The Lady and the Mountain Promise (Mountain Dreams Series Book 4) by Misty M. Beller

Author:Misty M. Beller [Beller, Misty M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Misty M. Beller Books, Inc.
Published: 2015-10-05T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

EASY THERE, boy.” Marcus’s tightened the reins as his horse stumbled in the almost-knee-deep snow.

They were an hour into the ride, and the snow had grown to over a foot deep, with big flakes still falling all around them. Were Lilly and Dahlia out in this weather? How had they traveled into the mountains? If only he’d asked Claire for more details.

He ached to kick the horse out of its plodding walk, but the snow-covered terrain was too dangerous. According to Jackson’s directions, it would be another three hours until he reached the Bryant Ranch. Maybe four at this achingly slow pace. He pulled his wool coat tighter, pressed his hat farther down on his head, and then flexed his fingers in his leather gloves.

The trail crested a hill and dipped down steeply before climbing again. Marcus leaned back in the saddle as the horse descended, helping to balance his weight so the animal could find footing.

Suddenly, the gelding slipped. As if in slow motion, the animal floundered, fighting to keep its footing. It landed hard on its knees, listing to the right, and then falling to its side.

Marcus scrambled to pull his right foot from the stirrup, and barely escaped being trapped under the chestnut gelding’s massive side.

The animal scrambled to regain its footing. Marcus rolled away, out of reach of the flaying hooves. Freezing, wet snow touched his neck, sinking below his collar.

Cold.

His breath fled in a gasp as he struggled up to his knees. The icy moisture sank through his trousers. He stumbled to his feet.

The horse stood several paces away, legs braced against the steepness of the hill, and breathing hard.

“You all right, boy?” Marcus shook the last of the snow from his collar, then leaned over, hands on his thighs, to catch his own breath.

A motion flashed in the woods to his right. Marcus and the horse both jumped to alert.

Three deer, about thirty feet away, stood perfectly still, watching them. They were majestic against the background of snow, one with a mid-sized rack of antlers, and all three with patches of white fur at their tails.

The horse snorted, eyeing them with all his attention.

One of the deer leaped backward, and suddenly all three were bounding away.

The gelding pranced a few steps up the hill, tail raised and nostrils flaring.

“Whoa, boy. Easy.” Marcus extended his hand and stepped toward the animal. The last thing he needed was a loose horse on his hands.

The animal eyed him, nostrils still wide. When Marcus was a few paces away, it snorted again. Then the gelding turned and bolted up the hill, lunging through the snow.

No. No, no, no!

Marcus watched the horse’s tail flying high as it crested the ridge and disappeared from sight. Taking his saddle bags and all his supplies with it.

He scrambled to climb the hill behind the animal. Maybe it would run a short distance and stop. The gelding had seemed calm and placid until the deer unnerved it. Surely it wouldn’t run far.

When Marcus topped the hill, he stopped to catch his breath and study the scene before him.

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