Free An American Love Story by C. S. Moore Page A

horse in so long. Are these guys well trained?" I asked.
    "They aren't guys; these beauties were my favorite girls before you came around. This one's Rojo." He put a hand on a small, reddish brown filly. "And this one's Storm," he said, petting the black one behind her ears. "And they're good horses, I'd never put you on a greeny…so, you up for it?"
    I threw caution to the wind. I couldn't think of anything that I'd enjoy more than riding a horse up a twisting trail next to him. "Sure," I said. "Which one am I riding?"
    "I was worried you wouldn't want to come!" he said before scooping me into his arms.
    "I have a hard time believing that you thought I'd turn you down. Has a girl ever turned you down in anything?" I asked.
    "I don't know, I've never cared much," he answered. "Now you'll be on Storm. She's my horse."
    I looked at the giant black horse; the red one was so much less intimidating. "Can I ride this one? She's smaller."
    "If you want to; but I'd rather you ride Storm. I trained her myself. Rojo's my little brother's," he said.
    "Then all the more reason to ride your horse, you might as well enjoy her while you're home." I walked to Rojo, put my foot in the stirrup and slung myself up easily. "Let's go," I said.
    He smiled up at me. "All right."
    ****
    Our horses walked side by side up the wide trail lined with pine trees. They were so thick in this part of the forest that they resembled walls of a maze, and I hoped we weren't getting lost. We had been riding for about an hour.
    "Are we lost?" I blurted out.
    He laughed. "Not even a little. I couldn't get lost in these mountains if I wanted to. I grew up in them; I'll always know each trail like the back of my hand."
    "So where are we going?" I asked trying to keep my voice steady as my horse swayed me from side to side.
    "One of my favorite spots is up ahead a ways. It usually has wild strawberries growing this time of year," he said.
    A vision of Garrett feeding me juicy strawberries floated across my mind.
    Garrett said something else, but I was so lost in thought that it took me a second to understanding what he had screamed. Screamed, was he screaming?
    "Tessa, look out!" he yelled.
    My adrenaline kicked up as I heard the fright in his voice. I looked around; what was I supposed to be looking out for?
    My horse saw it before I did and reared back.
    I tried to stay on the horse but wasn't strong enough. Just as I slid from the saddle, I saw what all the fuss was about. Coiled at my horse's feet, and where I would be shortly, was a diamond back rattle snake.
    "Garrett," I screamed as I fell through the air. It felt like I was falling in slow motion to give the snake an easier target.
    When my back hit the ground all of the air came rushing out of my lungs. Disoriented, I managed a thought of how beautiful the sky was before remembering the danger. I forced myself to sit up and wished I hadn't. Not one yard from me lay the rattler. I didn't have time to think; maybe I should have stayed still, but I didn't. I got up on my elbows and tried to crab walk away from the creature as fast as I could. Just when I thought that it was going to let me get out of range, it sprung towards me, striking with amazing speed.
    I closed my eyes tight and waited for the pain, but there was none, only noise. A loud thud followed by a crunch. I opened my eyes and saw Garrett standing over me. He had leapt from his horse and saved me. Under his boot the snake was still.
    He cautiously picked up the dead snake and threw it away from us. Then he turned towards me. "Are you hurt?" He sat next to me.
    I didn't know if it was shock or the fact that I still hadn't collected my breath, but I couldn't answer.
    Gently putting his hands on my head he felt around. "Just looking for lumps. Do you know if you hit your head?"
    "I think I mostly landed on my back," I said, my head clearing. "Are you okay? That thing didn't bite you did it?"
    "No," he said, pulling me into his lap. "I'm so sorry,"