The Cowboy of Coledale Fief

Chapter 1 | Discovery

Jess was a tall girl with long, wild red hair braided down her back. Her sun-tanned face was covered in freckles. Her large, warm brown eyes surveyed the dusty Texas landscape, following the cattle drive on her horse, Colorado, who was a small palomino. She was riding along the left-hand flank slowly swinging her lasso to keep the cattle in line. If any cattle broke free, it was her job to chase them and rope them to get them back.

"You doing alright there, missy?"

Jess sighed with frustration, "I'm fine, Jonny. This isn't my first cattle-drive." Jonny was a new hand on her Daddy's Ranch, having only been on the job for about a month. He was average height and had sandy blonde hair with grey eyes poking out from underneath his large hat. He seemed to think that girls didn't belong on a cattle drive. Even though it was the 21st century.

"All right then. Just checking." Jonny seemed kinda hurt but Jess didn't care.

The sooner he learns that I know what I'm doing, the sooner I'll start being nice to him. Suddenly, a heifer broke ranks and started heading out into open country.

"I've got it." Jess called out and she nudged Colorado in the heifer's direction. She goaded him into a canter, chasing after the rogue cow. She slowed down at the crest of a hill, you never knew what could be on the other side and she didn't want to fall off a cliff. At the top, she saw two lone trees that seemed to form an arch, but there was no sign of the heifer. Jess squeezed Colorado's flank, bringing him up to a trot. She headed straight for the two trees, she wanted to get a look at the rest of the countryside and check if she could find that cow. As she crossed paths with the twin trees, the vast desert country blurred together and became a large wheat field.

What on earth?!? "Whoa, Colorado. Steady boy!" At the change of scenery, her horse had panicked and she had eased back on the reins to bring him to a stop. She surveyed her surroundings and first noticed a heifer, exactly like the one she had been chasing, feeding on the clover. She turned in the saddle and saw two trees, exactly like the ones that she had just raced though in the Texas wilderness. She turned Colorado around and kneed him to start him walking. They passed through the two trees but nothing happened. Maybe I need to be trotting. Jess brought Colorado back around and spurred him into a trot. She passed through the trees a second time, but again, nothing. By now, Jess was beginning to panic. OK, Jess. Calm down. There seems to be a village just over yonder. I'll make for that and try to find out where I am.

As Jess entered the small, ramshackle town, she got a lot of strange looks from the locals. This was when she noticed that they were dressed far differently than she was. In fact, their clothing looked older, almost like from medieval times. She stopped and tied Colorado up in front of the local inn next to a small, shaggy gray horse. It was an older building, with the roof threatening to cave in places. In front, there was a sign with the picture of a river otter painted on it. It was creaking ominously on its wooden post. When she walked in, most of the patrons looked at her with suspicious looks on their faces and Jess felt her heart start to beat faster. A lot of these men are pretty seedy looking, and they all seem to missing something or other, an ear, a tooth, a finger. All I've got on me is my rope, my jackknife, and my spurs. Let's hope I don't get into any fights. Jess was an observant girl but she didn't notice a figure in the corner, his face hidden by the cowl of his grey-green mottled cloak, who unknown to her, had been studying her very closely.

"Can I get you anything?" Jess looked up and noticed the innkeeper standing directly in front of her.

"Nah, I haven't any money. What I do need, though, is some information. What country am I in, where exactly am I?

The innkeeper looked at her with a funny expression, he was used to dealing with strange persons though, so he wasn't too surprised. "You're in Araluen, miss. In Coledale Fief.

"Wait, Araluen? Is that some sort of third-world country? Or is it European?" "What are you talking about?" The innkeeper may be used to strange people, but this girl was going beyond the usual strange.

What on earth is happening? Everybody has heard of Europe and of third-world countries! "So Coledale is the name of this town, right?"

"No, miss. This town is called Sean. Coledale is the name of the fief. Didn't you see Castle Coledale when you came into town?"

"No, I didn't see any castle." If this town is called Sean, and the country is Araluen, I guess Coledale Fief is like a state for the U.S.A.

"Well than you must be blinder than a bat, miss. It's huge, just over the way on a hill across the river. You can't miss it."

"Well obviously you can. I seem to have. Well, thanks for all your help." With that, the innkeeper walked away to tend to other customers and Jess was left to her thoughts. While she was contemplating her predicament, two large men got up and walked over to her. Not noticing until they had already sat down on either side of her, Jess tried to ignore them. Oh what do they want? I don't have anything. Oh why won't they just go away?

The man on her right began to speak, "You're in our territory now, girl. And everyone who passes through has to pay the toll."

"Uh, well what do you want?"

This time, the man's partner spoke, "One gold royal for each time you come in here."

"Well I don't feel like paying so I'll just leave." Jess made to get up but the man on her right grabbed her wrist. She tried to twist away but he held her in that vice-like grip of his.

"Oh I don't think so girl. You are going to pay whether you want to or not." In response, Jess slammed her boot heel down on his foot, hard. Her boots had an inch of heel and caused the man to let go of her arm, reaching down to cradle his hurt foot. Jess took her chance and made for the door, the man's partner was too stunned to give chase so Jess made it outside. She hurriedly mounted Colorado and spurred him into a gallop. She decided to go the opposite way of which she came so that she could get to know the area. She never noticed the man in the cloak coming out shortly after and mounting the grey horse, nor did she see him begin to follow her at a steady trot.

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Hey Guys! This is my newest RA fanfic that I'm writing with my friend RangerAtHeart! As soon as we figure this whole thing out she'll be posting these chapters with me, so follow us both. As always I absolutely love to hear from you, I want to know what you think, what you think would make me a better writer, or just if you like the story.

Sage