The Girl Lost in Time

The Girl Lost In Time part 8

I discreetly smiled and held out my hand in order to introduce myself and in an instant, Kelsey shook it enthusiastically.

"I'll take it you and William are here to take my horses out for a ride, yes?" she assumed as I looked at William in reassurance. In response he nodded and after leaving Kelsey's handshake I tiptoed over, so that I was beside him. We were stood in front of a horse, dappled grey, elegant tone.

"This is Shadow, you will be riding her miss, she is gentle but her speed is unexpected at times," Kelsey explained as her hand brushed Shadows nose. "Well...hop on then miss, we haven't got all day," although before I could respond, I felt a snug warmth round my waist like gravity had rebelled and lifted me from the stable ground and onto the horse's back. Williams's fingers then left my waist as he and Kelsey glazed above at me, sitting perfectly in the arc of Shadows back. I sat on no saddle, only the bare bone of the spine layered with flesh and tissue. In growing up, people would tell me that this was unsafe but strangely, I liked the idea, the insecurity excited me as adrenaline rushed through my blood stream.

I then spotted William whisper "thank you" into his sister's ear, and hug her from around her shoulders, tight and happy. Something I miss about being back in my present day, a speck of guilt lingered in mind as I thought of Eliza, leaving my sisters side, unwanted.

"Hello Boy," I overheard an echo as I trailed out my moment of thought. William was patting another horse opposite. Strong muscles of a black stallion supported him as swiftly carried his weight on its back.

"Are you ready Jane?"

"I'm ready," I replied as Kelsey hushed Shadow forwards and out of the stable.

"Now you two be careful and be back soon," she said, letting go of my rains, allowing me to take control. Thanking her in a slight nod and smile, I nudged the gentle mare with my feet, taking her off into a trot as I follow William not far in front of me.

...

After Ten minutes of travelling through a misty woodland, we took ourselves into a gallop as the day was slowly transforming into the misty night, lost without a moon and drained from moonlight. I heard each splitter of sound that moment, the hooves against dirt, the owl's voice and the leaves as they sway in the silent breeze.

"Keep close to me Jane, it's dark now,"

The fraction of fear I had in my gut seem to overwhelm by body and was happy to take my horse closer so that I was barely an inch away from him. The dark seemed to block all my senses, my eyes where blinded with the sight of block colour black. Even though it was early summer, the cold, unwelcoming woods chilled everything that entered it, entrapping it in a frosty wind causing my skin to become numb. The only sense that seemed to work was my ability to hear. Everything rattled in my ear drums.

"It's dark now, we will rest for the night," William said as he jumped of his horse and took hold of both rains including mine. I hesitated before making my way off Shadows back to stand in the darkness. I simply froze as I heard William walk severable steps into the distance, tying the horses to tree. My whole body, damp and my breath was heavy as my heart beated faster than its normal rate.

"Jane? I'm here, right beside you," I heard in my right ear and felt a hand rest on my shoulder several minutes later. I slowly made my way to the ground, eventually into a position I was comfortable, lying down with hand supporting my head although I was still frozen with fear. William was still squatting next to me; he took off his jacket and placed it over me. I could feel the body warmth hiding in the cotton.

"Thank you William," I smiled but the atmosphere was abnormal, tonight out of all nights I have slept through, this night didn't seem right.

...