Hired Gun by Christine D. Shuck

Author:Christine D. Shuck [Shuck, Christine D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

20 – Broken Code

The property was massive, some fifteen acres in total. The trees that lined its borders were in the height of their fall colors - the leaves alternating between yellow, orange, and a fiery sunset-red. The day was clear and sunny, but there was a cold chill that the sun had not yet chased away. On the ground lay a fine layer of fallen leaves.

Lila walked through the open field, noting a pair of horses in the distance. The smell of woodsmoke was heavy in the air. Despite the faint sounds of the highway in the distance, it felt as if she was alone in the middle of nowhere. From the north along the border of the property farthest from her, hidden by the trees and skirting the edge of the river, she could hear the steady clickety-clack of a train. The air was crisp, clean, and she stopped by the small orchard at the edge of the field and selected two rust-red and yellow-striped apples from one of the trees. The branches were heavy with them and she could see from the high grass that it had been a long time since the orchard was tended.

Two horses now hung their heads over a fence, their eyes on her and the apples in her hands and nickered. Lila grinned. Her mom and dad had taken her to a farm when she was small, visiting a distant cousin, and there had been two horses there in a corral attached to a barn. She had fed them apples and even gotten a chance to ride one, her legs stretched over the wide body, her feet dangling miles away from the stirrups. The horse had been old, gentle, and slow. She remembered how the coarse hairs of its mane had felt, that and the velvet smoothness of its nose as it had taken the apple from her outstretched hand with such delicate care.

Shane had left an hour or more ago, saying little, except to remind her to not leave the house. But it was such a beautiful sunny day, and winter was just around the corner. To stay inside would be such a waste. She was safe here and no one knew where they were, so what could a short little walk hurt? She would stay on the property, which seemed rather vast, and keep to the grounds.

She headed across the field towards the horses and they tossed their heads and nickered louder as she approached, their eyes firmly on the treats she held in her hand.

“Hello, you gorgeous beasts. Would you each like an apple?” One horse was a soft brown, with white on its lower legs that reminded her of lace, the other was mottled with tan and white patches all over. They nudged her hands with their velvet noses, snuffling softly, clearly interested in the apples inside. She smiled and held her hands open. The fruit disappeared in seconds, velvety lips and strong teeth gently removing them from her hands and crunching down on the sweet treats.

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