take it off before he high tailed out of there, his galloping hooves echoing all around the silent setting.

I turned around to see the stealthy cat, the bringer of my certain death, was barely ten feet from me. I knew it was going to pounce any second. Raising my arms, I shouted at it, jumping up and down on the spot. It took a couple of steps back but kept its beady, hungry eyes on me.

As the sound of thundering hooves finally disappeared into the shadowed desert, I began to think I should be with them. What on earth had possessed me to do this? I reminded myself I had no other option. Cody wouldn't have outrun it in the near dark. Blind fear never leads to anything good when you have a night time predator stalking you.

I started stepping to my right to circle back around the growling beast. Out the corner of my left eye, I spotted a tall tree a hundred yards or so away. If I could get up the tree, I could control its attacks better. It watched me, its eyes gleaming and following my every move.

I started walking backwards, step by step, very slow and precise. My hands squeezed Cody's bridle, reassurance at something being a weapon of some sort. With every step I took back, it now took one forwards. Its animalistic snarl continued to unnerve me. After several steps, I made the mistake of turning to look for the tree. It couldn't have been much more than thirty feet away.

I looked back to my Grim Reaper, but it was too late. The lion was leaping towards me, a beastly shriek coming from it as it launched itself through the air. I swung at it with the bridle. A definitive clunk sounded through the air as the bit connected with its hard skull. The lucky hit swerved its outstretched claws away from me. It sprawled out on the dust a few feet away, landing on its side with a thud. I ran towards the tree, making use of my few precious seconds. I looked up at the lowest branch, working out the best way to get to its ten-foot height.