Page 70 of Daddy, Take Me Away
Micah couldn’t agree more, and Cody moved away to check in with others in their group. She was a bit surprised when another horse’s head appeared at the lip of the trail they’d just ridden up. The mesa became a bit less open as more and more horses joined them.
“How are we going to go back if all these other riders are coming up?” she asked.
“I’m sure the different guides have it all figured out,” Stone said, moving his horse a bit closer to hers.
“I don’t think I can do this, Daddy. If we have to pass another horse on that narrow trail?—”
“Don’t worry, Micah,” Cody said, appearing on her other side. “We aren’t going back that way.”
“Oh, thank god!” Micah said. Looking around, she turned to him. “If we don’t ride back that way, how are we getting down the mountain?”
“No worries, you’ll see,” Cody said, lifting up in his stirrups to address their group. “Folks, we’ll go in single file with Randall in the back. Remember to trust your horse. They could make this ride in their sleep.” Turning to her, he grinned. “How ‘bout you follow me, Micah?”
“Ummm, I guess,” she said, knowing she sounded far less enthusiastic than she had when their ride had first begun.
“Seriously, you’ll be fine, I promise,” Cody said, settling in his saddle. “I’ll go first, you follow, and your husband will be right behind you. Just keep your body dead center in the saddle and enjoy the view.”
With that, he moved his horse in front of hers. “You’re going to be fine, baby,” Stone assured her before moving behind Jed.
“From your lips to God’s ears,” she murmured, taking a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She managed to repeat the routine twice more as their group formed a rather wavy line behind their leader. Micah was sure she’d calmed down until she watched Cody’s horse disappear from right in front of her.
Her heart lodged in her throat, but before she could fully process what she’d just seen, Jed had already taken his first step into nothing but space. Micah couldn’t stop the squeal of fright as she grabbed the saddle horn, her feet pressing hard against the stirrups.
Cody hadn’t disappeared into thin air after all. Instead, he was a few feet in front of her on the steep narrow trail. The cowboy hooked his knee over his saddle horn and turned to talk to her. “Hey, you’re fine. Just relax. Jed’s a great mount and won’t let anything happen to you.”
How in hell was she supposed to believe that load of bull when his eyes suddenly widened as his horse stumbled and almost went to one knee. Granted, the horse regained its balance and Cody pretended nothing horrific happened, but she was now sure she’d much rather be on an ATV than on a few hundred pounds of horseflesh. At the very least, she wouldn’t be attempting to drive an ATV straight down the side of a freaking mountain!
By the time they reached another flat plain, Micah was shaking, her fingers refusing to release the saddle horn or the reins. Her fear had to be palpable because other riders were asking if she was okay. She wanted to scream that of course she wasn’t but didn’t want to appear to be a baby or scare the actual kids on the ride, though they both seemed to be a little bored.
“Babe, if there was any way we could go back, I’d take you,” Stone said as he reached over to place his hand over hers. “I’m so sorry. I really didn’t think you’d be so scared.”
No way could she let this man think he had anything to be sorry about. He’d planned this entire vacation all by himself and it had not only been fantastic, he’d not even once questioned her about Lydia, even when he couldn’t see her. He’d even talked to her and made sure he finished reading the book for a ghost he never planned on sharing a house with. She’d rather die than see the look of disappointment on his face.
“I’m fine, really. It was just a surprise, that’s all. Jed is a great horse, aren’t you, buddy?” Forcing her fingers to let go of the saddle, she reached forward and patted the horse’s neck. When Jed flicked his ears and gave a little neigh of agreement, she actually did relax a bit.
Cody rode up and smiled to see her fingers stroking through the long black mane. “I knew you two would become friends. Great job cowgirling up, Micah. I know that first step down was a little dicey, but the rest of the ride will be a piece of cake, you’ll see.”
“And how long will that be? The ride I mean?” she asked.
Instead of looking at his wrist for a watch, the cowboy looked up at the sky. “I’d say we’ve only got about another four hours or so.”
“Did you say four hours?” Like the squeal she’d given earlier, she couldn’t hold back the disbelief in her voice.
“Give or take. We’ll take a couple of breaks along the way, but we should reach the camp site around dusk.”
“How lovely,” she said, forcing a smile. If there was one thing she’d taken away from her mother, it was that if she didn’t have anything nice to say, it was best to say nothing at all. In other words, fake it till you make it.
Cody nodded and they were soon riding again, but fortunately, there was room for her Daddy to ride beside her and the trail was fairly level. Remembering his concern, she looked over and smiled. “This is great, really.”
Stone smiled. “Try not to think, just enjoy.”
“I am enjoying it.” When his brow quirked, she clarified, “Well, some of it. I mean the view alone is breathtaking. I guarantee we’re not going to stroll along anything as incredible as these mesas or see such ancient and interesting rock formations lining the streets of downtown Houston.”
“That’s true, or see an eagle soaring between the skyscrapers,” Stone said, pointing to a bird circling above them.
Engrossed in watching the eagle ride the air currents, it took a few more minutes before she remembered what else Cody had said. “Wait, we’re camping out here tonight?”
Nodding, her Daddy smiled. “Just think of how well we’ll be able to see Cassiopeia and Draco without any lights and nothing but a few billion stars.”
